On the last day, each of us guessed how many barrow-fuls still remained to be shifted. We loaded up 26 for the back yard and then I realized I wanted to keep the remainder at hand to use in the front garden – so we only needed to move it a few feet. So as not to abort our guessing game we decided to count how many shovels it took to fill one barrow and then count the shovelfuls it took to move all the remaining wood chips to create the new pile a few feet away. Ana (GRACE) would count and then do the calculation dividing that number of shovelfuls by 15 to reach the final count of barrow-fuls. Many shovelfuls later the math was done and the winning number announced – it was ‘42′ barrow-fuls – the exact number Hopa had guessed!
In Matthew 1:1-17 it speaks of 42 generations between Adam and the Christ but if you count there are only 41 until Jesus (v.16)…that is because the Christ (“anointed one”) consists of Jesus the head joined to His resurrected body at His coming again.
The children of Israel’s 42nd encampment on their wilderness journey was after they had crossed over into the Promised land. This is a type of our crossing over to receive our lost inheritance…the ‘Promised land’ of immortality we will enter into at the resurrection…when our bodies are redeemed.
“We know that the whole of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this HOPE we were saved….”(Rm.8:22-24)
Another perfect set up by Father for a final lesson for…..
GRACE had just declared HOPE the winner after 42!
I should finish this Overcomers series where I began…with Ivan….the initial workman.
Ivan of course had been a good resource…..actually more for fun than for work. “Papa if you could adjust the length of this shovel……..if you just get up on top like this and then loosen the pile…….if you turn the shovel like this….. ”
I smiled. All the while he was trying to perfect technique I was quietly loading and removing barrow after barrow as the Old Sinai works mount gave way to the New Jerusalem grace mount (Gal.4) – the big old tree now serving as foundational mulch for our new hedge of hazelberts (but that’s a whole other story!)
I chuckled how like Ivan we all are, taking ourselves so seriously as we “Do the Work of the Lord” when all the while Father (with a little help from his (Jn.15) ‘friends’) is completing the business. GRACE does indeed have the final word.
I look forward to seeing how ‘wrestling the hawk’ will work out in the life of this budding Overcomer : – ))