Bibledoorajar: God Picks His Man

     After the rebellion and the deaths of over 14,000, God instructed Moses to carry out a procedure to confirm once and for all who was the spiritual leader of the Israelites.  God told Moses to have each leader or prince from every tribe fashion a staff or rod and place his name and tribe on it. Aaron's name was to be placed on the rod from the tribe of Levi. The twelve rods were placed overnight in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where God met Moses. God further said,  "and it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you." God was tired of the murmuring and He intended for everyone to see His man for the time clearly. So, as commanded,  Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.
     The next day Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and there for all to see was the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, sprouted putting forth buds, producing blossoms and yielding ripe almonds. Moses took the proof to the people. The tell all rod was to be kept before God in the tabernacle of Testimony as a sign. The message was clear: look (Behold!) at the rod and stop the murmuring!! A great fear passed over the children of Israel for they feared they would surely die. But with time the princes of each tribe accepted the validation of the Aaronic priesthood. For that tine and place that priesthood and no other would show forth the glory of the Lord and care for holy things.
     Years later, Isaiah prophesied about another rod or branch. He said it would grow up tender and blossom and bring forth fruit. It would set captives free and bind up the broken hearted. One day, Jesus came on the scene and announced:  "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free"  Luke 4:13.
      In 1961, at a church gathering, a man stood to testify of his conversion experience. He proclaimed "It seemed like Heaven came down and glory filled my soul." John Peterson was listening in the audience and immediately was inspired to write the hymn, Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. Here's the first verse and chorus.

O what a wonderful, wonderful day - day I will never forget;

After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Saviour I met.

O what a tender, compassionate friend - He met the need of my heart;

Shadows dispelling, With joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,

When at the cross the Saviour made me whole;

My sins were washed away -

And my night was turned to day -

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

Bibledoorajar: Looking Again at Moses' Response

      I have been meditating this week on the responses of Moses when his insolent fellowmen cruelly attacked him about his management of leadership roles(specifically Aaron) within the community. According to Numbers 16, Moses first did this before he spoke: "When Moses heard this, he fell facedown"(verse 4).
     The reader is left to reflect on exactly what Moses's motivation was. Was he humiliated after having been so dishonored? Was he getting his justified anger under control since this would be the fourth recent time that God had been defied by the people? Or, was he so taken with the fear of divine displeasure and wrath falling that he prostrated himself in prayer before he spoke? Did he need the wisdom of God to know what to say even though their conduct was so grossly and obviously out of order?
      Whatever we end up thinking about Moses's behavior it is clear that he put himself in a position of humility and repentance. And apparently God gave him the words he needed to say. He essentially put the matter back into the hands of God and the men. They were given an opportunity with a challenge. They were to perform the incense service the next morning and through this service God would speak as to who His holy one was. According to Leviticus 16:13, the incense would be put on the flaming coals "before Jehovah, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not". So the challenge associated with the opportunity was the chance of death and not mercy. If the men resisted there would be no healing. Sadly this was the case.
     When we Christians examine our lives in community it is a good thing to remember Moses facedown. Would we have the Father look at our sins or look at our Savior, our true mercy-seat? The right decision means the healing can begin and life in community can continue as the Father would have it. It is an opportunity with a challenge. The right response can only come from help from above. Facedown might be a good plan.