Archives for February 2012

 

TODAY’S READING: DEUTERONOMY 9-12

 

OVERVIEW:

God’s promises to the fathers; God’s grace to the undeserving; Second tables of commandments; Love and obedience; Blessing and curse; Ordinances

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Once again, there are two main thoughts that permeate God’s message in today’s reading: REMEMBER and OBEY.  The children ofIsraelare reminded that the Lord has chosen them and protected them, but not because of their size, their might, or their righteousness.  Today, we are reminded that the Lord has not called and blessed us because of our might, our wisdom, or our goodness; we are WHAT we are, and are WHO we are, by GOD’S grace and mercy.  Moses reminds the children ofIsraelof their rebellion three times: Exodus 32, Numbers 11 and Numbers 13. It is interesting to note that in these three instances, it is Moses’ prayer and intercession that saved the people from the wrath of the Lord.  “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James5:16).

 

Chapter 10 begins the time of transition.  The second tables are in the ark and the second priest is in his place.  The tribe of Levi is chosen for the Lord and the children ofIsraelare told to prepare to enter the land.  The next 16 chapters will be statutes and judgments for life in the new land.  Now, look closely!  Verse 12 is going to sum up all that is required in the next 16 chapters.  “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”  This is the second recording of the greatest commandment.  The Lord makes certain that His people understand that He wants obedience and service to come from love!

 

Love continues as the theme into the next chapter.  Love the Lord thy God because He loves you.  He showed His love with His deliverance and protection.  You show your love by keeping His commandments.  The new land is not likeEgypt.  All ofEgyptis watered by theNilethrough trenches into the fields.  The new land will be watered by rain from Heaven.  The children ofIsraelwill be dependent on the blessing of God through rain.  The Lord plainly relates the people’s worship to the rain.  If they will hear and do, love Him and serve Him, He will send rain.  Again they are reminded: “Be sure and teach your children!”  You will choose either a blessing or a curse.

 

Chapter 12 begins the statutes and judgments to observe in the new land.  Nearly every statute in this chapter is repeated twice.  Nearly every statute in this chapter is repeated twice.  However, it is repeated five times that the Lord will choose the place for His name and offerings.  Three times the children ofIsraelare reminded to rejoice!  First and last, destroy the old gods and the idols.  Don’t even try to learn about them; just get rid of them!  Moses reminds them of the offerings detailed in Leviticus, and again warns of the significance of the blood.  The chapter closes with a solemn warning.  Don’t add to or diminish from the commandments!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE BURNT OFFERING – Deut.12:16(Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews10:10, 12)

 

TODAY’S READING: DEUTERONOMY 5-8

 

OVERVIEW:

Ten Commandments; Greatest Commandment; Instructions for New Homes; Instruction for New Land; Remember the Lord

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Moses starts his second sermon with a showstopper!  God’s covenant was not just to the fathers; it continues to the new generation (vs. 3).  This isn’t just history.  God’s Word, the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, the Epistles are not just for the original audience; God speaks to those who are here alive this day.  He is pursuing us as we pursue Him!

 

Chapter 5 retells the Ten Commandments and how they were received in Exodus 20.  The people say they will keep the commandments, and the Lord (vs. 29) emphasizes that fearing and keeping His commandments comes from the heart.  Even in the Old Testament, outward appearance was not enough.  The Lord Jesus Christ quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 as the greatest commandment.  As previously mentioned, the love between God and His children is mentioned 20 times throughout Deuteronomy.

 

And now, just as God leads and teaches His children, Moses instructs the children ofIsraelto teach in their homes.  Teaching in the homes goes hand in hand with public preaching and instruction.  The Word of God is to be prominent in the home.  Four distinct opportunities are to be used to teach children:

 

1. When you are sitting in your house.
2. When you are in the way (driving).
3. When you go to bed.
4. When you get up in the morning.

 

Still today, these can be the greatest times of instruction, meditation or prayer.  Not surprisingly, these are the times, which that the world and its clamor, try to take from us.  Seek to reclaim this time for the Lord and your children.

 

Moses completes this chapter with warnings to not forget the Lord when you are comfortable in your house.  Keep the law diligently.  Moses reminds them: “He brought us out ofEgyptso that He could bring us in to a new land.”

