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April 2

Reading 1 - Numbers 16

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v. 3 - How often men use God's words to justify their actions. There was no doubt that the congregation were holy, [Ex.19:6, Ezra 9:2]and this seems to give weight to Korah's argument. We must beware that we are not tempted to use God's word to justify our own selfish thinking and that our principles that we stand by are based wholly upon his truth. We should also beware of others who can convince us using similar craftiness. Job's three friends used these methods, and Job withstood. We should too.
Peter Cresswell
v.9,10 - Here is a great lesson for us. I definitely need this lesson, and I guess I'm not the only one. My disappointment I have felt at not being given office in the ecclesia when the annual ballot comes along is completely wrong. I fail to see the position I do hold, being clouded out by that which I feel is being kept from me. We are not all to be privileged with 'high office'. These men sought after the priesthood, and it was to their destruction. How easily our own desires can lead us astray. Let us learn to be satisfied with what God gives us, and remember that He is in charge.
Peter Cresswell

v.39 Notice that whilst Aaron was still alive it is Eleazer the high priest designate who took the censers. In some way this event typifies the redemptive work of the high priest of the New Covenant. I suppose because it was Eleazer / Jesus who was to take them into the land - the 'rest' of Chapter 14 spoken of in Hebrews.

v.45 - 48 On this occasion both Moses and Aaron fall on their faces at the thought that Yahweh would destroy the nation so we see that Aaron, rather than seeking to have a position of authority is willing to be associated with Moses in pleading for Israel. It is Moses who takes the initiative and sends Aaron with the censer through the camp. Aaron does as he is told seemingly with not question. This shows that he is now willing to recognise Moses' position.
Peter Forbes

16:1 The rebellion was led by three men, Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Korah was a son of Levi. Dathan and Abiram were from the tribe of Reuben. When we consider the close proximity of the two tribes to each other in the camp of Israel we appreciate the need to think carefully how we interact with our 'neighbours'.

                                                        DAN


                                                      MERARI


                                              ===============       MOSES              JUDAH
          GERSHON                      | TABERNACLE |                                    [Nahson]
                                              ===============       AARON


                                                      KOHATH
                                                        [Korah]

                                                [Dathan & Abiram]
                                                       REUBEN
Peter Forbes

:15 The assertion that Moses makes is not arrogance or self seeking. It is simply a matter of fact. It is echoed by Paul (Acts 20:36) and on both occasions serves to remind the audience that any accusation they might make in unfounded - and therefore must be based on envy.
Peter Forbes
OUR LEADERS

In Daniel we read, "that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes." (Daniel 5 v 21). We can be sure that whatever leaders we have, whether they be the rulers of the nation, our bosses at work, teachers at school, or leaders and elders in our Church, that God has raised up those people for the position they have been put in.

In another place we read, "Do not ... curse the ruler of your people." (Exodus 22 v 28). This same law is rephrased in the New Testament as, "Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people." (Acts 23 v 5).

But even when we know these things we are very often tempted to fall into the same sin as Korah, Dathan and Abiram and the crowd that followed them. They opposed Moses, the man God had raised up to lead his people from Egypt to the Promised land, accusing him of setting himself up as leader and grumbling against him.

Let's not be caught in their sin by grumbling against the leaders God has raised up for us. Instead let's do as Israel should have done and pray for our leaders, and live in obedience to the LORD God and those he sets over us.
Robert Prins
Just a connective note:
The references of 2 Pet. 2:4 and Jude 6 seem to point to Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the 250 priests of Num. 16.
Michael Parry

Reading 2 - Proverbs 12

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v.1 - to hate reproof is here described as brutish. The word means stupid or foolish. And yet we all hate reproof don't we? Our nature hates criticism of any kind. We need to overcome this if we are to please God. Humility is the key. Let us be moulded by his word and never become closed-minded. Prov.2:10,11, 8:17,32 and the section from which this is drawn is in ch.5:12,13.
Peter Cresswell
v.16 - Do we let the world know when we are angry? Or do we keep it to ourselves and - to quote this verse - cover shame?
Peter Cresswell
:4 We come across the 'virtuous woman' in 31:27 but there are not only theoretically described virtuous women who seem to do things that we cannot attain to. Ruth [Ruth 3:11] is seen as virtuous. Now we know that her 'virtue' was a willingness to follow the God of Israel, even though she was a gentile, and abide by His laws. So we see it is possible for us to be 'virtuous' in our day to day living.
Peter Forbes
:21 This verse appears to be manifestly untrue. Jacob said 'few and evil …' (Genesis 47:9). However the verse does speak a truth. In the end all that happens to the 'just' is for their edification that they may enter the kingdom of God - Hebrews 12:11
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Galatians 1 & 2

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1 v.1 - Paul jumps right in here with a problem that the Galatian Churches had - not of men, neither by man. Other letters start Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ .... but here he adds this extra phrase. That it was a problem they had is borne out by v.11,12,17. It is recorded that we might learn this too, and this fits very well with comments from both readings above today. Let us recognise that truth comes only from God. 1Cor.2:9,10, 11:23, Eph.3:3-8.
Peter Cresswell

1 v.4 If we believe that the sacrifice of Jesus was designed to 'deliver us from this present evil world' do we live a life which seeks to distance ourselves from that world or do we just think that the deliverance will come at the resurrection? If we think that we have to wait until the resurrection for deliverance we run the risk of compromising our lives so much now that we will not be given a crown of life.

2 v.11 The first century ecclesia was predominantly Jewish. The call to the gentiles caused tremendous strains on the Jewish brethren. Consequently integrating the gentiles into first century worship and ecclesial life was a major issue to the first century brethren. The Jerusalem council of Acts 15 was one attempt to resolve those problems. However the New Testament letters are full of teaching relating to this problem.We should not view is as a purely first century problem. Integrating other cultures into the community raises similar problems.
Peter Forbes

1:7-9 It seems that there were preachers claiming Apostolic authority and who were undermining the teaching of Paul

2:15-21 The problem was Judaisers who wanted the brethren to observe the Law of Moses - a deep seated first century problem
Peter Forbes

1:6 The directness of Paul's comment shows the seriousness of the problem with the ecclesias in Galatia. The letter must have been written within 20 years of the formation of the ecclesias.

2:1 The time Paul speaks of here is recorded in Acts 15:22.
Peter Forbes

ch 2 - LED ASTRAY

There are certain people that most of us look up to as being leaders in the church. They are examples to us of Christian life in action, they are always there, dependable and knowledgeable. They are people we believe will never let us down and will always lead us in the right direction. To most of the people in the early church, the apostles were those kind of leaders. Peter, particularly, seems to have been a leader and in the forefront of all that was happening and so his lead was followed by many of the other believers. But Peter, even though he was an esteemed apostle, was still just a man and still able to make mistakes. He was still just as able to bow to pressure as you or I. So when Peter did bow to pressure from forceful Jews he was joined by others who followed him and who were not so strong. Even Barnabus, who I would consider to have been a strong and godly man, was led astray by Peter's mistakes.

We need to make sure that we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ - not followers of people we consider faithful. Jesus will never fail us, but even the strongest most faithful believer can lead us astray. Set your eyes on Jesus today.
Robert Prins
:11-13 - Both Peter and Barnabas fell to the false doctrine of "justifiction by the Law". Shows that we too can fall if we are not careful.
Matt Drywood