I'm a fan of most of director Quentin Tarantino's films. Brimming with energy, coarse language, over-the-top violence, crackling wit, and various naughty bits, most of his films nevertheless contain characters trying to find redemption in a twisted world. His most recent film, The Hateful Eight, is an exception, featuring characters who truly live up to the film's moniker. I don't want to spoil anything here, but the even the characters who seem likable at first end up performing truly despicable deeds. (OK, there are a few more "upright" characters, but they don't last very long.) If you end up rooting for any character at all, it's for the character who's the least horrible.
Likewise, God lets the Israelites know that He didn't choose them because of their overwhelming virtuosity. As He explains in verses 4-6, everyone else is even more horrible than the Israelites. Therefore, God is using the Israelites to purge the legitimately wicked people from the land. I wonder just how deflating this was to the Israelites, or if they even recognized how special their relationship to God--the one true God--was.
I don't profess to be a peerlessly paragon of moral rectitude. I try to do the right thing, but just like most people (I suspect), I screw up and act selfishly from time to time. I have to keep in mind that whatever boons God provides me, He does so not because of my righteousness. And perhaps keeping that mindset will prevent me from depending on my own efforts, spurring me to instead rely on and listen to God.
This chapter's Moses nugget comes early on in verse 2 when he says about the residents of Canaan, "The people are strong and tall--Anakites!" Notwithstanding that "Anakite" sounds an awful lot like "Anakin," that statement doesn't mean a whole lot to anyone unfamiliar with ancient Near Eastern history--but that exclamation point lets us know that they're formidable enough to ruffle Moses's plumage. Perhaps we'd get a better sense of what Moses is talking about if we change the phrase to this: "The people are strong and tall--NBA players!" I mean, when Stephen Curry, who's 6'3", is considered a short player (and indeed he looks diminutive on the court), you have an idea of just how colossal these basketball players are. (As Curry so explosively proves, though, size isn't everything.)
Friday, June 10, 2016
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Deuteronomy 8
A couple weeks or so ago, I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time (ever, not in forever), taking the Four Mile Trail from Glacier Point down to the valley floor. Most of the trail consists of a fairly steady slope--it has to be, as it covers a 3,200-foot elevation change in those 4.8 miles--with spectacular views of Yosemite Falls along the way.
You'd think that after running a couple of half-marathons, 4.8 miles would be easy, and though the trail is nowhere near as grueling as running 13.1 miles, each mile on the trail seemed to take waaaaaay longer than a mile on flat land. By the end of the trail, my feet were a little weary.
It's remarkable, then, that during the Israelites' 40-year trek in the desert, Moses says that "Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell" (verse 4). Now, the Israelites' feet were probably a whole lot more hardy and callused than my tender tootsies, but still--trudging for 40 years without having your feet swell is rather extraordinary.
Of course, these non-distending feet just prove further God's gracious provision for the Israelites. And now, He has brought them to a land fecund with verdant fields, scrumptious crops, and even metals such as iron and copper (verse 9). But, as Moses admonishes, they must never forget that all that they have comes not from their own hands, but is given to them by God. Something God keeps reminding me of as well. Just when I think I can crow over my inestimable achievements, God invariably knocks my pride down a notch or too.
This chapter's Moses nugget is a little trivial, but many personal quirks are trivial, aren't they? In verse 15, Moses uses some choice words to describe the desert they've been wandering in for 40 years, describing it as "the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions." Even he wasn't such a big fan of the wasteland they had to travel through on the way to the Promised Land, though I suppose few people would be.
You'd think that after running a couple of half-marathons, 4.8 miles would be easy, and though the trail is nowhere near as grueling as running 13.1 miles, each mile on the trail seemed to take waaaaaay longer than a mile on flat land. By the end of the trail, my feet were a little weary.
It's remarkable, then, that during the Israelites' 40-year trek in the desert, Moses says that "Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell" (verse 4). Now, the Israelites' feet were probably a whole lot more hardy and callused than my tender tootsies, but still--trudging for 40 years without having your feet swell is rather extraordinary.
Of course, these non-distending feet just prove further God's gracious provision for the Israelites. And now, He has brought them to a land fecund with verdant fields, scrumptious crops, and even metals such as iron and copper (verse 9). But, as Moses admonishes, they must never forget that all that they have comes not from their own hands, but is given to them by God. Something God keeps reminding me of as well. Just when I think I can crow over my inestimable achievements, God invariably knocks my pride down a notch or too.
