Today’s reading: Numbers 1-2; Mark 3:1-21
13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. Mark 3:13-15
44 These are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers’ house. Numbers 1:44
It is hard to miss the repetition of the number “12” in the Bible even when you are not reading simultaneously in the Old and New Testaments, as we are. There seems to be a certain completeness in the number 12.
In our reading of Matthew, we saw this statement:
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28
So there is a connection between the twelve tribes and the twelve disciples (later called apostles). Is this fully explained? I don’t think so. I am OK with not knowing all of God’s reasons and purposes now or ever.
Even though God does not always reveal to us His reasons for the things He decrees, we can understand enough to know that these details have a reason and a purpose. Perhaps, when His kingdom comes fully we will know many of the reasons we do not yet understand. It will be all the more reason to praise Him for His infinite wisdom. Let’s start now, by faith, praising Him for that wisdom.
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