Numbers 15: The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.

39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.

40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’ ”

“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” As things change we are to… Keep a hold of what is important, rudimentary, essential The core of the faith

For the Hebrew people As they prepare to enter the land Remember What you learned in the desert God Remain faithful

Numbers 15 After you enter the land I am giving you as a home 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home 3 and you present to the L ORD offerings made by fire, from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the L ORD —

from the day the L ORD gave them and continuing through the generations to come 22 “ ‘Now if you unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the L ORD gave Moses— 23 any of the L ORD ’s commands to you through him, from the day the L ORD gave them and continuing through the generations to come— 24 … then…

remember 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the L ORD …

Remember We have an established order A process The authority of the priesthood

Numbers 16 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth— became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.

31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions.

remind 39 So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the L ORD directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the L ORD …

Numbers 17 2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff.

8 The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.

a sign 10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.”

Clarification for priests and Levites Remember Responsibilities Rights

Numbers 18 The L ORD said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your father’s family are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the priesthood.

20 The L ORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. 21 “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting”.

Remember Be holy Be clean Be pure Be remorseful

Numbers 19 2 “This is a requirement of the law that the L ORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.

9 “… They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.

God, not simply, remembers God keeps His promises Rewards and punishments

Numbers 20 … Miriam died and was buried. 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.”

10 … “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites 12 But the L ORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

They are just outside the land that was promised to them Difficulties Battles and successes

brother 14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: “This is what your brother Israel says: 17 Please let us pass through your country. 18 But Edom answered: “You may not pass through here… 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people."

Numbers 21 3 The L ORD listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.

6 Then the L ORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

Sihon king of the Amorites captured occupied 24 Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. 25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements.

Og king of Bashan took possession 35 So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

Putting it all together We suffer from memory loss Ritual is important Ritual helps us remember

Putting it all together God is God no matter where we find ourselves God is constant and consistent We are to honor, serve, worship and trust God wherever we find ourselves

Putting it all together The Lord remembers well Unlike us, he does not forget God keeps His promises God is faithful God can be counted on