Removals
Week 7 Day 5: Numbers 4-9 More numbers, and travel instructions
Firstly, I missed being able to read and post yesterday, so today is a make-up day. As I read the scriptures this morning my take away was less about the detail of ceremonial cleansing and more about the detailed instructions for the breaking of camp and the moving of the tent of meeting.
Even in moving the elements of the tent and the ark of the covnenant, there are still very specific instructions for the covering and moving by different clans.
I am still struck by the sheer numbers of the Israelites, the different clans and the amount of detail and number of items involved in this “tent” that the Israelites will move on from place to place, at the Lord’s command and guiding. I am struck by the amount of livestock that were in the Israelites’ possession and the amount of gold and other riches brought out of Egypt. Slavery to riches: what a story.
We find in the midst of all of the instructions, the beautiful Aaronic blessing, seared into my memory from years of choral singing in my childhood and beyond. Here’s a beautiful version conducted by the composer himself, John Rutter:
The Passover is celebrated in the first month of the second year after leaving Egypt - Numbers 9:1. This was to be an important annual event right up to the time of Jesus celebrating the Passover meal himself with his disciples on the night that he was betrayed. Perhaps some have not considered the Last Supper in the context of the original Passover in the same way. Perhaps with all of the emphasis on sacrifice and atonement in these chapters, after the blood of the original passover lambs protecting the Israelites in Egypt we can more easily connect the sacrifice of Jesus, Lamb of God, and his blood, covering and atoning for our sins.
Today I listened to a really excellent podcast with Dr Jordan Cooper: The Presence of Jesus’ Body and Blood in the Sacrament. I really do recommend it as a great listen, whatever your current theological position on this. I have truly valued my Bible reading so far in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, and how it helps us understand the Sacrament we celebrate today; its importance and also the care we must take around the Lord’s table and eating and drinking reverently.
Whilst there are those who do not hold that the Sacrament is Christ’s body and blood - that does not mean it is not. What we believe, does not change what it is. We might be astounded to think that two of Aaron’s sons did not follow instructions concerning the incense and entering the tent of meeting. Perhaps they simply did not believe that there was anything special about the tent, and that the instructions were unnecessary? Their consumption by God’s holy fire shows that they were not.
At this point we can also point back to a number of accounts of similar mistakes since the first one in the Garden of Eden.
“Did God really say…”
We might reconsider if we are tempted into not trusting what Paul says about the Lord’s Supper:
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
1 Corinthians 11:23-27
Finally today (because I read a chapter too far) we come to the moving instructions. If the cloud covered the tent of meeting, the Israelites camped. They stayed until it lifted and they camped wherever it settled.
After reading how much was involved (here I am packing currently for a short hop to Sydney, with virtually nothing of my own, and my son’s term time luggage only): I cannot imagine settling only for a night, and then moving on again. They might stop for two days, a month, or a year. This feels like some sort of exercise in obedience.
How willing are we to settle only for a short time and move on at the Lord’s direction (no matter how many belongings we have), or settle for a longer time than we would like, if he has not asked us to move on?
My pastoral family friends will feel the pain of this question! His ways are not our ways, His timing is not our timing, and perhaps the amount of possessions we have is not quite as relevant as I might have thought. My own preference though, especially after reading these chapters - is travelling light.