Week 9: On the move

The people of Israel are on the move, they have left Mount Sinai in pursuit of the promised land. One small problem, the people of Israel are not very happy with the desert menu. They complain, they forget that they have not gone hungry for a moment since leaving Egypt, but they long for the food they used to have in Egypt (Numbers 11:1-15).

I think that it's easy to read these chapters about the Israelites complaining and rebelling, and think "how silly are you" when really we are reading a story that is not so different from our individual journeys. We have been freed in Jesus, but we don't obey him at every turn.

I see myself in the Israelites. My life is blessed, but I want more. I want the things that I want, not necessarily the things that I have or that are good for me.I know that I struggle with complaining about my current situation and longing for a life that I'm not currently living. Hmm...that story sounds strangely familiar. While I'm not physically in the desert, my soul does do quite a bit of wandering in deserts of its own. I think that the lesson that I am learning in reading about the Israelites is that patience and obedience are hard, but worth the effort.

My favorite verses for the week are the priestly blessing in Numbers 6: 24-26:

May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.

The verses go on to say that when the priests used this blessing in God's name he also blessed them. We sing a song at church that is directly from these verses, and I think that I tear-up every time I hear it. There is just something about these verses that are so deeply personal. Who am I that the Lord thinks of me? Right? I pray that we all feel the effects of this powerful blessing.