Sticks and stones.

"When the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day... they put him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. Then the LORD said to Moses, 'The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him outside the camp.'"

(Numbers 15:32-35)

Group dynamics are tricky. Just ask any local, state or national leader right now in the midst of this global pandemic of COVID-19. Yes, I know there are multiple factors to consider when it comes to how we should be relating to one another: the economy, public health, mental health, etc. But let's set that aside for a moment and look at an interesting story from the book of Numbers in the OT.

God has led the Israelite people out of captivity in Egypt (with a little help from his friend, Moses)... he's provided for them in the wilderness (water, manna, quail, etc.)... he's given them "rules for living together" (including the infamous 10 Commandments)... and basically shown them time and again that he is present with them in this crazy new season of their lives.

One of the "rules for living together" concerns the Sabbath. One day a week that people are to REST... and trust that God will provide. No work shall be done whatsoever. In fact, God has promised to give double provisions of food on the day before the Sabbath, so they need not worry.

Well, in Numbers 15 someone is found gathering sticks on the Sabbath (we assume so he can start a fire to cook something or to stay warm). Now, on the surface, it doesn't look like that big of a deal, does it? It's just a few sticks. But aside from being a direct breaking of one of God's "rules for living together," it also smacks of not trusting God! (Or a definite lack of preparation in gathering enough sticks prior to the Sabbath!)

The result: he's stoned to death. Which, I admit, seems brutally harsh. But the writer of Numbers seems to indicate that God wanted to nip this in the bud. We have "rules for living together" for a reason! It's for our own personal, physical, mental, spiritual, and relational health. God is laying out what's best for his people. Will they trust him? Will they obey? Will they cultivate a society where the good of all is lifted up over the desires of a few?

So now, about today...