The Cluster of Grapes

“And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one
cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the
pomegranates, and of the figs.” (Num13: 23)

The cluster of grapes is a type of the church, since grapes are a product of a vine and
Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches:”(John15: 5) Every branch of a vine has
upon it cluster of grapes. Since Jesus is the vine, it means the cluster of grapes represents
the church. Each branch or each church is gathered together: The cluster of grapes on the
branches proves their growth. It is possible that the cluster on a branch is more than
another branch. Notice that the branch cannot determine the number of grapes in its
cluster it is by divine allotment, so if a branch has more in its cluster then, does not make
it any better than the other. In the same vein, numerical size of a church is not the
absolute proof of its superiority neither does it make it necessarily any holier and more
anointed than a perpetually small church.

These grapes, though belong to different branches, are of same vine, hence, have same
quality, size and colour. It can be inferred then, that if we get another grape of different
quality, size and color, it is from another tree. It cannot be of same specie.
If peradventure, this new specie of grape, are many to the point of forming a cluster. If
on the basis of analysis, it mixes with the other cluster, then we have clusters of
grapes.”…And a mix multitude went up also with them….” (Ex12: 38). Every time we
segregate ourselves in the body of Christ, we are invariably saying that we are not of the
same vine but rather; we are clusters of grape (i.e. grapes from different vines). The only
proof of our oneness (coming from same source) is when we have same believes even
though we may differ in modes.

In reference to the scripture mentioned above, not all that left Egypt were children of
Israel. Hence not all that are in church are saved. The parts of the people that left Egypt,
and were not Israelites were called the mixed multitude. That means they only enjoy
deliverance by association and not by birth. They only enjoy temporary covering
because the covenant does not cover them; since they were not children of promise.
In the church of God, also, we have those who by reason of association are ‘Christians’
but not believer for the latter is a covenant relationship.

Notice, it is possible that some of this mixed multitude may have left Egypt with silver
and gold, but it cannot be from their slave masters rather, it is their private property,
which they worked for. Some of this mixed multitude may have left with nothing to
call theirs. Likewise in the church of God, neither material blessing nor abject
poverty alone does authenticate son ship. “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God” (Rom8: 14). Son ship starts with a covenant relationship. It is
abdicating ones life to the ruler ship of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is saying I have no life of
my own outside of Him. It is saying I have no life outside of Him.”…Your life is hid with
Christ in God” (Col3: 3). Any ‘Christian’ who can find his sustenance outside of Christ
cannot be said to be part of His. He is part of the mixed multitude.

Notice, the worship of idols by the children of Israel when Moses went to get the Ten
Commandments cannot be without the influence of the mixed multitude. In the church of
God also, I am convinced that the incessant bickering is fueled by the mixed multitude
within it. “Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God”(1John3: 9 emphasis added). That is to say
even if a ‘true’ believer sins, because of the seed of God on the inside of him, he will
repent rather than make excuses or try to create more feud. He will be a peacemaker
rather than be a spoiler. He knows he is part of the cluster so he will do anything to
protect his fellow grape rather than glory in it’s been rotten.

“ For as the body is one, and hath many members and all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body: So also is Christ. For the body is not one member, but
many”(1Corith12: 12,14). Just as the different cluster of grapes on the branches makes up
the vine, so is the body of Christ. A body is a combination of many members. It cannot
be one. In the body are many parts, and each part performs different duty in different
locations, and differs in sizes. It will be out of place for a part of the body to claim
dominance over the other since they do not perform same functions; moreover, the body
is not complete without the seemingly less noticeable part of it. It is impossible from this
analogy for only one church to have all the answers to the question of life. It is
impossible for only one church to be the true church. Any part that claims dominance
over the other because of its size or importance is either ignorant of the body or is part of
the mixed multitude.

We are meant to be part of the body, fitting into Him to fulfill the purpose for which we
were created. “From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every
joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes growth of
the body for the building up of itself in love”(Eph4: 16NAS). The body is about the
fitting of the different parts, so the first question is where do you fit? If you do not fit,
you are just a liability to the body or of course a mixed multitude.
If you as a part of the body is not supplying, then there can be no growth. Notice also,
that the scripture emphasizes the proper working of each individual body. Meaning, even
if you find where you fit, and you are not functioning properly, there will not be growth.
If we each refuse to take our place in the body and if we refuse to do our responsibility
effectively, it is a sin, it is wrong and limits the growth of the body.

Back to the cluster of grapes, though they were brought as sample of blessing that awaits
the children of Isreal in the Promised Land, it was also a symbol of the synergy expected
of them. Just as the whole vine combines together to produce the cluster of grapes on
each branch, so the children of Isreal were to agree with the word of God to birth His
promise. Because they were not in agreement, they could not birth the promise as the
cluster of grapes of the vine.
They were made to go through a journey of a few days for forty years in the wilderness
just so they might see themselves as one, having same purpose, agree with God to birth
His promise in their lives.
Had God allowed them to proceed to the promise land without the synergy, they would
have been defeated.

Until the church of God sees ourselves as a cluster of grapes from a vine (Jesus) with
many branches, we can never achieve our God given purpose in totality. For no single
church (branch) can do it all alone. Notice that God wrought many miracles during the
wilderness experience of the children of Isreal, but that was not His initial plans for them,
so it was not His best. Might it be that the church of God is going through its wilderness
now? And just as miracles in the wilderness did not signify Gods will, neither will signs
and wonders, mega churches, numerical increase authenticate us.

We must see ourselves as brothers and sisters indeed irrespective of the branch of cluster
we belong, and build up the church as one again. “And the multitude of them that
believed were of one heart and soul… but they had all things in common” (Acts4: 32).
“ Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, they separated from Isreal the mixed
multitude”(Num13: 3). Its time for separation, for the body is a cluster of grapes and not
clusters of grape. We must stand for righteousness, truth and the whole counsel of God
not necessarily the counsel of men. For men’s ideas has divided the church enough and as
long as we segregate ourselves by doctrine of men the mixed multitude will continue to
feed fat upon our division and that will delay the coming of our Lord and Savior.