Numbers 7-24/Mark 16

Numbers
Chapter 7 details the offerings from different tribes. I suggest skimming this one. 8 gives us more details on the business of the priests. 9 however, is a key chapter which discusses the keeping of passover. This is the special meal shared once a year by everyone which celebrated the Israelites deliverance from Egypt, and the "passing over" over the angel of death. If you have ever been to a Seder meal, that is the modern version.

Chapter 10 - how do all these people move about? As orderly as possible. Interestingly trumpets were not used for "music" but for signaling until recent modern history.

Moses father-in-law, who was a Midianite, stays with them (he is called, in various places, Hobab, Reuel, and most famously Jethro)

Chapter 11 gives us two of the classic "complaint" stories that we will see again and again. The first one is very short and gives us the basic outline:
1. rebellion or sin
2. divine punishment
3. intercession by Moses
4. restoration

The story about the quails has the usual lengthier, detailed version. There is an obvious proposal in these stories that God is in absolute control of every aspect of the lives of the people at every single moment. I'm not sure that proposal bears the weight of the history of God's relationship with humanity throughout time; however, there is the implication that at this particular time, as the people have just left Egypt and are wandering around in the barren desert, as food literally falls out of the sky, that they and God are very much intertwined.

Chapter 12 is another complaint story. Notice, Miriam gets in trouble, but also notice her important position. Miriam was one the most important people amongst the Israelites, on par with Aaron. God's response to their complaint is not what they expected, but to my ear it is exactly the kind of God we serve, who is more interested in relationship than following the law. The particularity of Moses and his importance is also an obvious locus.

Chapters 13-14 are one of those key turning points in the history of Israel. They have fled Egypt and have now arrived. They are on the borders of the Promised Land. They send scouts (better translation that spy). But when they return they fill everyone with dread over the dangerous people who live there. Joshua and Caleb encourage them to not be afraid, but they cry out (again) against Yahweh who took them out of Egypt.

God is going to destroy the people and start with Moses. But Moses intervenes (what will the neighbors think if you kill them all off?!). God acquiesces. Instead the people will wander for 40 years.

Now you have read where we get the "40 day journey" of Lent. Notice the irony of what God says in 26-34. You will go toward Egypt, but not make it. Your fear of death will come upon you. Your children, who you were afraid would be taken as booty, will succeed.

Chapter 15 covers various sacrifices. Notice that the alien and the Israelite are the same and follow the same rules. There is a trial over a man working on the sabbath. The people are told to make fringes on their garments with a blue cord to remind them of their metaphorically priestly status (Ex 19.6).

Chapter 16: So who is "holy" and why? Is not everyone holy? A couple of things. First, notice Moses reaction: he falls on his face. Moses reaction to people was often one of humility, not pride. This is an interesting contrast with, second, Korah's presumptiveness. No one ever gets away with a sense of entitlement with God. It is just not a good strategy (in any relationship for that matter). Once again the people tread close to destruction and once again God is merciful in the mediation of Aaron and Moses.

Chapter 17 continues the theme. How do we know that God has really chosen Aaron and his family. How do we know that Moses and he aren't just in cahoots to grab power? Well, a sprouting staff will hopefully convince people.

Chapter 18 lays out the duties, dues and responsibilities of these priests. We sometimes wrestle with these same issues in the church when it comes to people's gifts. We tend to believe that some gifts are better than others, especially if they are not ours. Finding peace and satisfaction with how God has made us is a sometimes a difficult process.

Chapter 19 describes the ritual cleansing because of the death of Korah and his rebellion. The purity laws regarding dead bodies are also detailed here echoing Leviticus. Notice the different meaning of impurity than the often moral spin we place on the word.

There is a telescoping of time in Chapter 20, in which we go from the second year of wandering to the fortieth. Miriam dies, the first person of note of that generation. Moses and Aaron strike the rock instead of speaking to it, and are barred from entering the Holy Land because of it. They do not make war with Edom, but must pass a different way. Aaron is succeeded by his son (without ceremony), and the people come into early conflict south and east of the Promised Land.

There are two famous bits from chapter 21, the story of the snakes which connects with John 3:16 and "Spring up O Well!" which is a camp song.

Chapter 22-24 is the comedic story of Balaam, a legendary seer of that area at the time. The Israelites have been attacking the people of the area very successfully, and Balak, king of Moab, wants them cursed. He hires Balaam, but Balaam blesses them instead (after a stern talking too from his ass). It is a great story of God's presence among all kinds of people and his greatness over against the gods of other nations.

Mark 14-16
Again we see Mark's brevity and quick pace in his description of the passion and resurrection of Jesus. Matthew moves forward like a holy historian, making sure we understand the theological implications of these events. Mark is a thriller writer. What will happen next? How will these characters react? There is almost a sense here that Mark is assuming we have never heard the story before.

Chapter 16 needs some comment. I suggest you get a good study Bible and read up on this final chapter. The alternate, longer endings seem to be tacked on. If you recall, there has long been the suggestion that the beginning and end of Mark were lost.

But lets assume for a moment that Mark does indeed end with the foreboding, "So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." What are we to make of that? Let's be sure we discuss that Sunday after church.

See you then.