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Numbers 18:29 – Numbers 23:23

Have you ever read the scripture in first Nephi that talks about the people who were bit by the fiery flying serpents and wondered what that was all about?

For years I was intrigued by the phrase in chapter seventeen which reads, “and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.”  (1 Nephi 17:41)

In essence, all the people had to do to be healed from these bites was to look.  But it was too simple.  Too easy.  Instead, they perished.

I always wanted to know more of that story. I wanted to understand more of the details.

…I don’t want to be the person who becomes disillusioned by the simpleness  ––the person who forgets to look.  Every time I read that verse in the Book of Mormon I want to know how to avoid that mistake.

One of my favorite parts of this daily journey so far is the fact that what I am learning  from the Old Testament is strengthening my understanding of what I have read previously in the Pearl of Great Price, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.  Today what I am reading in Numbers 21 is strengthening my testimony of what I have read before in 1 Nephi 17, and in Alma 33.  My eyes are being opened, and I am gaining a deeper understanding through knowledge I didn’t have before.  The Old Testament is teaching me to look at things in a different way.

It is teaching me to look.

In today’s reading that lesson is taught twice.

First, we are taught about the people “who were much discouraged because of the way.” (Numbers 21:4)  I know what it is to be discouraged because of the way.  In those moments we lose sight of the goal, focusing instead on what is getting us down.

In the midst of this discouragement the people began to murmur.  It wasn’t new murmuring, it was the same complaints they stumbled upon every time:

Why did we leave Egypt? To die in the wilderness?

I read this familiar line, “and our soul loatheth this light bread,” (Numbers 21:5) and it breaks my heart to think the people were so discouraged they again began to loath the miracles and daily tender mercies of the Lord.

Because of the murmuring the Lord sent fiery flying serpents among the people.  Those who were bit, died.  As they became humbled from this plague they begged Moses to ask the Lord to take away the serpents.

The Lord’s answer for healing was simple.  Easy.

Look.

And live.

But Nephi tells us they didn’t.  Because of the simpleness.  Because it was too easy.

In our day the promise is the same.   “Look to God and live.” (Alma 37:47) But how often does the simpleness, or the easiness of that suggestion fall by the wayside?  How simple, or easy, is it to become distracted?

Look.

In case we missed the lesson the first time, the book of Numbers teaches it again.  This time through the story of Balaam.

Balak offered Balaam money and cattle and great honor if he would curse Israel.  But the Lord made it clear that was not what He wanted Balaam to do, “thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”  (Numbers 22:12)

Balaam knew he shouldn’t go, and yet he rose in the morning, saddled his ass, and went.

The Lord wasn’t happy with his choice.  An angel of the Lord stood in the way so that he wouldn’t be able to proceed.

But Balaam didn’t look.

The ass saw the angel and would not proceed.  After much struggle between the ass, and the rock and the hard place, and the narrow way, finally the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in his way.

His response is important, “I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way…” (Numbers 22:34)

I knew not.

Why didn’t he simply look?

Today I am taking counsel from Nephi and the lesson I learned today from Numbers…

“And the labor which they had to perform was to look.”

Today I am going to look.

…for healing, for direction, for counsel, for answers, for miracles, for daily tender mercies…

for whatever it is the Lord wants me to see.

Today.

 

 

 

 

 Numbers 15:2 – Numbers 18:28

Last night my family was invited to a celebration.

We gathered to a high mountain overlooking the valley below, with friends who had come to remember.

There we spoke reverently of a sweet girl born on a February day two years ago.  She was privileged to spend a few hours with her tender mother, doting father, dear sister, and brave brothers.  Just long enough to leave a gentle impression on their hearts, and then she returned home to Heaven.

Yesterday was her birthday.

In honor of her memory, her mother asked that we write down a celebration in our life and tie it to the end of a balloon.

