Post by charlescameron on May 24, 2009 14:29:05 GMT -6
Chapters 1-4
God spoke (1:1). His people obeyed (1:54). This is the constant pattern of the life of the life of faith. We hear the Word of God. We obey the Word of God. The names of God’s people differ from place to place. The pattern of their life remains the same.
We find the same pattern in chapter 2. God speaks (v. 1). His people obey (v. 34).
The pattern is also repeated in chapters 3 and 4. Both of these chapters begin with God’s Word (v.1). They end with our obedience (3:51; 4:49).
When we read so much that is unfamiliar to us, we must look for the Word that comes to us in our present day as a Word from the Lord, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Hear and obey. Listen to what God is saying. Do what He has said.
Chapters 5-6
We must take sin seriously. It can lead to a withdrawal of God’s blessing. This is the important and challenging message of chapter 5.
We must not lose sight of God’s purpose for our lives. We are to be “dedicated to the Lord” (6:6).
It is God’s intention to bless us in His love. He still speaks His Word to His people. His promise of blessing is still the Word of the Lord to us. It is a Word that never ceases to be relevant to God’s people: “The Lord will bless you and watch over you. The Lord will smile on you and be kind to you. The Lord will look on you with favour and give you peace” (6:24-26).
Chapters 7-8
Following on from the bringing of gifts by each of the tribes (chapter 7), we read of a special ministry, entrusted to the Levites.
For this ministry, they need to be made “clean” (8:5). Through cleansing, they were made “ready to do the Lord’s work” (8:11).
In a very special sense, God said of them, “the Levites shall be mine” (8:14).
Between the giving of the whole people of God (chapter 7) and the special ministry of the Levites (8:5-26), there is 8:1-4 – the seven lamps on the lampstand, lighting up the area in front of them.
This lampstand was made of “gold”. This is the precious light of God’s Word, shining like gold, which is greater than all the other metals.
God’s Word is the light which inspires both the giving of the tribes and the ministry of the Levites.
Without God’s Word at the centre, everything else means nothing.
Chapters 9-10
The Israelites were travelling towards the Promised Land. As they travelled, they were to celebrate the Passover (9:1-14). In their journey, they were being led by the Lord (15-23). In the course of their journey, they faced opposition from their enemies.
In their conflict with the enemies of the Lord, they looked to the Lord for victory. They trusted the Lord’s promise: “the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies” (10:9). They prayed to the Lord: “Arise, O Lord! Scatter your enemies! Make those who hate you run away from you!” (10:35).
Our journey takes us from the past through the present and into the future. We give thanks to God for His blessing in the past. We look to the Lord for victory in the present. We look to the Lord to lead us as we travel towards the future.
In every part of our journey, we are travelling with God.
Chapters 11-13
There were problems among God’s people. The spirit of complaint was spreading like wildfire. This brought “the fire” of God’s judgment upon them (11:1). The spirit of complaint comes when people don’t like what God is doing among His people.
We see this in 11:26-28. The words of prophecy are described as the result of the working of “the Spirit” (11:26). Joshua said, “Stop them, sir!” (11:28). Notice Moses’ response, “I wish all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them” (11:29).
What we need is not the quenching of the Spirit but the release of the Spirit among God’s people.
In his leadership of God’s people, Moses faced problems. It was not an easy pathway towards the Promised Land. There was opposition from Miriam and Aaron (12:1). There was the unbelieving report, brought back from the land of Canaan by most of the spies (13:31).
Alongside these problems, there was the encouragement which came from Caleb’s words of faith: “Let’s go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it” (13:30).
By faith, we shall overcome the problems.
Chapters 14-15
The problems continue. They increase (14:1-4).
Again, there is the word of encouragement. This time, it comes from Joshua as well as Caleb (14:5-9).
The people bring God’s judgment upon themselves. They will not enter the Promised Land. Of the current generation of adults, only faithful Caleb and Joshua were to enter the Promised Land. They would lead the next generation into the land of promise, thus fulfilling the Lord’s promise of grace, which is always free grace but never cheap grace.
Grace is freely given by God. It can never be taken for granted by us.
In verses 39-45, this message is very clear – we can never take God’s grace for granted!
God’s work among His people was directed towards the future: “Once you’re settled in the land I’m giving you” – and it was grounded in the past – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God” (15:2, 41).
Our present obedience draws strength from our past redemption – “It is finished” – and our future hope – “It is still to come”.
Chapters 16-18
In chapter 16, we read about the judgment of God upon those who sinned against Him.
