A Part Of The Crowd or Apart From The Crowd
My original thought came from reading Numbers 11. That section of Scripture relates the incident about the quail. The people complained about God’s lean cuisine. Therefore God gave them all that they wanted, and then some.
But, here’s what stood out to me this time. It’s in verse 33:
“And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.”
As I read that verse I realized I had always assumed that EVERYBODY had been out there gathering the ten homers (v. 32) or more that was being gathered. But, I’m not sure that’s the case.
Why?
Because if that had been the case, nobody would have been left alive to continue on with the journey.
There had to have been some that stood apart from the crowd — some that weren’t really sure they should join in. That being the case, it must have been tough for them to be the odd man out while everybody else was “doing it.” They must have felt somewhat dumb not being a part of the collective mindset at that moment.
Because???
Evidently, a lot of people felt they needed to take steps to survive the anticipated lack of food. How could they be expected to survive on what God said was sufficient for them on the journey! “Manna, really? Hadn’t we gotten better than that back in good old Egypt?”
Give me a moment more. I am headed somewhere. But first, let me introduce what happens in chapter 13.
What is that you ask?
The twelve spies were sent to check out the Land.
We know the story.
They go out 40 days doing reconnaissance. They traverse about 300 miles. They encounter fortified cities with walls as huge as 20’ thick and 25’ tall. The people are gigantic in stature - 7’-9’ tall. But along with that, there is also great vegetation. It’s a very fertile land that could help solve their projected food shortages. There’s great potential.
So, they finish the mission and return back to base.
Report time:
10 vote no; 2 vote yes; 1 speaks up and says: “lock-n-load, let’s saddle up.”
Question:
Would you have been that 1 guy? Before you hurry to say yes … you’d better think a little first.
I venture to say … maybe not ….
Here’s a note about this from my Life Application Bible:
“Imagine standing before a crowd and loudly voicing an unpopular opinion! Caleb was willing to take the unpopular stand to do as God had commanded. To be effective when you go against the crowd, you must (1) have the facts (Caleb had seen the land himself); (2) have the right attitude (Caleb trusted God’s promise to give Israel the land); (3) state clearly what you believe (Caleb said, “We are well able to overcome it”).
That is one very good note!
Now, the current pandemic situation and my point.
Are we to conform because it’s expected of us? Or, do we stand apart because we really believe or think we should? In other words, do we curtail our actions, and what we truly think, just so we don’t get folks upset with us thereby becoming the focus of unpopular attention?
Actual experience:
I’ve been driving a school bus delivering breakfast and lunch to the school kids while the schools are closed.
For the first week on the bus, none of those dispensing the food wore face masks. A few wore the hand gloves. The following week more of the helpers wore gloves. I don’t think anyone wore masks. The following week, everybody and their brother everywhere were donning gloves and masks.
So, this last time on the bus before we departed to deliver the food I was “asked” if I had a face mask.
No, I don’t.
Well then, we’ll have to get you one.
OK, thank you.
I’m then given a mask and dutifully put it on.
But why did I just do that, I ask myself? Answer: to fit in and not be that unthoughtful, uncaring, dangerously-spreading-deadly-germs guy that I’ll be perceived as being.
Right after I put on the mask I proceed to the bathroom before we leave. It’s there I see myself in the mirror and think … who are you? Why are you doing this? What about your conscience, Warren?
So then, off comes the mask. I couldn’t live with that guy in the mirror because that was a false, untrue representation of me and what I believe.
(As a side note, they didn’t seem to be overly concerned about my unprotected hands. There was no forthcoming offer for gloves.)
Now, my point isn’t that we should act foolishly or selfishly at the cost of endangering others needlessly. Though some, I would gather, might think that is what I did. But truthfully, I didn’t think that was the case.
Why?
Because (as I understand it) it’s been suggested lately on TV that we wear the masks if we know we are infected or at risk. I am neither at this point. And if I was infected, I would think it more prudent to not be out in public at all.
Building on that thought …
Does the Bible have anything to say about any of this that would help us know what we as God’s children are supposed to do?
Possible answer.
Notice, at least in one instance, where God gave instructions about wearing a “ face mask”.
“And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.” Leviticus 13:45
The infected person was told to cover his mouth so as to not infect others. It wasn’t directed toward those that weren’t infected.
Sooooo …
If we are going to be able to make wise decisions in the coming future, if we are going to know when to stand apart from the crowd, then … we have to know what the Bible says.
However, I fear that because we don’t know our Bibles well enough we have drifted away from a very basic concept — that the Bible speaks to all aspects of life.
And quite possibly, one of the most “dangerous” things floating around right now is us - the believer that is trying to function in this world without a full grasp of what God’s Word says.
If we don’t possess the full capabilities of our “light” and “salt” then what are we really good for anyway? Are we actually contributing more to the sin sickness that is killing those around us?
And …
Maybe at least, we should become as equally concerned for the soul-sickness of our fellow man as we are for his physical sickness.