Join the Feast

Read Numbers 10:1-34; Numbers 9:15-23, Exodus 40:36-38; Numbers 10:35-36; Numbers 11
 
 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 gardens, 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 also lived in tents, not the type of shelter they had known. Israel ad many new rules to follow, too. 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 writer. What’s he doing? When we review the Bible, we will find few people entered into God’s “born again” freedom easily. God is so far above us, we can never become close to him until we “take up our cross” with a humble heart to say, “Here I am.”
   Remember God’s promises so powerfully summarized in Psalm 23. 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) Can you trust that through the valley is a feast of life?
   Yes, God calls you into his freedom toward 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, so we will 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 that resisting God’s law leads to 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.”