10 July 2013 - plan obsolescence

10 July 2013 - plan obsolescence

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples

There is a subtle parallelism between the OT reading and the Gospel today.  The twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve apostles have a few things in common.  It isn't an exact match because Jesus also parallels Joseph without being one of the twelve.

First, both groups are definitely imperfect. The brothers, among other things, almost killed Joseph before selling him into slavery.  We see a tax collector among the apostles.  We even see Judas among them.  They both betray the one the LORD appoints to lead them.

Joseph is innocent and beloved by the father.  He is betrayed by his brothers.

Jesus is betrayed by Judas.  But he is also betrayed by all of us every time we sin.  Among the twelve apostles, only John stands with Jesus at the cross.

Yet both of these groups are used to feed the LORD's people.

The brothers are told "take home provisions for your starving families."

The apostles are sent "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  And we know the the LORD sends his apostles to his sheep to feed them (cf. John 21:17).

His plans are not frustrated by our apparent lack of compliance.

The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.

Let's pause here, though.  We sometimes think, 'I've never done anything really bad.' At other times we think only of all our repeated little failures to follow the LORD day to day and doubt that he can use us.    In both cases these are excuses for complacency.  We have crucified the LORD of glory.  You and I have done this, and all the other not-so-bad people like us.  And we fail the LORD day to day again and again.  But his mercy is so much greater than our failures.  He allows the crucifixion to happen because from it he brings the resurrection.  He allows our failures to happen because from them he can bring the kingdom to earth.  As long as we turn back to him and repent his plans are never frustrated.

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

The brothers of Joseph are eventually reconciled.  Except for Judas the twelve apostles are the very channels through whom we now believe.  Imagine what the LORD can do even through people like us.

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”