Remember to Remember
After being delivered from slavery in Egypt with great wonders and works by the hand of God, the people of Israel were led to the foot of Mt. Sinai. Here, they formally entered into a covenant relationship with Yahweh, with all proper ceremony, including a feast where Moses, the priests, and the elders of Israel beheld God. A sanctuary full of beauty and symbolism was constructed, and specific instructions and terms were laid out.
The rest of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) is the giving of the various laws, reiterations of already given laws, and a few historical narratives revealing the state of the nation. At the end of chapter 15 of Numbers, the LORD, Yahweh being his revealed name, tells the people to apply tassels to their garments.
The declarative phrase “The LORD said to Moses” is intentionally used throughout the writings of Moses to highlight the importance of what follows. It’s also bookended twice by the authoritative phrase used throughout the Torah: “I am the LORD your God.” This is serious stuff.
But why are we supposed to pay special attention to tassels?
Yahweh, in this command, is demanding his people’s affection and holiness through disciplined thought. How so? Here’s the passage:
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” – Numbers 15:37-41
The command to wear tassels is a practical reminder for the people to meditate on God’s covenant, commands, and works. Why does God place such a special emphasis on remembering? We need reminders because we are inclined to follow after our desires rather than obey God.
Over and over throughout all of Scripture, we are instructed to think with intent.
Moses and Jesus say that loving the Lord with every part of my being, including my thoughts, is the greatest commandment (Deuteronomy 6:5-6, Matthew 22:35-38). Paul emphasizes this idea throughout his epistles: Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:16-17, etc. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks and the hands do. So, remind yourself to think about whatever is true and pure and be holy before the Lord.
And this is his will for us: that we would be holy and sanctified before him (1 Thessalonians 4:3). So, make reminders for yourself; sing psalms, partake in the Lord’s Supper, write a verse on your wrist, pray without ceasing.
As the hymnist wrote:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace