April 19, 2011

4-19-11 Tuesday, 6:14 am Springfield, 67 degrees, full moon through high thin clouds

A cold front will come through today, whipping up scattered thunderstorms. Bethany arrived safely last night and we went out for sushi. Today I have much to do as I work on worship planning, greet the kids of creation, pray with the staff, meet with the hospitality captains to plan for Easter Sunday, and lead our 4:00 meeting of the Sunday Morning Task force.

Joshua 19:1 - 20:9

The continued record of land allotments to the tribes and their clans. Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the tribal leaders allocated grants of land to the tribes of Israel by casting sacred lots in the presence of the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. (19:51) After the land was divided among the tribes, the Israelites gave a piece of land to Joshua as his allocation.

This was a massive relocation and resettlement of people. Reading it this morning I have been thinking through when in history and during this present generation such a massive resettlement has taken place. During the 18th and 19th centuries Europeans migrated to the Americas and Africa, colonizing, settling, and often enslaving or expelling the populations formerly in those places. Today massive people shifts are mostly the result of refugees from war or natural disasters, plus the political issues involved with Israel, Palestine, and various Arab countries. The ebb and flow of peoples and tribes in Africa is also significant, such as the massacre in Rwanda of one tribe by another.

Chapter 20 contains the instructions to designate “cities of refuge” as God had instructed Moses. These were a place for people to flee to if they accidently killed someone. The elders in the city of refuge would hear their case and determine their eligibility for residence, which would protect them from being killed in revenge by the family members of the deceased. A maternity home was established in St. Charles county with the term “refuge” in its name, alluding to these cities where people could turn in desperation.

Lord, today is a fresh new opportunity to serve you. Guide me in all I do that I might honor you and extend your kingdom through the work of Wesley United Methodist Church. I realize how brief the life is, even though it has the illusion of permanence. Help me to prepare, to encourage, to lead, to serve in the power of your Holy Spirit in cultivating and developing more disciples of Jesus Christ who worship, care and serve.