Grumbling and Complaining

August 2, 2009

Background Scripture: Numbers 11
Lesson Passage: Numbers 11:1 – 6, 10 – 15

Is gratitude too much to ask of someone who receives of another? To the giver, gratitude is neither the price nor the cost of a gift. It is just simply an attitude of appreciation that someone has been kind out of the goodness of their being. It is a tremendous feeling of joy to give to someone in need. When need is known and communicated, people give an abundance that is often over and above the need itself. These are not loans and there is no expectation that the gift will be returned or compensated for in the future. Then, is it too much to ask that the receiver exhibit behavior indicative of an attitude of gratitude?

Our lesson today is an excerpt from the history of Israel’s desert wandering. Israel’s wilderness history was often punctuated with grumbling and complaining. In fact, the book of Numbers is sometimes referred to as the book of Mumbling. The people complained from one blessing to another one. It seems that the common thread that connected all of Israel’s blessings was the constant complaining they did between the blessings. This is not to say that all of the children of Israel complained; that is an unfair generalization. On several occasions it was just a few complainers but crowd mentality quickly took its toll as many others joined in the refrain. Some non-Israelites were sometimes the trouble makers. These non-Israelites, referred to as a mixed multitude, were first identified in the book of Exodus as leaving out of Egypt along with Israel. They would prove to be a source of weakness for Israel. They are a reminder of biblical warnings that God’s children are not to have fellowship with the world. We are in the world but not of the world. When the world becomes entrenched within a people of God, they will exert a worldly influence upon God’s people.

We should be reminded by the lesson today that human nature has not changed after thousands of years. Those who claim to know God best sometimes complain more than those who admit to either not knowing God or knowing very little of him. The scriptures in our text make it abundantly clear that God does not like complaining. I stop short of saying God does not like complainers because the scripture indicate that God did not like the complaining. The scripture also makes it clear that God hears when his children complain. What is it about complaining that perhaps make it detestable to God? First, complaining expresses a lack of gratitude for what has already been done. Secondly, complaining expresses a lack of confidence or faith that our needs will be met in the future. When we complain about our needs, is it not because we fear that our needs will go unmet? Put another way, when we are absolutely assured that our needs will be met, do we complain about it? Furthermore, we go one additional step in the wrong direction when we have our needs met and we start to hoard or be greedy; greed sometimes suggest that we do not have assurance of future provisions and therefore we better “get it while the getting is good”. All of these reasons brought God’s wrath upon some of Israel. Let us today take heed to their example and avoid grumbling and complaining.

Robert C. Hudson
July 27, 2009

Providing a Fresh Start

July 26, 2009

Background Scripture: Leviticus 25:1 – 31
Lesson Passage: Leviticus 25:8 – 21, 23, 24

The word “jubilee” invokes thoughts of celebration. When one comes to understand the jubilee celebration that God gave to Israel, then it is all the more reason to celebrate. God provided a built-in fresh start for Israel. The number seven is very prominent as it relates to completion and rest. Every seventh day completes a week and is the day of rest—or the Sabbath. Every seventh year was a time of rest for the land and new crops were not to be planted by Israel during that year. Every fiftieth year was a time of rest and freedom; this was the year of jubilee. This was to be observed throughout the land of Israel. No Israelite was exempt or should be overlooked at this time. This was an opportunity to start over no matter how badly things might have gone. Some Israelites had become estranged from their families due to poverty and had to hire themselves out as servants in order to survive. In the year of jubilee (the fiftieth year), those estranged from their families could return to their family and pick up where they left off. Those who had loss the family’s land due to a poor decision or bad management could regain their land. In a sense, the entire socio-economic system was treated as though it had gone bankrupt and everyone had to start over. When this concept is contrasted with the capitalistic economic system of Western culture, one must wonder what would happen to the hearts of people if they realize that runaway greed will not last forever. No matter how much you could gain whether it was done honestly or not, during the year of jubilee, you had to return it to its initial family or their descendants. The jubilee would bring a day of reckoning when everyone had to start over together. What effect would that have on our society when one could no longer hoard material gains and pass them from one generation to another within a family? What God had given the original tribe would be theirs forever even if it is temporarily loss between the jubilee years. The jubilee would reset the assets to their starting point where every tribe received equally. Please note that this is neither socialism nor communism. It is however extremely different from the capitalism of the West. The jubilee is society’s acknowledgment that everything belongs to God and at a set time, everyone must respect God’s division of material wealth rather than man’s. If unforeseen debt overload is a problem, it is only a matter of time before it is all settled. This restart would also give families an opportunity to learn from previous mistakes and make wiser decisions. The entire concept of jubilee is a reminder of man’s stewardship over God’s possessions. We never truly own anything of this world. Death assures us of that. In spite of all legal maneuvers and shenanigans, families do lose everything they once thought they owned. In Western culture, bankruptcy is a legal process to protect the bare minimum needed to survive. It does not truly give individuals the fresh start that advertisers promise. Future applications will still ask if you have ever filed for bankruptcy. This is a clear indication that a financial stigma or bondage remains. God’s process uses the year of jubilee. During the jubilee year, everyone is provided a true fresh start.

