Hebrews 11:1 gives us the well-known definition of faith and the translation by Weymouth reads
“Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see”.
The chapter continues with a list of people who obtained the approval of Yahweh because of their faith in things which they had not seen. We note from verse 1 that it was not a blind faith but a well-grounded assurance and a conviction, in other words they knew from a sound knowledge of God’s Word and His ways that their faith would not be in vain.
For nearly 2,000 years man has been required to walk solely by faith, faith that God will do what He has promised, faith “that the Most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men”.
Unlike the generation in the wilderness we do not have a pillar of cloud by day or a pillar of fire by night to reassure us of Yahweh’s care and protection.
But Paul tells us (I Corinthians 10:11) that “all things which happened unto them were for our example and they are written for our admonition”.
The Israelite in the wilderness saw the pillar of cloud and of fire every day and every night. What else did he see every day which would remind him of Yahweh? What would help him remember the commandments, remind him what Yahweh had done to the Egyptians, how Yahweh had borne him on eagle’s wings, and that Yahweh had invited Israel to be a kingdom of priests and an holy nation unto Him?
What could compare with the mighty pillar of cloud and awe-inspiring pillar of fire?
A simple ribband of blue!
Like the still small voice in which Yahweh revealed Himself to Elijah, so He revealed Himself to Israel and claimed them as His people with “a ribband of blue”.
In Numbers 15:37-41 we read of the commandment given by Yahweh in regard to the ribband of blue which the Israelites were to place on the hem of their garments.
“And Yahweh 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 Yahweh, 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 Yahweh your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Yahweh your God.”
How appropriate the choice of the colour blue.
For it speaks of heavenly qualities, the eternal presence of Yahweh, of God manifestation, of the word of God and of His healing power and also of the two-fold aspect of El Shaddai the nourishes and the destroyer. All these aspects are linked together in this simple ribband of blue. Every day the faithful Israelite would be reminded of the presence of Yahweh, of His healing power, of the power of El Shaddai to nourish or destroy and of the need for himself to endeavour to manifest Godly attributes and qualities in his daily life.
We note in v 39 that the people were to “look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Yahweh and do them”.
Remember and Do!
James tells us very forcibly that we are to
“be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”. (James 1:22.)
We cannot deceive God but we can very easily deceive ourselves.
The commandments of Yahweh have always been intended for daily living and that is why the people were to have this ribband of blue to remind them from morning till evening to
“remember all the commandments of Yahweh and do them”.
Why did Yahweh consider this daily reminder to be so important as to be part of their every day garments? Would it not have been sufficient to wear it once a week on the Sabbath? Or perhaps for the Levites to wear it on behalf of the people?
There are two reasons for the importance of this daily reminder and both of them apply to us also. The first is that Yahweh should always take precedence in all our thoughts, words and actions. We need reminding that wherever we go we are always in His presence. How often do we heedlessly go our own way, busily engaged in our own affairs with never a thought for the One who sustains our very life? Just visualise for a moment how carefully and soberly we would manage our time and activities if an angel literally accompanied us on every step we take. Yet are we not told that
“the angel of Yahweh encampeth around about them that fear Him?” (Psalm 34:7).
The second reason is listed in the latter part of verse 39
“and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes”.
The reason for man’s disobedience to God commenced in Eden … the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Jeremiah tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Prior to the flood it was already recorded that “the imagination and the purposes and desires of the thoughts of the heart was only evil every day” (Genesis 6:5).
This was why God wanted the people of Israel to wear this ribband of blue in order to remind them not to seek after their own heart and their own eyes. They were to look on the blue and remember God’s wonderful promises to them. It was to encourage them to look beyond the cares and tribulations, beyond the trivial daily routine, beyond man’s puny thoughts and achievements and lift their eyes upwards to the Almighty Creator of the universe.
We are not required to wear this ribband of blue today but we have been given something else, which, used correctly, is even more effective. As we mentioned earlier the colour blue is associated with the Word of God and in place of the blue ribband we have in our hands the most powerful weapon against our natural inclination to seek after our own heart and our own eyes.
But as the ribband of blue became commonplace and forgotten or ostentatious and a symbol of hypocrisy, (as Matthew 23:5 tells us) so we must take care how we regard the Word of God, for it is “quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The generation which was given the ribband of blue, the generation which walked dryshod through the Red Sea, the generation which was fed in the wilderness and saw the mighty wonders of God … that generation perished in the wilderness under the destroying power of El Shaddai for they failed to remember and do the commandments of Yahweh. Instead they sought after the desires of their own heart and their own eyes.
We are part of the ecclesia of the living God. An ecclesia which in the last 40 years has seen some of the most momentous events in world history. An ecclesia which is living on the very eve of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like the generation which was brought out of Egypt we are a truly privileged people in spite of the evil and corruption of the world outside.
Let us therefore remember and do the commandments of Yahweh and not seek after our own heart and our own eyes.
Let us always keep before us “our ribband of blue” which speaks to us of the bright and glorious vision of the Kingdom of God.
Those who are deemed worthy to obtain the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father …
“shall hunger nor more … for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them … neither shall they thirst any more … for he shall lead them unto living fountains of waters … neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat … for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7: 16-17).
May we by the grace and mercy of Yahweh be part of that multitude which will sing the Song of Moses the servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb …
“Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints.”
The Solution