May 23

Numbers 32 I was the last of five children. During my second though sixth grade years of school we lived in a little town NE of Stillwater called Glencoe. My mother faithfully made us all participate in most all of the activities of First Baptist Church of Glencoe. Realizing that it was too expensive to send five children to OSU, we moved to Stillwater where we could all live at home while attending the university. We had somewhat of a dilemma. The little church of which we were a part in Glencoe only averaged about 21 on Sunday morning. If our family withdrew, it would possibly really discourage those who remained. The church might wither away. My mother understood the meaning of commitment to a body. She told us, “We will remain active here until the church can survive our leaving.” Within two years the church had a new pastor who was able to bring in a few more young families. The future was looking bright for the church. Then Mom said it was time to move our church membership. What does any of this chapter of Numbers have to do with the glory of the Lord? Consider Ephesians 3:20–21: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” The glory of the LORD is to be seen in the church as Jesus works through her. What glory do we see? At times she shines brightly, at other times she appears to be a slut flirting with the world. What causes that flirtation? It is a desire to settle for anything less than His glory. We need a body of believers who will settle for nothing less than His glory. This chapter is an illustration of the need of the body to pursue His glory at all costs. Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh wanted to live in the land east of the Jordan. They had already conquered it. They wanted to remain there. They approached Moses about making it their home. Now, view it from Moses’ perspective as their leader for the last 39 years. They had grumbled and complained and rebelled. At one point they were getting ready to stone Moses and Aaron. What kind of glory does the LORD get out of that? From Moses’ perspective this was just another in a long train of selfish thoughts and acts. He was convinced that they were so enamored with the land that they could not see beyond their own desires. The nation as a whole needed each other. If they stayed behind, how would that effect the rest of the nation emotionally and how would that effect the nation in their military ability? The glory of the LORD is revealed in His people. How would their staying behind effect the nation in revealing the glory of the LORD? Moses, understandably, rebukes them for what he saw brewing in their hearts, but Moses did not see their heart completely. They did not get mad and separate themselves, rather they explained themselves and gave a good alternative. They agreed to fight with the rest of the nation until the promised land was conquered and then they would return to their land. Now that, was acceptable! It revealed a humble commitment toward the good of the body. That is what the LORD desires in our church bodies. I learned from my mother the meaning of commitment to a body. It would have been a whole lot easier to forget about that little church in Glencoe and join a larger church in Stillwater that had all of the youth and choir programs that people desired. But Mom saw a need for us to serve there until the church was bigger and could better afford our leaving. That reflects a commitment to brothers and sisters in Christ. That reflects love. When people in a church fervently love each other by staying committed to each other, it glorifies Jesus. We are in a spiritual war, even as Israel was in physical war. Our faithfulness to each other to our own sacrifice, glorifies Him. O by the way, that church still exists today, and a grade school classmate of mine is its pastor! Let’s glorify Him! Indeed, we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john