Community First

(I've finished Leviticus and am now reading my way through Numbers. Today I've read Numbers chapters 1-2. How about you join me in reading the Bible today?)

Numbers 1:1-4 NLT

A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. On the first day of the second month of that year he said, “From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their clans and families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You and Aaron must register the troops, and you will be assisted by one family leader from each tribe.

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First things first, I'm convinced that for the most part the Bible should be read as God's autobiographical manifesto. As Jesus said from Genesis through Malachi the scripture is about Him.

So when I read any portion of the whole I have to be careful to interpret the details with reference to God's plan.

For instance God's grace in salvation achieved in the death of Jesus is the guiding principle of God's strategy . So since grace is the protocol works and law must serve to expand our understanding of grace.

It is the prioritisation of God's value system that differentiates it from all of the other cheap and easily breakable pound store copies of God's program.

A simple understanding that grace always trumps over works clears up many misunderstandings and domineering false teachings.

I'm going to suggest that God's family always comes before the individual and the community is greater than the single person.

Jesus sets this example as he lays down his rights for the good of humanity. The last humanitarian thing an individual can do is be selfish.