Contemplative Bible Reading

Numbers 31:1-2 (New Living Translation)

¹ Then the LORD said to Moses, ² “On behalf of the people of Israel, take revenge on the Midianites for leading them into idolatry. After that, you will die and join your ancestors.”

I was once associated with a contract in which many employees were told, “Work faster to finish the job. And, by the way, as soon as you finish the job you will be unemployed.”

What do people do in such circumstances? Work slower so they will have more paychecks? Work faster so they will have fewer paychecks?

Now we consider Moses in these verses. The LORD’s instructions are:

Do your job so you can die.

Whoa! Should Moses rush this revenge-on-the-Midianites job or go into a few years of strategic planning?

What would we do?