Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Partakers in the Ministry of God 

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 1:12-18

Key Verse Vs 12

12 How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife?
 
DEVOTION

The Book of Deuteronomy (retelling of the law) primarily consists of the three farewell addresses by Moses—servant of the LORD (34:5) (YHWH), the only true God, like no other (4:32-40, Isaiah 44:6-8), and led the people of Israel out of 430 years of Egyptian bondage—to the new generation of Israelites born during the 40-year wandering in the wilderness, following the older generation that perished in the wilderness, except for Caleb and Joshua, as penalty for rebelling against the LORD, and unbelief (Hebrews 3:7-19). The Exodus generation refused to enter the Promised Land, fearing the people, disobeying the LORD, not believing in His promise to fight for them like in Egypt, and sustaining them in the wilderness (Numbers 13-14). 
The purpose of Moses’s addresses in the plains of Moab (36:13) during the 40th year of the Exodus (1:3) was to reiterate God’s law and power and His covenantal relationship with Israel founded on His love for them (7:7-8, 10:15) to the new generation poised to enter Canaan, the land promised by the LORD under oath to their fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) under the leadership of Joshua, Moses’s attendant, helper (Numbers 11:28) and successor (Joshua 1:1-9).
The devotional passage (1:12-18) is drawn from the first chapter of Deuteronomy, part of Mose’s first farewell address, a historical prologue (1:5-4:43). The text describes the solution to the overwhelming weight and burden on Moses from leading Israel (~600,000 men, Exodus 12:37) alone, through a structured judicial system, as the LORD had multiplied Israel, as He had promises. Moses instructed the tribes of Israel to select wise, understanding, and respected men to serve as leaders—captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens—to handle, judge, and hear cases fairly between brothers and foreigners without partiality, with difficult cases to be brought before him.
The historical account of the devotional text is found in Exodus 18 (v.13-26), where Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, advised Moses to appoint capable, honest men to handle smaller disputes among the people of Israel, with him handling the difficult cases, as Moses was judging the people alone from morning until evening. While the Exodus 18 events occurred soon after Israel leaving Egypt, the Deuteronomy 1 account is Moses’s retelling to the new generation forty years later, part of his first farewell address.
The devotional passage depicts the people of Israel as partakers in God’s ministry by electing leaders and judges, allowing Moses to delegate decision-making to them, enabling him bear the weight of leadership. In his first epistle to the Corinthian Church, Apostle Paul exhorts Christians to be partakers in God’s ministry by deploying the different spiritual gifts, services, and abilities bestowed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
The devotional theme and the passage suggest the following reflections:
(i) Are you a Moses overwhelmed by the weight and burden of leadership? Are you serving a Moses to lighten the weight and the burden of leadership?
(ii) Are you deploying well the God-given talent, time, and treasure as a partaker in God’s ministry? Are you modeling good practices of impartiality, equality, and courage in your ministry for God?
(iii) How effective is your ministry for God? Are you Lighted to Lighten?

PRAYER

 Make us O LORD, our God, to be willing partakers in your ministry. To utilize well the gifts graciously granted to us. For your glory O LORD. And the good of others.
 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God", William Carey


Dr. Cherian Samuel
Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Virginia

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