This chapter's Moses nugget is a little trivial, but many personal quirks are trivial, aren't they? In verse 15, Moses uses some choice words to describe the desert they've been wandering in for 40 years, describing it as "the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions." Even he wasn't such a big fan of the wasteland they had to travel through on the way to the Promised Land, though I suppose few people would be.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Deuteronomy 7
If you ask someone, "Is the majority correct?" hopefully, you'll get an answer along the lines of "Well, it depends on what issue you're talking about." I'll use some extreme examples so I don't offend anyone. The vast majority of the population think that jumping off the Empire State Building without a parachute or any safety device is stupid--and they'd be correct. On the other hand, at one point in history, most people thought that time and space were two completely unrelated phenomena--and those people were incorrect. Having numbers on your side can feel comforting, though--you know that you have support from others.
However, numbers have nothing to do with why God chose the Israelites. In verse 7, Moses explains, "The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other people, for you were the fewest of all peoples." From a human point of view, if you were trying to create a movement to change the world, you'd logically start with the most prolific group of people, wouldn't you? That way, you'd have less work to do and more resources to spread whatever harebrained idea that sprang from your noggin.
But God eschews such a strategy, instead choosing the Israelites because He loves them and because He doesn't break His word (verse 8). And now that Jesus died for our sins, were are all God's chosen people. Sure, once we turn to God, we may not become as ridiculously prosperous as Joel Osteen would have us believe. Unlike the Israelites, we still get sick, our businesses fail, and some couples remain barren (verses 13-15). But infinitely better than any earthly success is the treasure that awaits us in heaven. Platitudinous, I know, especially since I myself do get caught up with worldly concerns and pursuits.
This chapter's Moses nugget comes in the form of a neat little couplet that he apparently composes on the fly in verse 10: "those who hate him [God] he will repay to their face by destruction; / he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him." Moses basically says that if you spurn God, you're going to get yours, but I'm a little amused that Moses decided to use poetry to convey that little tidbit. I suppose the use of meter and rhythm does draw attention to this warning in case any of the Israelites were nodding off at this point. However, Moses has also made some equally important points without feeling the need to slip into poetry, so I wonder why he decided to do it here. Maybe his muse (which I suppose would be God) just decided to strike him here.
However, numbers have nothing to do with why God chose the Israelites. In verse 7, Moses explains, "The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other people, for you were the fewest of all peoples." From a human point of view, if you were trying to create a movement to change the world, you'd logically start with the most prolific group of people, wouldn't you? That way, you'd have less work to do and more resources to spread whatever harebrained idea that sprang from your noggin.
But God eschews such a strategy, instead choosing the Israelites because He loves them and because He doesn't break His word (verse 8). And now that Jesus died for our sins, were are all God's chosen people. Sure, once we turn to God, we may not become as ridiculously prosperous as Joel Osteen would have us believe. Unlike the Israelites, we still get sick, our businesses fail, and some couples remain barren (verses 13-15). But infinitely better than any earthly success is the treasure that awaits us in heaven. Platitudinous, I know, especially since I myself do get caught up with worldly concerns and pursuits.
This chapter's Moses nugget comes in the form of a neat little couplet that he apparently composes on the fly in verse 10: "those who hate him [God] he will repay to their face by destruction; / he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him." Moses basically says that if you spurn God, you're going to get yours, but I'm a little amused that Moses decided to use poetry to convey that little tidbit. I suppose the use of meter and rhythm does draw attention to this warning in case any of the Israelites were nodding off at this point. However, Moses has also made some equally important points without feeling the need to slip into poetry, so I wonder why he decided to do it here. Maybe his muse (which I suppose would be God) just decided to strike him here.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Deuteronomy 6
In the film Memento, directed by Christopher Nolan (who would go on to direct the Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, among other films), the main character, Leonard, is unable to form new memories after he receives a head injury. He can't really write stuff down in a notebook because he'll forget where he put the notebook. His solution is to tattoo important information on his body so that he has constant reminders of what he has to do. (I'm deliberately being vague here as one of the many pleasures of the film is witnessing how the puzzle of a plot unfolds, everything clicking neatly and dramatically into place. In fact, I think Nolan has yet to make a better film.)
As you might suspect, I don't have short-term memory loss, but I have trouble remembering stuff, especially if it's spoken and not written. (I'll use that as an excuse for why I'm bad with names of people I've just met.) Writing notes down helps me immensely--and Moses knows that reminders, even if they're not in written form, will help the Israelites immeasurably in keeping God's decrees.
