Numbers 27
Women as heirs - now that a novel idea! Just kidding... Times were a bit different back then... When the daughters of Zelophehad complained to Moses about the injustice of a system that did not allow daughters to inherit their father's possessions they talked to Moses. Moses talked to God and God made provision for them. This provision, though, was not based so much on the individual women's needs, but to perpetuate the name of their father. There was a little room for women in the patriarchal system - but - very little. We'll see in chapter 36 that there were a few restrictions on these provisions.
Now Moses was getting near the time of his end as shepherd of Israel. He had sinned against God by not showing God's holiness to the people. He was allowed to see the promised land, but not enter into it. So God makes provision for Israel by providing a new shepherd, Joshua. Joshua is commissioned. In front of Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, Moses lays his hands upon Joshua and part of his authority is transferred to Joshua in order that he might lead the people as a shepherd.
God provides according to the needs of the people. On January 8th, at Bethany Lutheran in Covington, MI a shepherd of that small flock will be installed. God has provided. They have been like sheep without a shepherd for a long time. Thanks be to God that they knew, trusted, and followed the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ in the interim. I served as their interim Pastor, as did others, during part of that time. But, now they will have someone who can more closely serve them. Peter Suomela, a layman has been called to serve. Now that's a novel idea... LOL. Who do we think served the church on earth when it was first growing in the U.S.. There certainly weren't enough pastors to go around at that time - 5 and 6 point parishes with hundreds of miles in between in some places? It was lay people who led weekly worship between visits by the clergy. In Russia, during the many years that Christianity was outlawed and priests and pastors were being sent to prison camps in Siberia, it was not just laymen, but lay women who served secretly so that the Gospel would still be heard and God's children ministered to. We give thanks to God for Peter, who has been in the Lord's training for many years (since baptism) and has been called to serve as shepherd in that community of Covington. God's provides. We thank God for the provisions he makes for all His people!
Women as heirs - now that a novel idea! Just kidding... Times were a bit different back then... When the daughters of Zelophehad complained to Moses about the injustice of a system that did not allow daughters to inherit their father's possessions they talked to Moses. Moses talked to God and God made provision for them. This provision, though, was not based so much on the individual women's needs, but to perpetuate the name of their father. There was a little room for women in the patriarchal system - but - very little. We'll see in chapter 36 that there were a few restrictions on these provisions.
Now Moses was getting near the time of his end as shepherd of Israel. He had sinned against God by not showing God's holiness to the people. He was allowed to see the promised land, but not enter into it. So God makes provision for Israel by providing a new shepherd, Joshua. Joshua is commissioned. In front of Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, Moses lays his hands upon Joshua and part of his authority is transferred to Joshua in order that he might lead the people as a shepherd.
God provides according to the needs of the people. On January 8th, at Bethany Lutheran in Covington, MI a shepherd of that small flock will be installed. God has provided. They have been like sheep without a shepherd for a long time. Thanks be to God that they knew, trusted, and followed the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ in the interim. I served as their interim Pastor, as did others, during part of that time. But, now they will have someone who can more closely serve them. Peter Suomela, a layman has been called to serve. Now that's a novel idea... LOL. Who do we think served the church on earth when it was first growing in the U.S.. There certainly weren't enough pastors to go around at that time - 5 and 6 point parishes with hundreds of miles in between in some places? It was lay people who led weekly worship between visits by the clergy. In Russia, during the many years that Christianity was outlawed and priests and pastors were being sent to prison camps in Siberia, it was not just laymen, but lay women who served secretly so that the Gospel would still be heard and God's children ministered to. We give thanks to God for Peter, who has been in the Lord's training for many years (since baptism) and has been called to serve as shepherd in that community of Covington. God's provides. We thank God for the provisions he makes for all His people!
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