Numbers 15:39 –
When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the LORD instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.
This chapter has three main subjects that all could be explored in depth. First it talks about the sacrificial system and the significance of keeping this going. I found it interesting that the “smell” was pleasing to the Lord. I would think that people valuing Him more than stuff was more pleasing! Second, it talks about a man being put to death for working on the Sabbath. “Working” in this case was just gathering wood. We are so far away from the “strict” adherence to the Sabbath that people either ignore it or define it any time they can get off.
Now we get to the tassels and this verse. As Christians we tend to use a cross as this reminder of our devotion to Jesus. Be it a cross or a tassel we tend to need a constant reminder of our roots to keep us on track. Many times these symbols become more of an outward expression of our faith, than for inward retrospective. The most common one is the “fish” bumper sticker. How many times have you been cut off or flipped only to notice one on their rear? If we focus on the outward and less on the inward we can quickly be tagged as hypocrites, crushing our witness.
This verse ends with talking about “human nature” and our tendency to wander away from God. I do this all the time while getting caught up in the world around me. Events like the shop closing, getting sued here or there, getting caught up in bills or the office politics all cause me to ramble away from my focus on God. We are all “prone” to distractions here on earth; the key is how we respond.
When an email for porn hits our inbox, do we click delete or do we “explore” the links? When someone cuts us off in traffic, do we yell and get even or do we just keep on our way? When the bills are insurmountable, do we keep our “budget” the same or do we reflect on principles of money management God taught us? Many times a cross around the neck is a reminder which way to go and to help us remain focused on God. I suggest keeping it simple and relatively “private” so not to blow a witness if you become “prone” to do wrong.