Numbers 2
Moses sets up camp positionsverses 1-2
And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron
saying
Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard
with the ensign of their father’s house
FAR OFF about the tabernacle of the congregation
shall they pitch
Tribes on east side of the tabernacleverses 3-9
And on the EAST SIDE toward the rising of the sun shall
they of the standard of the camp of JUDAH pitch throughout
their armies – and Nahshon – the son of Amminadab
shall be captain of the children of Judah
And his host – and those that were numbered of them
were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred
And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of ISSACHAR
and Nethaneel – the son of Zuar shall be captain of the
children of Issachar
And his host – and those that were numbered thereof
were fifty and four thousand and four hundred
Then the tribe of ZEBULUN – and Eliab the son of Helon shall be
captain of the children of Zebulun
And his host – and those that were numbered thereof
were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred
All that were numbered in the camp of JUDAH were
an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand
and four hundred throughout their armies
These shall FIRST set forth
Three tribes on south side of tabernacleverses 10-16
On the SOUTH SIDE shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben
according to their armies – and the captain of the children of
REUBEN shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur
And his host – and those that were numbered thereof
were forty and six thousand and five hundred
And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon
and the captain of the children of SIMEON shall be
Shelumiel – the son of Zurishaddai
And his host – and those that were numbered of them
were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred
Then the tribe of GAD – and the captain of the sons of Gad
shall be Eliasaph – the son of Reuel
And his host – and those that were numbered of them
were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty
All that were numbered in the camp of REUBEN were an
hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred
and fifty throughout their armies
And they shall set forth in the SECOND rank
Tabernacle in middle of campverse 17
THEN the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the
camp of the LEVITES in the MIDST of the camp
as they encamp – so shall they set forward
every man in his place by their standards
Three tribes on west side of tabernacleverses 18-24
On the WEST SIDE shall be the standard of the camp of EPHRAIM
according to their armies – and the captain of the sons of Ephraim
shall be Elishama – the son of Ammihud
And his host and those that were numbered of them
were forty thousand and five hundred
And by him shall be the tribe of MANASSEH
and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be
Gamaliel – the son of Pedahzur
And his host – and those that were numbered of them
were thirty and two thousand and two hundred
Then the tribe of BENJAMIN
and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be
Abidan – the son of Gideoni
And his host – and those that were numbered of them
were thirty and five thousand and four hundred
All that were numbered of the camp of EPHRAIM were
an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred
throughout their armies
And they shall go forward in the THIRD rank
Three tribes on north side of tabernacleverses 25-31
The standard of the camp of DAN shall be on the NORTH SIDE
by their armies – and the captain of the children of Dan
shall be Ahiezer – the son of Ammishaddai
And his host – and those that were numbered of them
were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred
And those that encamp by him shall be of the tribe of ASHER
and the captain of the children of Asher shall be
Pagiel – the son of Ocran
And his host – and those that were numbered of them
were forty and one thousand and five hundred
Then the tribe of NAPHTALI
and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be
Ahira – the son of Enan
And his host and those that were numbered of them
were fifty and three thousand and four hundred
And they were numbered in the camp of DAN
were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand
and six hundred
They shall go HINDMOST with their standards
All followed the LORD’S instructionsverses 32-34
These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel
by the house of their fathers – all those that were numbered of
the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred
thousand and three thousand and
five hundred and fifty
BUT the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel
as the LORD commanded Moses
AND the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD
commanded Moses – so they pitched by their standards
and so they set forward – every one after their families
according to the house of their fathers
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. (5048 “far off’ [neged] means that which is opposite of, in sight or presence of, opposite, away from, or over again).
DEVOTION: Now we come to the setup of the camp. God is a God of order and not confusion like we see today in the church.
Each tribe had a position in the camp. The Tabernacle was in the middle with the sons of Levite close around the Tabernacle. The rest of the tribes had to be a distance away from the Tabernacle.
It is thought that the distance was about a thousand meters. This gave room for the Levites to be close to the Tabernacle while the other tribes are away from the Tabernacle.
Remember that God had a command regarding those who were not part of the priesthood to keep their distance from the Tabernacle because it was holy.
What is unique is that the Tabernacle was always in the middle of the camp. God was center to all that was going on in Israel. Also, we find that Judah is the lead tribe when the children of Israel traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land. It was not Reuben who was the oldest. It was a sign of the significance of the tribe of Judah in the future.
