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Numbers 25-36 on Sat 23 May 2009, 11:05 pm
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Warning:
Number of posts: 364
Age: 58
Location: United Kingdom
Profession: Church of Scotland Minister
Marital Status: Married
Registration date: 2007-10-22
Points: 3951
Reputation: 1
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Warning:
Chapters 25-27
God’s people are called on to maturity. This
is the significance of the phrase, “at least twenty years
old” (26:2, 4).
There are, however, many dangers. We can be easily sidetracked, putting other “gods” before the Lord our God (25:3).
This turning away from the Lord is a serious
matter. It leads to the withdrawal of God’s blessing. We can,
however, continue to enjoy God’s blessing if, like Caleb and
Joshua, we are men and women of faith (26:64-65).
Joshua was to lead the people beyond the point to which Moses had brought them.
Joshua was chosen by God. He had been empowered by God.
Reading the story of God’s people, from one
generation to another, we find that the names change but the Lord
remains the same.
Moses played his part. Joshua played his part. In
every part of the story, God is there, upholding His servants in each
generation.
Chapters 28-32
In the Old Testament, there are extremely
elaborate and detailed descriptions of the sacrifices the people were
to bring to God.
We no longer require to bring such sacrifices to God.
God has provided the perfect Sacrifice. The Son of
God has given Himself for us. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself. We must focus our exclusive attention on Him.
In the various areas of life – personal
faithfulness (chapter 30), our relationship with the world (chapter 31)
and our relationship with the Lord’s people (chapter 32) –
, there is one thing which is of the utmost importance: “we will
do as the Lord has said” (32:31), This is the most important
thing: obedience to God.
Chapters 33-36
Much of what we have, in chapters 33 and 34 is
geographical. There is, however, a spiritual dimension. God is leading
His people to their new land, the land He had promised to them.
In all the names of places, we must see the hand of God, directing His people according to His perfect plan.
In God’s “place”, the
“place” of His blessing, there must be nothing that hinders
true worship of the Lord (33:52).
The whole of life is to be arranged according to
God’s perfect plan. This principle underlies all the detailed
instructions given in chapters 35 and 36.
We see this first in 35:1 – “The Lord
spoke to Moses”. This is repeated in 35:9 – “The Lord
said to Moses”. It is emphasized again in 36:5-6 –
“So Moses gave the Israelites a command from the Lord …
This is what the Lord commands”. It is seen in the response of
Zelophehad’s daughters who “did as the Lord commanded
Moses” (36:10). It is found in the concluding verse of the whole
book: “these are the commands and rules the Lord gave the
Israelites” (36:13).
Life may be very different today. Still, the
spiritual principle remains the same. Our life is to be lived according
to the teaching of God’s Word.
God’s people are called on to maturity. This
is the significance of the phrase, “at least twenty years
old” (26:2, 4).
There are, however, many dangers. We can be easily sidetracked, putting other “gods” before the Lord our God (25:3).
This turning away from the Lord is a serious
matter. It leads to the withdrawal of God’s blessing. We can,
however, continue to enjoy God’s blessing if, like Caleb and
Joshua, we are men and women of faith (26:64-65).
Joshua was to lead the people beyond the point to which Moses had brought them.
Joshua was chosen by God. He had been empowered by God.
Reading the story of God’s people, from one
generation to another, we find that the names change but the Lord
remains the same.
Moses played his part. Joshua played his part. In
every part of the story, God is there, upholding His servants in each
generation.
Chapters 28-32
In the Old Testament, there are extremely
elaborate and detailed descriptions of the sacrifices the people were
to bring to God.
We no longer require to bring such sacrifices to God.
God has provided the perfect Sacrifice. The Son of
God has given Himself for us. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself. We must focus our exclusive attention on Him.
In the various areas of life – personal
faithfulness (chapter 30), our relationship with the world (chapter 31)
and our relationship with the Lord’s people (chapter 32) –
, there is one thing which is of the utmost importance: “we will
do as the Lord has said” (32:31), This is the most important
thing: obedience to God.
Chapters 33-36
Much of what we have, in chapters 33 and 34 is
geographical. There is, however, a spiritual dimension. God is leading
His people to their new land, the land He had promised to them.
In all the names of places, we must see the hand of God, directing His people according to His perfect plan.
In God’s “place”, the
“place” of His blessing, there must be nothing that hinders
true worship of the Lord (33:52).
The whole of life is to be arranged according to
God’s perfect plan. This principle underlies all the detailed
instructions given in chapters 35 and 36.
We see this first in 35:1 – “The Lord
spoke to Moses”. This is repeated in 35:9 – “The Lord
said to Moses”. It is emphasized again in 36:5-6 –
“So Moses gave the Israelites a command from the Lord …
This is what the Lord commands”. It is seen in the response of
Zelophehad’s daughters who “did as the Lord commanded
Moses” (36:10). It is found in the concluding verse of the whole
book: “these are the commands and rules the Lord gave the
Israelites” (36:13).
Life may be very different today. Still, the
spiritual principle remains the same. Our life is to be lived according
to the teaching of God’s Word.
_________________
