Sunday, September 30, 2007

Shall Your Brethren Go to War While You Sit Here

Shall Your Brethren Go To War
While You Sit Here?

Numbers 32:6 “But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?”
Prior to Israel’s occupation of the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle in the land east of the Jordan. Their request and Moses’ response are found in Num 32:1-23, and have practical application to our service in the church today.

Let’s begin our study with a review of the historical account in Numbers 32. Ruben and Gad express their desire as they were two tribes with much livestock - Num 32:1a “Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock.” They saw that the land of Jazer and Gilead (the Transjordan) was good for livestock - Num 32:1b “And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.” So they requested to be given the land as their possession, and not taken over the Jordan river with the rest of Israel - Num 32:2-5 “So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation, "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, the land that the LORD struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock." And they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan."’

Moses responds, “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?” - Num 32:6. Shall they be at ease, while their brethren must fight? Was it not with their brethren’s help that the land they desire is now available? How Moses viewed their request.... They would discourage their brethren - Num 32:7 “Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?” They would be no different than the ten spies who discouraged Israel by their report - Num 32:8-9 “Your fathers did this, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the LORD had given them.” Who aroused God’s anger against them - Num 32:10-13 “And the LORD's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying, 'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.” They would be a brood of sinful men, and increase God’s anger against Israel – Num 32:14 “And behold, you have risen in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the LORD against Israel!” They would in essence destroy God’s people! - Num 32:15 “For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people."’

An agreement is reached. Reuben and Gad offer to send their soldiers to help possess the Promised Land - Num 32:16-19 “Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east."’ Moses agrees, but with a stern warning - Num 32:20-23 “So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”’ The land they desire will be theirs if they carry through with their offer. But if they don’t keep their agreement they will have sinned against the Lord! To be sure their sin will find them out!

In 1 Co 10:11 we are told that what happened to Israel serves as examples to us, and were written for our admonition. With this in mind, let’s consider the following application for us today. Like Israel, we are at war. A spiritual war, to be sure - 2 Co 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” A war against Satan, and the spiritual forces of wickedness - Ep 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” The Lord’s army (the church) fights this battle as her members serve in such areas as evangelism, edification, and benevolence.

Much has been done up to the present. Many have stood for the truth in the past. Coming out of denominationalism. Standing firm against innovations which would lead to apostasy. Making it possible for us today to know the truth of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ and to worship God in spirit and truth. To enjoy the blessings of God’s family. But the war wages on! Every thought must be brought captive to Christ - 2 Co 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” We must continue to stand strong against the wiles of the devil - Ep 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Shall our brethren go to war while we sit here? By lettings others do the work of the Lord’s army? Shall we just sit, enjoying the efforts of others? The efforts of those who labored in the past? The efforts of those who labor now, making it possible for us to enjoy the blessings of fellowship and worship? -- If not actively involved in some phase of the Lord’s work, that is exactly what we are doing!

If we are sitting, what is the effect? We discourage our brethren! - Num 32:7 “Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?” We discourage our brethren who often must carry the burden alone; who easily get “burned out” trying to do it all. Lack of involvement is just as detrimental as active opposition! The slothful is a brother to him who destroys - Pro 18:9 “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” If we do not gather, then we scatter; there is no neutral ground! - Mt 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” -- Like just sitting in a wagon, instead of pulling or pushing, we hinder its progress!

What will be the end result? We will have sinned against the Lord! - Num 32:23a “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD,” For what one does or doesn’t do for the church, it affects Christ! As Paul learned when he persecuted the church - Ac 9:1-5 “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Yes, when we sin against the brethren, we sin against Christ! - 1 Co 8:12 “Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.” Be sure that our sin will find us out! It will come out in the growth of the congregation. Proper growth is possible only if ALL are doing their part - Ep 4:15-16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Growth may occur with inactive members, but the growth will be stunted, retarded, handicapped! It will come out on the Day of Judgment! When we have to answer for our laziness! Remember the parable of The Talents? - cf. Mt 26:24-30.

