Deuteronomy 22:1-30; Luke 10:1-12; Psalms 75:1-5; Proverbs 18:13
NT: “After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t move from house to house. When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’”” (Luke 10:1-9 CSB)
The first sending that Jesus performed was sending His 12 disciples to the lost sheep of Israel. His 12 disciples were symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel. This time, Jesus sent out about 70 followers (some texts say 70 and some say 72). He didn’t just send them to the lost sheep of Israel, but into every town that he would be traveling through on His way to Jerusalem. The 70 (or 72) is symbolic of the 70 nations of the world listed in Genesis 10 that descended from Noah. This second sending was a prophetic picture of disciples from every nation being sent out to reach every people group on the earth. The task was and continues to be immense. The harvest was and continues to be abundant. We don’t pray for the task to be easier. We pray for more people to join us in the labor. Jesus didn’t say to pray for the Lord to send someone else – which is often what we pray. Jesus said, as you are laboring, pray for the Lord to send you partners and co-laborers… not someone to do the work for you, but to work with you. We are to primarily be ambassadors of the Kingdom, agents of peace, and messengers of the good news of the present Kingdom, filled with power and authority to validate our claims. Anyone who welcomes and receives our message is able to receive the peace that we bear. The world needs peace and we are peace bearers and peace makers. The world is a dangerous place filled with wolves that want nothing to do with peace… and the task before us is great. Thankfully, He doesn’t send us out alone and without His grace – but now is the time to go. We, as the Lord’s disciples, need to both obediently go into the harvest and pray for more workers to join us. Just imagine: if there were faithful disciples going into the harvest field of the world out of every reached people group on the earth, how quickly the world would be reached by the good news of the gospel. If we truly want to see peace on earth – if we truly want to see true justice, we need to join in the work.
Jamie Hicks 