Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

B.B. and I were in our “green room.”

B.B. said, “Why is it called Numbers?”

I mused, “B.B., you could ask that question in class.”

A familiar voice from the center stall, “Aunt Mary is now a PW, preacher’s wife.  She doesn’t want to be thought of as stupid.”

B.B. growled, “Arabella, this is not a threat.  It’s a promise.  That was naughty…  Accurate, but naughty.  If you don’t finish quickly, I AM coming in there!”

Arabella opened the door quickly and ran for the door.  “I’ll go to the conference center restrooms.  It’s safer!”

B.B. said, “Okay, Arabella was right.  So, what’s the answer?”

I said, “The book starts and ends with God calling for a census.  The usual goal of a census in those days was to figure out how many people were of military eligible age.  So, God was preparing Israel for the conquest of the Promised Land.  First was when they rebelled against God, not having the faith to take the land.  Then, when that generation was passed, they had another census when they were ready to cross the Jordan River.  You need to remember that this time, they were going to take the land that God had promised, so the census doubled as a guide to apportion the land to each tribe.  The book of Deuteronomy is mostly repeating God’s covenant, reminders of how they got where they are, and Moses’ final speeches.  Deuteronomy means ‘second law.’”

B.B. snickered, “I just asked about Numbers, but now I don’t have to ask next week.”

I shrugged, “With that mystery solved, let’s get to class, shall we?”

She opened the door, and we went to the den, laughing.

Rev. Joseph led us in prayer.

Emmett had all the band members and singers.  They sang and played Song of the Wanderer.

I asked, “Emmett, that was lovely.  Can we just skip the lesson and have you sing that a few times?”

Emmett smiled, “We work harder, and you get a week off?  Not on your life.”

I sighed, “It was worth a try.”

Samuel asked, “And where will we find Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”

I nodded, “As I said before, Samuel, we find Jesus in everything.  But for the class, we are looking at the book of Numbers.  Before we get started with Scripture, there are no clear Christophanies in Numbers.  And can anyone remember one of our benedictions that was from Numbers?”

Margie said, “I can. ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’ (Numbers 6:24-26)”

Arabella asked, “Isn’t that the Ironic Blessing?”

“Aaronic Blessing, Belle.” I chided, and Belle hid her face in her hands, but she was laughing.

I added, “The Aaronic Blessing went with them during their wandering …  thank you again, choir … And that means that all three persons of the Trinity were involved.  But let’s start with a quotation.”

Cassie (Numbers 3:12-13) “’I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.’”

Cassie said, ”The descendants of Aaron were the priests, but God took the Levites to support the worship of God, carrying the tabernacle, and setting that up.  But while the Egyptian firstborn were killed, God claimed the Israelite firstborn.  Here, he transfers that to the Levites.”

I nodded, “Right, and now we look at the New Testament quote.”

Boaz (Luke 2:22-24) “When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”

Boaz said, “Was it just by chance that you gave me this verse?”

I said, “Sort of, but with God, is anything by chance?”

Boaz nodded, “When I was born, my parents were not married.  That’s not a secret, and also not a secret, my mother, with the help of Aunt Gwen, gave me to the monastery.  That is what these two verses mean.  The firstborn belongs to God, and if you do not redeem the first born in some kind of way, then you must give the firstborn themselves to God.  Samuel was a good example of that.  Hannah prayed to God for a deliverance from being barren and she promised the child to God’s service, as a living sacrifice, not a burnt offering.  I could have easily stayed at the monastery, but the abbot told me that I was meant for something more, and I finished my college degree, and I ran for city councilman.  Uncle Dev made his raid on this building and Mom still calls it Emancipation Day.  But I was the only city councilman that was not here with a prostitute.  The temporary mayor, meaning the only one not in jail, to the elected mayor followed.  I have been a servant of God and then a servant of this city.  We do not go to the church and redeem the firstborn anymore, but should we?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know, but it might be a good idea to have a special offering.  We are not Jews who descended from those people affected by that exodus, but it is something to ponder.  Jesus Christ paid a heavy price for each of us.  Hopefully this class can point the way of how we should respond to that redemption of us on the cross.  So, whether firstborn or the tenth child, we are redeemed by Jesus.  And we can serve Jesus from about any job in the world.”

Boaz again groaned, “And you know that I am the grandson of a hitman.  I doubt if you could say, ‘I kill you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.’  And, yes, PawPaw has been reformed.  I think he influenced Red Delicious going to Big Red Mac’s Bible studies.  And when Cassie’s and my child is born, I want PawPaw there.  When you become a Christian, you become a new creation.  The old is gone.  I see PawPaw with Kanok, Joon, and Sparkle.  He is the most loving and gentle man that I know.  But his old job in his old life is not one where you can glorify God in the carrying out of your duties.”  Cassie leaned over and kissed her husband.

Cassie whispered, “Excuse me. We do not usually show public displays of affection, but this class is family.”  Boaz leaned over and kissed her in return.

I cleared my throat, “Can I take us on a little journey of the wayward Israelites.  Marilyn Hickey, in the book that I am partially using, speaks of three sins just getting from Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea where they failed to enter the promised land.  She also mentions three breaches of the covenant God made with them.  First of these sins was complaining.  “Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp (Numbers 11:1).” Then later in that chapter, they complained about the manna.  “The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!’ (Numbers 11:4-6)”  Then in the next chapter, Aaron and Miriam rebel against Moses, using his Cushite wife as a reason, sorry Jochebed.  “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” (Numbers 12:1).  Miriam’s hand becomes leprous.  Moses prays for her healing, but the newly minted Levitical Law says that you must stay outside the camp for seven days.  So, no one moved for seven days so that Miriam could be presented to the priest and proven healthy to travel.”