When Reuben and Gad realized the effect of sitting while their brethren went to war, they immediately made arrangements to do their part.... Moses was even patient with them, allowing them time to care for their families - Num 32:24. They in turn promised to do their part in going to war - Num 32:25-27 -- Certainly we can be patient in helping our brethren prepare for “war”, if need be. But may we all determine not to rest until the work is done, by resolving to be more diligent in the spiritual battle we face! Resolving to be more active in whatever area of service for which we are best suited! Let your brethren know that you desire to serve, and not just sit while others work! Are you in the army of Christ, actively engaged in the service of His kingdom?

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Caleb Followed the Lord Fully - Part Two

Caleb Followed the Lord Fully – Part Two

In the first part of this lesson we noted Caleb’s attitude in following the Lord. We asked and looked at a couple questions as to our following Jesus all the days of our lives and with all our hearts. In this part we continue by asking ourselves “Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, despite the hazards?”

What is it to follow Christ despite the hazards? Caleb followed the Lord despite the dangers. He was willing to face the giants in the land - cf. Num 13:33 “And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."’ He was willing to face the wrath of his brethren - Num 14:10 “Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.” He was willing to take a mountain from the giants in his old age - Josh 14:10-12 “And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said."’ Many will serve the Lord only when it is convenient. When it is popular, like the crowds who followed Jesus. When it is safe, like Peter before confronted by the maiden - Mt 26:69-70 “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."’ What of us who follow Jesus today? Shall we follow Him only when convenient? Shall we follow Him despite ridicule, persecution, dangers? - Mt 5:10-12 ‘"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -- Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, despite the hazards?

Certainly the commitment of Caleb to his Lord is commendable. How was he able to be so committed? How might we be so enabled...? How are we enabled to follow the Lord fully? One way is by keeping our eye on Him. Caleb’s faith was in the Lord, not himself. He was confident they could take the land - Num 13:30. But that was because he knew the Lord would be with them - Num 14:6-9. Thus his eye was on the Lord! So we need to keep our eye on Jesus - He 12:1-4 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Looking unto Him as the author and finisher of our faith. Considering the hostility He endured, knowing the Father will help us as He helped Him to endure. -- Shall we look to the Lord for our inspiration and confidence, like Caleb did?

We can follow the Lord fully by having a different spirit. Caleb was noted for a having a different spirit - Num 14:24 “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” Different than the spirit in the other ten spies, who were defeatists - Num 13:31 “Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are."’ Different than the spirit in the rest of Israel, who complained - Num 14:1-2 “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!” We can be strengthened by a different spirit. Certainly the spirit of a positive attitude will help - Ph 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” How much more so, with the Spirit of God helping us! - Ro 8:12-13 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”; Ep 3:16 “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” -- Shall we have a “can do” attitude, knowing we are clothed in the strength of God’s might? - Ep 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Finally, let us seek to discern to glean from the example of Caleb a motivation to follow the Lord fully. It leads to a fuller life. Consider how God was able to use Caleb:
As a leader in Israel - cf. Num 13:2,6; 34:18,19.
As a servant of God, first to spy out the land, then to divide it - Num 14:24a.
As an example of faith and courage - Num 13:30; 14:8,9.
As a reminder of God’s justice - Num 14:29-30.
As an inspiration of service, even in old age - Josh 14:6-12.
How useful will we be, if we follow Jesus fully? We can be an example in youth - 1 Ti 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” We can be useful to the Master - 2 Ti 2:20-22 “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” -- Don’t we want to be useful to Jesus?

It leads to a fulfilled life. Consider how Caleb was fulfilled in life: Only he and Joshua were blessed to enter Canaan - Deu 1:35-36. He received the land around Hebron as an inheritance - Josh 14:6-14; 21:12. His land had rest from war - Josh 14:15. What kind of fulfilled life does Jesus offer those who follow Him fully today? One that experiences love which passes knowledge - Ep 3:19 “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” One that experiences peace which surpasses understanding - Ph 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” One that experiences joy inexpressible - 1 Pe 1:8 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,” One in which our daily needs are provided - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- Don’t we want to have a fulfilled life?

