Numbers 11 says the people complained and God started a fire!
Now, many questions remain unanswered in this story. That means there are several explanations for various parts of it.
Today, I am reflecting on an answer to one part of the story: The fire's location.
The fire started at the edge of the camp. As we see Israel in the wilderness, remember these are not tourists taking the scenic route. In a sense, they were marching like an army. In the ancient world, an enemy would attack the outskirts of the opposing army first. The edges were the most exposed and vulnerable parts. When danger came, people moved inward, closer to the protected center.
So, maybe the fire was doing more than punishing their complaints. Maybe it was calling them closer.
Now, Numbers doesn't tell us what the people said. But it seems that their complaints revealed that their hearts were moving from the God who had rescued them.
Take all that together, and we can say that it is possible to be inside the camp while living at its edges.
We can stay around the things of God while slowly moving away from God. We can attend worship, say our prayers, and know the right words all the while letting resentment, fear, and cynicism pull us toward the outskirts. We are still present, but no longer close.
Then something starts burning.
Something in a relationship happens, or our patience vanishes, or our joy dries up. To be sure, not every hardship is God’s judgment. But consider that the smoke around us may be showing us just how far we have wandered.
Thankfully, the people cry out to Moses, Moses prays, and the fire dies down. God's mercy endures.
I’m not convinced at all that God is trying to drive you away. Maybe that smoke is God calling you closer.
Stay blessed...john
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