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April
13
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Reading
1 - Numbers 32
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here to Listen
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v.
16-19 The words of the Reubenites and the Gadites here represented quite
a sacrifice - not only were they prepared to leave their families for however
long it took to conquer the land, but they had the faith to know that by
doing God's will in this way their families would be looked after in their
absence. There is strength in this suggestion - and apparently faith that
was throughout the tribe, without dissenters. Josh.4:12.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.23
- We have here a phrase that has found its way into our language in general
usage, but the special relevance here is that Moses, when he said it knew,
and knew that the men with whom he spoke knew, that he personally would
not be there to ensure they kept their word. It is a further reminder to
each of us that God knows our every thought. Let us pray for forgiveness.
Peter Cresswell
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v.
12 Caleb
is the only person in Scripture of whom it is said he 'wholly followed the
LORD'
Numbers
32:12 Deuteronomy 1:36 Joshua 14:8,9,14
The listing of the stopping places in the wilderness here, at the end of
the journey would enable those who were now still alive - for by now all
who rebelled in Numbers 13 and 14 were dead - to reflect on their journey.
Depending on the age of those who remained they would be able to remember
the journey from different stages. The older the person the more of the
journey, and the more of the events that took place they would be able to
remember. Therefore different ones would have different perceptions of the
different events. The older ones would have a greater awareness of the early
events than the younger ones - a pattern of our lives in Christ. As 'babes'
in Christ we tend not to see the Father's providential hand, though it was
always there, but as time passes we become more aware, or at least we should,
of the guiding hand of the Father in our lives. This must have been true
of those who were now at the end of the wilderness journey at the border
of the land. These men and women knew that they would indeed enter into
the land, unlike their parents. What a wonderful knowledge!
Peter
Forbes |
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| 32:11
'The land which I sware unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob' might seem to be
a oft repeated phrase in Scripture. It is not. It is only found in the books
of the wilderness journey - Exodus - Deuteronomy (Exodus
33:1 Numbers 32:11 Deuteronomy 1:8 6:10 9:5 30:20 34:4) and in the mouth
of Joseph (Genesis
50:24) It was a phrase designed to remind Israel of the faith of Joseph.
32:12
Remember - we cannot remember the names of the other ten spies! Which
group do we wish to be among? Those who enter the land or the ones who
perish in the wilderness?
Peter
Forbes
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:1
The children of Reuben had seen the land of Gilead when they took the land
on the east of Jordan before the incident of Balaam. So they had been thinking
about where they would like their inheritance for some time. The nation
are about to cross Jordan and so now they make their request. They chose
what they had seen rather than what God had specifically promised them -
though the territory was part of the land promised to Abraham.
Peter
Forbes
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Reading
2 - Proverbs 23
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here to Listen
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v.1-3
- This principle is brought out for us in various parts of scripture, but
the underlying principle of keeping separate from the 'dainties' of the
world which attract us as human beings, is prevalent throughout. v.6,
Ps.141:4, Dan.1:8, Luke 21:34, Eph.4:22.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.29-35
- A poetic but very accurate description of those who have become dependent
on alcohol. The world in which we live holds so many drugs, both real and
figurative. We do well to avoid them all in every way we can.
Peter Cresswell
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v.
6
An 'evil eye' is a way of viewing things which is Godless. These examples
show what an 'evil eye' is Deuteronomy
15:9 28:54,56 Jesus teaches us that he who has an 'evil eye' is walking
in darkness. Matthew
6:23
Peter
Forbes |
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:32
In speaking of the bite of the serpent we have an echo of the way in which
listening to the serpent in the garden of Eden caused the downfall of Adam
and Eve.
Peter
Forbes |
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:20
being 'among riotous eaters' is echoed in Ephesians
5:18 so we see that the simple Proverb actually has applications in
the daily living of the brother or sister in Christ.