Let the example of Caleb inspire you to follow the Lord fully in your life... To follow Jesus all the days of your life. To follow Jesus with all your heart. To follow Jesus despite the hazards. Shall we, like Caleb, follow the Lord fully so we too may have a useful life in service to the Lord? Have a fulfilled life that is blessed by the Lord? Don’t forget - Caleb and Joshua were the only two (out of 603,550 men) who survived the forty years of wilderness wanderings and entered the promised land (Num 32:10-13). Their brethren did not enter Canaan, for as the Lord said of them “they have not wholly followed Me”. How are we following the Lord? Like Caleb? Or like those who died in the wilderness...?

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Caleb Followed the Lord Fully - Part One

Caleb Followed the Lord Fully – Part One

Numbers 14:24 – “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”

A familiar story of the Bible is that of the twelve spies of Israel sent to spy out the land of Canaan - Num 13:1-2 “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them."’ Spending 40 days traversing the land - Num 13:21-25 “So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there. At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land.” Bringing back both good news and bad news. A land of milk and honey, as evidenced by the fruit - Num 13:27 “And they told him, "We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.” A land occupied by strong people and giants - Num 13:28 “However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.” One of the spies, Caleb, sought to reassure the people - Num 13:30 “But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."’ Yet ten of the spies overwhelmed the people with their bad report - Num 13:31-14:4 “Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are." So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them." Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to one another, "Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt."’ Only Joshua and Caleb had confidence in the Lord - Num 14:6-9 “And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them."’

But the people heeded the bad report, resulting in God’s condemnation. Israel was to spend 40 years of wandering in the wilderness - Num 14:28-34 “Say to them, 'As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.'” The ten spies died by a plague before the Lord - Num 14:36-37 “And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land-- the men who brought up a bad report of the land--died by plague before the LORD.” Only Joshua and Caleb were spared - Num 14:38 “Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.” The Lord spared Caleb because “he...has followed Me fully” - Num 14:24 “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” A similar statement about Caleb is made time and again - Num 32:11-12 “'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.'”; Deu 1:36 “except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!'”; Josh 14:8-9 “But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.'”, 14 “Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.” What a wonderful epitaph: “He wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.”

What does it mean to follow the Lord fully as Caleb did? How might we follow Christ fully today...? What is it to follow the Lord fully; to follow Christ all our days? Such was the case with Caleb. He followed the Lord in the wilderness. He followed the Lord in land of Canaan, 45 years later - Josh 14:8-10 “But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.”

Yet many do not. Like Lot’s wife, they turn back - Gen 19:26 “But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Like the Galatians, they are easily bewitched - Ga 3:1 “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.”
What of us who follow Jesus today? Shall we follow Him in our youth? - 1 Ti 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Shall we follow Him in our old age? - Ti 2:1-5 “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”; Psa 92:12-15 “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” -- Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, all the days of our life?

What is it to follow Christ with all our heart? Caleb followed the Lord “fully”, “wholly”. That is, with his whole heart. The perfect role model for keeping “the greatest commandment” - Mt 22:36-38 ‘"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” Sadly, many try to serve the Lord with divided hearts. Like Solomon, who was influenced by his foreign wives - 1 Kin 11:4 “For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” Like those in James’ epistle, seeking to be friends with the world - Ja 4:4 “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” What of us who follow Jesus today? Shall we follow Him with all our heart? - Jn 14:15 ‘"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Shall we follow Him with undivided affection? - 1 Jn 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” -- Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, with all our hearts?

We will continue this lesson in part two, by looking at two additional questions of following Jesus as Caleb followed the Lord. We will also look at how the Lord used the character of Caleb as an example to Israel. Can he be an example to us?

