I don’t think it’s a coincidence that after the Israelites’ failure to enter the Promised Land in Numbers 13 and 14, Numbers chapters 15 through 19 are largely filled with more legal details along with rebellion. One of the more interesting rules is the tassels:

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 out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Numbers 15.37 – 41, ESV)

It’s not a bad practice: something to remind you of the commandments and “not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes…” Which is exactly what they did in Numbers 13 and 14. Scripture memory could be a modern application. I can memorize verses to help me remember God’s Word and keep my focus on him.

That said, I think it’s interesting that the only mention of tassels after this is when Jesus was criticizing the Pharisees:

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make…their fringes long,… (Matthew 23.5, ESV)

I’m pretty sure no one was concerned about tassels when they were fighting their way into the Promised Land in Joshua’s day.

The point is, when we lose our mission, we often default to in-fighting about leadership (see Numbers 16) or arguments about the color of the church carpet or choir robes.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1.27, ESV)