Lectionary for 5/10/08

Today's readings are Numbers 20.22-21.9 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Num.+20.22-21.9 ) and Luke 20.45-21.19 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+20.45-21.19 ).

 

How many times have we in this relatively falluent society looked around our house and said, "There's nothing to eat" when in fact there is?  How about looking in the closet and saying, "I don't have anything to wear" or simply complaining, "There's nothing to do in this small-potatoes town!"  While this kind of hyperbole has its appropriate place, and while we must recognize that we are normally exaggerating (there's something to eat but I don't want it, I have clothes to wear but nothing exciting, and there is always something to do in this town as long as I go do it) there is a time when we cross the line of expressing a preference and begin complaining.

 

How sad that we complain against God, accusing him of failing in his provision for us!  The people of Israel, who were being provided with food and water by God, and whose clothing was supernaturally not wearing out, were complaining in Numbers 21.  "We loathe this worthless food."  This is the food provided for them without their labor, by the hand of God himself.  It is in fact priceless.

 

God's judgment rests on those who reject his providence.  And we reject it regularly, not only doubting his supply of food and water for us, but doubting his consistency, love, wisdom, and goodness.  We are a faithless people when all is said and done.  How often we depend on our own wisdom, our own intelligence, our own resources.  In Numbers 21 we see God pouring out his judgment with poisonous serpents, quick and deadly.

 

Thanks be to God that he does not leave us under judgment.  We can look to Jesus, raised up on a cross, dying as the cure for that which kills us, a man dying for men since it is man's sin which brings death.  Likewise we look to Jesus the resurrected one, bringing life from death.  God has provided what we need for life.  And when we reject it, God has provided a remedy for that rejection which brings death.  Look to Christ, raised up to save us.