When the Earth Ate People

Korah was a creep, with creepy friends. He led Dathan and Abiram in a rebellion against Moses that ended up with thousands dead. Numbers 16 tells the story in detail. Psalms 106 gives the cliff notes: “One day in camp some grew jealous of Moses, also of Aaron, holy priest of God. The ground opened and swallowed Dathan, then buried Abiram's gang. Fire flared against that rebel crew and torched them to a cinder.” Bad day.

In Numbers 16 it says Moses told the people to move away from Korah and his buddies, but most of their families and 250 friends stayed – and died. The people who moved could hear their screams when the earth ate them. But then comes the weirder part.

Korah’s sons survived (Num 26, I Chr 9, 26). Evidently, when Moses told the people to move away from Korah - his sons moved. They left dad to follow Moses. Later their descendents became musicians for God’s temple. They even wrote a number of the Psalms (Ps 42, 44-49, 85, 87-88).

“Choose you today who you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Dan

Blessing

In Num 6:23 Aaron was told to bless the people of Israel by saying: ‘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.’ Last week we unpacked this blessing in order to re-word it for Cottonwood. Some folks have asked for a copy of the new blessing. Here we go…

The Explanation: (Words in parenthesis contain a definition of the Hebrew words. Remember that the Hebrew words are more broad, or general than our own, creating a picture of what they want to convey.) ‘May the Lord bless (make you what He designed you to be) you and protect (put a hedge about) you. May the Lord smile on you (May He face you and make your face light up) and be gracious (bend in compassion) to you. May the Lord show you His favor (lift His face/glory to you) and give (appoint) you His peace.’

Our Cottonwood Blessing: May the Lord make you what He designed you to be, and may He put a hedge of protection around you. May His face be reflected in yours, and may He bend in compassion to you. May the Lord lift His face to yours and appoint peace for your life.

Blessings,

Dan

Climb the Mountain

I once worked at a church with a weird history (seemed weird to me anyway). They had what we called the “throne chair” for the pastor to use when on the platform. They also had a massive pulpit the size of a semi cab for the pastor to walk into (not behind – into!) when he spoke. They seemed to have huge respect for their pastors. But their history proved different. In the past, they had grumbled and criticized and dismissed their pastors, treating them with anything but respect. I couldn’t figure it out.

As their new pastor, I found this more than a bit disconcerting. I was talking to a friend about it (who didn’t go to the church), who was able to explain to me what was going on. He believed that in the past they had preferred distant respect over intimate relationship. That way, if they didn’t like what the pastor was doing, it was easier to grumble and/or dismiss the pastor than if they had really known him as a person. It was an “aha” moment for me. The chair and pulpit finally left and some of my best friends are at that church. But I wonder…

When God was up on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19:10-21, He invited everyone to climb the mountain and meet Him. But they were afraid of the thunder and lightening, the throne chair and mountain top. So – only Moses went up. And what happens next? The golden calf is worshipped. The Israelites grumble against Moses and chicken out on going into the Promised Land – and finally they reject the offer of the Messiah for the Kingdom. They preferred distant respect over intimate relationship, grumbled and complained and dismissed God. Is that us?

Jesus said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.” (Mt 11:28 msg)

Flush It

“Don’t rush me Sonny! You rush miracles, you get lousy miracles.” This great theology is from The Princess Bride. My problem is that, God often seems mighty slow – late even. So I rush Him, or go around Him, or forget Him altogether. Something has to be done – time is running out.

Remember the story of Aaron making the Golden Calf when Moses was late coming down Mt. Sinai with the 10 Commandments (Exodus 32)? Were they really being so bad? They weren’t replacing God; they were just adding the calf as a visual way to worship Him. They even sacrificed to Jehovah in front of the calf. And besides, Moses had been gone for over a month. Late again. Something had to be done – time was running out.

But Moses lost it. He burned the calf, then busted the remains into powder and poured it into the creek, forcing the people to drink it. Bizarre. Why drink the calf? My guess? So they would have to flush it. You rush miracles, you get lousy miracles.

Flush it.

Dan