(Numbers 27:11-23) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was; 14 for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
15 Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16 “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. 20 You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. 21 Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.” 22 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
15 Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16 “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. 20 You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. 21 Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.” 22 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
We see again the value of a church being "institutional" (organized). Having a pastor commissioned before the congregation is important. As God calls people into various ministries, the act of commissioning is not only significant, but it is symbolic of passing along or including another person into a leadership role, giving them another level of authority.
I have a personal experience to demonstrate this very clearly. Our church was presenting a biblical musical, and during one of the rehearsals, the director took me aside and asked me to co-direct a certain scene - according to what she had in mind. So I dutifully tried to gather everyone and get their attention, but people were obviously not sure they were to listen to me. This resulted in a lot of unwarranted "discussion" and confusion - especially when other people tried stepping in to direct - according to what they had in mind. At the next rehearsal, the director told the entire cast that I was going to help co-direct another specific scene. NOW the people listened and allowed me to direct them.
God created us and already knows how we are going to react and respond to things, so He gives us guidelines and examples for us to follow. God also provides us with leadership. If we are being called to something, we need to be obedient to step up and serve, and be living examples to others. We are also called to pray for, and respect and listen to our spiritual leaders, keeping in mind that God has placed them there to help guide us.
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