We are to keep the LORD in the center position in our life. HE has to be remembered as HOLY in our eyes. It seems like we are away from God many times in our life. Yet HE is still right next to us to help us through the trials HE allows in our life.
When we fail we can turn to HIM in confession and HE is right there to forgive us. It is a great picture of us being close to the LORD and HE is in the center of our world once we become a believer in Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: We are regularly camped close to the LORD because of HIS death for us. HE is available to hear our prayers. HE is available to help us in any situation. HE is close.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies, and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. (6633 “armies” [tsaba’] means campaign, military service, troops, warfare, divisions or large group)
DEVOTION: Reuben lost his rights as the first born when he defiled his stepmother. Judah was given the leadership role for the tribes. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah.
Sometimes consequences of sins travel with us the rest of our lives. It doesn’t always happen but it did in this case. We need to remember the lesson from the life of Reuben. Firstborn were supposed to have special privileges.
We need to think about what we are doing once we become a follower of Jesus Christ. Those sins before we came to Christ are forgiven. Once we become a follower all of our sins are seen by the Father through Jesus Christ because HE is our substitute. HE made atonement for us.
However, our choices after salvation can have consequences here on this earth. Bad choices can have bad consequences. So the key is to understand how God works in our lives and make good choices as often as possible.
How we spend our money now might set a pattern that is hard to break later in life. How we eat can have a problem for us the rest of life. Reuben thought he was just committing an act of sin against his father but he was really committing an act of sin against his future.
CHALLENGE: Look at your sin in the distance. Disobedience to parents can cause problems for you when you raise your children. Obedience can change the outcome of the future.
: 17 Than the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards. (4150 “congregation” [mow’ed] means assembly, place of meeting, meeting, or a group of people who are gathered together for the common purpose, often religious)
DEVOTION: Every one of us has a place in the family of God once we become a follower of HIM. HE gives each of us a gift to be used in the local church. HE gives us each a family of believers who are willing to be with us in good times and hard times.
There is a camp of believers in every community around the world. Some are meeting in secret. Some are meeting openly. God knows who needs special assurances at any given time.
We have a place reserved for us in heaven. While on this earth we have a place in HIS kingdom to serve. It may take some of us longer to figure out our place in the camp of God.
We are in a battle and we need to be prepared for battle at all times. God was preparing HIS people to protect the Tabernacle. They were to camp around the Tabernacle, so that, the enemy had to go through three tribes on each side before they could get to the Tabernacle.
They had to be willing to die to defend the holy place that God had allowed to be here on this earth. Today we are the temple of God and HE wants us to be willing to protect each other when the battle begins.
We need to remember that we are part of a family. It is not our physical family alone but all those who are believers. Our family has to be willing to help us through every battle.
Who are you helping in their battle against those who attack a fellow believer? Today we have many individuals who want to cause problems for fellow believers.
CHALLENGE: Should we stand up and be counted or just let it happen to another believer?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers. (1714 “standards” [degel] means banners, tribal divisions, signal, flag or look)
DEVOTION: Each of the tribes had a banner that represented their tribe. They were given specific instructions as to where they were to set up in relation to the tabernacle. The eleven tribes were to protect the tabernacle at all costs.
The tabernacle was protected on all sides. The camps of the eleven tribes were far off from the tabernacle for better protection when they were at rest.
They were to march in the same order as they set up camp. The Tabernacle was never unprotected by the children of Israel.
We are to set our banner in a personal relationship with the LORD. If we set our banner in the LORD’S camp then our children will follow our example. We need to make sure we are setting a good example for our children. None of us are perfect parents but with the LORD’S help our children will be in the LORD’S camp.
Are we strong warriors for the LORD? Are we strong defenders of the FAITH? Is the church of Jesus Christ strong because of our setting a high standard? Are we supporting the LOCAL church that is preaching the Word of God with our time, talent and tithe?
God uses HIS people to move the church forward. Remember the “gates of hell” cannot prevail against the church of Jesus Christ. Praise HIS name!!
CHALLENGE: Whose flag are each of us fighting under? Is it the flag of our individual countries or under the flag of the church of Jesus Christ? Our battle is against the world, the flesh and the devil. Are we defending the honor of the LORD Jesus Christ?
