Tag Archives: Great Commission

The Nations, and Me

September 8, 2025 Tom Vander Well Leave a comment

“With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths.”
Numbers 29:14 (NIV)

In today’s chapter, God continues to remind the people through Moses of the annual festivals He requires as part of the spiritual rhythm of the community. The final festival described is the “Festival of Tabernacles.” It was a one-week harvest festival held in the autumn. Families gathered and camped out in their own tent for the week, remembering how their ancestors camped out through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land.

In the detail requirements for the festival, there were 13 bulls sacrificed on day one. The number of bulls sacrificed decreased by one each day until the seventh and final day of the festival in which seven bulls were sacrificed. Whenever I see a pattern like this, I know something is up. This is, after all, the book of Numbers and numbers are important in the Great Story, especially to the ancients.

If I add the total number of sacrifices for the week, it equals 70. Remember, everything in the Great Story is connected and this number 70 connects back to Genesis 10 which lists all the nations of the world. There were 70 nations listed. In our chapter-a-day treks through both Genesis and Leviticus, I observed that God promised Abraham that all the nations of the world would be blessed through him and his offspring. Then God tells the Hebrews at Mt. Sinai that the purpose of them following His ways and His priestly guidebook are so that they would be a light to the nations, showing them His ways.

How fascinating then to think that at the harvest festival, which carries all the metaphorical meaning of gathering in the fruit that has sprung from scattered seed, God asks for a daily series of sacrifices that represent what He is doing on a cosmic spiritual level throughout the Great Story. God wants the whole world to know Him, to learn His ways, and to follow. Jesus wasn’t making something new when He said,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Jesus was perpetuating the game plan that had been established with Abraham and clarified through Moses.

Yet as I meditated on this, there was more. The bull sacrifices during the week of the festival start with the large broad number of 13. That’s one more than the 12 representing the Hebrew tribes. It’s like saying we’re going to start with the all the nations. It’s Hebrews-Plus, the one metaphorically referencing “and everyone else.” As the week goes on, it is whittled down to the intimate and important number of seven, God’s number of “completion.” It’s like God starts with sacrifices for all the nations and then ends by bringing it back to the intimate, complete covenant He made with His people, with Abraham.

Over the past several years I’ve unpacked how God’s plan can be envisioned metaphorically like life on four levels. Level 1 is just me and God. Level 2 is me in relationship with others. Level 3 is me in relationship to the kingdoms of this world. Level 4 is me in relationship with God’s Kingdom. This too is echoed in the receding sacrifices of the Festival of Tabernacles. It begins with sacrifices for Level 3 and all the kingdoms/nations of the world. It tapers down to the final day of the festival when I’m reminded of God’s intimate and personal covenant with me on Level 1.

In the quiet this morning, I’m reminded that God’s ultimate plan for humanity in the Great Story is rooted in the individual. It started with one person in Abraham. Jesus taught His disciples that God’s Kingdom starts with each individual heart. Jesus transforms my heart and my individual life, which transforms my relationship with other individuals in my circles of influence, which then begins to transform my community, my cultures, and even nations.

“But remember,” God whispers in the Feast of Tabernacles and Jesus is saying in the Great Commission, “It all begins with Me in you.”

A good reminder for this Monday morning as I lace ‘em up and head into another work week. Have a good one, my friend.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.

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Chapter-a-Day, Uncategorized

Time to Grow Up

April 28, 2016 Tom Vander Well Leave a comment

“…so that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, or bow yourselves down to them, but hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.”
Joshua 22:7-8 (NRSV)

There are different stages in life. What may be good and appropriate for one stage of life may change and evolve as we grow and mature. This is natural. It is a part of the journey. It is how God designed it.

When I was a child there were boys that my parents did not want me hanging out with. My parents saw that they had different values. They were older. There was every possibility that they would have drawn me into trouble. My parents didn’t say these were “bad” kids. They simply told me to steer clear.

As I got older my parents stopped warning me about people. They sent me off to work, to college, to the mission field, and to the broader world. They wanted me to explore, to meet people, to learn, to grow, and to influence the world around me. They trusted me to be wise and discerning regarding my relationships.

I have come to believe that the relationship between God and man in history parallels the stages of human life. In today’s chapter, humanity is in its early childhood years. The people of God have become aware of their place in the world. They are learning about interacting with others. Their heavenly father warns them to steer clear of those who might have an unhealthy influence on them. Just like my parents did at that age.

Along life’s road I’ve known many followers of Jesus who still cling to this early childhood attitude of fear and suspicion towards others. They insulate themselves from their neighbors. They fear contact with others who are not like them and who don’t believe the same ways. It is as if they fear contamination should they associate with anyone who is not a part of their insular church family. They might even use Joshua’s words in today’s chapter to justify it.

Jesus’ death and resurrection was a rite of passage in the relationship between God and man. It was relational graduation into adulthood of sorts. Holy Spirit was poured out into the hearts and lives of those who believe. Jesus now sent His followers out into the world. No more hanging with the homeys behind locked doors. No more keeping to yourself. Jesus said, “Go….” Heavenly Father was kicking His children out of the nest. You’re old enough. You’re wise enough. I’ve prepared you and equipped you and it’s time for you to get out there an influence your world.

Today, I’m thinking about stages of life. There was a time when I was a child and I needed to be wary of others influencing me. Now I’m a man, and if I still live with that fear then there’s something that has short circuited in the maturation process. As Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in the city of Corinth: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.”

At some point, it’s time for every one of us to grow up, go out into the world into strange places among people who are new to us and influence those we meet with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.

featured image: shenamt via Flickr

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Matthew 28

April 27, 2011 Tom Vander Well 2 Comments

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Mathew 28:18-20 (MSG)

This morning as I thought about Jesus final charge to His followers, I pondered the process. Jesus teaches the disciples, then sends them out. The disciples teach another generation of followers who are sent out and on, and on, and on.

I think back to the people who were instrumental in my own decision to follow, and my subsequent learning to follow. I remember Bob. I think of my parents and my siblings. I think of Chuck, Andy, and David. I remember teachers like John, Dave, and Bill. I think back to amazing friends who have been instrumental in walking beside me in key stretches of the sojourn like Randy, Dave, Craig, Kirk, Stephen, Jon, Kevin, and Matthew.

All of us who follow received from others who learned from those before who received it from yet others who walked their own journey long before us. It is a spiritual lineage that goes back all the way to Jesus standing on a mountain with a handful of followers.

Today, I’m thankful for those who have been instrumental in my own spiritual journey. I pray that I have been and will continue to be faithful in passing what has been entrusted to me along to my children, eventually to my grandchildren, and to those who God brings into my sphere of influence.

Keep passing the baton. The race isn’t over.