 

Chapters 7 and 8 deal with the land.  The Lord promised in Exodus 3:17 that He would drive out nations and give the land to the children ofIsrael.  Now they are reminded of the promise, the power of the Lord overEgypt, and His provision on the journey.  The Lord promises to continue to deliver the land and provide for them.  God will deliver, they are to destroy.  Do not make covenants with those nations.  Do not marry their sons and daughters.  Destroy their idols and images.  II Corinthians 6:17 and 18 says:  “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

 

Just a little sidenote (I won’t charge for this!) to store away is in chapter 8 verse 2.  God tells the nation ofIsraelthat He took them through the wilderness to humble them and to prove them.  The hard times exposed what was in their heart!  Even the Lord Jesus Christ quotes from this passage during His time of testing.  God provides for all of our needs and exposes our hearts in time of need.  Don’t ever lose sight of that!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE EVERLASTING COVENANT – Deut. 5:2 (Hebrews 13:20, 21, John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47) As MEDIATOR – Deut. 5:5 (I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6) As WELL-PLEASING – Deut. 6:18 (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Luke 3:22) As CALLED OUT OF EGYPT – Deut. 6:21 (Matthew 2:13-15) As ONE WHO WILL SMITE THE NATIONS – Deut. 7:2 (Revelation 19:15) As REDEEMER – Deut. 7:8 (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12) As ONE WHO WILL REPAY FACE TO FACE – Deut. 7:10 (Revelation 1:7)

TODAY’S READING: DEUTERONOMY 1-4

 

OVERVIEW:

Moses’ history lesson: From the Ten Commandments to the spies; the wilderness; the nations avoided; the nations conquered; Joshua charged to be the next leader; the people compelled to heed God’s Word.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Nearly 41 years have passed since Moses led the children ofIsraelout of thelandofEgypt.  A journey of eleven days has taken over 38 years because of unbelief and disobedience.  Now Moses speaks to a new generation preparing to enter a new land. The first three chapters are a history lesson: Remember what happened to your fathers!  

 

Deuteronomy 1:6 begins the story.  The Lord told Moses to leave Horeb (Mt.Sinai) and prepare to enter the land promised to their fathers.  The commandments had been received; the Tabernacle had been built and the Lord was providing daily food.  But during the eleven-day journey, the murmuring of the people causes Moses to say he cannot bear the people alone.  Seventy wise and understanding men are chosen to be rulers.  Judges of the people are to judge righteously with no respect of persons.

 

Soon, the children ofIsraelstand at the mountain of decision.  The conflict is always the same: our will vs. Gods Word.  Verses 20 and 21 give the promise of the Lord of the Universe.  However, verse 26 is the response.  Deuteronomy1:27through 2:3 is the sad result.  No one from 20 years old and up will enter into the Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb.  The last of chapter 1 reminds us that the land of blessing and rest could only come from the Lord.  Human strength and will, cannot gain what is lost by disobedience.

 

Chapter 2 verses 4 through 23 continue the journey through the land of three nations that the Lord will not allow the children ofIsraelto fight.  Though these are later enemies ofIsrael, the Lord has promised these lands toLotand Esau (vs. 5, 9, 19).  In verse 7, Moses reminds the new generation that the Lord was blessing them even in the wilderness.  But now, in verse 16, the old generation is gone; it is time to move forward.

 

The battles begin. As the children ofIsraeltravel upward on the east side of theDead Seaand theJordan, two nations must be conquered.  Sihon (warrior), the king of Heshbon (strongholds) is the first battle.  The Lord gives the victory to the children ofIsraelas He promised.  Likewise, II Corinthians 10:3-5 reminds us that the Lord gives victory in our spiritual battles against strongholds of the enemy.

 

The history lesson ends with the division of the conquered land and the charge to Joshua.  Joshua is to remember the deliverance of the Lord and not fear as he leads the children ofIsraelinto the Promised Land.  Moses is told again that he cannot enter the land.  With this, we are reminded that the Law (Moses) can never bring us into the land of blessing and rest; only Jesus (Joshua) can (John1:17).

 

Chapter 4, verse 1, gives the reason for chapters 1-3.  Hear and do.  If the new generation will hear and follow, the Lord will give them life and a place to live.  Don’t add to or take away from the Word of the Lord.  Take heed and keep thy soul diligently.  Teach your sons and grandsons.

 

The Lord reveals new insights of Himself in verses 14 through the end of the chapter.  When the Ten Commandments were given, God did not reveal Himself visibly so no graven images could be made.  We are to walk by faith not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7); “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans10:17).  Further warnings are given regarding worshipping any image, sun, moon or stars.