God is perfectly holy. He calls us to be holy. This is not to be a pretence. It is to be real. Those who came under God’s judgment claimed to be holy (16:3). God saw what they were really like.
This is a very challenging passage. It’s a reminder that we must not take God lightly: “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.
We should also remember that Christ’s hands were pierced for us.
He waits to welcome all who return to Him, fleeing from “the wrath to come”.
Moses, the priests, the people – all were to honour the Lord in everything (17:1).
* Moses did exactly what the Lord commanded him to do” (17:11).
* The priests were “a gift given to the Lord to do whatever work is necessary at the tent of meeting” (18:6).
* “Out of all the gifts they had received”, the people were to “contribute the best and holiest parts to the Lord” (18:29).
Whoever we are, whatever our place in God’s work, we are to be dedicated to the Lord. We are to commit ourselves to doing His will. We are to be faithful in the work He has given us to do for Him.
Chapters 19-20
When we read about being made clean, we must look beyond what we read in the Old Testament – “the sprinkling of the blood of a red cow that is perfect with no defects” (19:2-4). We must look on to the New Testament where we read of “the blood of Jesus who cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Neither Moses nor Aaron were to enter the land, promised by God to His people (20:12, 24). This is a reminder to us that we cannot presume upon God’s continued blessing. The fact that he has blessed us in the past does not mean that He will always bless us. We can lose out on His blessing. The blessing of God is to be treasured. It is not to be taken lightly.
Chapters 21-24
The Israelites are journeying with the Lord. He is leading them from victory to victory. Salvation for Israel, salvation from the God of Israel, the true and living God, meant “destruction” (21:3) for those who opposed God and His people – “How horrible it is for you, Moab! You are destroyed, you people of the god Chemosh” (21:29).
If there is to be real blessing among God’s people, we must face conflict and overcome opposition from God’s enemies.
The story of Balaam concerns the challenge of speaking God’s Word in truth. God is the God of truth (23:19). His messengers must speak the Word of truth. Before we can speak God’s Word in truth, there needs to be a confession of sin, an acknowledgment of how far we have deviated from the way of truth. This confession of sin is to be accompanied by a fresh commitment to walking in the way of truth (22:34). Speaking the Word of truth involves looking beyond ourselves to the One who is the Word of truth, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (24:17).
Chapters 25-27
God’s people are called on to maturity. This is the significance of the phrase, “at least twenty years old” (26:2, 4).
There are, however, many dangers. We can be easily sidetracked, putting other “gods” before the Lord our God (25:3).
This turning away from the Lord is a serious matter. It leads to the withdrawal of God’s blessing. We can, however, continue to enjoy God’s blessing if, like Caleb and Joshua, we are men and women of faith (26:64-65).
Joshua was to lead the people beyond the point to which Moses had brought them.
Joshua was chosen by God. He had been empowered by God.
Reading the story of God’s people, from one generation to another, we find that the names change but the Lord remains the same.
Moses played his part. Joshua played his part. In every part of the story, God is there, upholding His servants in each generation.
Chapters 28-32
In the Old Testament, there are extremely elaborate and detailed descriptions of the sacrifices the people were to bring to God.
We no longer require to bring such sacrifices to God.
God has provided the perfect Sacrifice. The Son of God has given Himself for us. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. We must focus our exclusive attention on Him.
In the various areas of life – personal faithfulness (chapter 30), our relationship with the world (chapter 31) and our relationship with the Lord’s people (chapter 32) – , there is one thing which is of the utmost importance: “we will do as the Lord has said” (32:31), This is the most important thing: obedience to God.
Chapters 33-36
Much of what we have, in chapters 33 and 34 is geographical. There is, however, a spiritual dimension. God is leading His people to their new land, the land He had promised to them.
In all the names of places, we must see the hand of God, directing His people according to His perfect plan.
In God’s “place”, the “place” of His blessing, there must be nothing that hinders true worship of the Lord (33:52).
The whole of life is to be arranged according to God’s perfect plan. This principle underlies all the detailed instructions given in chapters 35 and 36.
We see this first in 35:1 – “The Lord spoke to Moses”. This is repeated in 35:9 – “The Lord said to Moses”. It is emphasized again in 36:5-6 – “So Moses gave the Israelites a command from the Lord … This is what the Lord commands”. It is seen in the response of Zelophehad’s daughters who “did as the Lord commanded Moses” (36:10). It is found in the concluding verse of the whole book: “these are the commands and rules the Lord gave the Israelites” (36:13).
Life may be very different today. Still, the spiritual principle remains the same. Our life is to be lived according to the teaching of God’s Word.
