Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna | Wednesday, March 21, 2018 | Reading: Exodus 33:1-11, Exodus 4, Gen 3:1-21
Topic: The Tabernacle of God 387
Scripture: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building. (Heb 9:11)
Note: 2Cor 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” If there ever was one man who qualified to be tagged as a hero and a quiet defender of the early Church, it was Rabbi Gamaliel. He was an honourable member of the Sanhedrin during the formative years of the Church. His contribution to the Jewish Council at a time that Peter and John were under siege for preaching Jesus and the resurrection, helped in creating the needed space for the stability and growth of the Church.
Gamaliel was the preceptor of Saul, who later became Apostle Paul. He taught Paul everything he needed to know in the Hebrew scriptures and in the interpretation of the law. Although Gamaliel was a Pharisee, he was respected by all sides in the Sanhedrin for his prudent judgment in matters of arbitration. Gamaliel came from a family with longstanding tradition of being distinguished men in the scriptures and authorities in matters of the law. Gamaliel had a reputation among all the people as a man with a balanced view on issues.
It was therefore not very surprising when the visibly upset members of the Sanhedrin decided to acquiesce to his advice on the fate of the two apostles. Paul’s educational and professional backgrounds, coupled with his solid mentorship under Gamaliel, meant that he had authorization from the Jewish Council to preach in any synagogue. However, the wide disconnect, dissonance and intolerance in the hotblooded approach of Paul to the Church and the Christians differed completely from that of his mentor, and cannot be allowed to go without comment.
Saul who became Paul, hated the Christians with his last breath. Trained under a balanced and well-tempered Gamaliel, it was worrying that there should be a sharp departure from the philosophy of his adoring Rabbi. In Acts 9:1, ” And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.” Threatenings and slaughter were the elements from which Saul drew his breath. The mere sight of the disciples got Saul so animated that he was willing to go to any extent within the judicial boundaries of the law to eliminate them.
Food for thought: Hatred and uncontrolled anger driven by emotions, separated an otherwise good man from the noble teachings that he had received. Watch your anger.
Declaration: Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