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Tabernacle of the congregationverses 2, 10
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1, 33, 34
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Mosesverses 1, 33
Aaronverse 1
Children of Israelverses 2, 32, 33, 34
Tabernacle of the congregationverses 2, 17
EAST SIDEVERSE 3
Judahverses 3-4
Nahshon – son of Amminadab
74,600 soldier
Issacharverses 5-6
Nethaneel –son of Zuar
54,400
Zebulunverses 7-8
Eliab – son of Helon
57,400
Total of first set forth: 186,400verse 9
SOUTH SIDEVERSE 10
Reubenverses 10-11, 16
Elizur – son of Shedeur
46,500
Simeonverses 12-13
Sheluniel – son of Zurishaddai
59,300
Gadverses 14-15
Eliasaph – son of Reuel
45,650
Total 151,450verse 16
Tabernacle of the congregation verse 17
Levites in midst of camp
WEST SIDEVERSE 18
Ephraimverses 18-19
Elishama – son of Ammihud
40,500
Manassehverses 20-21
Gamaliel – son of Pedahzur
32,200
Benjaminverses 22-23
Abidan – son of Gideoni
35,400
Total: 108,100verse 24
NORTH SIDEVERSE 25
Danverses 25-26
Ahiezer – son of Ammishaddai
62,700
Asherverses 27-28
Pagiel – son of Ocran
41,500
Naphtaliverses 29-30
Ahira – son of Enan
53,400
Total 157,600verse 31
Total number: 603,550 soldiersverse 32
Levites not numberedverse 33
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
2 The Hebrew word order of v.2 stresses the role of the individual in the context of the community; each one was to know his exact position within the camp. A more literal translation, following the studied order of the Hebrew original, follows:
Each by his standard,
by the banners of their father’s house,
the Israelites will encamp;
in a circuit some way off from the Tent of Meeting
they will encamp.
The repetition of the verb “will encamp” is for stately stress. Here is the meaning of the individual in Israel, and here is the significance of his family.
The people of Israel were a community that had their essential meaning in relationship to God and to one another. But ever in the community was the continuing stress on the individual to know where he belonged in the larger grouping. Corporate solidarity in ancient Israel was a reality of daily life; but the individual was also very important. The words interplay with one another in these texts: each individual / the people // the people / each individual.
The text stresses, not just the relationship each person and each tribe was to have to the central shrine, but that none was to approach the shrine too casually. The dwelling of the tribes was in a circuit about the shrine but at some distance from it. The Hebrew word minneged means “some way off” or “from a distance.” These words build on 1:52–53 and the protective grace of God, demanding a sufficient distance to serve as a protective barrier from untoward approach to the shrine of the Divine Presence and the judgment of God such an approach might provoke. Gerhard von Rad writes that all true knowledge of God begins with the assertion of his hiddenness (Old Testament Theology 2:374–78). Too casual an approach betrays too minimal a reverence.
Here we sense anew a recurring theme in the Torah. God’s holiness may not be forgotten by his people, but his grace is protective for them. His desire is not to destroy the unwary but to protect such from their own folly—and to demonstrate the wonder of his person in the midst of their camp.
God could have maintained a distance between himself and the people, rendering the warning unnecessary. Then no one would be in danger of harm. The true believer, however, so caught up with the wonder of knowing that the God of all the universe was present in some mysterious way in the midst of the encampment of the people of the new Israel, would seek to learn to live with the mystery of God’s awesome presence. The fright of danger is lost in the sense of the proximity of his glory and the nearness of his grace.
Each tribe had its banner and each triad (group of three) of tribes had its standard. Jewish tradition suggests that the tribal banners corresponded in color to the twelve stones in the breastpiece of the high priest (Exod 28:15–21). Further, this tradition holds that the standard of the triad led by Judah had the figure of a lion, that of Reuben the figure of a man, that of Ephraim the figure of an ox, and that of Dan the figure of an eagle (see the four living creatures described by Ezek 1:10; cf. Rev 4:7). These traditions are late, however, and difficult to substantiate historically, as the Torah does not describe the nature or designs of the banners of Numbers 2 (see KD, p. 17). (Allen, R. B. (1990). Numbers. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, pp. 713–714). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Banners (’ōṯōṯ, v. 2) or flags identified the individual families, and a standard (deḡel, vv.2–3) identified each three-tribe division. The three tribes on the east of the tabernacle were Judah.… Issachar, and Zebulun (vv. 3–9), with Judah the leader of the divisions (v. 9). The leader of Judah, Nashon son of Amminadab (v. 3), appears in later genealogies in the messianic line (cf. Ruth 4:20; Matt. 1:4). The tribes in this group represent the fourth, fifth, and sixth sons of Jacob by Leah (see comments on Num. 1:17–46). The east was the orientation of the tabernacle so the Judahite division led the moving procession. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). Numbers. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 217). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
2:2 standard … banners. The banners were flags identifying the individual tribes (probably with some sort of insignia). The standards were flags marking each of the 4 encampments of 3 tribes each. tent of meeting. For details see Ex 25–30. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nu 2:2). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
The position of each tribe is specified (2:1–34). The tent of the Lord’s dwelling and meeting with his people is completely surrounded by the tribes. Verse 17 states that the place of the tabernacle in the order of march is to be between the camps (see chap. 3 for detailed instructions). Verse 34 repeats that Moses and Israel obey the Lord by carrying out all the instructions in detail.
