The Crimson Thread of Christmas – Numbers

Greetings Dear Reader,

Foreshadowing and symbols are the timbre of our tapestry.  As we weave each thread through the framework we gather an idea of the symbols and what them mean.  Even the most adventurous plans meet with difficulty.  If not the story would be bland.

Israel has such a strong presence of God to guide them.  The cloud and the fire guide them.  They complain about thirst and the rock gives them water.  They complain about the lack of variety and God gives them quail.  They complain once too often and God sends them serpents. 

The people God has chosen and rescued reject him over and over.  No matter what he does the Creator never quite measures up for them.  He does not do things the way they wish so they disobey and complain. 

They complain again and the serpents bite and kill.  God tells Moses to make a symbol of the serpent.  He says to the people that all they have to do look at the symbol of their death and they will be healed.  It works.  It is a clear portent of a future time when we can look up to a raised symbol of death and find life.

These wandering former slaves have all the evidence they need that God is with them.  They are living the hope that is carried on the call for Emmanuel.  We will do this.  We will have all we need to have faith and follow.  We will have the opportunity see what can come of belief and choose to reject God because he does not do things our way.

We will, like Israel, worship the symbol instead of who it symbolizes.  We will demand that God fit into our mold instead of following the cloud and fire as he leads.  As we approach Advent the symbols will abound.  We must look past them to the Messiah they portend.  In him the tapestry is complete.    

Lift up the Suffering Symbol  - Michael Card

They grew tired of bread form heaven

And of Moses and of God

They longed to live the life of slavery once again

So they muttered and they grumbled

And they whimpered and they whined;

With each faithless word, sank deeper into sin

He took the pen of pain once more

To write upon their hearts

The lesson they had been so slow to learn

But writing in the sand, the fiery serpents came to call

With a holy message and a bite that burned

Lift up the suffering symbol

And place it high upon a pole

Tell the children to look up and be made whole

So Moses made a metal snake,

And nailed it to a pole

Sent out the saving word so they would know

That the symbol of their suffering was now the focus of their faith

And with a faithful glance, the healing power would flow

In time the brazen serpent became an idol in the land

And they left the living God to worship clay

When they forgot their suffering

Soon true faith had disappeared

So some idolize a brazen cross today

Lift up the suffering symbol

And place it high upon a pole

Tell the children to look up and be made whole

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)