Journey through the Wilderness

THE CALL  Matthew 9:9  "As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," me He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him."  Matthew had one of the best paying jobs in Israel as a tax collector but it did cost him his reputation to be wealthy. Those who collected taxes for Rome were considered traitors by the Jews. Rome had been oppressing the nation of Israel for a long time and they ruthlessly took whatever they wanted from the people and then some! So you can imagine how much people like Matthew were despised. Maybe for this very reason, Matthew was more inclined to get up and leave it all behind to follow Jesus when He called him. Matthew had a lot of money but probably very few friends other than fellow tax collectors. He was hated by many and now this man, Jesus who had quickly gained a reputation as a teacher, prophet and miracle worker throughout the land had noticed him! Not only notice