Methods and Aims

I taught Sunday School Gospel Doctrine class today. The topic was numbers 11-13, 21. Numbers is about the whiny, ungreatful children of Israel and how they are always complaining to Moses. My lesson was about how the Israelites frequently lost sight of their miraculous suroundings and confused methods with aims.

"Methods" and "aims" are words I have picked up from scouting. An aim of scouting is to become trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, etc. and to do your duty to God, your country, among other things. One method to achieve those aims is advancement. A problem comes when a scout treats rank advancements, particularly becoming an Eagle, as an aim and not a method -- or as a destination not a way to get there.

The latter half of Exodus and the book of Numbers are really case studies on how to lose sight of your goal - the Lord is trying to take them to the promised land and along the way provides mana, water, quail, healings, and lots of other miracles to protect, guide, and sustain them. They complain that they only have mana to eat. They complain that Moses is just on a power trip. They complain that they don't have anything to drink. They complain about the environment. They complain that even the promised land is uninhabitable. They complain that life was better when they were slaves. Each of those trials becomes the focus and they lose sight of the goal.

Here are some interesting things I thought of as I was studying for this lesson -

• Where is the promised land? For Moses and the Israelites it was the land of Canaan. But for Nephi, they left Jerusalem in the land of Canaan to go somewhere else. I think the promised land is not really a place but rather Eternal Life. That is where the Lord wants to take us.
• I compared the story of the Israelites with the stories of Limhi's and Alma's escape from the city of Nephi-Lehi. Limhi's people were more like the Israelites how they were slow to follow the Lord, and tried to fight their way out. Alma's people, on the other hand, were submissive and depended on the Lord from the start. Their fears were calmed, their backs were strengthened, and they were eventually delivered. How frequently I find myself fighting my challenges when I should be relying on the lord.
• I also liked the comparison of the Israelites to Lehi's dream of the iron rod and the tree of life.
  
• Numbers 21 talks about the "fiery serpents" that came among the Israelites. There is an interesting comparison to 1 Ne 17:41. Nephi calls them "fiery flying serpents." There is an interesting side note that one of the Gods of the ancient indians in Mexico was the feathered serpent.
  
• I have a lot more respect for Bishops, Primary Presidents, Young Women Presidents, and Relief Society Presidents. Of everyone in a ward, I think these 4 people are they ones that hear and deal with the most complaining and have to do the most problem solving. Everyone else has people to turn to, but these make all of the hard decisions, and deal with all of the hard issues. I am very grateful and hope not to add any burdens to their shoulders.
  
• Finally, I find the types of Christ so obvious in these chapters. He is the bread of life. He is the sacrificial lamb. He is the one raised up that if we will look upon him, we will live. "For God so loved the world that whoso believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)"
  

Eternal life is the destination. Christ is the way, the method. We grow from our challenges and trials to become more like the savior.

Ironically, perhaps, after church I went to an Eagle Court of Honor where three young men were presented with their Eagles. I helped all three of them with their paperwork. One presented me with a mentor pin. Very nice. I hope they remember they are not "done" with scouting. Rank advancements and scouting too, and just methods to help us on our forward progression to Eternal Life.