Sun.’s Devo - New Wineskins

Read Numbers 36:1- Deut. 1:46, Luke 5:29-6:11, Ps. 66:1-20, Pr. 11:24-26 It was important to God for the tribes to keep their inheritance separated. The daughters of Zelophehad were told to marry within their tribe so their inheritance would stay in the tribe of Manasseh in the year of Jubilee. Every tribe had their distinct gifts and functions pertaining to God and God wanted to keep these separated. I wonder if it was like in the New Testament when God appointed some apostles, some teachers, some preachers…etc. in 1 Co. 12:28. God wanted to keep their gifts separated so they could cultivate and learn their gift and everyone would know where to go to get help. For example, if Israel needed wisdom they would go to the tribe of Issachar since they were given the ability to understand the times to know what Israel ought to do. (1 Chron. 12:32) If they wanted to give God a sacrifice or make an atonement for their sins, they went to the Levites. Today, if we need counsel, we go to the counselors, if we need encouragement we go to the exhorters or preachers, if we need wisdom about the future we seek out a person with the gift of prophecy. Before Joshua set them free to possess their land, he reminded them of their past and how they had continually rebelled against God. He did this in hopes they had learned the lesson. In Luke, Jesus is trying to explain to the Pharisee’s that this was a new season - the bridegroom was among them. But they couldn’t toss their old wineskins so the new wine Jesus brought couldn’t be put in the containers of their hearts. They needed a new heart. Those who got the new heart could contain the new wine. Lord, pour Your wine into our hearts. May we refresh those around us with Your joy.