 

Compare verses 24 and 31.  The Lord thy God is a consuming fire and a merciful God.  God will bring judgment for evil, but is full of forgiveness.

 

And now the most miraculous revelation of all: God chose these people because of love.  Verses 35 and 39 reveal that there is no other God beside the Lord, but right in the middle of these verses, God reveals that He loves people.  Though Gods love for his people has been demonstrated from the very beginning of the Bible, this is the first time that God’s love is actually expressed to His children.  In Deuteronomy, the love between God and His children is mentioned over 20 times.  Moses closes his message to the new generation with the new message of God’s love.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE – Deut.1:17(II Timothy 4:8)

As DELIVERER – Deut. 1:30, 2:33, 3:3 (Romans 8:21; Galatians 1:4) As THE FAITHFUL ONE – Deut. 2:9, 12, 19 (I Corinthians 10:13; II Thessalonians 3:3; I John 1:9) As TEACHER – Deut. 4:14 (John 8:28) As THE ONE TRUE GOD – Deut. 4:35, 39 (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 2:9) As THE LOVER OF MEN – Deut. 4:37 (John 15:13; Titus 3:4, 5)

TODAY’S READING: NUMBERS 33-36

 

OVERVIEW:

A summary ofIsrael’s 40 years in the wilderness; the dividing of thelandofCanaan; the inheritance of the Levites; the cities of refuge; the laws concerning female inheritance within the patriarchal tribe.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In chapter 33, God provides us with a summary ofIsrael’s journeys fromEgyptto theJordan.  Note God’s stern warning in 33:55 – “But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”  In the New Testament equivalent, God is picturing the fact that living in the fullness of victory, He has designed in Christ (i.e. Canaan), is dependent upon us overcoming “every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:1).  Any area of our flesh that we refuse to deal with will become pricks in our eyes, and thorns in our sides, and shall vex us in our walk with Christ.

 

In chapter 34, God caused the children ofIsraelto look ahead to the time when they would possessCanaan, as He assigned to each tribe the portion of their inheritance in the land.  The Levites were also assigned their special cities; and most of all, the cities of refuge are defined in chapter 35.  We will talk further about the cities of refuge as we move into the Book of Joshua, but do note some beautiful pictures of Christ, to Whom we “have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:18).

 

Note some of the beautiful pictures of Christ seen in these cities:

 

1. THEY WERE APPOINTED BY GOD, NOT MOSES.  Moses did not choose these cities, picturing the fact that the Law (Moses) cannot save anyone.  Just as these cities were       appointed by God, as an act of His grace, to be shelter or refuge from judgment, so Christ, as an act of God’s grace (John 3:16), was appointed by God to be our shelter of refuge from the judgment of sin (John 1:29).

 

2. THEY WERE ANNOUNCED BY GOD IN HIS WORD.  The six cities are specifically named in Joshua 20:7-8, and could never be changed.  There were other cities that were      larger and more prominent, but none of them could shelter the sinner.  God has also specifically named Christ as the one and only shelter from sin, though many of the world’s religions are larger or more prominent.  God’s Refuge, Christ will never       change, based on the authority of His Word (John 4:6; Acts4:12).

 

3. THEY WERE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MEN.  The six cities were arranged by God so that no tribe was very far away from the place of safety.  They were all very accessible.  We are told by the rabbis that there were signposts that pointed the way to the cities of refuge, and that the gates of these cities were never shut.  God has made Christ accessible to all men, even children (Matt. 18:3).  The Holy Spirit is given to point men to Christ (John16:13-14), and all who come, will find His gates open wide (John6:37)!

 

4. THE GUILTY HAD TO APPROPRIATE GOD’S PROVISION TO ESCAPE      PUNISHMENT.  It wasn’t enough to know that the cities of refuge existed, or even to believe that they could provide refuge from judgment.  The guilty had to actually enter in to the city.  So, it is not enough that a sinner believe that Christ, as God, existed, or       even that they believe that He is God’s Refuge from the judgment of sin; He must be “IN CHRIST”  (II Cor.5:17).

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the PROMISED LAND – Num. 33:50-54 (Note that the Promised Land was filled with abundance and protection for those who took God at His Word) – John10:10– Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

 

In the CITIES OF REFUGE – Num. 35 (Heb.6:18-20 – Christ is our Refuge from the judgment of God and the curse of the Law.)

