This week we read through the book of Numbers.  It does have a lot of counting of the 12 tribes of Israel and appointments of who is in charge.  The group is getting a little unweildy I suspect, so a process of management would be necessary.

Here in these passages we see the stories of the complaints of not enough food and water repeated from the Exodus story.  They are such wonderful stories of God’s people voicing their concerns, being heard and not ignored and Moses’ s attempt to placate both people and God.  What a challenge to stand in the middle of two sides of an argument.  However right in the middle is life is where holiness resides.

Later in the book we have the wonderful story of Balaam and his donkey.  God uses the donkey to speak to Balaam and get him back on the right track.  Which leads to one of the more famous seminarian goofs in which the student said in a sermon:  “If God can speak through Balaam’s ass, He can speak through yours!”     Right up there with the other sermon entitled “Who did it to Mary?”   True stories…       So now we will see who is reading this blog!!

So back to decorum….

The stories in Numbers may seem dry but theyare an important part of the narrative of the Jewish people’s journey in the wilderness.  The tribe is growing, the memories of the past are fading with the death of several generations, and the nation is getting ready to learn to follow leaders other than Moses.  Aaron , Moses brother, is releaved of his job of being the high priest.

Several times the people are infected with a plague (the desert influenza or food poisoning? )  and they interpret these events as signs from God.  Rules of basic hygiene, family relationships and care of the dead are important as they move through the years, so they are not infected with more disease.  A weakened nation will not survive nor be able to inhabit or invade the promised land when their time has come.

So how would you prepare your family or yourself for a move?  How does this compare to the Israelite people?