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April 12

Reading 1 - Numbers 31

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v. 8 - This was an amazing victory - to go with just 12000 men and slay all the males of this nation that was big enough to support 5 kings (elsewhere called princes). Also we are told that Balaam was slain there. One of the women folk associated with one of these princes had been killed earlier - ch.25:15-18.
Peter Cresswell
v.23 - Consider these other places where fire (and sometimes water as well) are mentioned - Isa.43:2, Zech.13:9, Matt.3:11, 1Cor.3:13, 1Pet.1:7, 4:12, Rev.3:18
Peter Cresswell
v. 11 - 16 Whereas the taking of the women captives was an allowable behaviour in this case there was an overriding principle relating to causing to sin. These women had been involved in the fall of many in Israel. Normally the women would not be involved in the battle and so would have been guiltless in this case the women were as culpable as the men. Therefore all the women who had known a man - precisely those who were culpable - were to die. That Moses was angry would imply that the people should have understand that as well.
Peter Forbes
31:2 Moses was to avenge the Midianites because of the matters relating to Balaam.

31:8 'Zur' was the father of the woman slain by Phinehas.(25:15)
Peter Forbes

31:15 In sparing the women it would appear that even the officers of the people had forgotten the way in which Israel were caused to sin by these very same women at the instigation of Balaam. Their memories were short and they did not think through the implications of their actions. So like us at times.
Peter Forbes
SPIRITUAL BATTLES

12,000 men of Israel marched out in battle to take vengeance on the Midianites. "Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phineas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling." At the end of the day Israel came back victorious, not having lost one man in the battles they had fought.

This was not a battle between men, but it was God's battle and God cannot loose. We are left wondering, though, what articles from the sanctuary that Phineas took into battle with him. It may have been the ark, incense or censors. Perhaps it was the water of cleansing or the Urim and the Thummim, but whatever he took, the fact that he took articles from the sanctuary leaves us in no doubt that it was not a physical battle they were to fight, but a spiritual battle, and because they treated it as a spiritual battle - God's battle, they won decisively!

We all face battles. They may be decisions we need to make, problems we face, people we have to deal with or a multitude of other things, but as we face these battles we need to take with us articles from the sanctuary. For us they are prayer, the word of the Living God within us, and faith. Make every battle a spiritual battle and we can't loose!
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Proverbs 22

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v. 6 - Here is a passage that the world would have us ignore. We are buffetted on all sides with worldly advice on bringing up our children and many are confused by the conflict that exists between different pieces of advice. We have a responsibility to be in control of our children. It is a requirement of God. So it would be useful to consider carefully what God has to say to us about it. Here are some passages: Gen.18:19, Deut.4:9, 6:7, Ps.78:3-6, Eph.6:4, 2Tim.13:15, 1Tim.3:2-4.
Peter Cresswell
v.13 - There is a striking similarity between this cry and that of the ten spies who brought back the evil report. Num.13:32-33. See also - Prov.26:13-16
Peter Cresswell
v. 28 The removal of the landmark was a serious offence mentioned to Israel in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 19:14 Included in the blessing and cursing which were to be recited by the people. Deuteronomy 27:17 Referred to and warned against in terms of robbing the disadvantaged Proverbs 22:28 23:10
Peter Forbes
:3 teaches us that we should try to look ahead at the implications of what we do and say so that we can avoid words and actions that will in time cause us problems and compromise our life in Christ.
Peter Forbes
:9 The 'bountiful eye' reflects the mind of the man who is a 'cheerful giver' (2 Corinthians 9:7) - he is the man who will give 'pressed down and running over' (Luke 6:38).
Peter Forbes
BE GENEROUS

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." (Proverbs 22 v 9)
God always does things differently to the way we do them. We tend to think that if we want to be rich we must skimp and save, never give anything away and watch every last penny. But God’s methods are different. He wants more from us than selfishness. God wants our generosity, he wants to develop in us a sharing and caring nature, one that thinks less of its self than of other people.

The people God wants to bless are not the scrooges of this world, they are the generous, helpful, and those who fill a need when they see it. It does not necessarily mean that if we give everything away God will make us instantly rich. He hasn’t promised riches – he has promised a blessing. He has said that he will provide for our needs and that if we give "it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6 v 38)

So let’s be generous and give to those in need. The blessing of God is much greater than any blessing we could ever save for ourselves.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - John 4

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v. 5 - There is a point made here about this particular place. A parcel of ground - bought in Gen.33:19, given to Joseph in Gen.48:21,22, and used later to bury Joseph's bones in Jos.24:32. The point here is surely to emphasise the contrast between the place (being of great Jewish heritage) and the conversation with a gentile Samaritan woman, which led, as always with the gentiles that are recorded to great awe and wonder at the power of God. And yet the Jews had allowed this special place of their heritage to become part of the land of Samaria.
Peter Cresswell
v. 46 Cana is only mentioned in John's gospel. John 2:1 here 21:2 Was it the miracle at Cana which Convinced Nathanael that Jesus was worth following?
Peter Forbes
There are a number of links with the Song of Solomon in this chapter
4:6 sat Song 1:7
4:6 sixth hour Song 1:7
4:10 Living water Song 4:16
4:34 My meat Song 1:7
Peter Forbes
We may see the record here as separate and distinct from Chapter 3. However we should remember that Nicodemus was a Pharisee and he said 'we now' which implies that he had been sent by the Pharisees to find out about Jesus' position. So 4:1 is telling us the information that Nicodemus related to them on his return.
Peter Forbes
4:5 - Why is Joseph mentioned here?
There is a daughter about to be made for the family of Abraham to increase the divine name by the "increaser"(Joseph). The converted Samaritans called Jesus the "Saviour of the world"(vs 42) which is what Pharaoh called Joseph(Gen 41:45-Zaphnath-paaneah).
Matt Drywood