Daily PresenceSample

Scripture is an honored revelation of Truth and an inspirational source to the faithful. Indeed, we find within the bible words of hope, encouragement, inspiration, instruction, the very words of life.

But I must be honest about Numbers 30-32: after scouring the passage for hopeful thoughts or practical applications to my day-to-day, I struck out! So much of the book’s liturgical and legal baggage seem strange to us in the Age of the Christian Church.

Does this seeming irrelevance suggest, however, that we should discount or discredit these ancient, often bloody and unseemly annals of our Old Testament forebears? Certainly not! In fact, these passages provide an application from a lesson I recall as a college undergraduate in an Old Testament survey course where one of the assigned readings was a book, Is the Bible a Human Book? Incredibly, that text was controversial among hard-line conservative students, because they believed dogmatically in the Bible’s literally and inerrancy. To them, considering the bible as human was blasphemous.

I find, however, that the bible is a human book. We can consider its humanity from three perspectives: Inspired by God, the bible was (1) penned by humans, (2) directed to humans, and (3) intended for humans to know God’s revealed truth and plan for redeeming His creative magnum opus: mankind (us!). If we regard Numbers 30-32 through that lens, we understand its purpose is to teach us neither liturgy nor law

What we recognize in Numbers for our edification, then, is not day-to-day rules for living. We recognize, instead, the common nature we share with those stumbling, faltering Old Testament pilgrims: an imperfect human nature begging for redemption. Though we live under the liberating revelation of the Cross, we, like Moses’ people, relate in our humanity to the final stanza of a classic hymn where the 18th century lyricist wrote, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it / Prone to leave the God I love.”

What a confession! Like the Israelites of Moses, we are as easily distracted by circumstances, which cause us to lower our aim and wander in the prideful arrogance of our human nature. We recognize that the Old Testament wanderings, temptations, grumblings and murmurings are akin to our own.

So by that nature, we depend on grace. May today’s reading remind us so!