Old Testament reading: Numbers 7
Today’s reading may be one of the most mundane readings in all of the Sacred Text (verses 10-89). However, the first nine verses, and verse 9 in particular are of considerable interest, as they tell of the presentation of the wagons and oxen to assist the priests who were assigned to the setup, care, dismantling and moving of the tabernacle. Of particular import is how the sons of Kohath were not given any wagons or oxen. Why? Because the text says it was given to them the responsibility to carry the ark and items on their shoulders (v 9). In other words, they didn’t need them to accomplish the work given unto them by the Lord. If only David had consulted the Law before moving the ark, Uzzah might not have touched the ark when the unauthorized carriers (oxen) stumbled. We might say that David and the priests stumbled before the oxen did. In 1 Chronicles 15:13, David said that incident occurred because “We did not consult the Lord about the proper order.” One should still consult the Lord today about the proper order of things (faith and repentance, baptism and salvation) by consulting his word, lest something far worse than death come upon us.
New Testament reading: Acts 9-10
Was Saul saved on the road to Damascus? Acts 9 provides the original account of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, later known to all as the apostle Paul. In this account, and in Paul’s recounting of it in Acts 22:13, there is the mention of Ananias referring to Saul as “brother.” Most denominationalists use this text as proof that Saul was saved while en route to Damascus, and that his reception of baptism had no part in that conversion or salvation. The word translated brother appears 58 times in Acts, and is used in reference to one physical kinsman (Acts 12:2), to a brother in Christ (Acts 21:20), and to one of Jewish lineage (“men and brethren” – Acts 2:37). This last usage corresponds to Ananias’ statement. If Saul was saved before baptism, he certainly didn’t know it, as he continued in prayer and fasting until Ananias came to him. Moreover, Ananias’ own words as recorded in Acts 22:16 forever put to rest the idea that baptism has no connection to the washing away of sins.
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