MARCH 17- Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15
Today our reading in the Old Testament begins with Numbers 26.
Another list of names— how boring! Or so we might think.
Not necessarily.
The picture below was in the Washington Post.
Those in Japan who are scouring the lists of names of those who escaped safely to the shelters after last week’s devastating earthquake and tsunami do not consider the process boring. Loved ones carefully read those lists hoping that they will find the name of a missing relative or friend. How happy they are to see a name they recognize!
An entire generation perished during the Israelites’ forty year journey in the wilderness. The Book of Numbers begins with the listing of the numbers of all the men over twenty years of age who are able to go to war. 38 years later another census is taken. The only names from the first generation that are counted with the fighting men in this new census, taken before the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan, are those of Joshua and Caleb.
We do recognize some surprising survivors among those listed in Chapter 26.
Although Korah, Dathan and Abiram died with the company of conspirators, the sons of Korah are listed with the new generation that are ready to enter Canaan.
“The sons of Korah, however, did not die.” (Numbers 26:11)
What other observations can we make?
We recognize the names of the sons of Jacob; although deceased, their descendants continue to gather under their banners. This is another reminder that we are leaving a legacy for others to follow. What would a banner of your life look like?
The number of fighting men at the end of the 40 year period, 601,730 is similar, but not an increase, to the number that they had at the beginning- 603,550. The reason for this is sobering. Unbelief. The unbelief was manifested in murmuring, idolatry, lust, disobedience, rebellion, jealousy, greed and spiritual compromise which caused many to turn to the worship of Baal. In spite of more than the 24,000 deaths recorded in Chapter 25, the Lord had been faithful to bless and replenish this nomadic multitude.
The listing of the new generation reminds us of the continuity of purpose in the Divine Enterprise.
All the nations of the earth are linked to this story of a primitive tribe in the wilderness!
How? The blessing given to Abraham was with a view to blessing all the tribes upon the earth. God’s promise to Abraham was global in scope. World redemption would come through the promised seed of Abraham.
In you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (GENESIS 12:3) “Your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 22:17-18; 28:14). The Apostle Paul explains that the Promised Seed of Abraham is Christ (Galatians 3:16). “In Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham comes to the Gentiles” so that “we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14) In the future we will hear “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever and ever “ (Rev. 11:15)
All nations and every generation are connected to this story.
We learn also that, ultimately, God’s sovereign purposes will not be thwarted by human unbelief. A generation may perish through their disobedience, forfeiting their privilege of entrance into the Promised Land. But the day of entrance will come. God will raise up those who will do His will if others fail to do so. How much more preferable it is to be among those who actually accomplish God’s choice purposes instead of leaving them for others.
May we all have the spirit of Joshua and Caleb! May we not shrink back in fear or unbelief. But let us possess what God has called us to possess by resting in Christ’s sufficiency and yielding ourselves to God in full obedience.
This verse from tomorrow’s reading is a fitting summary:
Numbers 26:63-65 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. [64] But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. [65] For the Lord had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." And not a man was left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
NEW TESTAMENT READING: LUKE 2:36-52
Luke provides a well ordered and well researched account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth in his gospel account. He has interviewed many of his subjects and provides helpful historical details to inform our understanding of the gospel events.
Both Mary and Joseph were from the tribe of Judah . Anna, the prophetess, is from the tribe of Asher.
Anna is 84 years old when she prophesies of Jesus being God’s answer to all those looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38). Her husband died after they had been married only seven years. She had devoted her remaining days to the service of the temple, with fasting and prayer. While the many of the religious leaders were unaware of the birth of the true Messiah, Anna, was exercised in spiritual discernment and was able to rejoice that the hour had come.
Like the prophet Simeon, Anna was privileged to see the answers to her prayers in her lifetime.
Luke is careful to note that Jesus was brought up under the Law of Moses and that the grace of the Lord was upon Him (Luke 2:39). Jesus grew strong physically, intellectually, and spiritually.
