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March 31

Reading 1 - Numbers 14

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v.11-20 - Here we have an extension of the thought that we picked up back in Exodus 32:10. Back in Exodus, Moses reasoned answer is given in v.12,13 and God's response in v.14, but here it is extended for us by several verses and many details. The discourse which took place is very 'man to man' - it gives us heart that God will indeed listen to our prayers - especially such clearly unselfish prayers as Moses made here. v.13-19 (Moses speech) v.20-24 (God's response). God punishes the people, but respects Moses' desire to keep face before the Egyptians. He does also select one (Caleb) to be singled out to the honour of entering the land. A very small remnant in this case.
Peter Cresswell
v.31 - This statement 'which you said would be a prey' refers, I assume, to the practice of child sacrifice that they had picked up from the surrounding nations, which was a great abomination to God.
Peter Cresswell
v.13 Moses intercession here is rather like Exodus 32:32 etc. where Moses implores Yahweh to remember his Name and what the Egyptians will think. Two years on having had to deal with Israel's 'manners' for that time had not changed his disposition towards the promises and the greatness of Yahweh.
Peter Forbes
14:4 The 'captain' who was 'made' was Korah. This become clear when we come to Numbers 16. The events of Numbers 16 took place at the border of the land and immediately after the evil report of the 10 spies.

14:44,45 So we see that unless God is with us then our labours are in vain.
Peter Forbes

:21 We might see this as a very useful verse to show that the kingdom will be on earth. However God spoke those words for a different reason. He was telling Israel that despite their rebellion and the fact that they would die in the wilderness the land of Canaan would be filled with His glory. His plan was not to be thwarted through the rebelliousness of man. The kingdom will come and Christ will return despite us. We must take care lest we are shut out like, in type, those in the wilderness were shut out when they were barred from the land. 38 years later.
Peter Forbes
THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD

Nothing can stand against us if the Lord is with us. Whatever we do for the LORD, if it is his will, is bound for success and all the obstacles that stand in our way will be swallowed up when God is with us. Joshua and Caleb knew that the LORD wanted to give the land to Israel. They also knew that the giants that stood in their way had no leg to stand on before the armies of the LORD. Joshua and Caleb told the people, "And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us."

The same principle applies to us. Often the odds might seem like they are stacked against us. It can be hard to break old habits; it can be hard to preach or reach out to our friends; it can be hard to pray, and each of these, and many more have many obstacles we need to overcome to conquer them. But they are in the will of God, they are things He wants us to do. We need to step out in faith and swallow up the problems. "Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us." So let us decide where we need to step out in faith and then do it in the strength of the LORD!
Robert Prins
SPREAD GOODNESS

Our God is an Awesome God. He can do anything! He can even tear down the cities of giant men and give their land to his people. But there would only be two of God's people that would have the privilege of seeing the might of God conquer the land of Canaan. These two men were Joshua and Caleb. The rest of the spies and all the unfaithful people of Israel died while the nation wandered in the wilderness for forty years on their way to the promised land. But Joshua and Caleb found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Let's think about why God saved these two men. Joshua and Caleb were the spies that said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (Numbers 13 v 30). They also pleaded with the people saying, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land because their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

If we compare what Joshua and Caleb said here to God's complaint about the other spies who "made the whole community grumble against God by spreading a bad report about the land," we find that the qualities that saved Joshua and Caleb were their positive attitude, their faith, and their good, uplifting and instructional words. Let us be more like them and may God be pleased with us also.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Proverbs 10

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v.1 - The proverbs of Solomon. chs.1-9 have set the background against which each of these proverbs that follow in the rest of the book is now set. Every proverb appears to be an isolated 'stand-alone' verse or two, and yet each are inter-related at least to the extent that every one of them draws on something from the first 9 introductory chapters.
Peter Cresswell
v.2 - Here we have that great reminder, which we continue to find throughout scripture, that we must not trust in those thigs which we have now. We all have many 'treasures of wickedness'. We are told over and over again in scripture to keep them in the right place in our minds and put God's things first, because 'righteousness delivereth from death'. ch.11:4, Psa.49:6-10, Zeph.1:18, Luke 12:15-20, James 5:1-3
Peter Cresswell
v. 26 This word 06102 only occurs in Proverbs and is translated in these ways. sluggard 01602 Proverbs 6:6,9 10:26 13:4 20:4 26:16 slothful 06102 Proverbs 15:19 19:24 21:25 22:13 24:30 26:13
Peter Forbes
:1 Whilst we think of the book of Proverbs as being Solomon's Proverbs there are others involved in the composition of the book. 10:1 - 24:34 is one complete section of the book. There is a shift in style of the Proverbs now. Whereas the Proverbs up to this point have been like stories we now move into an area which where the Proverbs tend to be sort and often contrasting pairs of sayings.
Peter Forbes
:10 'Love covereth all sins' - quoted (1 Peter 4:8) is a very powerful lesson and is the basis for 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Luke 23

