Old Testament
1. The boundaries of the Promised Land.
- Division of the land.
2. Chapter 35 of Numbers establishes a very important feature in Israel's legal justice system.
- The Old Testament system of justice relied more on restitution than on imprisonment. A person who was responsible for another's loss was to reimburse the value of the property destroyed.
- Murder and homicide were special cases with a distinct code to govern how they were to be judged.
- Justice in Israel was a community responsibility, as there were no police. Therefore the one with primary responsibility to execute a murderer was the one in the community most affected by that crime; a member of the murdered person's family. He, in this way, was not a murderer himself, but an executioner appointed by the Law to purify the holy community.
- At the same time this passage makes a distinction between intentional, hostile killing (murder) and what we would call accidental homicide.
- There were cities of refuge scattered throughout the land where a person committing accidental homicide could flee an overzealous relative whose motives might involve revenge, even if the death was accidental.
- They were required to stay here until the high priest who had heard the case died. By then the anger of the avenger might have died, and the accidental killer would receive the full protection of the law. Should he then be attacked by a family avenger, the avenger himself would be put to death.
New Testament
3. Not all who saw Jesus responded as Simon Peter and his friends. So Jesus moved on, to continue to show that His authority extended to healing the inner man as well as the outer.
4. Jesus heals the leper
- The leper recognizes Jesus' power, but was uncertain of His love. Hence the form of the statement, "if you are willing...." Jesus answered the implied doubt fully. He said, "I am willing." And then as Jesus spoke the healing word our Lord reached out and touched the hand of the leper. Remember that in those days, as well as now, lepers were untouchable. But Jesus touched him.
- Jesus' touch was not needed to heal the leprosy, but it was necessary to meet this man's deep, inner need for love. The touching of the leper healed his heart.
5. Jesus heals a paralyzed man
- Jesus once again speaks to the external (get up and walk) and internal (your sins are forgiven) needs of this man.
6. Jesus calls Levi (Matthew), a tax collector.
Psalm
7. "even the hard pathways overflow with abundance..."
Proverbs
8. "The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment."
See you next post...
Showing posts with label leprosy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leprosy. Show all posts
Saturday, March 22, 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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