Numbers 11
LORD reacts to complaining with fireverses 1-3
And when the people complained – it displeased the LORD
and the LORD heard it – and HIS anger was kindled
and the fire of the LORD burnt among them
and consumed them that were in the
uttermost parts of the camp
And the people cried to Moses
and when Moses PRAYED to the LORD
the fire was quenched
And he called the name of the place Taberah
because the fire of the LORD burnt among them
Children of Israel complainverses 4-6
And the mixed multitude that was among them fell lusting
and the children of Israel also wept again – and said
Who shall give us flesh to eat?
We remember the fish – which we did eat in Egypt freely
the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions
and the garlic – BUT now our soul is dried away
there is nothing at all – besides this manna
before our eyes
Manna given each day for children of Israelverses 7-9
And the manna was as coriander seed
and the color thereof as the color of bdellium
And the people went about – and gathered it – and ground it in mills
or beat it in a mortar – and baked it in pans
and made cakes of it
and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil
And when the dew fell on the camp in the night
the manna fell on it
Moses communicates with the LORDverses 10-15
Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families
every man in the door of his tent
and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly
Moses also was displeased
Moses said to the LORD
Wherefore have YOU afflicted YOUR servant?
Wherefore have I not found favor in YOUR sight
that YOU lay the burden of all this people upon me?
Have I conceived all this people?
have I begotten them that YOU should say to me
Carry them in your bosom
as a nursing father bears the sucking child
to the land which YOU swore
to their fathers?
Whence should I have flesh to give to all this people?
for they weep unto me saying
Give us flesh – that we may eat
I am not able to bear all this people alone
BECAUSE it is too heavy for me
IF YOU deal thus with me – kill me
I pray YOU – out of hand
IF I have found favor in YOUR sight
and let me not see my wretchedness
Moses to gather seventy eldersverses 16-20
And the LORD
said to Moses
Gather to ME seventy men of the elders of Israel
whom you know to be the elders of the people
and officers over them
Bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation
that they may stand there with you
And I will come down and talk with you there
and I will take of the spirit which is on you
and will put it on them
And they shall bear the burden of the people with you
that you bear it not yourself alone
And say to the people
Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow – and you shall eat flesh
for you have wept in the ears of the LORD
saying
Who shall give us flesh to eat?
for it was well with us in Egypt
Therefore the LORD will give you flesh – and you shall eat
You shall not eat one day – nor two days – nor five days
neither ten days – nor twenty days
BUT even a whole month – until it come out at your nostrils
and it be loathsome to you – BECAUSE that you have
despised the LORD which is among you
and have wept before HIM
saying
Why came we forth out of Egypt?
Moses questions Godverses 21-22
And Moses said
The people – among whom I am – are six hundred thousand footmen
and YOU have said – I will give them flesh
that they may eat a whole month
Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them – to suffice them?
or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them
to suffice them?
LORD replies to Mosesverse 23
And the LORD said to Moses
Is the LORD’S hand waxed short?
you shall see now whether
MY word shall come to pass to you or not
LORD gives Holy Spirit to seventy eldersverses 24-25
And Moses went out – and told the people the words of the LORD
and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people
and set them round about the tabernacle
And the LORD came down in the CLOUD – and spoke to him
and took of the spirit that was on him
and gave it unto the seventy elders
and it came to pass
that when the spirit rested on them
they prophesied – and did not cease
Two of the elders prophesied in campverses 26-27
BUT there remained two of the men in the camp
the name of the one was Eldad
and the name of the other Medad
and the spirit rested on them
And they were of them that were written
BUT went not out unto the tabernacle
and they prophesied in the camp
And there ran a young man – and told Moses – and said
Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp
Joshua wanted the two elders to stop prophesyingverse 28
And Joshua the son of Nun – the servant of Moses
one of his young men – answered and said
My lord Moses – forbid them
Moses replies to Joshuaverses 29
And Moses said to him – Envy you for my sake?
