Old Testament
1. The People rebel
- The generation that had stood at the entrance of Canaan threw away the promised Land.
- Stunned by the choice Israel is making, Moses and Aaron, "fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel" and Caleb and Joshua tore their clothing (an action indicating great depth of feeling). They spoke for moving forward, and coucelled against rebelling against the Lord. And what response do they get from the crowd? "But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb."
-Then God appears. The LOrd visibly intervenes. Their action alone justified their total destruction. But Moses prayed and appealed to God's grace, and the people were pardoned. But they do not escape unscathed..."Then the Lord said, “I will pardon them as you have requested. But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it."
- Only Caleb and Joshua were exempted, because they had responded to God with trust. The rest would be led out again into the wilderness, to wander there for 38 years.
- So a journey that should have taken 40 days will now take 40 years.
- Moses tells the people God's judgement and they mourned greatly. And, the next morning they jump up- and mount an attack on the land they had been unwilling to approach. But this was after God had expressly commanded them to turn back to the wilderness! Doesn't this sound like something you would go through with your children? Only a lot more is at stake here.
- They were defeated and pursued.
- The people had once again demonstrated that they simply would not listen to God or respond to Him. Over and over the failure of Israel to be obedient led them into disaster. Yet they refused to be responsible.
- The lesson here is for all of us. and it is a lesson that still has to be learned...over and over again. Until it is learned, the people (we) would know only tragic consequences of disobedience with each wrong choice.
- One generation had lost its opportunity to know rest, to enter the Promised Land, but their children would make a different choice. So, Numbers 15 begins with ..."When you finally settle in the land I am giving you..."
New Testament
2. Jesus on trial before Annas, the high priest.
- Annas was the high priest emeritus, and was the father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas. He is still referred to as high priest because of the influence he has.
3. Jesus on trial before Caiaphas
- We have false testimony given against jesus, but they can't seem to get their stories right.
- Finally the high priest asked Jesus bluntly,"Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus answered,"I am."
- To the leaders this was blasphemy. Jesus had claimed to be God Himself! And the punishment for blasphemy was death.
- This had been more of a hearing than a real trial. So Jesus had not been condemned, yet. But, many of these men would subsequently act as judges when the trial started.
4. Peter denies Jesus.
- Christ had not only predicted, but had anticipated Peter's betrayal. Unfortunately, Peter had not. "And he broke down and wept." Christ knows us and our hearts better than we know ourselves.
Psalm
5. "Only fools say in their hearts,“There is no God.”
Proverbs
6. "Riches won’t help on the day of judgment,but right living can save you from death."
- Wow, nothing I can add to that...
See you next post...
Showing posts with label Caleb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caleb. Show all posts
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3 (New Living Translation)
Old Testament
1.When Israel moved away from Sinai after having been camped so long three incidents happened that were truly "example" for Israel. Each incident involved the rejection of God and each was an occasion of immediate judgement.
- As God's people they had to respond to Him with trusting obedience. Any failure to respond led to tragic consequences.
2.Rejection of God's guidance.
- It only took 3 days of traveling in the desert for the Israelites to revert to a pattern they had established before their arrival at Sinai. Forgetting all that God had done for them, they let discomfort dominated their thinking...and control their actions. They complained about their hardship in "the hearing of the Lord."
- In their complaining they rejected His wisdom, and ignored the supernatural provision of the fiery-cloud pillar that directed their every move.
- God immediately acted-in judgement. Fire destroyed some of the outlying parts of the camp. In a panic, the people turned to Moses, who prayed, and the fire was controlled.
3. Rejection of God's provision.
- Shortly after this the people begin to complain about their diet, and were ready to trade their freedom for the meat and vegetables they had in Egypt.
- Had they forgotten they had been slaves?
- The manna that God provided was despised.
- Moses, now gets angry with the people as well. God responded to Moses' need by distributing the leadership responsibility and gift to 70 of the elders.
- God responded to the people. God responded by bringing a great flock of quail. But when the people began to eat, a great plague struck the camp. Thousands of the murmurers dies. The people who had rejected God and His provision bore the dreadful consequences of their choice. "So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (which means “graves of gluttony.”
