Meditations in Genesis
And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people. Genesis 49:33 (Read Genesis 49:29-33)
What does it mean when the Bible speaks of Jacob being “gathered to his people”? The expression is used of other believers as well. It is said of Abraham in Gen. 25:8; Ishmael in 25:17; Isaac in 35:29; Aaron in Numbers 20:24-26; and Moses in Deut. 32:50.
It cannot simply refer to a place of burial because Abraham’s people, his ancestors, were buried in the region of Ur of the Chaldeans, while Abraham was buried in the cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan. While Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried in the same cave, Aaron and Moses were buried in different locations – Moses in a place known only to the LORD God.
So what does it mean for a believer to die and to be “gathered to his people”? It refers to being united with other believers who have gone before.
Note in the account Jesus tells of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) that Lazarus, when he died, was carried by angels to “Abraham’s bosom.” He was truly “gathered to his people.” He was in the very presence of the LORD God, together with all others who died in the faith from Adam and Abraham onward through history. When we die, our souls depart to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23). And, when Christ returns on the Last Day, He will bring with Him the souls of all who have fallen asleep trusting in Him (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
What does this mean for you and for me as believers in the Lord Jesus? It means that when we breathe our last and die in this world, we too will be gathered to our people. Our people are not family members by blood but family members by faith in Christ Jesus. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29).
When we die, we will be together with all who have placed their hope and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether it was those who looked forward to His coming and His redeeming work or those who look back on Him and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. When we die, the angels of God will carry our souls to the bosom of Abraham; and on the Last Day Jesus will bring us with Him and raise up our mortal bodies as immortal and glorified bodies, and we will be forever with the Lord.
And even if we are among those who are alive and remain in this world unto the coming of our Lord, we will then be gathered together with Him and all believers of all time to be forever with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:1).
Dear Father in heaven, grant us faith in the Son, Christ Jesus – confidence in Your mercy and forgiveness for the sake of His holy life and innocent sufferings and death upon the cross in our stead – that we may be gathered to our people and be forever with our risen Lord and all who have trusted in His name. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Martin Luthers’ Large Catechism
The Lord’s Prayer
The Seventh Petition
112] But deliver us from evil. Amen.
113] In the Greek text this petition reads thus: Deliver or preserve us from the Evil One, or the Malicious One; and it looks as if He were speaking of the devil, as though He would comprehend everything in one, so that the entire substance of all our prayer is directed against our chief enemy. For it is he who hinders among us everything that we pray for: the name or honor of God, God’s kingdom and will, our daily bread, a cheerful good conscience, etc.
114] Therefore we finally sum it all up and say: Dear Father, pray, help that we be rid of all these calamities. 115] But there is nevertheless also included whatever evil may happen to us under the devil’s kingdom – poverty, shame, death, and, in short, all the agonizing misery and heartache of which there is such an unnumbered multitude on the earth. For since the devil is not only a liar, but also a murderer, he constantly seeks our life, and wreaks his anger whenever he can afflict our bodies with misfortune and harm. Hence it comes that he often breaks men’s necks or drives them to insanity, drowns some, and incites many to commit suicide, and to many other terrible calamities. 116] Therefore there is nothing for us to do upon earth but to pray against this arch-enemy without ceasing. For unless God preserved us, we would not be safe from him even for an hour.
117] Hence you see again how God wishes us to pray to Him also for all the things which affect our bodily interests, so that we seek and expect help nowhere else except in Him. 118] But this matter He has put last; for if we are to be preserved and delivered from all evil, the name of God must first be hallowed in us, His kingdom must be with us, and His will be done. After that He will finally preserve us from sin and shame, and, besides, from everything that may hurt or injure us.
119] Thus God has briefly placed before us all the distress which may ever come upon us, so that we might have no excuse whatever for not praying. But all depends upon this, that we learn also to say Amen, that is, that we do not doubt that our prayer is surely heard, and [what we pray] shall be done. For this is nothing else than the word of undoubting faith, which does not pray at a venture, but knows that God does not lie to him, since He has promised to grant it. 120] Therefore, where there is no such faith, there cannot be true prayer either.
121] It is, therefore, a pernicious delusion of those who pray in such a manner that they dare not from the heart say yea and positively conclude that God hears them, but remain in doubt and say, How should I be so bold as to boast that God hears my prayer? For I am but a poor sinner, etc.
122] The reason for this is, they regard not the promise of God, but their own work and worthiness, whereby they despise God and reproach Him with lying, and therefore they receive nothing. 123] As St. James 1:6 says: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. 124] Behold, such importance God attaches to the fact that we are sure we do not pray in vain, and that we do not in any way despise our prayer.
Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday
Scripture Readings for Sunday are: Psalm 119:1-8; Ephesians 1:15-23; and Matthew 11:25-30. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.
The Adult Bible Class will begin a study of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, at chapter one.
Remember to Pray
Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation, as well as for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us; for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families and for believers who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations in the Philippines and Japan, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.
Events and Announcements
On-line video of worship services can be found at: http://goodshepherdrogers.org/blog/worship-service-video.
Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21