There is a disconnect in Numbers 17. It’s such a short chapter that you almost wonder where’s the rest of it. God was trying to put an end to the people thinking that Aaron was acting on his own initiative instead of God choosing him to be High Priest with the priestly line of succession coming from Aaron. God told Moses to have the head of each tribe bring his staff and Aaron’s staff and leave them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark. God would show definitively whose staff He chose. The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. v. 8. The people were able to look for themselves and see. The leaders took back their own staff. At God’s direction, Aaron’s was put back in front of the ark. You would think all would be good. That’s where the disconnect comes in for me. The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?” v. 12-13. What? I honestly don’t get their reaction. And that ends the Chapter.

When I typed in “without understanding the people perish” in the search engine, it took me to Proverbs 29:18: Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. NIV. In the New Living Translation: When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. The Message (MSG): If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. I’m not sure where “without wisdom the people perish” came from…but I like its’ simplicity. Each of the above translations gives a different wording but the meaning is the same. Isn’t that what we are seeing the people doing in this Chapter?

Jesus tells us: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14.

When I don’t understand something, I get confused and it scares me a bit. I can’t begin to name all the things I don’t understand – math, quantum physics, finance terminology, irrational fears, the list is endless. I remember when I came face to face with something I couldn’t comprehend and it threw me into anger with God. It was two decades ago. I couldn’t understand what I read in an article about girls in a different country being given to men in marriage after their parents received money and the plight of those girls. I was horrified reading what some girls went through and it wasn’t a stretch to connect that to the same problem of sexual exploitation throughout this world. Why did God allow any of that? I was angry and I let Him know. That was the beginning of my walk with God. I couldn’t comprehend something so vile I was in despair ruminating on it and He didn’t leave me in that despair. There was a devotional book waiting on my chair at home my Mom had sent me and I turned to the passage for that day and I found comfort in God’s intervention in my life. He might as well have said to me “turn to Me”.

There are things too big for me to understand and I accept that in my life. I don’t understand this reaction of the people but I can only imagine that seeing that staff of Aaron’s was too big for them to understand. What I understand in my walk with God, is that I am connected to Him. He is the vine, the narrow gate. If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17.

In my weakness and despair I turn to God. I wish the people had done that so many millennia ago. They would have found such comfort and strength. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27. He searches our hearts. He knows our need. Our need is great. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9. Receive what? What will be given? God.