Celebrating Deliverance

Numbers 9 finds the Hebrews in the wilderness exactly one year removed from the final plague in Egypt that ultimately resulted in Pharaoh finally telling them, in essence, "Get out!" Of course, the story tells that he regretted this, went after them, and his army wound up drowning in the Red Sea. The only reason there wasn't wailing amongst Hebrew homes in Egypt? Because they had celebrated Passover. The doorpost was painted with blood. The special meal was eaten in haste, featuring lamb, unleavened bread and bitter herbs and more.

A year later, this was to be a celebration of what God had done. God tells the people in Numbers 9 to "celebrate the Passover..." A year earlier, it's possible that many of them, while observing this meal, felt a great sense of relief that the firstborn in their home was still alive.  Maybe they could even hear the cries of mothers and fathers and younger siblings in other homes of those who did not observe that first Passover as they discovered their pride and joy dead.

But today, Passover was to be celebrated. God had delivered them from the house of bondage with a mighty arm and outstretched hand! They had seen the miracle wonders of God time after time after time, and had even seen His Presence as He gave them His covenant of love and faithfulness. Even for those who were ritually unable to celebrate it (they had touched a corpse, or were traveling) were given opportunity to do so. Plan on doing it a month later. Absolutely everyone needs to remember what God had done for them!

We also observe the Hebrews in motion. They acted and moved upon the command of God. If the cloud of fire stopped, they set up the Tent of Meeting below it and the Hebrews set up camp around it as instructed. It would descend, and as long as it remained descended on the Tent, the Hebrews stayed put. One day, two days, two months, whatever. When it ascended above the tent, they packed up and followed it wherever it went. It was simple really. Do what God says... don't do what He doesn't say... don't move unless He moves.

I think it is very important, in my own life, a couple of principles from this.

1. Take time to celebrate God's goodness. He has delivered me from the house of bondage: sin. And trust me, sin has held me a slave in my life. Satan has done it to every one of us. We need God's constant, daily deliverance. Obviously, we can celebrate in a special way once a year, but really each day is a new day to celebrate what God has done, especially through Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain on the cross to deliver us from certain eternal death.
2. If I find myself unable to celebrate, take this matter to God. Hey, there are days that are so lousy that it's hard to celebrate anything. Right now, I am writing from Panera. It's raining outside. My son had to miss out on a field trip and isn't that happy about it. I have a lot to do and I'd just as soon be reading or back in bed. Celebration isn't exactly what I feel like right now. But you know what? There's a lot of people going through a lot worse than that. Really, that isn't even the point either. No matter how awful I feel or how bad the situation is, somehow I have faith that God is still good, and that He is still being good to me. It's time for me to take my feelings and my situation to God and ask for His provision of celebration. Can't find a reason to celebrate God? Ask Him! He'll give you one!
3. I must give each day to God. I need to seek more and more to move and speak and act only in response to God. It's easy to think to myself that a give situation isn't a big enough deal to do this with, but that's not the right thinking at all. Much better to, each day, ask for the Holy  Spirit's fire to descend on my heart and fill me, to move me, to make it clear what I should do and what I should say. Then, respond with gratitude. He is acting for His Kingdom, and He is acting for me.

So, how will you celebrate God's goodness today? What do you do when you don't feel like celebrating, or when you just can't even celebrate? How do you discern what God is telling you to do or telling you to say?

"This is what the LORD says, He who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:2-3)

Recognized to Serve

There's an interesting juxtaposition between what we think of recognition as being, and what the Bible shows recognition as being.

What do you think of when you hear the word "recognition"? Awards? Being seen as the best at something? Someone knowing who you are? Being recognized as the biggest giver in a philanthropic project, perhaps?

Go to some churches and you'll see people recognized in a variety of ways. The bricks outside may have the names of donors etched into them. A plaque may recognize someone for the contributions they have made in time and service and finances to the church. You might even name a room after someone. Anyone who has ever read Mike Yaconelli's works, or have been a part of the Youth Specialties scene very long... you know what "Jones Memorial Carpet" means (and heaven forbid you spill anything on it)!

Yet when we look at recognition, from a biblical position, everything should change. Numbers 8 is a picture of recognition.

Not to skip over it, the first part speaks of the command to have the light from the Lampstand in the Tent of Meeting to be cast in front of it. This light illuminated the Table of Shewbread, representing God's great provision. The light of God shows God's provision, and always is cast forward, illuminating us in the present, even showing us what is to come. This light represents the Holy Spirit, a light that reveals what is really going on in our hearts.

Then comes the ceremonial recognition of the Levites, who would work in the Tent of Meeting. I found it interesting that it was not just a few who placed hands on them, but the whole community, recognizing their role as mediators of God's justice and grace, righteousness and reconciliation between the community and holy God. These men were substitutes for the firstborn males from all of Israel. In Egypt, God "took" them, either in death (to those who refused the blood of the lamb on the doorpost) or in life (the blood of the lamb being their substitutionary atonement). In the wilderness, the Levites were the "stand-ins" for the rest of Israel, and they were recognized for this. They especially belonged to God, set aside to serve Him. They were to have families, then spend arguably their best years as priests of service.

That's the thing. What do you seek recognition for? What do any of us seek recognition for? Biblically, at least in this case, people are recognized for service. Just thinking about it, I can't think of many positive associations made in the Bible with people who sought to be recognized. Nebuchadnezzar sought it... and wound up mooing and eating grass for awhile (see Daniel 4). Solomon sought it, and the kingdom split into two after his death, and he seemed to live out many of his years totally messing up (as he messed around), and if you read some of his writings, I think it's safe to say he was depressed much of the time.

The Bible heroes I think of, for the most part, weren't looking to be recognized. They served God, and are recognized for their service.

So what about now?

• In your home, do you seek recognition as the leader of your home, or do you look for ways to serve your spouse and/or your children?
• In your neighborhood, would you rather be recognized as the owner of the most pristine house and lawn, or the one that goes out of the way to do something nice... dropping off a little bag of cookies or bread, or randomly mowing someone's lawn, or taking the time to have a conversation with the little old lady across the street who is, frankly, lonely?
• In your church, how do you feel about recognition as a leader? Is it your right to tell someone what to do, or to listen? To serve? Are you OK with taking hits for the gospel? For sticking with the mission even when others think it's time to change course? Or to make changes when needed and avoiding unneeded stubbornness?

Sometimes we get burned for serving. At work, many of us are almost expected to step on others to get where we want to be (an unfortunate side-effect of capitalism and free-market enterprise, and a human nature that manifests itself in other forms of society too). Yet the way of Jesus, the way of God's society dating back to the days of Numbers, is to serve. To be a "priest" that seeks the justice and grace of God to share with others.

What would you like to be recognized for?