 

In the INHERITANCE of the children ofIsrael– Num. 36:7 (Eph.1:10-11)

 

 

TODAY’S READING: NUMBERS 28-32

 

OVERVIEW:

The daily and weekly offerings: the Sabbath and monthly offerings, and the offerings to be given at the appointed feasts; God’s instruction concerning vows; God’s judgment upon the Midianites; the division of the booty obtained from the Midianites; the officers and captains bring an offering to the Lord; Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh settle east of the Jordan.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapters 28 and 29 deal with the subject of the Lord’s offerings, and really are an amplification of the instructions already given in Leviticus 23. Keep in mind that all of the offerings speak of Christ, and find their fulfillment in Him (Matt.5:17). Understanding that makes Numbers 28:2 beautifully significant as God speaks of these offerings as “My bread.” It is in Christ that the Father “feeds,” and has found His delight, and perfect satisfaction (Matt.4:17).

 

In chapter 30, God talks about the seriousness of making vows to Him. He wants to make certain that His people did not enter into a vow with Him lightly, or take the breaking of the vow lightly.

 

Though we are not instructed to make vows, as such, in the New Testament, wasn’t our very salvation a sacred “vow” of sorts, as we recognized that our lives were not our own because of  the price Christ paid to redeem us, and we exchanged our life, for His? (I Cor. 6:19-20; Matt. 16:24)

 

The purpose of God’s command to go to war against Midian in chapter 31 was two-fold:

1. To “avenge the children ofIsraelof the Midianites.” (31:2)
2. To “avenge the Lord of Midian.” (31:3)

 

It was to “avenge the children ofIsrael” and “the Lord” because the Midianites had devastatedIsrael, not as “enemies” in a physical war, but as “friends” in a spiritual war. The idol worshipping Midianites seduced the Children of Israel into committing “spiritual adultery” against the Lord, and became involved in “physical adultery” with their women. It had resulted in the death of 24,000 Israelites (Num. 25:9).

 

In this war that God designed it was to provide human retaliation and Divine retribution; three significant things stand out:

1. The easiness of the victory.
2. The vastness of the spoil.
3. The absence of the loss of life. (Not one of the Israelites was killed.)

 

Keep in mind that likeIsrael, we have been called to war against our physical enemy (the flesh – Gal.5:17), and against our spiritual enemy (the devil and his principalities and powers – Eph.6:10-17). As we, likeIsraelin Num. 31, walk in obedience to the Word of God and appropriate the victory, we can expect a similar result.

 

In chapter 32, Reuben and Gad approach Moses for permission to settle in a piece of property recently acquired on the east ofJordan. They had set their affection on what they could see with their “physical eyes” (note in 32:1 – “and when they saw”), rather than what God had in store for them in the Promised Land that required the “eyes of faith.” From a human standpoint, their request was very reasonable, and made all the sense in the world financially, but spiritually, it was an act of selfishness and compromise.Israel’s place was insideCanaan, not outside. That was the whole purpose of the exodus — to bring them into a new land (Deut.6:23). God wanted the entire nation, in unity, to enter the land, and for all ofIsraelto desire to be near the Tabernacle, and thus, in His presence. We see the result of their choice in I Chronicles 5:18-26 and II Kings 15:29. It wasn’t long before they bowed themselves to the gods of the people around them, and they were the first to go into captivity.

 

Obviously, these tribes are a graphic picture of self-indulgent, worldly Christians who foolishly set their affection on things on earth rather than on the things above (Col. 3:1-2), allowing physical or financial advantages to be their first consideration, and the key factor in making the decisions of life.

 

LikeIsrael, our place is inCanaan, not in this world. We are to be living in this world, but all the while seeking the things which are above, driven by our affection being set on things above, lest we, like Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, be overtaken by the world, the flesh, and the devil.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the TABERNACLES – Num. 29:12-39 (Compare Num. 29:12 with Lev.23:24) – John1:14(“The Word was made flesh and DWELT among us…” Note that the word “dwelt” is the word “tabernacle,” meaning “to temporarily live in a tent.”)

In MOSES, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE of the wicked – Num. 31:1-17 (Rev. 16:5;19:11; II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 14-15)

 

TODAY’S READING: NUMBERS 25-27

 

OVERVIEW:

Israel’s sin of fornication; God’s judgment in the plague of death; the plague halted because of the zeal of Phinehas; the second numbering (census) of Israel; the law of inheritance; Moses views the Promised Land; Moses installs Joshua as Israel’s leader.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we saw in yesterday’s reading, Balak was bound and determined to get Balaam to curseIsrael.  Because Balaam wanted the money and honor that Balak promised him for doing so, he tried to curse them repeatedly, but God would only allow him to speak blessing.

