Musing – Do we really appreciate the world we live in?

Hebraic Musing – Do we really appreciate the world we live in?

After God created man He placed man (us) in the garden of Eden “And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;” Gen. 2:16 NIV   Early in the creation process God gave us freedom and the ability to enjoy and eat from all that good stuff He placed in the garden (the world) for us.  I’ll bet that garden was and is beautiful!  

I enjoy the view from our patio window while eating breakfast.  A deck with two bird feeders attracting at least 14 varieties of colorful birds, a variety of trees that change colors throughout the year, animals parading through the yard – deer, squirrels, ground hogs, chipmunks, fox, cats, etc.  And then I look up at the furnishings in our home – all the stuff made by man’s creative God-given powers – furniture, technology, information, transportation alternatives, foods, snacks, photo memories, pictures/plaques/paintings, etc. – Truly a myriad of wonderful things bringing enjoyment to my life.  Inevitably I’ll need to stock the cupboards with a trip to Walmart and see an amazing array of products available for our health and enjoyment. 

What a crime or sin it would be to not appreciate the source of all these gifts that bless our daily lives!?!?   Father God could have placed us in a strictly functional, black/white world, to exist.  But no!  He wants us to live life!  That’s why God has given us a wondrous world; He doesn’t want to us merely get through life by existing; He wants us to enjoy our lives and celebrate each day He has given us.

The Nazirite vow is introduced in Numbers 6.  “If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the Lord as a Nazirite, he must abstain…”   and the list begins of abstinences and deprivations from pleasures of life.  But why then is a sin offering required of the Nazirite when it would seem he was trying to reach a higher level of righteousness?   What sin did the Nazirite commit?   Could it be that by taking the vow the Nazirite is depriving himself of some of God’s wonderful gifts?  Some Jewish sages view it that way.  

Is it a sin to not say thank you when receiving a gift?  How does a parent feel when their child does not thank them for a gift?

Point to ponder

Look around.  What did God give you today?

♫  Give thanks with a grateful heart  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,                                  June 21, 2016