Numbers 7 – 9

Verse 7:30 is an example of most of chapter 7:

On the fourth day, Elizur (son of Shedeur), head of the Reubenite tribe, presented the offering.

Each tribe over and over repeats the same offering. So this paragraph is repeated 12 times with only the first line changed. I believe this is the root of why God had to send Jesus because the people became more about the rituals than the meaning behind them. It was a checklist of being holy and not a relationship. As I read this I often wonder how much is God inspired and how much was more man? God set all these rules, regulations and rituals to follow, almost like a checklist so it’s understandable how many of the Jewish people reduced the Law into a checklist that could not be met.

Christians tend to overlook most of the OT because it’s difficult to follow in the context of Jesus. Ironically the only thing the churches then to focus on is tithing and homosexuality outside the Ten Commandments. We must understand that we are no longer bound by any of the Law. Jesus talks about using our money for God’s will and not mans, so that ends tithing. Tells us to judge not, so that ends the homosexual debate. The food Laws and Peter’s vision explain how all the Old Testament Laws need to be handled, on a personal basis.

I tend to follow the food laws, more because I believe it’s God’s intended diet for mankind. I still eat pork and shrimp from time to time and do not believe it’s a sin. It’s just not optimum food for my body, but still food. We need to listen and believe the voice of God and don’t get caught up in legalism.

Verse 9:10 is God’s response to a problem with following the letter of the law:

Tell the Israelites, if any one of you or your descendants becomes ritually impure due to the necessity of handling a dead body, he can nevertheless still celebrate My Passover a month after everyone else does. Likewise, those who are on the road, a long way from My tent, can celebrate Passover to the Eternal then too.

This is the problem with the legalistic aspects of the Law, you must celebrate Passover but if you cannot then what does one do. The law today is so complex just because of this, the spirit of the law cannot be followed. Think about zero tolerance and not bringing guns on school grounds. Kids have been arrested and suspended for pointing a finger and going bang or nibbling a piece of bread to look like a gun. Instead of embracing that firing a gun is fun and often necessary for food or protection, we make children think they are mentally ill for playing.

This is what the scene was when Jesus came, a bunch of difficult laws were only made more and more difficult to understand or follow. Common sense was lost then and appears to be lost today. It only seems like we are setting up for a return of Jesus. Of course I am sure they said the same thing when Rome was crumbling, when the Crusades were happening and when Hitler ruled, things will suck always we need to have joy in the misery knowing the peace eternity with Jesus has to offer.