…because in her mother’s heart this dear, sweet baby will always be remembered as a celebration…

So our thoughts were drawn inward, and we pondered happy things, and we wrote down our celebrations on pale pink cards and tied them with a bright bow to the end of a pink balloon.

We stood there in a circle, and we sang softly, a melody of words to remind us that families can be forever.  The testimony of that truth burned in my heart and streamed in wet tears down my cheeks.

Then, the baby’s mother asked us to let go of our balloons.

In celebration.

And we remembered.

And our eyes lifted heavenward.

Today Moses teaches a lesson on the importance of remembering.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments…that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart…that ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy.”  (Numbers 15:38-40)

I love this thought of fringes.

Do we have fringes today?

Just like the pink balloons, which led our hearts to remember, and our eyes to draw heavenward?

Do we have fringes that we can look upon to remind us of the commandments of the Lord?  To lead our hearts to remember, and to draw our eyes heavenward…

I wanted to think I might, so I wandered around my house looking.

For fringes.

Reminders placed around my home that would help me remember all the commandments of the Lord.

…there up the stairway, a reminder of our family mission statement…

…and in the family room, three keys ––family prayer, FHE, family scripture study…

…and in the girl’s room…

…and Grace’s favorite painting of the Savior…

…and Meg’s necklace for Sunday’s…

…and our General Conference Quote Wall…

…and the table in the front hall…

As I wandered I began to realize there are fringes all around us.  In our clothing, our home decor, our jewelry.  Reminders quietly prompting us to consider the commandments.  Lifting our hearts heavenward.

Can you think of some fringes in your own life?

Would you like to add more?

Today try to think of one tangible item that reminds you to keep the commandments of the Lord.

“And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember…” (Numbers 15:39)

 

 

Numbers 10:3 – Numbers 15:1

Sometimes we are led to discover great heroes in the scriptures.

Today that is our opportunity.

From twelve men who were chosen because of their bravery, their leadership, and their character, two stand out as heroes.

Caleb, who had another spirit with him and followed the Lord fully. (Numbers 14:24)

And Joshua, whose name was changed from Oshea, meaning help, to Jehoshua, meaning Jehovah is help.  The same Joshua who Moses counseled to be strong and of a good courage. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The heroic endeavors of these two men were a direct result of their character.  They were men who fully followed the Lord and who were strong and of good courage.

But this is not all.

Of the twelve men who saw the Promised Land, ten saw great walls and a strong army.  They spoke of giants and compared themselves to grasshoppers.  They brought back an evil report.

Only two brought back a good report.  They spoke of a land flowing with milk and honey.  They saw the danger, but were not hindered, saying, “let us go up at once…for we are well able to overcome it.”  (Numbers 13:30)

Two of the twelve were filled with optimism.  With hope.  With faith.  Nothing was going to hold them back from what the Lord had asked them to accomplish.

Two heroes.

One who fully followed the Lord.

One who believed Jehovah is help.

Caleb and Joshua.

Strong men of a great courage who knew the Lord was with them.  (Numbers 14:9)

A great promise was given to these two heroes.  Because of their devotion.  Because of their bravery.  Because they fully followed the Lord.  Of the entire generation, only these two were allowed to enter the Promised Land.  ”Surely none of the men shall see…because they have not wholly followed me:  Save Caleb…and Joshua…for they have wholly followed the Lord.”  (Numbers 32:11-12)

I wish I could tell you how much I admire these two men ––how much I respect their devotion and their courage.  I wish I could explain the respect I have for these two heroes who I look up to, and have looked up to for many, many years.

I don’t know if I have words powerful enough to convey that admiration or respect…but perhaps you would allow me to try.

Twenty years ago our oldest son was born.  We wanted to name him after someone he could look up to.  After months of searching we were led to read the story of the two spies in the book of Numbers.  After gaining a profound respect for these two men who fully followed the Lord, we decided to name our oldest son Caleb.

Today his greatest gift is his obedience.  His life has enabled him to gain great wisdom.  He has the Spirit with him.  He is someone who fully follows the Lord.

