Numbers 1: God’s Yardstick
Friday, December 30, 2022
We human beings always want to know how many, how much, or how often; we seem consumed with counting and itemizing. We are driven by data; we want our sports teams to be first rather than second or third. Some of the techniques used by writers of both ancient epic poetry and modern magical realism are similar and they have to do with numbers: listing, enumerating, and exaggeration of how much, how many and how often. Is this why we are constantly placing ourselves against the yardstick of others rather than self? Is it an innate quality we humans have to want to be higher, lower, bigger, smaller, greater, less, best, worst at something?
It is good news that God relates to us as individuals and urges us to rise to our personal best – without comparing ourselves to anyone or anything else.
Today we read about how the Hebrew nation takes great pains to count itself; even the enumerators are named. Some tribes are large, some small, and this will later determine the amount of territory they receive in the Promised Land. Perhaps we subconsciously worry about the attention we receive from God or others – will we be too small or too unimportant to catch anyone’s notice?
This is the traditional time of year when we look to past and future, stepping from one year to another. Really, it is a time like any other but it is such a good time to assess as we plan to move forward into a new year.
As we end another cycle, it is also a good time to thank God for all God has done for us – particularly in this last year. Some of us will have long lists of new intentions, others shorter but lists nonetheless. As we are making our own enumeration, we may want to pray Psalm 96 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all you lands. Sing to the Lord; bless God’s name; announce God’s salvation, day after day.
Even when life is bleak there will be something to celebrate. We may not see this in our moment of suffering, but eventually we do. After pain comes relief, then finally joy. After sorrow comes release, then understanding. After tears, there is a time to sing. Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all you lands. Sing to the Lord; bless God’s name; announce God’s salvation, day after day.
Let us count ourselves in a new way, using God’s measure of success rather than our own. Let us count ourselves as the faithful, the steadfast, the hope-filled and merciful. And let us sing a new song to bless God’s name. Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all you lands. Sing to the Lord; bless God’s name; announce God’s salvation, day after day.
As we soon move forward into a new year, we will example God’s yardstick and how we use it in our lives.
Adapted from a reflection written on December 31, 2010.
Image from: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/old-wooden-yardsticks-kae-cheatham.html
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