Friday 2 August 2024
When the people heard these harsh words, they mourned, and no one put on ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do to you.” (vs 4-5)
Background
In the previous chapter the people had taken off their ornaments to have them made into idols. In today’s passage they seemed to have a new supply of ornaments and God wanted them removed. Perhaps these new ornaments were amulets, linking them to other gods, so taking them off would be symbolic of repentance and of mourning.
In this story there is a mixture of judgement and mercy. The people are described as ‘stiff-necked’ (v. 5). Because of their disobedience, a rift had developed between the holiness of God and the behaviour of the people. They were told to move on towards Canaan, which showed that God's promise remained. However, they were to move away from the mountain of God, and there was certainly doubt in Moses’ mind about God’s continued presence with them.
Perhaps we can imagine the mixture of excitement and unease. There would be excitement as at last the journey had a sense of direction and destination, and unease because the people were leaving behind the place where God had spoken to them through Moses. How would they get instruction along the way? Moses had been told that an angel would go with them, but God wouldn’t travel with them. This again suggests the gulf that had developed between God and the people because of their rebellion. God’s full holiness could not go on alongside the sinfulness of the people despite their repentance. Moses was to pitch a tent of meeting outside the circle of the people’s tents. When the cloud of the presence of God did descend, they could only worship at a distance. This was judgement upon them but also reveals mercy, for God was still travelling with them albeit in a different way. The relationship remained even if God only occasionally appeared, and an angel led them on the journey rather than God’s presence.
To Ponder:
- Many non-conformist chapels were built on the edge of the village, perhaps because of opposition from the parish church, a judgement not of God but of humans. What do you know of the history of your church or chapel and why it was built where it is?
- Chapels were also often built in a corner of land donated to the cause, possibly a piece that was of little value for farming or that wouldn’t mean a great loss in income. In God’s mercy that which seems worthless is shown to be of great value.
Prayer
As we, like the people of God in our story, find ourselves on the move with places of worship closing, uncertain whether your presence will still be with us, reveal to us how and where you are at work beyond the traditional walls of worship. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Pamela Cram
Pamela worked in several circuits and ecumenical posts in Wales before retiring in the Swansea Valley, where she is involved in a non-denominational community project; a church partnership with a Welsh independent church; and action for Fairtrade.