 

Since Balaam couldn’t curse them, he suggests a way to put the Children of Israel in a situation where God Himself would curse them.  God outlines Balaam’s simple plan in His commentary on Numbers 25:1-8 found in Revelation 2:14 that He calls “the doctrine of Balaam.”

 

1. He taught Balak how to cause the Children of Israel “to eat things sacrificed to idols.”
2. He taught Balak how to cause the Children of Israel “to commit fornication.”

 

Though Balaam wasn’t successful in getting God to turn away fromIsrael, he was successful in gettingIsraelto turn away from God.  He wickedly suggests to Balak, king ofMoab, that the Moabite women make friends with the men ofIsrael.  (Keep James 4:4 in mind – “Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”)  The “friendliness” of the Moabite women quickly led the Israelite men “as an ox goeth to the slaughter” (Prov.7:22), right into sexual immorality and idol worship. Israel’s disobedience resulted in a plague of death that swept through the camp ofIsrael, and when it was all said and done, 24,000 people were killed (25:9)!

 

The hero of this whole tragedy was Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron.  One Israelite was as so bold in his sin and lust; he actually brought one of the Midianite women intoIsrael’s camp to have a physical relationship with her right in Moses’ face.  Phinehas came into the tent and thrust both of them through with a javelin while in the very act.  God honors the zeal of Phinehas by turning away the plague of death before any others were killed, and by giving him a covenant of peace and everlasting priesthood.  Phinehas gives new meaning to “Blessed are the peacemakers”!

 

In chapter 26, God calls for the second numbering, or census, of the people in the Book of Numbers.  At this point, all of the 603,550 men included in the first census are dead, except Joshua, Caleb, and Moses (and at this point, he wasn’t long for this world either!).  The total of the second census was 601,730 . . . 1820 fewer than the first census taken some 38 years previous. Catch the pitifulness of Numbers 26:63-65.

 

Another significant event was to take place beforeIsraelwas to enter the Promised Land.  God wanted Moses to do two things:

1. To go up toMountAbarimso that he could view the land he had been forbidden to enter (27:12-14). (Imagine what must have been going through Moses’ heart at that moment!)
2. To install Joshua as the new leader (26:15-23).

 

Chapter 27 ends with Moses blessing Joshua, and laying his hands upon him, symbolically transferring his leadership which God had entrusted to him.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In JOSHUA, who would lead people likened to sheep which have no shepherd – Num. 27:17 (Mark6:34; I Pet.2:25)

 

TODAY’S READING: NUMBERS 20-24

 

OVERVIEW:

Miriam’s death; Moses strikes the rock twice; Edom refuses to allow Israel passage on their land; Aaron’s death; the judgment of the fiery serpents; the serpent of brass; Israel defeats King Arad, the Amorites, and the Moabites; Balaam is hired to curse the Israelites; the prophecies of Balaam.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapter 20 marks the end ofIsrael’s wandering in the wilderness. The death of Aaron, which takes place in this chapter, happened in the fortieth year after the Children of Israel came up out of Egypt (see Num.3:38), and from this point,Israeleither marched or halted, but did not wander.

 

It is significant that this chapter groups together three significant events: 1) Miriam’s death; 2) Moses sin (striking the rock twice); 3) Aaron’s death. These three events point to the fact that Aaron, representative of the priesthood, could not successfully leadIsraelinto the land of promise and rest; nor could Miriam, representative of the Prophets; nor could Moses, representative of the Law. The way into the Promised Land was to be led by Joshua, whom we will see as we study the Book that bears his name, is an incredible type of the Lord Jesus Christ (note: Joshua is the Hebrew rendering of the name Jesus!).

 

The reason God was so stern with Moses about disobeying His command to speak to the rock is revealed in I Corinthians 10:4. That wasn’t just any rock. That Rock was Christ! The Rock had already been smitten once (Ex. 17:5), and God didn’t want it smitten again. Striking it again would imply that Christ’s one sacrifice on the Cross wasn’t sufficient to pay for man’s sin. (To know more on this subject I preached an individual message titled “Water from a Rock” that is available in the sound booth) Because of Moses’ defilement of the type, he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. (Husbands, take note, God does not take kindly when someone spoils the picture of His Son! You, too, are a picture of Christ in your relationship to your wife (Eph.5:22-32). Unless your relationship with your wife is right, it will be as impossible for you to enterCanaan(the fullness of life in Christ) as it was for Moses.)