Eighteen months after Caleb was born we were blessed with a second son.  We knew he and his brother would be inseparable…friends…companions.  We also immediately knew what we wanted to name this second son…companion and friend to Caleb.  Inseparable in belief and devotion.

His name would be Joshua.

Today his greatest gift is his strength of testimony.  The events of his life have enabled him to gain great courage.  Jehovah is his help.  He is someone who fully follows the Lord.

We could not have chosen better role models for our two sons.

Caleb is currently serving a mission in Croatia.

Joshua leaves in 9 days for the Atlanta Georgia Mission.

Nine days…

Both my boys away from home on an errand for the Lord.  An errand they have approached with optimism.  With hope.  With faith.  They are not afraid of the obstacles they may face.  Together their attitude has always been, “let us go up at once…for we are well able to overcome it.”

Their strength and courage comes from each other and from their testimony of the Lord who they have learned to fully follow.

I wish I could tell you how much I admire them ––how much I respect their devotion and their courage.  I wish I could explain the respect I have for these two boys who I look up to, and who I will look up to for many, many years.

Caleb and Joshua.

Oh, how I love these heroes…both those in Numbers, and those in Croatia and Georgia.

Leviticus 26:32 – Numbers 10:2

My first thought after finishing the last verse of Leviticus was, why is the next book called Numbers?

And then I started to read.

I tried to keep track of all of the numbers in my head ––the men, the tribes, the tents.  They even numbered the sacrifices ––by weight, by quantity, by the bowls they were brought in.  The more I read, the more numbers I came across, and the more the name began to make sense…

But why keep a record of so many numbers?

With this careful counting of men and tribes was the Lord trying to teach us a lesson?  I am reminded of a verse from the book of Moses, “all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.”  (Moses 1:36)

Was the Lord trying to help us understand the worth of a soul?  Because before they started this great journey into the wilderness a census was taken, and every person was accounted for.  Numbered.  Was the hope that not one would be lost?

If you research the title you will learn the Hebrew Bible shows the name of this book as Journey Through the Wilderness.

After crossing the Red Sea, after spending two years receiving the laws and commandments and preparing, the children of Israel began their Journey Through the Wilderness.  After they were numbered.

“And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up form off the tabernacle of the testimony.  And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai.”  (Numbers 10:11-12)

As I pictured the beginning of this journey I couldn’t help but think of the pioneers.  I remembered the Jaredites.  And I wondered, must all of the Lord’s children travel through a wilderness place before they reach their Promised Land?

Must I?

And if so, will this book of Numbers, this Journey Through the Wilderness, teach me lessons that will help me get through my own wilderness places?

Today I have started a small journal.  I want to record the lessons contained within this book.

This weekend we will learn several lessons that could be applied to our own wilderness places…

The importance of numbering each follower so all are accounted for, so none will be lost. (Numbers 1)

The importance of inviting others to join with us on the journey with the promise “that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same we will do unto thee.”  (Numbers 10:29-32)

The importance of learning to literally follow the Lord.  When He told Israel to stay, they stayed.  When He told them to journey, they journeyed.  I want to learn how to literally follow the Lord in my wilderness places.  (Numbers 9:16-23)

The importance of always expressing gratitude for the tender mercies along the way.  I don’t ever want to say, “there is nothing at all, beside this, before our eyes.”  (Numbers 11:6)  I want my heart to be full of gratitude, and my eyes to recognize His hand all along the journey.

My favorite part is that this Journey Through the Wilderness began with a blessing from the Lord to Moses,

“On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel;

and I will bless them.”

Wherever you are on your journey, whatever your wilderness place may be, remember you are numbered of the Lord.  He will bless thee, and keep thee.

Watch for Him along the way.