God spoke (1:1). His people obeyed (1:54). This is the constant pattern of the life of the life of faith. We hear the Word of God. We obey the Word of God. The names of God’s people differ from place to place. The pattern of their life remains the same.
We find the same pattern in chapter 2. God speaks (v. 1). His people obey (v. 34).
The pattern is also repeated in chapters 3 and 4. Both of these chapters begin with God’s Word (v.1). They end with our obedience (3:51; 4:49).
When we read so much that is unfamiliar to us, we must look for the Word that comes to us in our present day as a Word from the Lord, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Hear and obey. Listen to what God is saying. Do what He has said.
Chapters 5-6
We must take sin seriously. It can lead to a withdrawal of God’s blessing. This is the important and challenging message of chapter 5.
We must not lose sight of God’s purpose for our lives. We are to be “dedicated to the Lord” (6:6).
It is God’s intention to bless us in His love. He still speaks His Word to His people. His promise of blessing is still the Word of the Lord to us. It is a Word that never ceases to be relevant to God’s people: “The Lord will bless you and watch over you. The Lord will smile on you and be kind to you. The Lord will look on you with favour and give you peace” (6:24-26).
Chapters 7-8
Following on from the bringing of gifts by each of the tribes (chapter 7), we read of a special ministry, entrusted to the Levites.
For this ministry, they need to be made “clean” (8:5). Through cleansing, they were made “ready to do the Lord’s work” (8:11).
In a very special sense, God said of them, “the Levites shall be mine” (8:14).
Between the giving of the whole people of God (chapter 7) and the special ministry of the Levites (8:5-26), there is 8:1-4 – the seven lamps on the lampstand, lighting up the area in front of them.
This lampstand was made of “gold”. This is the precious light of God’s Word, shining like gold, which is greater than all the other metals.
God’s Word is the light which inspires both the giving of the tribes and the ministry of the Levites.
Without God’s Word at the centre, everything else means nothing.
Chapters 9-10
The Israelites were travelling towards the Promised Land. As they travelled, they were to celebrate the Passover (9:1-14). In their journey, they were being led by the Lord (15-23). In the course of their journey, they faced opposition from their enemies.
In their conflict with the enemies of the Lord, they looked to the Lord for victory. They trusted the Lord’s promise: “the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies” (10:9). They prayed to the Lord: “Arise, O Lord! Scatter your enemies! Make those who hate you run away from you!” (10:35).
Our journey takes us from the past through the present and into the future. We give thanks to God for His blessing in the past. We look to the Lord for victory in the present. We look to the Lord to lead us as we travel towards the future.
In every part of our journey, we are travelling with God.
Chapters 11-13
There were problems among God’s people. The spirit of complaint was spreading like wildfire. This brought “the fire” of God’s judgment upon them (11:1). The spirit of complaint comes when people don’t like what God is doing among His people.
We see this in 11:26-28. The words of prophecy are described as the result of the working of “the Spirit” (11:26). Joshua said, “Stop them, sir!” (11:28). Notice Moses’ response, “I wish all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them” (11:29).
What we need is not the quenching of the Spirit but the release of the Spirit among God’s people.
In his leadership of God’s people, Moses faced problems. It was not an easy pathway towards the Promised Land. There was opposition from Miriam and Aaron (12:1). There was the unbelieving report, brought back from the land of Canaan by most of the spies (13:31).
Alongside these problems, there was the encouragement which came from Caleb’s words of faith: “Let’s go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it” (13:30).
By faith, we shall overcome the problems.
Chapters 14-15
The problems continue. They increase (14:1-4).
Again, there is the word of encouragement. This time, it comes from Joshua as well as Caleb (14:5-9).
The people bring God’s judgment upon themselves. They will not enter the Promised Land. Of the current generation of adults, only faithful Caleb and Joshua were to enter the Promised Land. They would lead the next generation into the land of promise, thus fulfilling the Lord’s promise of grace, which is always free grace but never cheap grace.
Grace is freely given by God. It can never be taken for granted by us.
In verses 39-45, this message is very clear – we can never take God’s grace for granted!
God’s work among His people was directed towards the future: “Once you’re settled in the land I’m giving you” – and it was grounded in the past – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God” (15:2, 41).
Our present obedience draws strength from our past redemption – “It is finished” – and our future hope – “It is still to come”.
Chapters 16-18
In chapter 16, we read about the judgment of God upon those who sinned against Him.