 

Chapter 21 presents another incredible picture of Christ. The people had been bitten with the fiery serpents because of two sins: They spoke against God, and they spoke against Moses. Because of their sin, they were dying (Num. 21:5-6). In like fashion, we are sinners because we have sinned against God, and because we have sinned against our fellow man (Mark12:30-31).

 

Because of our sin, we have been bitten by the fiery serpent of sin, and are destined to die (Rom. 6:23a – “the wages of sin is death”).

 

God’s remedy inIsraelwas a serpent of brass that was to be lifted up on a pole among the people, and all who looked to it were delivered from death to life. In John 3:14, Jesus said, “And AS Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him (i.e. look to Him in faith) should not perish, but have eternal life.”

 

Note several things comparing the physical salvation provided through the serpent of brass lifted up on the pole, and the spiritual salvation provided through the Lord Jesus Christ, lifted up on the cross:

 

 

1. Their salvation was BY FAITH. It wasn’t by anything they did, the command was simply to “LOOK and LIVE!”
2. It was BY FAITH ALONE. Israelwas not saved by looking at the serpent AND keeping the Law…or bringing a sacrifice…or by promising reform. They were saved by faith alone. Likewise, our salvation is not Christ PLUS anything! If anything needs to be ADDED to Christ, it is to say that Christ is not sufficient in Himself to provide our salvation. God forbid!
3. There was only ONE REMEDY. We have all heard countless times that, “There are many roads to heaven.” There was only ONE REMEDY in the camp ofIsrael, and there is only ONE REMEDY today! Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am THE WAY (not “a” way)…no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Unless a person looks to Christ by faith, the sting of death (I Cor.15:56) is inevitable and eternal.
4. Their salvation was IMMEDIATE. Just as their was an immediate miracle when the bitten victim in Israel looked to the serpent of brass, so every sinner bitten by the fiery serpent of sin receives the immediate miracle of eternal life when He looks to Christ by faith.

 

In chapters 22- 24 is the strange story of Balaam and Balak. Balak tried to hire Balaam to curse the Children of Israel, but every time he opened his mouth to do so, much to his surprise and Balak’s anger, out came blessing! He eventually gets Israel to curse it’s self by defiling themselves with the women of Moab. The world cannot curse us, but we can curse our selves by uniting with the world.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the ROCK which Moses struck – Num. 20:8-11; Ex. 17:6 (Christ, the Rock – I Cor. 10:4, was struck once through His death on the cross, and does not need to be struck again. Rom.6:10– “For in that he died, he died unto sin once.”)

In the SERPENT OF BRASS – Num. 21:8-9 (John3:14).

In the prophesied STAR and SCEPTER – Num. 24:17 (Heb. 1:8 – scepter; Rev. 22:16 – star).

TODAY’S READING: NUMBERS 16-19

 

OVERVIEW:

Korah leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron; the plague of judgment sent by God; duties for the priests; the tithe offering; the sacrifice of the red heifer.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The complaints that were hurled against Moses in chapter 12 came from his own brother and sister.  The uprising against him in chapter 16 comes from his own cousins, Korah, Dathan, and Abram.  The sad thing is that Korah, the ringleader of the rebellion, was able to negatively influence 250 of the leaders ofIsraelagainst Moses and Aaron. 

 

Their accusations against Moses and Aaron, the God-ordained authorities in Israel, was that they assumed too much authority, and that there were others, namely THEM, who were deserving of an equal voice in the decisions that were made for the nation.  They, no doubt, were assured that they were right, and that they were seeking to champion the “Lord’s cause”, and a cause that was for the “good of the people.”  They were wrong.  Dead wrong!  In fact, verse 11 reveals that their actual rebellion wasn’t against the authority of Moses and Aaron but against the authority of the Lord Himself! (“. . . both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord” – (16:11). As the Lord recounts this story in Numbers 26:9, He says that, “they strove against the Lord.”

 

It is interesting to note that Moses and Aaron did not seek to defend themselves.  They let God be their defense (Psalm 59:9).  Moses instructs Korah and his 250 rebels to bring censers (the pots used for burning incense) to the Tabernacle so that God could reveal who was right in the dispute.  The object lesson was incredible. The ground opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, Abram, and as the 250 princes offered their incense, God breathed out fire and they themselves went up in smoke!