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v.4,14,15 - Pilate is at great pains to remove himself from the blame for this wicked act - and passes the buck to Herod. He recognised the need to show respect to God and his revelation (made through his wife) but did not have the power to fight the system. What would we do if we were asked to judge a person falsely accused?
Peter Cresswell
v. 8 That Herod was 'exceeding glad' to see Jesus and that he expected to see some miracles was not a mild interest in Jesus. This is the same Herod who had killed John the Baptist [Mark 6:27] who was fearful that John had risen from the dead [Luke 9:9] and who 'heard (John) gladly' [Mark 6:20]. It is clear that Herod had some understanding of the message of Jesus and wanted to investigate further. However, with Jesus just as with John, he was unwilling to commit himself to the gospel. We can be like that. We know the message is true but we sometimes decline to follow it.
Peter Forbes

23:1 'Led unto Pilate' catches the idea of a sacrifice being taken to the place of offering. This can be seen in other events during this last 24 hours of Jesus' life

Event
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Jesus led to Annas first
Jesus led to Caiaphas
Jesus led into Jewish council
Jesus led to Pilate
Jesus led to be crucified

Peter Forbes
:5, 37, 39 The threefold 'if thou (he) be Christ …' echoes the threefold temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4:3,9)
Peter Forbes
"SAVE YOURSELF AND US"

His disciples believed that he was going to save them, and the nation, from the Romans. The leading Jews did not believe he would save anyone from anything, and the Romans weren't interested. But the saving work of Jesus went far beyond anyone's expectations. When Jesus was up on the cross and being mocked by those standing around, they said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." And the thief on the cross with Jesus said similar, "Save yourself and us." Jesus certainly had the power to be able to come down from the cross and to avoid his death by crucifixion. He also had the power to release the two thieves and to heal them. He had the power and authority to save his nation from the Romans. Yet he chose not to use his power in that way, and Praise God that he didn't! If he had come down from the cross, it would have gone against the will of God, which would have been sin. In the short term he would have achieved some saving, but as the savior of the world and in saving his people from sins and death, he would have been just like the rest of us and failed. In staying on the cross Jesus did exactly what his mockers told him to. He saved himself and us, and did more than we ever thought possible. Hallelujah!
Robert Prins
"FORGIVE THEM"

He had not slept for over 40 hours, he had not eaten or drunk for about 20 hours. He had lost blood by the bucket full after being beaten, flogged, having a crown of thorns pressed onto his head and nails hammered through his wrists and feet. Those who had crucified him gambled for his clothes as he hung naked that cold afternoon on a cross.

The men who had demanded his crucifixion stood around the bottom of the cross with smirks on their faces, jeering at him and saying, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ." And on top of all that he was in immense pain hanging from the nails in his wrists, his flesh tearing, his only other support coming from the nails through his feet and his beaten and bleeding back jammed hard against the rough wooden stake he was attached to.

Yet in this most desperate time when any of us would be feeling sorry for ourselves - even if we did deserve it, Jesus offered a prayer for all those who put him on the cross. His prayer was also for you and me whose sins nailed him there. "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." What love he showed for us!
Robert Prins

:12 - "Pilate and Herod were made friends".
Acts 4:27 tells us: "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together..."
According to Josephus, "The cause of the enmity between Herod and Pilate seems to have been this, that Pilate had intermeddled with the Tetrarch's jurisdiction, and had slain some of his Galilean subjects, and, as he was willing to correct that error, he sent Christ to Herod at this time." (antiquities,pg 548-footnote)

:34 - "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"
A common question that rises about Luke 23:34 is who is forgiven for crucifing Jesus?
The Romans were forgiven because they knew him not but, what about the Jewish authorities who set out to kill him?
Jesus clears this up in John 19:11 when he answered Pilate, "he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."
Therefore, the Sanhedrin bear 'the greater sin' because of their actions and will be held responsible.
Matt Drywood