 

 

Leviticus 23:13 – Leviticus 26:31

I had an opportunity to talk with my good friend Brother Butler about the chapters we are reading today.  As he spoke about the lessons contained within I could feel his great love for what we were about to read.  His enthusiasm for the subject was contagious even though I hadn’t even started reading.  I couldn’t wait to start.  I wanted to love the lesson he was trying to teach me as much as he did.

Because of his enthusiasm overflowing I asked if he would mind writing the blog today.

He obliged.

Prepare your heart for a happy lesson…

When I was in Jerusalem, I fell in love with the Sabbath.

Someone had told me before I went that I needed to go to the Western Wall of the ancient temple to welcome in the Sabbath with the faithful gatherers.  “Do not miss it,” they pleaded.

All day Friday people scampered to prepare their homes and lives for the upcoming day. (The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday night).  People greeted and parted with the phrase Shabbat Shalom, which means literally, “Peaceful Sabbath.”  The streets bustled as the sun was setting.  It felt like a Christmas Eve.  There was anticipation in the air.  It was thick.  It was contagious.

As I approached the wall, Jews dressed in traditional garb scurried to the remaining ruins with their ringlets bouncing as they rushed pass, often with children following quickly in their shadows.  The excitement was brewing.  I felt like I was going to miss something if I didn’t run.  I couldn’t help but quicken my own pace.  I started to laugh silently.  I was getting giddy about an unknown gift.

For over 400 years the Israelites were in bondage to the Egyptians.

For over 400 years they were slaves.

Tired, beaten, tear-filled slaves.

They plead for a deliverer.

Then they were free.

And this was cause for celebration!

As I read through the end of the Book of Leviticus, my eye is drawn to words like feast, trumpets, celebrations, jubilee.  I notice they are all associated with worship.  How appropriate.

When Israel left Egypt, the Lord introduced days of feasts and Sabbaths as a way to reverence the Lord, to remember Him, to remember His deliverance, and as a “perpetual covenant” and “sign” between them forever.  This would be the way people would recognize God’s people.  They would celebrate their Sabbaths—because now they could!

This feeling has not left the land of Jerusalem.  As the sun set that beautiful Sabbath eve, I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds.  I heard voices reciting scripture.  I heard voices in song.  I heard parents speaking, with children repeating.  Teaching moments.  I heard voices in prayer.  There were varied emotions in their voices as I imagine some pleaded for help and others poured out their heart in thanksgiving.  I hear the Islamic calls for prayer as the Muslims ended their own Sabbath celebrations.  It was a symphony of sound.  I felt like I was in a distant, different world in a time now past, and yet felt surprisingly at home.  Years later, my heart longs to relive the memory.

As the minutes passed, the excitement rose.  Soon the voices in quiet song turned to shouting and rejoicing.  The people began to form circles and run and dance and jump and cheer as they welcomed the Sabbath in like an honored guest and cherished friend.  It was if they hadn’t met in years.  Sundown set off the Fourth of July.  I stood in the middle of it all and soaked it in.  I laughed and sang with them.  It is a memory that is making my heart happy right now.

As I stood there, I learned a powerful lesson.  Years of learning rules and restrictions melted away, and my heart began to embrace the Sabbath as a day of jubilee.  A day of quiet jubilee.  A new feeling for this holy day was being branded in my heart.  I want this feeling to permeate my home forever.

Though I have never felt the wear of Egyptian chains, I have felt the pain of death, sin, disappointment, regret, and other far more heavy burdens.

I have foolishly allowed “the Pharoah” to bind me down.

Bind me as a slave.

A tired, beaten, tear-filled slave.

I have plead for deliverance.

And Jesus set me free.

So blow the trumpets I say.  Because once a week I get to worship my Deliverer.  Once a week I get to enjoy my spiritual freedom.  Once a week I get to relish in refreshing redemption.

Welcome! Welcome!  Sabbath morning!  Now we rest from all our cares.

Today there is reason to remember.

Today there is reason to reverence.

Today there is reason to celebrate!

Shabbat Shalom.