20060322
    In this reading in numbers, we see the passage of some of the Israelite’s early leaders into death, as God had promised that they would all die before the nation entered the Holy Land. This reality reflects one of the great truths of the Bible, and that is that God always keeps His word.
    While we see death, especially death as a punishment for sin, as a negative, we see in the deaths of Miriam and Aaron the proof that God follows through on everything He promises to do. As God tells us in Isaiah 55:10-12, His word will always accomplish whatever He intends.
    For us as Christians, this is a message of hope. We can see from the tale of His Old Testament people that He followed through on whatever He promised, both the promises of Grace and the other promises. If we see this record of fulfillment, how much less should we expect the promises yet to be fulfilled to be completed in their due time? It is this hope to which we cling in our journey of faith.
DLH