40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40 (NASB)
The next scene that Luke chooses to record in his narrative takes place when Jesus is 12 years old. He is now old enough to participate more fully in the feasts of Israel. He accompanies his parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. He is old enough to be a “son of the law” (in the Hebrew, bar mitzvah), for he has reached the recognizable age of accountability. At this age a child becomes an apprentice in his father’s business. Jesus would take more responsibility in his father’s household.
Prior to the age of twelve it would have been likely that a child would travel in the company of his mother. At the age of twelve, the boy is now treated as a man, and would travel with his father.
It could have been the case that Jesus went down to Jerusalem on previous occasions, and perhaps this occasion with his mother. It is easy to understand how each parent might assume that Jesus was with the other on this particular trip as Jesus was at the age of this transition. When both parents realize on their return trip home from Jerusalem that their son is with neither of them, they go back to Jerusalem where, after three days, they find Jesus in the temple. There he is observed, sitting in the midst of the teachers, BOTH listening to them AND asking them questions. What is most astonishing is that Jesus is ANSWERING the questions.
47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. Luke 2:47 (NASB)
His mother, Mary, said to him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.”
Jesus’ answer to his parents query made sense in the light of his reaching the age of accountability as a son of the law, now assigned to be about His father’s business.
Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
Luke 2:49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"
The Greek text does not include the word for business or household; only the word ‘Father”. The Kenneth Wuest translation puts it this way:
“Had you not known that it is necessary in the nature of the case for me to be occupied in the things of my Father?” (Luke 2:49)
PSALM 60
A good verse from Psalm 60 to memorize today:
"Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries."
Psalm 60:12 (NASB)
Psalm 60:12 (NASB)
PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS: BRAZIL
As we pray for all the nations of the earth in 2011, we are visiting them alphabetically, continuing to pray for the country of Brazil. The only city with more Japanese than São Paulo, Brazil, is Tokyo!
We will be returning to São Paulo for a mission in August, after our mission in Rio de Janeiro in late May and early June. You can help us in this outreach through prayer and contributing on our website: www.newlife.org where you can click on MISSION BRAZIL 2011 in the upper right corner.
Despite the remarkable growth of Christianity in Brazil, there are many prayer needs. Pages 164-169 in the latest edition of “OPERATION WORLD” list them.
THE NEED FOR DISCIPLESHIP.
According to OPERATION WORLD:
“Churches have multiplied, but congregations are filled with immature, unfed spiritual infants whose faith is overly based on emotionalism, petty legalism and the personality of leaders. Such zeal without maturity leads to spiritual error, nominalism, wide-spread church-hopping without commitment to a particular church and large-scale backsliding.”
There is still Biblical illiteracy among the Christians. This is one reason why we are encouraging believers to read through the Bible for themselves. We are providing EQUIPPING materials and training teams to make disciples in Brazil. This blog is being translated and published in Portuguese for Brazilians to read: http://www.newlife.org/pastors-blog-portuguese
“Prosperity theology has shaped much of Pentecostalism in Brazil, with those on top of the pyramid enjoying celebrity status and lifestyles- as well as financial scandals- while millions of poor hold out for a miracle of healing or financial blessing. Pray for a right balance between expectation of blessing and daily sanctification.”
Healthy habits for daily sanctification is the subject of our “DAILY DOZEN” course: “ The 12 Daily Habits for Healthy Discipleship.” This course is based on 12 calls for obedience in 12 areas in our lives. We hope to have this material available in Portuguese soon.
One of the top needs in Brazil, according to OPERATION WORLD is for effective appropriate TRAINING.
“Rapid growth..has generated a dearth of trained leaders. With over 200,000 evangelical congregations, traditional education models are inadequate to meet the need. Many are making pastoral training a top priority now; Baptists, Presbyterian and Foursquare are examples of such groups developing new seminaries, TEE programs and in-service training opportunities. ..Pray for wise and creative solutions to this challenge.”
Pastor David
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
Church Offices: 35 Bypass Rd. Lincoln, MA 01773 978-369-0061
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