Multigenerational Congregations

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
June 4, 2011

Numbers 4:21-23, 46-47, 49, ‘ADONAI said to Moshe, 22 "Take a census of the descendants of Gershon also, by clans and families; 23 count all those between thirty and fifty years old, all who will enter the corps doing the work of serving in the tent of meeting.’ ‘The census of the L'vi'im, whom Moshe, Aharon and the leaders of Isra'el enumerated by their clans and families, 47 all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of those working to serve and working to carry loads in the tent of meeting,’ ‘According to ADONAI's order they were appointed by Moshe, each one to his specific service or work. They were also enumerated, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.’

Seven times in this portion, G-d instructed Moshe to enumerate the priests for service; He specified their service be between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Each priest served for twenty years.

Within the congregation as with the people of Israel, there is always people of different ages with different responsibilities.

Notice the different characteristics given by the Apostle Yochanan for the different generations.

1 John 2:12-14, ‘You children, I am writing you because your sins have been forgiven for his sake. 13 You fathers, I am writing you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I am writing you because you have overcome the Evil One. 14 You children, I have written you because you have known the Father. You fathers, I have written you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I have written you because you are strong the Word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the Evil One.’

Each of us fit into one category. Where do you see yourself?

Perhaps we are not limited to one category, but we can have different aspects from all three because we have the Spirit of G-d in us.

We can be like little children with an innocence in trusting like a child. We can be strong like the young overcoming the Evil One with the Word of G-d. And we can be mature with the wisdom that comes with spiritual age, fathering or disciplining others.

1 Corinthians 4:15, ‘For even if you have ten thousand trainers in connection with the Messiah, you do not have many fathers; for in connection with the Messiah Yeshua it was I who became your father by means of the Good News.’

As mature believers we should all be pouring our lives into others, not just teaching them but ‘fathering’ them or discipling them.

The Hebrew words for children are ‘yeladim’, ‘banim’ for sons and ‘banot’ for daughters. ‘Narim’ are for the young (wide range of meaning). The Hebrew word for fathers is ‘avot’; and the word for daddy is ‘abba’.

When we are His children, born again by His Spirit, our hearts cry Abba Father!

Galatians 4:6, ‘Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!").’

Romans 8:15,16, ‘For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!"). 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God.’

We have a sense of really knowing Him and knowing we are His and experience that wonderful assurance and intimacy with Him!

Another word for father is ‘zaqen’; the root word is derived from ‘zaqan’ which means ‘elder’ of which the root Hebrew word means ‘beard’.

Yeshua began his ministry when He was 30 years old (Luke 3:23). It is also written in the Talmud that one must be at least 40 years old to be considered wise. Notice in the conversation recorded in Gospel of John, the age of 50 was used as a measure of wisdom.

John 8:55-58, ‘Now you have not known him, but I do know him; indeed, if I were to say that I don't know him, I would be a liar like you! But I do know him, and I obey his word. 56 Avraham, your father, was glad that he would see my day; then he saw it and was overjoyed." 57 "Why, you're not yet fifty years old," the Judeans replied, "and you have seen Avraham?" 58 Yeshua said to them, "Yes, indeed! Before Avraham came into being, I AM!"’

G-dly wisdom is not necessarily based upon chronological age, but rather through humility, obedience and submission to our L-rd. Therefore, someone younger can actually be more wise spiritually depending upon one’s relationship and experience with the L-rd.

We all need each other to be healthy multigenerationally and intergenerationally within our congregation. In fact, Yeshua demonstrated characteristics of all three delineations described in 1 John. He had a childlike relationship with the Father (Matthew 3:17), He overcame evil like a warrior (Luke 4:4) and He is One with the Father (John 10:30 and Isaiah 9:6) and fathered disciples.

In the same way, we can exhibit these characteristics as well. But don’t get too comfortable in any one delineation. Rather, let G-d expand and grow us as we follow after Him.

Further Reading: Psalm 71, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Luke 3:23, Hebrews 5:12-14