Join the Feast

Read Numbers 10-12
 
Numbers 11:4-6 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost — also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
 
THE desert was a most unfriendly place for God to send his people, don’t you think? Although they were slaves in Egypt, the Hebrews ate vegetables from the garden, fish from the sea and meat from their herds. But now they had only a sweet-tasting flat bread and little else. As indicated, their herds were not sufficient to feed them.
    They lived in tents, not the type of shelter they had known. Israel also had many new rules to follow. This is freedom? They preferred slavery with a satisfied stomach.
    But wait a minute; the God of the universe is at work. He is the freedom giver, manna provider, tentmaker and rule maker. What’s he doing? When we review the Bible, we will see few people who entered into God’s “born again” freedom easily. God is so far above us, we can never become closer to him until we “take up our cross” through the “valley of the shadow of death” – until we deal with loss to know we can only rely on God’s merciful providence.
    Remember God’s promise. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:4-6) Through the valley is a feast of life!
    Know, too, God calls you into his freedom for an eternity of joy and wonder, feasting in his love. On our way there, we must recognize the valleys are strengthening times. These are times to conquer evil, to “resist the devil” and to proclaim Christ crucified, risen and ascended. We lean on him to learn from him.
    Yes, sin can look inviting and comfortable. But even as the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye (Genesis 3:5a) we must know objecting to God’s law is death. In Christ, our lives are not slaves to sin. We are free to love and worship our eternal God, so we can join the feast forever!
 
The Flowing Cup: Luke 22:18-19 “For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”