Old Testament reading: Joshua 22
Jumping to conclusions can make for an undesirable landing. There is an inherent danger in making up one’s mind before all the facts are known (cf Prov 18:13). After the conquest, Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh returned to Gilead east of the Jordan, having fulfilled their pledge to help their brethren fight to obtain their inheritance (Num 32:20-33). Fearing that future generations might view the separation by the River Jordan as a Divine indictment and prohibition from serving the Lord, these brethren built a large replica of the altar of sacrifice to serve as a reminder to both sides of their right to offer worship to God. Upon hearing of the altar’s construction, the ten tribes prepared to go to war against their brethren, accusing them of conspiring to commit apostasy. Moreover, they brought to their remembrance that not only do the transgressors suffer from God’s wrath, but that such punishments tend to fall upon everyone. After hearing the defense of Reuben and Gad, everyone was pleased, and they called the place Ed, which means “Witness.”
New Testament reading: Revelation 1-3
Revelation (not “Revelations”) remains a puzzle and a mystery for most readers. As you read this book, do not allow yourself to become bogged down in the minutia of the symbolism. Identifying and understanding every symbol is not vital to grasping the overall theme and message of the book, which is an encouragement to Christians to endure (“overcome”) all assaults on their faith and person in view of the ultimate victory provided by the Lord Jesus. This theme is well stated by the apostle Paul in Romans 8:35-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Friends, this is the message of Revelation in a nutshell!
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