4. Rejection of God's appointed.
- This time Miriam and Aaron, Moses sister and brother, resented the special role Moses was given by God. So they challenge Moses' authority.
- God responded angrily, pointing out the special relationship He Himself had chosen to have with Moses.
- In judgement, Miriam is struck with leprosy, and put out of the camp for seven days. Afterward she is healed in answer to Moses' prayer. Everyone was forced to wait for Miriam for those seven days.
- What's the real sin here?- PRIDE.
5. Whay is God doing this, and what's the point?
- The people, Israel, are about to make some very important decisions about their relation ship with God. These lesons are to teach them about taking responsibilty for their actions and decisions
6. Twelve scouts explore Canaan.
- When they arrive at the borders of Palestine, Moses sent 12 men out in pairs to spy the land. They were to evaluate the strength of the peoples, their numbers, and whether the land was rich or poor.
- Only two, Caleb and Joshua, encouraged the people to trust God.
- They needed to learn that God's presence, rather than their circumstances should be given priority.
New Testament
7. The Passover meal
8. Peter's denial predicted
9. Gethsemane
10. Jesus arrested
Psalm
11. "I will always trust in God’s unfailing love."
Proverbs
12. "Pride leads to disgrace"
- Look back at the story of Miriam.
13. "...but with humility comes wisdom."
14. "Honesty guides good people"
See you next post...
1.When Israel moved away from Sinai after having been camped so long three incidents happened that were truly "example" for Israel. Each incident involved the rejection of God and each was an occasion of immediate judgement.
- As God's people they had to respond to Him with trusting obedience. Any failure to respond led to tragic consequences.
2.Rejection of God's guidance.
- It only took 3 days of traveling in the desert for the Israelites to revert to a pattern they had established before their arrival at Sinai. Forgetting all that God had done for them, they let discomfort dominated their thinking...and control their actions. They complained about their hardship in "the hearing of the Lord."
- In their complaining they rejected His wisdom, and ignored the supernatural provision of the fiery-cloud pillar that directed their every move.
- God immediately acted-in judgement. Fire destroyed some of the outlying parts of the camp. In a panic, the people turned to Moses, who prayed, and the fire was controlled.
3. Rejection of God's provision.
- Shortly after this the people begin to complain about their diet, and were ready to trade their freedom for the meat and vegetables they had in Egypt.
- Had they forgotten they had been slaves?
- The manna that God provided was despised.
- Moses, now gets angry with the people as well. God responded to Moses' need by distributing the leadership responsibility and gift to 70 of the elders.
- God responded to the people. God responded by bringing a great flock of quail. But when the people began to eat, a great plague struck the camp. Thousands of the murmurers dies. The people who had rejected God and His provision bore the dreadful consequences of their choice. "So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (which means “graves of gluttony.”
4. Rejection of God's appointed.
- This time Miriam and Aaron, Moses sister and brother, resented the special role Moses was given by God. So they challenge Moses' authority.
- God responded angrily, pointing out the special relationship He Himself had chosen to have with Moses.
- In judgement, Miriam is struck with leprosy, and put out of the camp for seven days. Afterward she is healed in answer to Moses' prayer. Everyone was forced to wait for Miriam for those seven days.
- What's the real sin here?- PRIDE.
5. Whay is God doing this, and what's the point?
- The people, Israel, are about to make some very important decisions about their relation ship with God. These lesons are to teach them about taking responsibilty for their actions and decisions
6. Twelve scouts explore Canaan.
- When they arrive at the borders of Palestine, Moses sent 12 men out in pairs to spy the land. They were to evaluate the strength of the peoples, their numbers, and whether the land was rich or poor.
- Only two, Caleb and Joshua, encouraged the people to trust God.
- They needed to learn that God's presence, rather than their circumstances should be given priority.
New Testament
7. The Passover meal
8. Peter's denial predicted
9. Gethsemane
10. Jesus arrested
Psalm
11. "I will always trust in God’s unfailing love."
Proverbs
12. "Pride leads to disgrace"
- Look back at the story of Miriam.
13. "...but with humility comes wisdom."
14. "Honesty guides good people"
See you next post...
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