Summaries:
God tells Moses to send a scout (prince) from each tribe to check out the land, and they come back reporting that the land is wonderful, but they report that people are too fierce to conquer and they spread this news to the Israelites (13). The Israelites complain and talk of electing a new leader, but Joshua and Caleb (two of the scouts) tell them that if God wants the land for them, He will make it happen, so don't rebel. The Lord wants to wipe out these people, but Moses pleads with him to stay faithful, so the Lord pardons them and gives them an alternate route. God punishes those who grumbled with 40 years in the desert, and the scouts that spread bad news with death (all the scouts except Caleb and Joshua) (14). God gives more rules regarding sacrifices and sin offerings, instructs punishment for a man working on the sabbath day, and instructs tassles to be places on garments as reminders to keep the Commandments (15). People rebel against Moses and God, and God punishes them (16).
Reflections:
We often complain to/about God when we feel like his plan doesn't quite make sense or we don't think it's that great. But I need I remind myself that God's plan makes a whole lot more sense than my own, and sometimes we just don't know what the next chapter will be, and instead of complaining, we ought to see what God has next for us.
And always trusting in God and his mercy. That's huge too.
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Tassels are a reminder of the Commandments!? No wonder they're used in ecclesial and liturgical furnishings so much! (I knew they were important, but I didn't realize they were divinely inspired for this reason. That's awesome. :D
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