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Stories about neighbours and newcomers...
Section 1: Stories about neighbours and friends...
Section 2: Newcomers are NEW NEIGHBOURS
The neighbours of the woman who had lost her precious coin, must have told almost everyone who would listen about her loss. They must have made suggestions and looked too.
2499 - Search, Find and Rejoice!
A missing person and and any of those looking are more valuable than...
The neighbours and friends knew that the blind beggar was cured by Jesus before the parents did.
They did not know about their son and was at least emotionally if not truly missing to them.
2515 - "He's old enough" missing person? Ask him -he can answer for himself.
It's not impossible. Don't give up! Ask neighbours and travellers. Look in key locations.
Neighbours and friends are not there when the bride goes on her two searches for the "missing" groom in the city.
She is looking all alone.
2550 - If you find him...tell him I am faint with love.
Two similar city searches with different endings!
Could neighbours and friends be among the "human loot" that is missing?
2587 Missing human loot
Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Isaiah 42:23
The woman was a friend to Jesus. She was distraught because she thought her friend was dead and missing. "Why are you crying?"
Jesus was concerned for her. Pray for friends and neighbours to pray and answer that question to Jesus when they worry about a friend.
2588 - Not really missing!?
Reassuring words when someone important just has to leave for a short while.
When Jesus was 12 he was missing. His parents asked friends and neighbours in the caravan going home from Jerusalem where he would be.
The neighbours and friends were in the habit of looking after Jesus sometimes, because his parents didn't worry for a few days.
2589 - Jesus went missing when he was 12!
Go and make a search...with care.
What were the neighbours doing when a gang of wicked men surrounded the home of an old farmer who had guests?
Did anyone ever do anything to help others? Was the situation getting worse in the city?
2590 - 2 out of 3 travelers saved by friendly city man!
One was gang raped and left for dead by some of the wicked men of the city!
Neighbours were very important for the widow who had creditors who wanted to take her children away--to be missing.
They provided "jars", ordinary things, for the widow and her children.
They were a safety net. They could hide the children from the creditors. They could warn the widow.
2591 Elisha wasn't always around...when creditors came for children.
Any truly persistent widow with an adversary would also have a judge and ally.
Mary and Joseph were new neighbours to the people of Bethlehem. They left on the strength of God's warning dreams to Joseph.
They wanted to return after Egypt. Wouldn't they have left some of the treasures the wise men brought for safekeeping or use with their neighbours and friends?
2607 A voice was heard...they are no more.
Herod's unavoidable order and the innocents.
Neighbours were instrumental in saving Moses' life when he was a baby. They did not turn him in...why would they!!! They were probably fellow slaves.
2608 Why have you done this? Why did you let the baby boys live?
Baby Moses and his life conspirators who all offered: "Take this baby."
Friends and neighbours were at the cross...at enough of a distance not to be put into jail or into custody themselves. Some came, some stayed away. All for their own reasons. All did what they could handle. Those friends that were at the cross became the witnesses, since they were there from the beginning. Many took leadership positions later on. Some enemies, like the centurion became witnesses too.
2623 Mary was at a distance when Jesus was dying. Jesus' words were recorded. He forgave many. Mary must have been told. (Missing gamblers too!)
Neighbours - is a servant girl living in your house a neighbour? Friend - is a servant girl living in your house a friend? Naaman's wife had a servant girl living close and because she was kind, she also became a trusted friend. Naaman owed his health and most likely his life to her.2624 Missing child with no say had quite some eloquence in another tongue!
She was trusted and blessed the household of her owners. Remember Joseph who was bought!
God bless you, your neighbours and your friends to do God's plan in your lives.
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Section 2: Newcomers are NEW NEIGHBOURS for us.
Or we are the newcomers and we have NEW NEIGHBOURS.
Pray for newcomers and that they are not really missing" to those left behind.
Thank God for letters, e-mails, the telephone and fast modes of transport including airplanes.
Was Jonah a newcomer to Nineveh? He knew enough by reputation....
How would you feel telling off and warning people in a place you just moved to?
3041 - Jonah ran away!
An urgent call to God for Nineveh-types and runaways.
Onesimus ran away and was a newcomer to Paul.
2396 - Vouching for a rehabilitated runaway...
An interesting reference letter
Naomi was a newcomer in Ruth's country. She was "missing" in the old until she took up contact by sending messengers.
2478 - Refugees - Are they missing?...At least in hard times. - Ruth could have returned to her mother's home, but she chose to go with Naomi. How could Ruth's family have known of her whereabouts and her future?
The blind beggar was a newcomer in the neighbourhood where he was begging, far from his parents to whom he was "missing".
2515 - "He's old enough" missing person? Ask him -he can answer for himself.
It's not impossible. Don't give up! Ask neighbours and travellers. Look in key locations.
Jacob was a newcomer, even though he was "family". He was tricked and used primarily by his father-in-law Laban.
He was a newcomer, because he ran away from Esau becoming "missing" to him and his family, especially his mother.
When he left Laban, by running away again. He, his wives and chilcren became "missing" to Laban, but were re-united with Esau and his family.
2555 - Jacob was missing!
Laban pursued him for 7 days and caught up with him.
Could newcomers be among the "human loot", missing in the pits etc.?
2587 Missing human loot
Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Isaiah 42:23
Newcomers--the rural travelling party did not know about the dangers of the city.
The old farmer knew and tried to help. He offered his virgin daughter and his guests concubine, but he may have stalled and thought that this gang of wicked men would never want women. The old man was successful that night in keeping his household safe, except for the concubine.
He could not control his guest enough, because that man put his concubine into danger.
Ultimately though a whole war was waged following this incident.
2590 - 2 out of 3 travelers saved by friendly city man!
One was gang raped and left for dead by some of the wicked men of the city!
Mary and Joseph were newcomers to Bethlehem for the census. They wanted to stay, but Joseph had warning dreams...
He left with his family and prevented Jesus "missing" by death.
2607 A voice was heard...they are no more.
Herod's unavoidable order and the innocents.
Naaman's army brought many newcomer captives to their land. The servant girl assigned to his wife, could have decided to be nasty, or to only look kind to make sure that she would not lack anything or she could decide to be really kind in whatever circumstance. 2624 Missing child with no say had quite some eloquence in another tongue!
She was trusted and blessed the household of her owners. Remember Joseph who was bought!
God bless you to encourage you today.
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