They did as the Lord commanded...

You may often read the Old Testament and ask your self, "What’s the point"? It's mostly a historical story that is questionable whether it applies to our lives or not. There are some analogies that are useful, but we don't follow the law because we're under grace. Right? Not exactly. If you look twice, you will see that it is more than just historical. It's radical.

The phrase that I have seen many times in Exodus and Numbers is "They did as the Lord commanded." Many of us wish that God would tell us specifically what He wants us to do, but let me remind you that when you know exactly what you are supposed to do, then it is your responsibility to do it. Sometimes the struggle is knowing what to do, but often, I think that many of us simply don't want to do it.

Moses would meet with God daily and listen to instruction and follow it. Take this animal...kill it in this manner...with a hin of oil...place the blood on your right ear lobe, right thumb, and right big toe...don't touch certain things...do certain things...etc, etc. God was very specific and we again consider the phrase, "they did as the Lord commanded." These were not old customs that God was restarting and reminding them about. These were nutty, off the wall, requirements that came out of nowhere. But God made it clear that He had chosen these people, that he was trustworthy, and then gave them instructions. Are times so different today?

Don't think of daily time with God as a requirement (mainly because it's not). We don't meet with Him every day because we have to; we meet with Him every day because we want to. God wants us to live relationally with Him every day so that we don't drift to the left or to the right. His ideas are sometimes radical, but His ways are good. How do you know He is good? You won't know the first time you trust Him. That's why they call it trust. But the second time, you'll remember the first; the third time you'll remember the second; until one day you won't know any different. Then you wouldn't think of going about your day without Him because to do so would be like heading out without directions and that gets you nowhere. Let the people of God show ourselves to be followers of God. Pray. Listen. Follow. Then future generations can say "they did as the Lord commanded" and they reached the heights of success.