God is perfectly holy. He calls us to be holy. This is not to be a pretence. It is to be real. Those who came under God’s judgment claimed to be holy (16:3). God saw what they were really like.
This is a very challenging passage. It’s a reminder that we must not take God lightly: “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.
We should also remember that Christ’s hands were pierced for us.
He waits to welcome all who return to Him, fleeing from “the wrath to come”.
Moses, the priests, the people – all were to honour the Lord in everything (17:1).
* Moses did exactly what the Lord commanded him to do” (17:11).
* The priests were “a gift given to the Lord to do whatever work is necessary at the tent of meeting” (18:6).
* “Out of all the gifts they had received”, the people were to “contribute the best and holiest parts to the Lord” (18:29).
Whoever we are, whatever our place in God’s work, we are to be dedicated to the Lord. We are to commit ourselves to doing His will. We are to be faithful in the work He has given us to do for Him.
Chapters 19-20
When we read about being made clean, we must look beyond what we read in the Old Testament – “the sprinkling of the blood of a red cow that is perfect with no defects” (19:2-4). We must look on to the New Testament where we read of “the blood of Jesus who cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Neither Moses nor Aaron were to enter the land, promised by God to His people (20:12, 24). This is a reminder to us that we cannot presume upon God’s continued blessing. The fact that he has blessed us in the past does not mean that He will always bless us. We can lose out on His blessing. The blessing of God is to be treasured. It is not to be taken lightly.
Chapters 21-24
The Israelites are journeying with the Lord. He is leading them from victory to victory. Salvation for Israel, salvation from the God of Israel, the true and living God, meant “destruction” (21:3) for those who opposed God and His people – “How horrible it is for you, Moab! You are destroyed, you people of the god Chemosh” (21:29).
If there is to be real blessing among God’s people, we must face conflict and overcome opposition from God’s enemies.
The story of Balaam concerns the challenge of speaking God’s Word in truth. God is the God of truth (23:19). His messengers must speak the Word of truth. Before we can speak God’s Word in truth, there needs to be a confession of sin, an acknowledgment of how far we have deviated from the way of truth. This confession of sin is to be accompanied by a fresh commitment to walking in the way of truth (22:34). Speaking the Word of truth involves looking beyond ourselves to the One who is the Word of truth, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (24:17).
Chapters 25-27
God’s people are called on to maturity. This is the significance of the phrase, “at least twenty years old” (26:2, 4).
There are, however, many dangers. We can be easily sidetracked, putting other “gods” before the Lord our God (25:3).
This turning away from the Lord is a serious matter. It leads to the withdrawal of God’s blessing. We can, however, continue to enjoy God’s blessing if, like Caleb and Joshua, we are men and women of faith (26:64-65).
Joshua was to lead the people beyond the point to which Moses had brought them.
Joshua was chosen by God. He had been empowered by God.
Reading the story of God’s people, from one generation to another, we find that the names change but the Lord remains the same.
Moses played his part. Joshua played his part. In every part of the story, God is there, upholding His servants in each generation.
Chapters 28-32
In the Old Testament, there are extremely elaborate and detailed descriptions of the sacrifices the people were to bring to God.
We no longer require to bring such sacrifices to God.
God has provided the perfect Sacrifice. The Son of God has given Himself for us. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. We must focus our exclusive attention on Him.
In the various areas of life – personal faithfulness (chapter 30), our relationship with the world (chapter 31) and our relationship with the Lord’s people (chapter 32) – , there is one thing which is of the utmost importance: “we will do as the Lord has said” (32:31), This is the most important thing: obedience to God.
Chapters 33-36
Much of what we have, in chapters 33 and 34 is geographical. There is, however, a spiritual dimension. God is leading His people to their new land, the land He had promised to them.
In all the names of places, we must see the hand of God, directing His people according to His perfect plan.
In God’s “place”, the “place” of His blessing, there must be nothing that hinders true worship of the Lord (33:52).
The whole of life is to be arranged according to God’s perfect plan. This principle underlies all the detailed instructions given in chapters 35 and 36.
We see this first in 35:1 – “The Lord spoke to Moses”. This is repeated in 35:9 – “The Lord said to Moses”. It is emphasized again in 36:5-6 – “So Moses gave the Israelites a command from the Lord … This is what the Lord commands”. It is seen in the response of Zelophehad’s daughters who “did as the Lord commanded Moses” (36:10). It is found in the concluding verse of the whole book: “these are the commands and rules the Lord gave the Israelites” (36:13).
Life may be very different today. Still, the spiritual principle remains the same. Our life is to be lived according to the teaching of God’s Word.