Sunday, September 09, 2007

The Priestly Blessing - Part Two

The Priestly Blessing – Part Two

Having looked at what we called “The Priestly Blessing” as found in our text (Numbers 6:22-27) we continue this lesson by asking, how about today? Does God desire to bless us, and if so, how? “The LORD bless you and keep you;” Indeed the Lord does desire to bless us! Today, those blessings come through Jesus Christ - Ep 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” They come especially to those described in Mt 5:3-12 ‘"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” And the Lord desires to provide and care for us! As described by Jesus in Mt 6:25-32 ‘"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” But this care is conditional, the condition described in Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the priestly blessing will be upon you too!

“The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;” Just as all spiritual blessings come through Jesus, so God’s grace is now manifested through His Son - Jn 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Yes, God desires to show His smile of favor upon us, but it is imperative that we not receive it in vain! - 2 Co 6:1-3 “Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,”. -- How sad that God’s grace is so freely extended, yet so few accept His grace!

“The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Through Christ, peace with God is now possible - Ro 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And as we continue to pray, God bestows peace through His Son - Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -- The Father is willing to give us peace, but do we accept it?

We have been learning about “The Priestly Blessing”.... How God wanted to bless Israel under the Old Covenant through His priests in the Aaronic priesthood. We have noted that the same sort of blessings are available today, but the blessings of God are bestowed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Who today is our “High Priest” - He 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The point of this lesson is simple, yet profound.... If you desire “The Priestly Blessing” today, you must be in Christ. He must be your High Priest; for that is how God is blessing His people today! - Ep 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” Are you in Jesus Christ? How does one get “into” Christ, where they can receive the blessings He offers as our High Priest? Consider what is said in Ga 3:26-27 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Sunday, September 02, 2007

The Priestly Blessing - Part One

The Priestly Blessing – Part One

Numbers 6:22-27
“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. "So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."’

In a book filled with “numbers”, we find a beautiful gem of scripture, which has been called “the Lord’s Prayer of the Old Testament”:
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”
As noted in Num 6:22-27, it is the blessing of the Lord with which Aaron and his sons were to bless the children of Israel.... Aaron and his sons made up the priesthood for the nation of Israel. Therefore this passage has often been called “The Priestly Blessing” (also the Aaronic Benediction). In this passage, I believe we learn things about the Lord which are just as true today.... Even though we do not live under the Old Covenant, with its Aaronic priesthood we do have a “High Priest”, who desires to bless us just as richly (if not more so)!

To understand what I mean, let’s first look more closely at the priestly blessing defined. “The LORD bless you and keep you;” The word “bless” means to confer well-being or prosperity. The promise of such blessings was conditional - Deu 28:1-6 ‘"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” Failure to meet God’s conditions brought curses, not blessings - Deu 28:15-19 “"But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.” The word “keep” means to provide and care, to guard and protect. A beautiful psalm which speaks of God’s care is Psa 121:1-8 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Like a shepherd guarding and providing his sheep, the benediction calls upon God to keep watch over Israel.

“The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;” To “make His face shine” may be an idiom indicating God’s smile of favor on His people, evidenced by His being “gracious” (Wenham). Note how it is used elsewhere - Psa 31:16 “Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!”; 80:3 “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”; Dan 9:17 “Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.” To “be gracious” means to bestow favor, especially that which is unmerited. The parallelism of this benediction suggests this favor refers to the blessing and keeping by the Lord mentioned previously. Perhaps emphasizing that such blessings are unmerited, even though conditional.

“The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” To “lift up His countenance” may be similar to smile (Believers’ Study Bible). As such it suggests pleasure and affection (Allen), also, approval and recognition (Ryrie). The word “peace” is not just the absence of war, but a positive state of rightness and fullness of well-being (Allen). For the nation of Israel, God had promised peace if they were faithful - Lev 26:6 “I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.” There was also peace for the individual who trusted in God - Isa 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” That God would have Aaron and his sons bless the children of Israel with this benediction indicates that God really wanted to bless and provide for them.

How about today? Does God desire to bless us, and if so, how? We’ll look at some answers to these two questions in Part Two of our lesson next week.