Are We God's ALONE?

“You must put four tassels on the hem of the cloak with which you cover yourself—on the front, back, and sides. [Deuteronomy 22.12]

Although I have speculated on this passage before (Four Tassels?), today I realize there is actually a very good explanation for this distinction and it is found in Numbers:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the LORD instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the LORD your God!” [Numbers 15.37-41]

Although I am sure there is some deep revelation as to why there are "four" tassels, the significance is seen simply in their existence. The four tassels distinguish the person wearing them as a worshiper of God alone. 

Why do I emphasize God "alone" in the paragraph above? I do so because of the last part of Numbers 15.37-41:

I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the LORD your God!” [Numbers 15.37-41]

God and "the land of Egypt" have quite the documented history. The fact that God brought His people "out of the land of Egypt" makes a clear distinction of God in His omniscience. And, it is here we should understand that this distinction has everything to do with the prevention of idolatry. Consider this:

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!” The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry. [Exodus 32.1-6]

From the time God distinguished Himself as the "God who delivered His people out of Egypt," the title was established that idols have competed for ever since. The occasion of Exodus 32.1-6 contains the defining characteristics of idols:

• They are the result of impatience (the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain)
• They are man-made (make us some gods)
• They are costly (the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron)
• They claim glory that is not theirs (O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!)
• They induce guilt that needs to include God (Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!)
• They lead to pagan revelry (they indulged in pagan revelry)

But this article is not about idols. It is about tassels. The tassels are an intentional and distinct reminder to God's people that they are His alone and therefore tassels cannot be discussed without discussing idolatry.

Tassels also serve as an intentional witness to all others that the person wearing them is distinctly God's alone. This also means, "no idols."

The question looms over us then: "Are there any distinct indicators in our lives that we are God's alone?" Or, do we look and act (are we 'slaves to Egypt') just like everyone else?

Jesus was no less demanding for distinction that we are His (God's):

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]  

Father, I feel pretty good not having mentioned debt, insurance, medicine and technology as the four major idol groups of our day... That said, help us to see that idolatry is not that hard to recognize if we indeed know the symptoms for what idols are. Open our eyes to the reality of idols born of our ways of impatience, man-made solutions, where our money goes, the glory we give, the need (guilt) we feel to justify our solutions, and the general pagan revelry surrounding man-made solutions. Help us to make a distinction in our lives so that our ways - or the ways we give up - serve as tassels to say that we are Yours alone. So be it.