The family loads up and moves to Egypt. Along the way they stop in Beersheba, near
where he had seen the stairway to heaven when he was fleeing Esau. Here Jacob offers worship and sacrifice and
hears the Lord speak that He will be with him and that this move is God’s plan
for the people and that He will bring them back to the land from Egypt. Judah again is a significant part of the
story, going before his brothers into the land to show them the way to
Goshen. It is important, however, that
there be a plan to separate the people of Israel from the Egyptians so Joseph
comes up with the story that they are shepherds. The Egyptians disdain for shepherds will
ensure that they do not intermarry even though Joseph has done so. It is important that they preserve a distinct
identity, a distinction that will ultimately make them a threat to another
Pharaoh.
As the disciples return Jesus knows that they need a respite
from the work of ministry. They have
been powerfully used by God to do great things and now it is necessary to come
away to rest and reflect but the crowds follow them, even to a desolate
place. In spite of their spoiling His
plans, Jesus isn’t annoyed by the crowds, He feels compassion for them. He knows that they are simply hungry and not
only for food, but for healing, teaching and leaders who indeed have compassion
on them. His compassion for them becomes
an opportunity to reveal a bit more of His power, the ability to provide food
for this mass of people in a desolate place.
Immediately after He works this miracle, Jesus sends the disciples away
on a boat and goes further away from the crowds to pray. Basking in adulation is not the best answer
to ministry success, adoring the One who gave the success is the better plan.
Paul is clear that it is appropriate for those who preach
the Gospel to be paid for their spiritual labor. In some ways perhaps the Corinthians have
undervalued Paul and Barnabas because they haven’t been paid for their work
among them. The church has apparently
provided support for others and in the process have more greatly esteemed these
others. It is mostly true that you value
what costs you something or what brings an obvious reward. Paul’s gift of the Gospel to the Corinthians
has resulted in their concluding these others are superior to Paul even though
he was the first to preach the Gospel to them.
Paid clergy often results in the laity doing little more than
congregating rather than engaging in ministry themselves. We have to be careful about our understanding
of what each other’s roles are or we will become like the Egyptians and
Israelites, one doing a necessary job but being looked down upon by the more
professional class.
Send out your light
and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
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