thumbs & Big Toes

The king of Bezek was defeated by Judah and when they caught him they cut off his thumbs and big toes.  He said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me” (Judges 1:7).  There are at least two lessons for us in this story.

​One, even the seemingly most insignificant parts of the body are important.  This is true in regards to the physical body.  To lose our thumbs would make it quite difficult to handle things and to lose our big toes would be crippling.  But, this is also true in regards to the spiritual body of Christ, His church.

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​Every member, no matter how insignificant they may seem, is necessary to the proper and efficient working of the body.
 
“For in fact the body is not one member but many…But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased…But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’  No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary…But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it…Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:14-27).
 
Two, for every crime there is a price to be paid.  Never think that you are going to get away with anything scot free.  You may suffer the consequences in this life or in the life to come but ultimately God will right every wrong.  A day of judgment is coming.
“Be sure your sin will find you out…the way of the unfaithful is hard…Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap…For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad…’Vengeance is Mine, I will repay’, says the Lord” (Numbers 32:23; Proverbs 13:15; Galatians 6:7; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 12:19).
 
The next time you happen to notice your thumbs or big toes remember these two lessons.  Then, thank God for every member of the body of Christ and for the price He paid for our sins so that we may not be condemned with the world but have eternal life.