Read Numbers 27:12–23
Questions from the Scripture text: Who spoke to whom in Numbers 27:12? Where does He tell him to go (cf. Deuteronomy 3:23, Deuteronomy 32:49)? To do what? And then what will happen (Numbers 27:13)? Why (Numbers 27:14)? Who speaks to Whom in Numbers 27:15? How does he address Him (Numbers 27:16)? For what man does he ask? To do what (Numbers 27:17)? So that what will not happen? Who speaks to whom in Numbers 27:18? Whom does He say to take? Who is in Joshua? What must Moses do to him? Before whom (Numbers 27:19)? What is Moses to do even before he dies (Numbers 27:20)? Who will function how with him (Numbers 27:21)? What did Moses do (Numbers 27:22-23)? According to what?
What are we to learn from the ordination of Joshua? Numbers 27:12–23 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the ordination of Joshua displays God’s grace to His church, even though they are sinners.
This passage concludes the two chapters that focus upon God’s faithfulness despite the former generation’s sin. There was the census of the new generation that replaced the one that fell in the wilderness (chapter 26). And then there were the daughters of Zelophehad (cf. Numbers 27:1–11), whose inheriting was especially about their replacing their father, who died in his sin (cf. Numbers 27:3). And now, the succession of Moses and Aaron by Joshua and Eleazar is presented especially against the context of their sin (Numbers 27:14; the ‘you’ is plural). God’s compassion for His people is reflected in Moses’s desire that the congregation of YHWH would not be like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:17, cf. Matthew 9:36). He ordains a new officer, through the laying on of hands, indicating that Joshua is full of the Spirit, called by the Spirit, and will be helped by the Spirit (Numbers 27:18-19). The great grace for Moses was not that he was permitted to see the land from the mountain (Numbers 27:12), but that he was enabled to continue prophesying (Numbers 27:23) and to be obedient to the end (Numbers 27:22). He finished well. It is God’s faithfulness and compassion to His people that gives them faithful, ordained officers from one generation to the next. And it is His ultimate faithfulness that has given us His own Son as everlasting Prophet, Priest, and King!
Who have been ordained by laying on of hands in your church? What would be an indication of grace in their ministry?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving to us Christ to be Prophet, Priest, and King. And thank You that in His compassion to lead us, He has given us ordained officers, by His Spirit. Bless their ministry unto Your church’s good and Christ’s glory, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP78 “O Come, My People” or TPH222 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
No comments:
Post a Comment