In verses 6-9, Moses enumerates some ways that the Israelites can remind themselves of God's commandments: writing them on doorframes, tying them to their heads, talking about them with others. Moses emphasizes how imperative it is to pass this information on to children, using delightfully domestic, everyday imagery in verse 7: "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Children, especially in their formative years, prove remarkably malleable, which is why they need to learn values of respect, generosity, selflessness, and industriousness. In my experience, if I see a kid behaving badly, chances are it's because of poor parenting.
The Moses nugget here is the oft-quoted verse 5: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Even Jesus, the ultimate luminary, quotes this verse when asked about the greatest commandment. At the risk of sounding anal, I'll take a crack at parsing this key verse.
Loving with one's heart means that one should absolutely adore God with unrestrained emotion. When I interact with God, I should do so with a passion that far transcends my love for anything or even anyone else.
Loving with one's soul means that one's self, one's spirit, one's very identity should be aligned with God. While I don't need to be completely abstemious, I must open my eyes to the concerns that touch God's heart and allow those issues to touch my own heart.
And loving with one's strength means that one should put every last effort into loving God. I need to stop using my efforts to chase ungodly or harmful pursuits and instead devote my exertions into chasing after God--who, after all, doesn't run away from us. In fact, He actively runs toward us.
Easier said than done, of course. But I know that I shouldn't need a tattoo to remind myself of God's inimitable grace.
As you might suspect, I don't have short-term memory loss, but I have trouble remembering stuff, especially if it's spoken and not written. (I'll use that as an excuse for why I'm bad with names of people I've just met.) Writing notes down helps me immensely--and Moses knows that reminders, even if they're not in written form, will help the Israelites immeasurably in keeping God's decrees.
In verses 6-9, Moses enumerates some ways that the Israelites can remind themselves of God's commandments: writing them on doorframes, tying them to their heads, talking about them with others. Moses emphasizes how imperative it is to pass this information on to children, using delightfully domestic, everyday imagery in verse 7: "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Children, especially in their formative years, prove remarkably malleable, which is why they need to learn values of respect, generosity, selflessness, and industriousness. In my experience, if I see a kid behaving badly, chances are it's because of poor parenting.
The Moses nugget here is the oft-quoted verse 5: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Even Jesus, the ultimate luminary, quotes this verse when asked about the greatest commandment. At the risk of sounding anal, I'll take a crack at parsing this key verse.
Loving with one's heart means that one should absolutely adore God with unrestrained emotion. When I interact with God, I should do so with a passion that far transcends my love for anything or even anyone else.
Loving with one's soul means that one's self, one's spirit, one's very identity should be aligned with God. While I don't need to be completely abstemious, I must open my eyes to the concerns that touch God's heart and allow those issues to touch my own heart.
And loving with one's strength means that one should put every last effort into loving God. I need to stop using my efforts to chase ungodly or harmful pursuits and instead devote my exertions into chasing after God--who, after all, doesn't run away from us. In fact, He actively runs toward us.
Easier said than done, of course. But I know that I shouldn't need a tattoo to remind myself of God's inimitable grace.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Deuteronomy 5
If you visited Disneyland anytime between 1956 and 1994, you might remember the Skyway between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. These gondolas (basically big buckets) traveled 60 feet in the air under a suspended cable, passing through the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction. (According to Mouse Tales by David Koenig, when someone asked Walt Disney why the Matterhorn had two gaping holes in it, Uncle Walt replied, "Because it is a Swiss mountain.")
Anyway, the ride had a speaker system (which you can see in the image above) that allowed the attraction hosts to speak to all riders. Known as the "God Switch," cast members only used the speakers in dire emergencies, because, to paraphrase Mouse Tales, hearing a resonant voice booming out of the sky tends to make people freeze in alarm.
As God spoke the Ten Commandments out of a flaming mountain, the Israelites weren't just alarmed--they were petrified, fearing for their lives. After hearing God's voice, much more stentorian and authoritative than that of any Disney employee, the elders can hardly believe that they've heard God's voice and lived: "For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?" (verse 26). Well, Moses has, but the elders don't want to push their luck, asking if they can hear the rest of God's decrees through Moses.
God is impressed by His people's respect for His power and authority, saying, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" (verse 29). In the subtext of this wish lies a lament, for God knows only too well how ornery the Israelites will soon become.
Moses' nugget in this chapter comes in verse 3-4. Knowing that no one except Joshua and Caleb was alive during the giving of the Ten Commandments, Moses stresses the immediacy and relevance of God's decrees to this new generation. God's covenant wasn't just with this generation's parents, but with them--in Moses's words, "with all of us who are alive here today" (verse 3). Even though I've never heard God audibly speak out of a blazing cloud, I must remember that His promises, His words, and His directives are meant for me as well.
(Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d8/DisneylandSkyway.jpg/640px-DisneylandSkyway.jpg) Public domain
Anyway, the ride had a speaker system (which you can see in the image above) that allowed the attraction hosts to speak to all riders. Known as the "God Switch," cast members only used the speakers in dire emergencies, because, to paraphrase Mouse Tales, hearing a resonant voice booming out of the sky tends to make people freeze in alarm.
As God spoke the Ten Commandments out of a flaming mountain, the Israelites weren't just alarmed--they were petrified, fearing for their lives. After hearing God's voice, much more stentorian and authoritative than that of any Disney employee, the elders can hardly believe that they've heard God's voice and lived: "For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?" (verse 26). Well, Moses has, but the elders don't want to push their luck, asking if they can hear the rest of God's decrees through Moses.
God is impressed by His people's respect for His power and authority, saying, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" (verse 29). In the subtext of this wish lies a lament, for God knows only too well how ornery the Israelites will soon become.
Moses' nugget in this chapter comes in verse 3-4. Knowing that no one except Joshua and Caleb was alive during the giving of the Ten Commandments, Moses stresses the immediacy and relevance of God's decrees to this new generation. God's covenant wasn't just with this generation's parents, but with them--in Moses's words, "with all of us who are alive here today" (verse 3). Even though I've never heard God audibly speak out of a blazing cloud, I must remember that His promises, His words, and His directives are meant for me as well.
(Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d8/DisneylandSkyway.jpg/640px-DisneylandSkyway.jpg) Public domain
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Deuteronomy 4
As you might be able to tell from some of my past posts, I'm a fan of the films of Pixar Animation Studios. After years of struggling making commercials and money-losing shorts, the studio finally released Toy Story, the first full-length computer-animated film, in 1995. (Just think: No one who's in high school right now could have seen that movie in theaters when it first came out. Boy, that makes me feel old). A commercial, critical, and popular success, the film was the only the start of a jaw-dropping succession of masterpieces or near-masterpieces from Pixar: A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, and my personal favorite, The Incredibles.
At that point, the studio was seen as the golden standard that no other American animation studio and few other filmmakers period could reach. But there were always some curmudgeons (i.e., DreamWorks Animation fans) who groused that the studio would release a stinker eventually. And sure enough, along came Cars in 2006. While not a bad film (as Cars 2 was), it certainly wasn't up to the lofty heights of its predecessors. Nevertheless, the curmudgeons gleefully pounced on the film as if it were the worst movie ever.
I could see the same psychological effect applying to the Israelites. God holds His people to a higher standard, saying that if they follow His decrees, "this will show wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people'" (verse 6). Just as the filmmaking community looked up to Pixar for its deft, organic storytelling and appealing, believable characters, the nations would look to Israel as an example of sagacity and rectitude. But just as a few Cars films (and an over-reliance on sequels) can tarnish a studio's reputation, God warns His people in verse 9 to watch themselves. Because if the Israelites start screwing around, then they're no better than any other nation.
Two Moses nuggets in this chapter. One is his heartfelt, vivid, almost scintillating description of God's awesomeness and sovereignty in verses 32-34. I don't think I can add anything to Moses's little encomium here. But the second Moses nugget again circles back to Moses's bitter feelings about not being able to enter the Promised Land. After blaming the Israelites once again, he utters the poignant sentence in verse 22: "I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are able to cross over and take possession of that good land." Yet even in that poignancy, one can see Moses's mood in that single verse gradually transition to the forbearance that helped make him such an exemplary (if flawed) man of God: He won't enter the Promised Land, but he exhorts his people to enter the land and remain obedient to God. Moses shows that although we may always harbor selfish feelings, but that shouldn't keep us from following God's will and wishing for the well being of others.
At that point, the studio was seen as the golden standard that no other American animation studio and few other filmmakers period could reach. But there were always some curmudgeons (i.e., DreamWorks Animation fans) who groused that the studio would release a stinker eventually. And sure enough, along came Cars in 2006. While not a bad film (as Cars 2 was), it certainly wasn't up to the lofty heights of its predecessors. Nevertheless, the curmudgeons gleefully pounced on the film as if it were the worst movie ever.
I could see the same psychological effect applying to the Israelites. God holds His people to a higher standard, saying that if they follow His decrees, "this will show wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people'" (verse 6). Just as the filmmaking community looked up to Pixar for its deft, organic storytelling and appealing, believable characters, the nations would look to Israel as an example of sagacity and rectitude. But just as a few Cars films (and an over-reliance on sequels) can tarnish a studio's reputation, God warns His people in verse 9 to watch themselves. Because if the Israelites start screwing around, then they're no better than any other nation.
