A beth ab was the tradition in old Israel. It’s a big house, probably not as beautiful as this one, but I’ve read that one might have had fifteen rooms where extended family all lived together. When a son was betrothed to be married, he built rooms onto his father’s house for his future family. The father announced when all was ready. Then the wedding began. If a man had four sons, each son who married built onto the house and then brought his bride and had a family there. Can you imagine living with your extended family? What would it be like?
Consider radical love. The father loved all his sons the same, and when one was gone, he couldn’t wait for him to return. Think about this in terms of the Prodigal Son. The son demanded his inheritance and ran away to another country to “find himself.” The Bible says he squandered his inheritance on parties and immorality. When all his money was gone, so were all his “so-called” friends. He became hungry and found work on a pig farm. This was the lowest life for a Jew, but he longed for the food the pigs ate. When he came to his senses, he realized that his father treated his servants better than he was being treated so he packed up his things and started for home. His dad saw him from a long way and greeted him with a clean robe and new sandals and put a ring on his finger. He threw a big party for the son who was lost but was found.
THINK ABOUT IT
Jesus calls to each of us. He doesn’t want anyone to fail to receive His amazing love, but He will not force us to love Him in return. He told the disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)
Friend, there is room for everybody! The Father knows what you like, what makes you comfortable and happy. Jesus is there making a place customized just for you and another place just for me. It’s a mystery that I have to trust God about, and I hope you do too. It’s gonna be great!
PRAY ABOUT IT
Father God, thank you for Jesus, and the hope that we will all live together someday. Help us to know your word and trust you with our future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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