The story in Numbers 12 is a fascinating tale of racism. Moses’ sister and brother, Miriam and Aaron “spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married.”
“For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another…
“What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” Easy answer — from others.
“Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out.” (Numbers 9:22)
In one of his most exemplary sentences, Paul exclaims, “the only thing that counts is faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6b)
We are at the core of Paul’s teaching here.
“Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do.”
“The rich person toils to amass a fortune, and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties. The poor person toils to make a meager living, and if he ever rests he becomes needy.”
But sometimes we can keep our eyes on Jesus, the stillpoint of calm in the center of the storm, and we can walk through the storm.
“How can you meet gentiles half way (not keep food laws), then require them to go the whole way (be circumcised)?”
“My dear brother, I fear we have undertaken to steer a ship through the waves of an angry sea, and we can neither succeed in our task, nor without sin abandon it… ”