Two Moses nuggets in this chapter. One is his heartfelt, vivid, almost scintillating description of God's awesomeness and sovereignty in verses 32-34. I don't think I can add anything to Moses's little encomium here. But the second Moses nugget again circles back to Moses's bitter feelings about not being able to enter the Promised Land. After blaming the Israelites once again, he utters the poignant sentence in verse 22: "I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are able to cross over and take possession of that good land." Yet even in that poignancy, one can see Moses's mood in that single verse gradually transition to the forbearance that helped make him such an exemplary (if flawed) man of God: He won't enter the Promised Land, but he exhorts his people to enter the land and remain obedient to God. Moses shows that although we may always harbor selfish feelings, but that shouldn't keep us from following God's will and wishing for the well being of others.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Deuteronomy 3
Laying siege to a fortified city is no mean feat--which is probably why siege sequences in films can be so spectacular. The first siege sequence that awed me was the Battle of Helm's Deep in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Helm's Deep is basically located right up against a mountain, making it a dead end for the besieged people of Rohan (and lending more tension to the scene--because what drama would there be if they could just sneak out and go somewhere else?) Of course, the subsequent The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King had to one-up its progenitor with an even more overwhelmingly massive siege sequence that expands into a spectacularly massive field battle.
I'm sure the fortified cities of Bashan weren't quite as "impenetrable" as the ones in Peter Jackson's films--verse 5 just mentions "high walls…with gates and bars," which, while troublesome, don't sound nearly as insurmountable as, say, a city with seven levels, with each level 100 feet higher than the one below it. Still, the Israelites had to conquer 60 fortified cities (verse 4), and yet they washed over them like some sort of tsunami. Although I'm sure the Israelites were reasonably competent warriors, the real reason for their staggering successes in battle was God. He was completely behind Israel in their rout of Bashan, bolstering them with words of comfort and encouragement.
The Moses nugget for this chapter actually reveals new information not recorded anywhere in Numbers. Moses makes one final entreaty to God, asking if he can enter the Promised Land. In verse 24, Moses says, "Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand." Begun to show. Moses knows that for all the wonders and miracles he's seen--from the plagues to the parting of the Sea of Reeds to the weird bronze snake thing--he has tasted just a bare tincture of God's ineffable power and glory.
But God tells Moses off like you might do to a child: "That is enough… Do not speak to me anymore about the matter" (verse 26). Again, Moses blames the Israelites for making God so angry that He won't listen to Moses's plea. Most humans are inquisitive by nature, wanting to know why things are the way they are. "Why is the sky blue?" kids always ask. That's a fairly easy question to answer, especially compared with questions about people's motivations. And God is so much more unfathomable than the most complex human personality. When He doesn't provide explanations, it can be confounding. I must remember to trust that He has a plan and still acknowledge that I will always struggle with certain aspects of God's nature.
I'm sure the fortified cities of Bashan weren't quite as "impenetrable" as the ones in Peter Jackson's films--verse 5 just mentions "high walls…with gates and bars," which, while troublesome, don't sound nearly as insurmountable as, say, a city with seven levels, with each level 100 feet higher than the one below it. Still, the Israelites had to conquer 60 fortified cities (verse 4), and yet they washed over them like some sort of tsunami. Although I'm sure the Israelites were reasonably competent warriors, the real reason for their staggering successes in battle was God. He was completely behind Israel in their rout of Bashan, bolstering them with words of comfort and encouragement.
The Moses nugget for this chapter actually reveals new information not recorded anywhere in Numbers. Moses makes one final entreaty to God, asking if he can enter the Promised Land. In verse 24, Moses says, "Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand." Begun to show. Moses knows that for all the wonders and miracles he's seen--from the plagues to the parting of the Sea of Reeds to the weird bronze snake thing--he has tasted just a bare tincture of God's ineffable power and glory.
But God tells Moses off like you might do to a child: "That is enough… Do not speak to me anymore about the matter" (verse 26). Again, Moses blames the Israelites for making God so angry that He won't listen to Moses's plea. Most humans are inquisitive by nature, wanting to know why things are the way they are. "Why is the sky blue?" kids always ask. That's a fairly easy question to answer, especially compared with questions about people's motivations. And God is so much more unfathomable than the most complex human personality. When He doesn't provide explanations, it can be confounding. I must remember to trust that He has a plan and still acknowledge that I will always struggle with certain aspects of God's nature.
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