Our readings for today reflect the theme of expressing our gratitude to God. In Numbers 26:12-27:11, we notice that after the plague (which we read about yesterday), God instructed “Moses and Eleazar to “take a census of the whole Israelite community” (verse 1). This would be the second census of the people. Earlier, we saw that the first census yielded a total of 603,550 Israelite men, whereas the total count from this second census resulted in 601,730 Israelite men – a net loss of 1,820 men. In verses 52-65, God tells Moses that “the land is to be allotted to the people as an inheritance based on the number of names – a larger inheritance to a larger group – and a smaller inheritance, to a smaller group” (verses 52-54). This manner of dividing up the land would ensure fairness for all the Israelites. In chapter 27, we see that a question arose about these inheritances: Zelophehad “died in the desert” but he left no son to inherit his allotment. He left only daughters; could they inherit his estate? “Moses brought their case before the LORD,” Who determined that Moses “must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives” (verses 5-7). From this passage, I detect a soft spot in my heart about Zelophehad’s daughters. I picture my own daughters in a situation like this – with no brothers – hoping to keep their family’s inheritance. God shows special kindness to women, and men should do the same. God meant for women and girls to be cared for tenderly – not mistreated or abused. In the garden of Eden, although Eve was first deceived and sinned before Adam, God was mindful and merciful to her as a woman. He was especially compassionate toward her. As we see today in Luke 7:36-50, Jesus was also kind to women. Finally, in this section, I appreciate that Moses took their request to God.
Proverbs 8:12-21 identifies the true nature and source of wisdom, which is godly and comes from the Lord. Much of our knowledge is horizontal (i.e., it is transmitted from human to human), but true wisdom is vertical (i.e., it comes down to us from God above). Proverbs 8 informs us that wisdom is clearly tied to the “fear of” and a “love for” God (verses 13 and 17). It is “bestowed” (verse 21). In verse 12, we read that wisdom is greater than knowledge for it “possesses knowledge” (i.e., it includes knowledge), but nowhere do we ever read that knowledge governs wisdom. A man can actually be a very intelligent fool – possessing much knowledge – but completely lacking in wisdom. Apart from wisdom, knowledge is incapable of dealing “justly and righteously” with evil. This is evident in our world today. 1 Corinthians 1 explains that God has made knowledge – the so-called “wisdom of this world” – to be foolishness, and that Jesus Himself is the “wisdom” of God. We ought to express our gratitude to God for giving us wisdom.
In Luke 7:36-50, we see Jesus attending dinner at the home of a Pharisee. During the dinner, “a woman who had lived a sinful life … brought an alabaster jar of perfume,” and she anointed His feet with her tears and the perfume (verses 36-39). This act demonstrated both her public confession and her gratitude to Him for her salvation, but the Pharisee became obviously indignant and “said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner” (verse 39). We wonder; what kind of man did he think he was? As a response, Jesus expounds a parable of contrast and rebuke to His host. The host did not do for Jesus the many things that this sinful woman did. The woman, who had committed “many sins” (verse 47), expressed her gratitude to Jesus for her salvation and her forgiveness, and she “loved much” (verse 47). Jesus said, “He who has been forgiven little loves little.” When we truly understand how much God loves us, and how much He has done for us, how can refuse to express our gratitude to God?
Comments