Jochebed smiled, “I do not know if I am Cushite in any way.  I was born African.  Did Cushites speak French or English?”

I shrugged, “I doubt if they spoke either one of those languages.”

Jochebed nodded, “See, no reason for offense, Aunt Jemima.”  And then Jochebed laughed.

I said, “But now we have the three breaches of the Covenant.  The first was the golden calf back in Exodus 32.  The second breach came after ten of the twelve spies talked of giants and large armies,  “That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?’ And they said to each other, ‘We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.’” (Numbers 14:1-4).  They had refused to take the land after God had promised them that He would show His power in conquering the land.  Caleb and Joshua were unable to sway the people, and God told Moses that He felt like sending a plague down and destroying all of them except for Moses’ family.  Then the third breach was Korah’s Rebellion.  “They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!” (Numbers 16:3-7). And you know what happened.  It did not end well for Korah and the others who joined his rebellion.  None of this points to Jesus, but we complain.  And in complaining, are we not saying that God is providing for us the way we think He should?”

Mamma Missy snickered, “Anyone in this room complains that it’s too cold, and Pink Lady will be putting a blanket over your shoulders in under a minute, but we know what you mean, Aunt Jemima.  We all have our sins and our breaches of contract, if you will.  We all need Jesus, and I think that is where you were going, but where is Jesus in the book of Numbers?”

Emmett (Numbers 21:4-9) “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.”

Emmett smiled, “More grumbling about the food, but I guess this refers to the snake.  Just like us who turn to Jesus to be saved, those that turned to the bronze snake were saved.  It’s kind of a foreshadowing thing, a symbol of not just what Jesus does for us, but how our response to Him should be.  Didn’t they end up worshiping the snake?”

I nodded, “Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4).  They had named the snake Nehushtan and were worshiping the snake.  The cross is an important symbol, but if we bow down to it and worship it, we have gone too far.”

Mitzi (Numbers 24:17) “’I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.”

Mitzi said, “Many think this is a Messianic prophecy.  The star could be the star that led the wisemen, maybe even the verse in Scripture that they read to know that they should be looking for the star.  And the scepter going to Judah means that God had it in His plan all along for David to be king.  But why didn’t David start out as the first king?”

I smiled, “David was not very old, if he was even born, when Saul became king.  But God gave Israel what they whined about, a tall, strong, kingly man.  Then God groomed David, a man after God’s own heart, who wrote music and may not have been the largest and strongest.  He was just a child when he killed Goliath.  So, God gave them what they said they wanted, and then He had what He wanted already planned.”

I added, “I see you brought Baldy with you.  I do not ask first-time visitors to read.  So, you and Jethro are safe for this week.  Yeah, I know who everyone is around here.”

Rev. Joseph asked, “Didn’t you skip one, Aunt Jemima?”

I laughed, “I was saving it for you.  It is a bit obscure at first, but profound once it soaks in.

Rev. Joseph (Numbers 15:37-41) “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’”

Rev. Joseph said, “Many believe this is a symbol of Jesus.  You wear this reminder of the Law every day, just like Jesus is with us every day.  It could also represent the Holy Spirit who indwells us, but with this blue thread in each tassel we are reminded to not stray from God’s Law.  It makes us feel, and remember, that God is right there by our side.”

I nodded, “Very good.  And I have heard scholars surmise that the woman with the issue of blood reached to touch just the hem of His garment and she touched one of the tassels.  We have enough time for one more quotation.  Let’s flip the quotation.”

Sophia (Matthew 5:33) “’Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.”’”

Sophia said, “This comes from the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus is telling us what the Law says, but Jesus says for us to just not make the oath.  Just say yes or no.  But we still must be people who can be trusted.”

Blaise (Numbers 30:2) “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.”

Blaise smiled, “Yes, Soapy, but we can be trusted without the obligation of an oath sworn before God.”

I just shook my head.  “Yes, you two.  We should be people who are known for doing what we say we will do, but to add that pressure that you gave an oath before God is unnecessary, and when that unforeseen thing pops up, you are not backpedaling against something you told God would get done.

Grannie Fannie (Galatians 6:18) “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.”

Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her.  “Grannie Fannie, this class is a lot more fun now that Liam, Lympie, and Ellie Rain are here every week.  Are you ready to drive us?”

Brooke picked up Stormie as usual.  She talked to Stormie all the way.  Stormie laughed.

Arabella came by and asked, “I thought this class was about numbers and we did not do any math at all.”

I moaned, “I am so sorry, Belle.  Next week, I will ask you how many letters are in Deuteronomy.”

Arabella sighed, “I might have to take a shoe off.  That’s a long word!”

I had to laugh.  If she was counting on her fingers, she would run out of them.

Credits

I start with a study guide by Marilyn Hickey called Seeing Jesus.  But she does not discuss Christophanies.  And I also did a search for prophecies and got a slightly different list.

Here is Dan Forrest and Johanna Anderson’s Song of the Wanderer.  Beckenhorst Press organized the choir, I suppose.  I love the video as it changes seasons along with the music.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.