000 Allen FMT (i-xxii) - The Presbyterian Leader

The lectionary today provides alternate Gospel readings telling different
versions of the revelation of the resurrection: Matthew 28:1–10 and
John 20:1–18. Neither Matthew nor John directly allude to the passage
from Jeremiah. However, the general theme of God’s faithfulness does
underlie both Jeremiah and the Gospel readings. The readers of Matthew
and John, and the congregation today can believe that as God proved
faithful to Jeremiah and to the exiles, so God will prove faithful to the
promises of the resurrection.
Easter Evening/Years A, B, and C
Isaiah 25:6–9
Please see Easter Day/Year B for commentary on this passage.
Day of Pentecost/Year A
Numbers 11:24–30 (Alternate)
Day of Pentecost/Year A 43
This passage also occurs in the lectionary on Proper 21/Year B; since the
latter reading tells the whole story of Numbers 11, we treat it here in its
larger context. Today’s story presents us with a conundrum. In the book of
Exodus, when the people complain because of a lack of water to drink and
food to eat (Exod. 15:22–26; 17:1–7), YHWH provides food and water.
Numbers 11:1–3 mentions an unspecific complaint, but this time YHWH’s
“anger was kindled [and] . . . the fire of the LORD burned against them, and
consumed some outlying parts of the camp” (v. 1). The second complaint
(11:4–6) is specific: “If only we had meat to eat!” (v. 4). The Israelites recall
an excellent list of foods in Egypt (a recall incompatible with the Exodus
1–2 account) and compare the manna that God provides unfavorably with
it: “now there is nothing at all but this manna to look at” (v. 6). Again, the
Lord “became very angry, and Moses was displeased” (v. 10).
How are we to understand this dramatic change from a compassionate
divine response in Exodus to anger and punishment in Numbers? The
complaints in Exodus preceded the granting of the covenant at Sinai (Exodus
20); the complaints in Numbers follow the granting of the covenant.
Previously the people were merely beginning to come to terms with what
it meant to be followers of YHWH, but now they are supposed to understand
what it means to trust in and rely upon the Lord. Yet they complain.
This may account for why it is “the rabble among them” (v. 4) and not
the whole people who “had a strong craving” for the better food available