Robert C. Hudson
June 25, 2009

Commissioning for Service

July 19, 2009

Background Scripture: Leviticus 8:1 – 13
Lesson Passage: Leviticus 8:1 – 13

A Holy God demands holiness of his people. This is not merely lip service or pious acts publicly. For mankind to be fit to properly serve God, God must prepare him for such service. Rituals prescribed for Israel were visible indications of what God did spiritually. Such was the case for commissioning the priests for service to God on behalf of the people. The process was performed in the tabernacle before the people so that they could be witnesses of the event. It involved washings, garments, anointing, and sacrificial offerings. The washings were symbolic of the people being cleansed from the filth of sin so that they could stand before God clean. Of course no amount of water could wash away sins but the water did serve as a reminder that we cannot serve God in our uncleanness. After the washing, then special garments were put on the priests. Again, spiritually, God was clothing them in his righteousness. The breastplate of judgment was placed over the new garments. This was a reminder that the high priest had to bear the judgment of the people upon himself whenever he stood before the Lord on their behalf. The breastplate was fashioned by skillful craftsmen following the pattern given by God to Moses. It contained four rows of three precious stones. Each stone bore the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel. The breastplate was a memorial of the sons of Israel. The Urim and Thummim were added to the breastplate over the heart of the high priest. In times of judgment, these were cast as lots to determine the divine decision concerning a matter. Again, these were worn in the breastplate of judgment over the heart of the high priest. Judgment of God’s people should never be taken lightly—especially by those in leadership position. The mitre that was placed upon the high priest’s head was engraved with the words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” as a sign that God would accept the gifts offered by the children of Israel. Anointing oil was then used to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishings and finally it was poured upon the head of the high priest. This anointing of the high priest was indicative of God’s Spirit resting upon him and equipping him for service before God.

The final act of consecration of the priests involved the application of blood. This act took place beyond the text of our lesson today but it is of the utmost importance that we speak of it. It is the blood that was shed that brought ultimate cleansing. The priests had to identify with the life of the sacrificial animal, in this case a ram and a bullock. This identity was established by laying their hands on the head of the animal prior to it being slain and the blood being drained form it. After this, the blood was used to purify the altar and the priests. This being completed, the priests were now consecrated and commissioned for service.


Robert C. Hudson
June 25, 2009

Remembering and Celebrating

July 12, 2009

Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 16:1 – 8
Lesson Passage: Deuteronomy 16:1 – 8

Rarely do we associate a celebration with education. When we celebrate, we often push our emotion of happiness to its extreme. On the other hand, when we learn, we tend to have a serious disposition. We tend to keep those activities separate. Contrary to this, celebrations and education were an intricate part of Jewish society. The Jewish celebrations (or as we would call them, red letter days on our calendar) were all connected to some aspect of the history of God’s dealings with their ancestors. The celebrations were reminders from one generation to another of God’s faithfulness to the descendants of Jacob. The Jews developed a very rich oral tradition to maintain the history of their race.

Today’s lesson focuses on the Passover Meal ritual of the Jews. Every aspect of this memorial supper had historic significance. The day it was celebrated commemorated the day that Israel came out of Egypt based on a new calendar that was instituted at the same time. The unleavened bread commemorated the haste in which the Hebrews were rushed out of Egypt because of the death of the Egyptian first born. Because the Jews were rushed out of Egypt by the Egyptians, they did not have time to properly leaven the bread dough so that it would rise. The roasted lamb was a reminder that the first born of the Hebrews were spared because the blood of the Passover lamb was applied over and on the sides of their doors. The place where the lamb was to be sacrificed was chosen by the Lord and not the individual households. This commemorated the fact that the Jews had always relied on God as a nation of people and were not to become independent of his guidance. That none of the lamb could be left until morning was another reminder that the Jews were rushed out of Egypt soon after they had eaten. The Passover Meal was perhaps more of a memorial than a celebratory meal. Everything about it communicated from one generation to the next the importance of Israel’s reliance on God for deliverance and nurture. Whatever question could be asked about the observance could only be answered properly by teaching some Hebrew history.

As one studies the text of today’s lesson, the strong parallels between the Passover Meal and the Lord’s Supper are evident. The difference, however, between these two is filled with details that make them very different rituals. The Passover Meal is only observed once a year in the place designated by God for that purpose. For the Passover Meal, the time of the year is just as important as the location of the observance. In spite of the differences, Christians believe that the Passover Meal foreshadowed the Lord’s Supper. This is evident from the Apostle Paul’s writings. As we study the text today, let us not forget that the difference between the two is what makes them two distinct celebrations.

Robert C. Hudson
June 24, 2009