The Levites are omitted during the census and are not given assigned places when the other tribes receive theirs. They are given separate and more specific treatment. (Van Groningen, G. (1995). Numbers. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 88). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House)
Ver. 2. Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, &c.] Or banner, of which there were four, as appears from the following account, under each of which were placed three tribes; and so every man of each tribe was to pitch his tent in the tribe he belonged to, and by the standard under which his tribe was marshalled, and in the rank that he was placed: with the ensigns of their father’s house; which were either lesser standards or banners, somewhat different from the great standard or banner, which belonged to the camp consisting of three tribes, and which were peculiar to their several families and houses, and distinguished one from another, like flags indifferent regiments; or these were signs, as the word may be rendered, or marks in the standards or banners, which distinguished one from another; so the Targum of Jonathan, the signs which were marked in their standards: but what they were is not easy to say; Aben Ezra observes, and Abendana from him, that their ancients were used to say, that there was in the standard of Reuben the form of a man, on account of the mandrakes, Gen. 30:14 and in the standard of Judah the form of a lion, because Jacob compared him to one, Gen. 49:9 and in the standard of Ephraim the form of an ox, from the sense of those words, the firstling of his bullock, Deut. 33:17 and in the standard of Dan the form of an eagle, so that they might be like the cherubim the prophet Ezekiel saw, ch. 1:10 which is not very likely, such images and representations not being very agreeable, yea, even detestable to the people of the Jews in later times, and can hardly be thought to be in use with their early ancestors: others, as Jarchi, fancy that those standards were distinguished by their colours, as our flags or ensigns are; which, if they stopped here, would not be much amiss, but they go on and say, that each was according to the colour of his stone fixed in the breastplate, so that there were three colours in every flag or standard; thus, for instance, in the standard of Judah, which is the first, were the colours of the three precious stones, on which were the names of Judah, Issachar, and Reuben, namely, the emerald, sapphire, and diamond; and so in the rest of the standards; but others say, the letters of the names of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, differently disposed of, were on those standards; but rather, one would think, the names of the three tribes under every standard were embroidered on them, which would sufficiently distinguish one from another, and direct where each tribe was to pitch; but of those things there is no certainty: far off about the tabernacle of the congregatión shall they pitch; a mile from it, according to Jarchi, or 2000 cubits, which is supposed to be a sabbath-day’s journey, Acts 1:12 and this distance is gathered from Josh. 3:4 and is not improbable. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 710–711). London: Mathews and Leigh)
AND the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: †far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
By his own standard, or ensign, by that to which he is allotted by the following order. It is manifest that there were four great standards or ensigns, which here follow, distinguished by their colours or figures, or otherwise; also that there were other particular ensigns belonging to each of their father’s houses or families, as is here said. Far off; partly out of reverence to God and his worship, and the portion allotted to it, and partly for caution, lest their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near approaches to it. It it is supposed they were at two thousand cubits distance from it, which was the space between the people and the ark, Josh. 3:4, and it is not improbable, because the Levites encamped round about it between them and the tabernacle. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 1, p. 264). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
But ye have an unction from the Holy One. 1 John 2:20
What is it that enables us to stand and to remain and to avoid the seduction of false teaching that would separate us from God and Christ and eventually lead to our condemnation? Well, John says here that it is all due to the work of the Holy Spirit. Christians are who they are because of the Holy Spirit. Christians, he says, are those who have received an unction or anointing—that is his way of describing the Holy Spirit. It is because of Him that they are able to discern and understand and avoid the subtle dangers that threaten them within the realm even of the Christian Church itself. John says in verses 20-21, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” Then he adds in verse 27, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you.”