 

One would think that the supernatural intervention of God confirming the authority of Moses and Aaron would have caused the people to willfully and joyfully submit.  Rather, they murmured once again, actually blaming Moses and Aaron for the killing of Korah and all his cohorts!  Wow!  Needless to say, God was not pleased.  He instructs Moses and Aaron to back off so that He could consume every last one of the murmurers.  Moses (what a guy!), rather than relish in God’s JUDGMENT on the people, instructs Aaron to offer ATONEMENT for them so that the people would be spared.  Before Aaron can offer the atonement, however, 14,700 people were killed!!!

 

Evidently, even the events of chapter 16 weren’t enough to convince the people of Aaron’s authority in the priesthood.  In chapter 17, God wants to settle the issue once and for all.  God instructs Moses to tell each tribe to present a rod (a dead stick) to be placed in front of theArkin the Tabernacle.  The rod that blossomed would indicate the one He had chosen for the priesthood.  Obviously, Aaron’s rod was the only one that budded – but not only that, in a single day, it budded, blossomed, and bore fruit!  The other rods were still as dead as a door nail.  While each of the princes took back his lifeless rod, the rod of Aaron was placed in the Tabernacle before theArkto be a constant reminder to the rebels of the nation who the one High Priest of Israel actually was.

 

Aaron’s rod, of course, is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Many religious leaders and teachers have arisen throughout the course of time.  They all had one thing in common: they died!  Only One rose from the dead!  He alone is the Source and Giver of life, our Great High Priest!   

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In AARON’S BUDDING ROD – Num. 17:1-8 (I Cor.15:20; Acts 17:3: 26:23) In AARON AND HIS SONS who were responsible to bear the iniquity of the people in the sanctuary – Num. 18:1 (Isa. 53:4-7; Titus2:14) In the RED HEIFER which was to be offered as a cleansing from defilement. • It was to be without spot or blemish – Num. 19:2 (Christ was “without blemish and without spot” – I Pet.1:19)

 

• It was to have never born a yoke – Num. 19:2 (A yoke is put on an animal to subdue its wild nature and compel subjection.  Christ needed no yoke, but came saying, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God” – Heb. 10:7)
• It was to be red – Num. 19:2 (A picture of the blood of Christ – Heb.9:14; I Pet. 1:2, 19) • It was to be slain without (outside) the camp – Num. 19:3 (Christ was crucified onGolgotha, a place outside of the city ofJerusalem– John19:17)
• It’s blood was to be sprinkled seven times before the Tabernacle – Num. 19:4 (Seven is the number of completion and perfection in the Bible.  Christ offered one complete and perfect sacrifice for sin – Heb.10:12,14)

 

TODAY’S READING: NUMBERS 13-15

 

OVERVIEW:

The 12 spies sent intoCanaan; their report; Moses’ intercessory prayer for the children ofIsrael; God’s pardon, but refusal to allowIsraelto enter the Promised Land; laws concerning offerings, sins, and the Sabbath.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Leaving the wilderness of Sinai, the children ofIsraelwere led northward until they reached Kadesh-barnea, the southern tip of thelandofCanaan.  For the first time, they were actually able to see the land God had promised to them.  Before going into possess the land, a leader from each of the 12 tribes was chosen to spy out the land for 40 days.

 

As the 12 spies brought back their report, there was complete agreement thatCanaanwas, indeed, “a land that flowed with milk and honey” (13:27), but 10 said that overcoming the obstacles in the land was an utter impossibility.  Only Joshua and Caleb said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it for we are able to overcome it” (13:30).    The ten saw with the eye of the flesh.  The two saw with the eye of the faith.”

 

The outcome is history. Israelfirst refused to believe, and then rebelled, even suggesting that Joshua and Caleb be stoned, and that a new leader be appointed to lead them back toEgypt.  The result:  38 years of wandering in the wilderness.  (Note:  A total of 40 years, one year for each day the spies were inCanaan– Num. 14:33-34.)  And what a tragedy!  The entire generation of people who were age 20 and above at the time of their glorious exodus fromEgyptwas condemned to die in the wilderness, having never experienced God’s purpose in bringing them out.  They picture many (most?) believers today, who like Israel, refuse to trust God’s promise to grant them victory over their enemies (the world, the flesh, and the Devil), and refused to trust God to grant them entrance into the fullness of life, rest, fruit, and blessing in Christ (Canaan).

