Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Fringes


(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Numbers 15:37–41, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
Israel’s time in the wilderness was spent learning through experience, interspersed with instructions from the Lord. There are two theories about memory. One is simply stated, “Out of sight, out of mind.” The other, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” The first theory is more correct than the second theory. In order to make memory more active the Lord established a principle whereby Israel would be helped to remember all the things that the Lord told them. They were told put a blue border at the edge of their clothing so that they would see that and remember. They were also told to wear fringes as well. These particular garments were different to what they were used to wearing but they were to act as a memorial device throughout their generations. The Lord was able to justify this command by the fact that He was the Lord Who brought them out of the land of Egypt. The Lord had done so much for them that, if they continued to remember what He had done, they would always be mindful of the great love that the Lord had for the “apple of His eye”. The basis for genuine contentment is having an attitude of gratitude.

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