John’s words “unction” or “anointing” are just a very graphic way of describing the influence and the effect of the Holy Spirit upon the believer. It is the wording of the Old Testament where we are frequently told that prophets, priests, and kings, when they were inducted as it were, were anointed with oil; that was the mechanism, the ceremonial, that was used to set them apart for their office. Samuel anointed first Saul and then David as king. The same anointing was given to the priests and prophets, and the results of that pouring of the oil upon them was that in that way they were regarded as consecrated; they had become anointed ones who were now enabled to do their duty.
A Thought to Ponder
John’s words “unction” or “anointing” are just a very graphic way of describing the influence and the effect of the Holy Spirit upon the believer.
(From Walking with God, pp. 118-119, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
A slight majority of evangelical churchgoers believe there is no moral absolute truth, while three-quarters think people are “basically good,” according to a new report that its authors call “alarming.”
The poll by the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University examined the views of attendees of evangelical, Pentecostal/charismatic, mainline Protestant and Catholic churches on 51 beliefs and behaviors.
Among the findings, the survey discovered that a majority of evangelicals (52 percent), Pentecostals/charismatics (69 percent), mainline Protestants (58) and Catholics (69 percent) say there is no absolute moral truth that applies to everyone, all the time.
On the question of sin, a large majority of evangelicals (75 percent), Pentecostals/charismatics (76 percent), mainline Protestants (81 percent) and Catholics (84 percent) disagree with the statement, “People are not basically good; we are sinners.”
“American Christianity is rapidly conforming to the values of the post-Christian secular culture,” the report’s authors wrote.
Significantly, the survey only examined the beliefs of church attendees, not limiting it to those who have professed certain beliefs or who say they have embraced Christ’s teachings. Still, its findings likely will disturb many within the Christian community.
The survey also found that among evangelical churchgoers:
- 43 percent believe Jesus sinned.
- 43 percent do not believe that there is a common, God-given purpose to humanity.
- 42 percent seek moral guidance primarily from sources other than the Bible.
A news release from the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University called the results “alarming for evangelicalism.”
“What makes that trend so significant is that evangelical churches, by definition, teach that the Bible is the authoritative word of God that teaches not only salvation by grace alone but also an array of life principles that are meant to drive one’s thoughts and actions,” CRC said in the release.
George Barna, director of research at the Cultural Research Center, said the data “represents a post-Christian Reformation driven by people seeking to retain a Christian identity.”
“Unfortunately, the theology of this reformation is being driven by American culture rather than biblical truth,” Barna said. “The worldviews embraced by the adherents of these distinct religious communities reflect contemporary, worldly influence, rather than biblical influence.”
The findings are based on a January survey of 2,000 U.S. adults.
(Christian Headlines)
1 Corinthians 13
Love is the greatest virtue that all Christians should exhibit
INSIGHT
Throughout the Bible, love is clearly considered the supreme virtue. Both Jesus and Paul teach that the greatest Christian virtue is love. However, it is not always easy to measure love, especially because our society has such a distorted concept of what love is. Many people think that love is simply an emotion. We may think that if we don’t feel “warm and fuzzy,” we don’t love. While emotions certainly may be attached to biblical love, love is primarily an act of the will. And God commands us to love. If you exhibit the qualities listed in today’s chapter, you are loving regardless of your emotions.
(Quiet Walk)
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Qualified to Inherit
“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:11-12)
Having been “made strong with all strength” through “his glorious power,” we are then enabled to complete the assignment that God has granted to us on Earth.
The power of God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). The same power displayed when God raised Jesus “from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20) is more often needed on Earth for “patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” The word for “patience” in this text describes a quality of temper that does not easily succumb under suffering. That emphasis is not merely a contextual byproduct. Much of the godly life demands a temperament that opposes cowardice or despondence. We should “glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).
Many of our brothers and sisters in history suffered beyond human endurance, ultimately giving their lives for the Kingdom of God. “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:25). Therein lies the longsuffering that does not hastily retaliate after a wrong. This temperament opposes wrath and revenge.
These godly traits, earned and experienced only while on Earth, reveal us to be “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Now, we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). Later, He will present us “faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
Judy writes (CT): A fifteen year old Amish boy and his father were in a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again.
The boy asked, “What is this Father?” The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, “Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don’t know what it is.”
While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened, and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed, and the boy and his father watched the small numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until it reached the last number, and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.
Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24-year-old blond stepped out. The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son… “Go get your Mother.”
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