So you will remember all the commands of the Lord
Numbers 15:39 - We are reminded that we are children of God and should be aware of and accountable for our conduct in public.
Photo © 2026, Steven Sande
“You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.”
Numbers 15:39 NIV
When I saw that the Lord had directed me to Numbers for today’s devotional, I have to admit that I inwardly cringed. It’s not a book of the Bible that lends itself to enjoyable reading, ranking right up there with Deuteronomy and Leviticus as stumbling blocks during those past Bible In One Year marathons. But as with all Scripture, a deeper look at individual verses provides illumination into much more meaning.
The speaker in this verse is God, and He’s laying down the law to Moses. God has just told Moses to “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.’” (Numbers 15:38).
Tzitzit. Image via Wikimedia Commons. Uploaded by user Sheynhertz-Uybag. Licensed via Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 Unported.
These tassels are known as צִיצִת (ṣîṣiṯ or “tzitzit”), and are still worn to this day by observant Jews. Only males are allowed to wear tzitzit in Orthodox Judaism, although women in less stringent sects may choose to wear them. The tzitzit are attached to the four corners of the tallit gadol (prayer shawl) or can be worn on an everyday undershirt (tallit katan).
Why was God issuing this rather odd (to modern sensibilities) command to His chosen people? The tassels were meant as a reminder to Israel that they belonged to God - they were His people. Reminders like this that are in sight at all times can be effective in preventing sin. God may have commanded the blue thread because it was a special color to Israel — the ark of the covenant was draped with a blue cloth, the tabernacle had blue curtains, and the high priest’s garments were colored with blue. Blue was an additional reminder of holiness.
God’s commandment is easy to understand. Imagine that you’re an Israelite being tempted into sin — say, adultery or thievery — and you catch sight of your tzitzit. You’re immediately reminded that you are a child of God, and others who see the distinctive garments know that you’re supposed to be a righteous person. It’s a pretty good way to catch yourself before you sin!
So, how does this have any relevance at all to Christians living under the New Covenant? Well, Christian-themed jewelry — perhaps a cross necklace or lapel pin — and clothing (that Chosen sweatshirt, for example) can serve the same purpose as a tzitzit. We are reminded that we are children of God and should be aware of and accountable for our conduct in public.
Christian symbols can also serve as reminders when used elsewhere. Seriously, are you going to put a cross, John 3:16 bumper sticker, or Christian fish on your car, then drive like a maniac and make obscene gestures to other drivers? Is it likely that you’re going to watch porn or drink yourself into oblivion when there’s a cross in sight to remind you that you should live to a higher standard?
Sadly, some people may think that wearing Christian clothing and jewelry is a substitute for righteous living. Jesus saw this in His day, when He rebuked the Pharisees and teachers of the law for trying to make a showy display of their “holiness” by making their tefillin (leather boxes containing Torah verses strapped to the body) as large as possible and the tassels of their garments conspicuously large (Matthew 23:5). Even today some people go out of their way to prove their “holiness” by overdoing it with Christian-themed clothing or jewelry.
Many Christians we know do not act this way, instead wearing a small cross necklace or subtle clothing as a simple sign of faith and a reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Knowing that others see our subtle crosses should encourage us to show Christ’s love to all we meet and be light in a dark world.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, today I pray to You with a humble heart filled with gratitude for Your guidance and love. As I make my way through life, I ask for Your assistance in remembering Your commandments. May any outward signs of my commitment to Christ serve as reminders to stay true to Your word. I ask for Your help and wisdom in discerning right from wrong, and I pray to be the embodiment of Your teachings in everything I do. AMEN.