 

As we begin chapter 15, God begins the transitional part of the Book of Numbers (chapters 15-20), which covers the 38 years of wilderness wanderings where the old generation died off.  To help us understand just how much “dying” actually took place, Dr. Leon Wood (A Survey of Israel’s History) notes: “Figuring 1,200,000 (600,000 of both men and women) as having to die in 14,508 days (38½ years), gives 85 per day.  Figuring 12 hours per day maximum for funerals, gives an average of seven funerals per hour for all 38½ years, a continuous foreboding reminder of God’s punishment upon them.”

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the GLORY OF GOD – Num.14:22(Heb. 1:3; John1:14; II Cor. 4:6)

TODAYS READING: NUMBERS 11-12

 

OVERVIEW:

The complaint of the people; the lust of the people; the complaint of Moses; the 70 elders chosen; the plague of the quail; Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses; Miriam is stricken with leprosy; Moses prays on her behalf.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As the blessed observance of the Passover ended in chapter 9, the guiding cloud lifted from off the Tabernacle in chapter 10, sending the entire camp ofIsraelin motion.  What an exciting time it must have been as the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days journey, to search out a resting place from them (Num.10:33), moving them ever-closer toCanaan.  SurelyIsraelwas filled with singing, and rejoicing!  NOT!  The opening words of chapter 11 begin, and when the people complained.  In fact, complaining and murmuring becomes one ofIsraels favorite pastimes! 

 

• “And when the people complained” Num. 11:1
• “And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses” Num. 12:1.
• “And all the children ofIsraelmurmured against Moses and against Aaron” Num. 14:2
• “Now Koran took men: And they rose up before Moses and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron” Num. 16:1-3
• “But on the morrow all the congregation of the children ofIsraelmurmured against Moses and Aaron” Numbers16:41
• “And the men, which Moses sent to search the land made all the congregation to murmur against him” Num.14:36

 

Some have even suggested that rather than being called the Book of Numbers, perhaps the Fourth Book of Moses might more aptly be called The Book of Murmurings!

 

But not only did the people fall into the trap of murmuring and complaining, they also fell into the trap of lusting.  It seems unthinkable, especially coming off of the heels of the glorious reminder of their deliverance from the AFFLICTION of their flesh in Egypt that they had just celebrated in the Passover, that only a few days later they would be lusting for the ways their flesh was GRATIFIED in Egypt (Num. 11:4-9)!  Can anyone say I Corinthians 6:10?  Now theses things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Sometimes it’s easy for believers to forget that this world’s system (Egypt) was the snare Satan used to hold us captive at his will (II Tim2:26).  Forgetting that it was the very system of evil that almost sent us to Hell, we begin to lust for the ways our flesh was gratified when we were in it. God help us!

 

Note the sad results of the complaining and carnality of the people upon their leader.  Moses is thrust into great discouragement, and himself, begins to voice his complaint to the Lord (11:10-15). He cries out, I can t do this, God!  The burden is too heavy.  Just kill me!

 

In the remainder of chapter 11, God deals the complaints of both Moses and the people.  He gives Moses 70 elders to assist him in his work, and he gives the Jews the meat they lusted for.  Note, however, that in both cases, THEY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED, BUT LOST WHAT THEY HAD.  The Spirit of God anointing Moses to lead the people was divided among the 70 elders, and the meat the Children of Israel lusted after was a curse that led to their death.  (But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James1:14-15). The lesson is, be careful what you ask God for.

 

In chapter 12, the murmuring has ascended to yet another level.  Now it flows from Moses own brother and sister: Aaron, the High Priest, andMiriam,Israel’s prophetess (Ex.15:20). They state that their complaint against Moses was the Ethiopian wife he had selected, but it is only the smokescreen to mask their own jealousy and pride.  Their complaint wasn’t really against Moses selection of a wife; it was against Moses authority.  What they really wanted was the authority of Moses position.  Verse 2 makes their motive abundantly clear.  Once again, don t miss the fact that the more things change, the more they stay the same!  Human nature still employs the same tactics in the 21st century.

 

Note that Moses in his meekness (12:3), does not seek to vindicate himself, but rather trusts God to handle the situation.  God was well able to make the point!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In MOSES who was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth        Num. 12:3 (Matt.11:29Jesus said, I am meek and lowly in heart.)