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Numbers ch. 1 Immediately after giving the Ten Commandments, God tells the Jewish People to organize themselves by tribe and take a census. (That's why this book is called "Numbers.") Isn't living in tribes sort of -- well -- tribal? It's politically correct to insist that everyone is the same -- Jews, gentiles, men, women, blacks, whites, Irish, Chinese -- a whole rainbow of colors swirled into one great gray stew of uniformity. But how drab! The Bible's position is viva la difference! Every nation, every tribe, every person has something unique to offer. We contribute most if we maintain our individuality. The last time my daughter had an earache, I took her to the doctor. Before examining her, the doctor (a Jew) said to me, "You know why I don't like religion?" (This is the pitfall of my job. My three-year-old is screaming and suddenly I'm involved in a seminar on religion.)
"No, I don't know. Why don't you like religion?" "Because it's parochial. When I go out with my friends, one's Chicano and one's Filipino, and I think that's the way it should be." "The problem," I told him, "isn't that your friends are Chicano or Filipino. The problem is that since you know nothing about your own religion, you're the only one at the table with nothing to offer. Now please check her ears." Back To Top Numbers ch. 6 The Torah talks about the nazir. A man who fears that his appetites dominate his judgment vows not to cut his hair and not to drink wine. Then at the end of thirty days, he shaves his hair off and brings it to the Tabernacle. What's this all about? Hair represents sensuality. (Ever see the movie in which the mousy girl lets her hair down and turns out to be Marilyn Monroe?) The nazir offers his hair to God as a symbol that he is sublimating and consecrating his sensuality and sexual energy. Alcohol also helps us "let our hair down," which is one reason we like to drink. But this guy is trying to get his libido under control, so he swears off wine for a month to help him recover his balance.
The Talmud says someone who saw a death should vow to become a nazir. Even gruesome sights can become familiar. The first time a medical student sees a cadaver he vomits. The second time, he's less troubled. By semester's end, he eats lunch while he works and makes an ashtray of the skull. Divorce was once rare. Gradually we became accustomed to it, and now it's commonplace. Because we're no longer shocked, everybody's marriage is less secure. When you hear that someone you know is getting divorced, protect yourself by asking, "How will I make sure that never happens to me?" Back To Top Numbers ch. 13 The Jewish People arrive at the border of the Land of Israel. They send prominent men from each tribe as spies, to explore how best to conquer the land. The spies spend 40 days in Israel. When they return, they bring back massive fruit as evidence of the land's prodigal fertility. But they also warn that the land's inhabitants are fearsome and their cities heavily fortified.
The Jewish People are disheartened. They cry and clamor to appoint a new leader to bring them back to Egypt. God decrees that the Jewish People spend 40 years wandering in the desert (one year for every day the spies spent in the land). Only when the generation that left Egypt dies, will the next generation be permitted to enter the Promised Land. (Numbers 13:1-44) Why did they rebel against entering the land? A covenant with God is a great privilege. It's also a burdensome responsibility. After 210 years of slavery in Egypt and a trek through the desert, the Jewish People were ready to kick off their shoes and have a beer. But when they heard the spies' report, they realized they would need God's ongoing help to conquer and settle the land. At that point the burden became unbearable. Even the oppression and misery of Egypt seemed more attractive than living up to God's expectations.
Until now, God endured the people's complaining pretty patiently. Why is His reaction suddenly so harsh and unforgiving? God in His relationship with the Jewish People is frequently mischaracterized as "the vengeful God of the Old Testament." But studies consistently indicate that children flourish best when raised in an environment that is neither permissive (all love) nor authoritarian (all discipline). Children need love and support. They also need clear boundaries and expectations, as well as predictable consequences for their actions. If you use only love, you communicate "whatever you do is OK." You'll wind up with spoiled, selfish brats.
If you use only punishment and consequences, you communicate "I hate you." You'll wind up with no relationship with your children. God's patient nurture of the Jewish People through trials and difficulties clearly communicated His love. But the tenth time they rebelled, God decided that without consequences, they would never learn. 
Based on the book by Nachum Braverman Published: Sunday, May 21, 2000
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The simplified way of explaining the stories was very helpful. I have to write a book report on "Numbers" and while I did get the basic gist, I needed it to be put in very simple words in order to fully comprehend it. Thanks!