Two passages stood out in my morning study, and clearly they are related.
In the first passage God has instructed the people to create a tassel on their garments as a constant reminder of His commandments, lest they follow their own ideas of what is good or evil:
“And it shall be to you a tassel to look upon and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to go after wantonly. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” (Num 15:39-41)
Then, in the very next chapter just 4 verses away:
“They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them; why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” (Num 16:3)
It is SO EASY to see myself in those passages – following my own heart and eyes, deceiving myself, deciding that what “I” want and desire is good even when I know it opposes what God has said.
And how easily is the same thing seen in society? Nevermind what God commands … we’ll wantonly decide for ourselves what is good and right! Nothing is wrong! Everyone is holy!
Only that’s the lie, isn’t it? We are not all holy; things are not good nor evil because we decide so, no matter what the world tells us. Truth exists and we know where to seek it.
But will we?
Will I?
Oh God, please make me meek and humble, willing to receive whatever You give to me. Help me surrender my will to yours; open my eyes and ears and heart to You, to Truth. amen.
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