A Mountain Of Rules

So Moses gave all of these instructions to the people of Israel as the LORD had commanded him. [Numbers 29.40] 

When the One Year Chronological Bible reading involves sections of Scripture like today's reading, I am overwhelmed with the mountain of rules. To consider that the priests of that day even partially knew and somewhat followed these instructions is simply amazing.

As I consider what God is saying to me today through the OYCB passages for today, I find myself resigning to the fact that my written response will likely be short. As I consider the mountain of instructions to be kept, I realize how far removed I am from the obedience demanded therein and usually have very little to say about it.

However today, the mountain of rules detailed in today's reading reminds me that Jesus had something to say about mountains:

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” [Mark 11.22-25]

For the purposes of my writing today, the imposing mountain of rules presented by the Old Testament should very much be seen in light of Jesus' discussion about faith in the passage above. In complete faith in Christ and Christ alone for our salvation (in Jesus' name), we are given the encouragement to "speak to the rules" - that mountain that indicts us - telling it to get out of our way.

The Apostle Paul made the direct correlation that speaking the Name of Jesus in faith is the key to the salvation of God:

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [Romans 10.9] 

As Jesus stated in Mark's Gospel, it takes faith to move the mountain of rules that stands between us and God's peace. Paul confirms that that peace is obtained by faith:

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [Romans 5.1] 

So, the more we survey the mountain of rules that stands between us and God, the more we can be thankful for Jesus Christ Who satisfied the demands of those rules - not in keeping them, but in suffering on our behalf the penalty for us breaking them! 

However, we are not relieved of the responsibility to "believe." Faith is first revealed through words - not spoken like a parrot, but spoken from a heart that genuinely believes. Then, faith is further revealed as we walk right through where the mountain once stood. Yes.

Here is my confession today: "To the mountain of detailed rules that separates me from God found in Numbers 27 through 29 (and all the Law of Moses for that matter), I say, 'get out of the way because I believe that Jesus paid the full price for my inability to abide by your demands.' So be it!"