Peter
Forbes
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"DO
NOT WEAR YOURSELF OUT TO GET RICH"
I once heard the saying that no-one ever said on their deathbed that they
wished they had spent more time at the office. That is very true. From the
deathbed our whole perspective on life comes into focus. Our focus will
no longer be on how much money we have in the bank but on how we have used
what we have spent. Or maybe we will wish we had used our time more profitably
instead of spending it at the office earning more money. But the proverb
has a stronger meaning than just sending time to get money. It tells us
not to wear ourselves out to get rich. If getting rich wears us out then
any benefit we would get from our riches will be of no use to us at all.
Riches do wear many people out. They work hard, put in long stressful hours
and on top of that have the worry of protecting all the "Assets" they have
gained. They need insurance, alarms and other protections, and due to the
worry involved can die an early death. There is wisdom in the words of Solomon
- especially when we consider that those who possess less need God more.
Riches are not worth the bother. You cannot serve God and riches. So choose
God!
Robert
Prins |
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Reading
3 - John 5
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here to Listen
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v.
19 is Jesus' answer to the accusation aimed at him in v.18
of equality with God. It is interesting that an answer like this is recorded
for us by God, who in his wisdom saw that this would be a problem in generations
to come. We have the same responsibility as Jesus had to follow the Lord,
as we have passed from death unto life (v.24,25).
The principle is emphasised further in v.30.
Peter Cresswell
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v.
2
There are a number of times when the Hebrew is given in the New Testament
even though Greek was the common tongue. here
Bethesda John
19:13 Gabbatha
John
19:17 Golgotha
Revelation
9:11 Abaddon
Revelation
16:16 Armageddon
Mark
15:34 Jesus speaks
in Hebrew on the cross Acts
1:19 Aceldama
We might care to think about why this is so.
Peter Forbes
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5:2
There are a number of times when the Hebrew is given in the New Testament
even though Greek was the common tongue.
John 5:2 Bethesda John
19:13 Gabbatha John
19:17 Golgotha Revelation
9:11 Abaddon Revelation
16:16 Armageddon Mark
15:34 Jesus speaks in Hebrew on the cross Acts
1:19 Aceldama We might care to think about why this is so.
Peter Forbes
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:9-10
So we find the Jewish leaders thinking that Sabbath observance as they saw
it as being more important than the healing of a sick man. The sick man
typified Israel who needed deliverance from sin and death but the leaders
were more concerned with the form of their worship than the needs of the
people who were dying. This warns us of the dangers of mistaking our form
of worship and preaching for the message itself.
Peter Forbes
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PRAISE
FROM GOD
It comes down to the way we live and who we seek to please. Many people
only try to please themselves, not caring about anyone else. Clearly this
sort of attitude is not acceptable to God. Others, like the leading Jews,
did everything so that they could receive praise from men. What they did
looked godly, but in reality it was just a big show so that people would
look at them and praise them. And Jesus, on the other hand, was motivated
to please his Father in heaven.
Jesus said to the Jews, "I do not accept praise from men, but I know
you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts ... How
can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort
to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" It is possible
that this reproof applies to us just as much as it applied to the Jews.
Our praise from God comes later - not now, but the praise we hear from people
is instant. So in many ways it is easier to be motivated to please men rather
than God. Let's change that and make every effort to obtain the praise that
comes from the only God.
Robert
Prins |
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LEARNING
FROM THE BEST
Jesus, the Son of God, the greatest man that ever walked the face of the
earth knew that all he was and all he did came from his Father. He said,
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only
do what he sees his father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son
also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes,
to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these."
I wish that we could get to know God as well as Jesus, so that we would
also be able to learn as effectively from him and become people like Jesus.
But just as Jesus learnt all he needed from God, his Father, so he has left
us his teaching for us to follow. He said, "I tell you the truth, whoever
hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not
be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
So it is up to us to listen to the words of Jesus and believe in what he
says. If we can just follow his teaching, putting it into practice in our
lives we will become like him, having learnt from the greatest man that
ever lived. Learning from the best and consistently following that teaching
is a sure way to be successful. Best of all, his lessons are free. Enrol
today!
Robert
Prins |
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