Old Testament reading: Numbers 10-11
Of trumpets and tongues. In Numbers 10 God instructs Moses to make two silver trumpets “for calling the congregation and directing the movement of the camps.” A blast by one trumpet or two was to let the people know if everyone was to gather before the Lord (two) or just the leaders of the various divisions (one). A different blast or sequence was made when it was time to move or go to war. There were also trumpet blasts to accompany the various Jewish feasts. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul uses this same principle in his refutation of the Corinthians abuse of tongues (1 Cor 14:6ff). I recently watched the well known charlatan Rod Parsley “speak in tongues” and then immediately give the interpretation, a clear violation of 1 Corinthians 14:27-28. In Numbers 11 God provides quail for His people who, despite God’s deliverance and watch care over them, had become chronic complainers. If ever the love and mercy of God was evident among Israel, it was in the days following their escape from Egypt. Also, the nearly indescribable greatness of God’s man Moses should not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Moses refused to be put on a pedestal by Joshua (11:27-29). He lived up to his description in Number 12:3. Yet, as great a man as he was, Jesus is far better (Heb 3:1-6).
New Testament reading: Acts 13-14
Acts 13 begins with what is called Paul’s first missionary journey. One map in the back of your Bible likely designates it as such. I would consider Paul’s journey to Tarsus in Cilicia his first such journey (Acts 9:30). No matter. What is important is the fact that God chose His very best servants to go and preach the gospel to those far removed from Jerusalem and Judea. The best preachers weren’t hoarded by the home folks. Foreign missions are not for men who aren’t good at local work. While it certainly takes a special person to leave his home for distant lands, we should also try to cultivate a missionary spirit in our best and brightest young men and women. No doubt Paul and Barnabas could have done great things in local work, but God chose them for bigger and better things.
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