Sunday, August 26, 2007

Would I be one?

As I sat in church at the park, I heard Pastor talking about how God would use simple things- even ugly or what we might consider useless things- to accomplish his goals. He was talking about crossing into the Promiseland, and how the Lord instructed Joshua to have men take 12 stones...we all know the story. For a memorial... that all who see will ask... to be able to tell our children... . I am not overlooking the importance of the message, but it got me thinking on a bunny trail. (It was very easy to do! A beautiful day, the kids were playing, comfortable chair. But this was a spiritual bunny trail. Really! )

Anyhow! He read Joshua 4:4 "Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:"

My thoughts went to the number 12 and how many times it is used in the Bible. This isn't about numerology or anything that deep! Hmmmm?... Would I have been one of only 12 called? Just like the twelve disciples, or the twelve spies sent to Canaan? What did Joshua do when it says "Whom he had prepared"? Did he know God would ask them to take the twelve stones from the Jordan? Was there an intensive "12 men to get the stones" training program that they had all attended? So how do I get to be one that God will choose? Prepare? Use?

These thoughts continued all through the picnic. Even after I got home, unloaded the car, did some laundry, and updated my calendar for the year (I got a great new organizational calendar... so awesome!), my brain wouldn't let it go. What must I do to be one God would choose? One of twelve, if that were all he needed? Enough already!! E-Sword here I come!!

Search 12

Only about 55 references- better than alot of bunny trails I've been on!

Did you know a ton of people had twelve sons? The measurements of the City of Jerusalem is all based on multiples of 12. There were 12 baskets of fragments of bread. Jesus was 12 when he stayed in the temple talking of His Fathers business. The woman had an issue of blood 12 years, and at the same time a child of 12 years old died. There could have been 12 legions of angels to assist Jesus at the time of his crucifiction. So many 12's!

Then I read John 11:9 "Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world."

BINGO!! That was my answer. Walk in the day, and I won't stumble. (I know... y'all knew that- my two faithful readers. Thanks for humoring me!) The light of this world, Jesus Christ. I don't think any of these groups of 12 felt like they were elite, better than anyone else, or really even ready for what they would be asked to do for the Lord.

They were just walking in the light.

4 comments:

Victoria said...

ENCOURAGING POST!!! Amazing how God can use ONE message and speak to so many people in so many different ways. Thank you for sharing the blessing!

jen said...

way to track down the bunny trail…I usually think "huh, that could be interesting to study" and then NEVER DO!! thanks for sharing your thoughts on this…so simple…wish it were also easy…

Janice said...

I love you, my two faithful readers!!!

JulieMom said...

Is Dan writing your blog? Where are all these deep thoughts coming from?

Thanks for the deeper thoughts, and encouragement to keep on!!

Africa or bust!