would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets
and that the LORD would put
HIS Spirit on them
Moses returns to camp with eldersverse 30
And Moses gat him into the camp – he and the elders of Israel
Judgment over quails: 36 inches of quailsverses 31-35
And there went forth a wind from the LORD
and brought quails from the sea
and let them fall by the camp
as it were a day’s journey on this side
and as it were a day’s journey on the other side
round about the camp
and as it were two cubits high
on the face of the earth
And the people stood up all the day – and all that night
and all the next day – and gathered the quails
he that gathered least gathered ten homers
and they spread them all abroad for themselves
round about the camp
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth
ere it was chewed the wrath of the LORD
was kindled against the people
and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague
And HE called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah
BECAUSE there they buried the people that lusted
And the people journeyed from Kibroth-hatttaavah to Hazeroth
and abode at Hazeroth
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And the people cried to Moses; and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched. (6817 “cried” [tsa’aq] means cry out, to shout, screamed, call for help, outcry, often done in desperation or difficulty, or to shriek)
DEVOTION: Complaining is an art form. It is something that all of us do at one time or another. We are not happy with something in our life and so we complain. We wish we had a better government in our country. We wish we had a better job. We wish our car was something better than we have. There is any number of things that we can complain about in our day and in the days of the children of Israel.
The LORD had rescued the children of Israel from slavery. HE had provided them food for their journey. HE had keep in touch with them through Moses. HE was doing HIS part to make the journey one that would get them to the Promised Land.
But all of that didn’t matter to some. They wanted more. God had to judge them for their attitude and actions. HE sent fire. It was a consuming fire. Another place in the Word of God we find this fact restated. God is going to use fire in judgment at the end of time because HE promised HE wouldn’t use another worldwide flood again. The rainbow was a symbol of that promise.
Now the people wanted their spiritual leader, Moses, to pray to the LORD for an end of the judgment of fire. He prayed and the LORD stopped the fire. What can this teach us?
God answers prayers of those who are in proper relationship with HIM. We can pray even for an end of judgment and HE will listen. We can pray for an end of our present situation and HE can end it if it is according to HIS will.
The book of James states that if we make an earnest pray to the LORD as righteous individuals the LORD will hear us. This means that we have kept short accounts with God regarding our sin. Daily confession is necessary for fellowship with the LORD.
Sad to say that there are some people who think that are believers who think that they stopped sinning when they said a prayer and therefore don’t have to say anything more to God. They are wrong and will never see answers to their prayers without a genuine personal relationship with HIM that talks with HIM daily on a regular basis.
CHALLENGE: Our walk with the LORD has to be a daily walk. Sometimes even an hour by hour walk with HIM when there is great temptations or needs.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. (3513 “heavy” [kabad] means difficult, oppressing, weighty, unresponsive, marked by great psychological weight, or burdensome)
DEVOTION: Moses admitted he was in over his head with the children of Israel. God had sent him to lead them but they were not willing to follow him and he was tired of it. Remember they are only in their second year of their travels through the wilderness and Moses was already tired of their complaining.
He went to the LORD with his thoughts and shared them with HIM in a conversation. He stated that it was too heavy for him. He was honest with the LORD in his prayer.
The answered this prayer with instructions for Moses to pick seventy men who were able to lead Israel and HE would give them a measure of the Holy Spirit to them.
So Moses received seventy men who would help him carry the load of the complainers of the children of Israel. God completed HIS answer by giving these men a measure of the Holy Spirit that would help them help Moses lead them in a proper direction in relationship to the LORD.
Today we have many people even in the church who are complainers instead of individuals who are satisfied with what the LORD is doing with their life at present. Many just think the LORD should give them a better life.
The fact is that HE has promised one in the life to come. This world is not our home we are just passing through this life. We need to do the best we can with the help the LORD provides for us. HE has given us individuals in our life that can help us along our travels if we are willing to allow them to help.
Most of us have heard it stated that people would be content if they had “a little bit more.” That is a lie. They would not even be content with a little bit more they want a LOT more. And yet we have so much here in this country that we run out of room to store it all.
CHALLENGE: Don’t be discontent with what the LORD provides. Accept what you have as a gift from the LORD for us right now. Smile!!!
: 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. (4853 מַשָּׂא, מַשָּׂא [massaʾ /mas·saw/] n m (BDB). From 5375; TWOT 1421d, 1421e; GK 5362 and 5363; 66 occurrences; AV translates as “burden” 57 times, “song” three times, “prophecy” twice, “set” once, “exaction” once, “carry away” once, and tribute” once.
DEVOTION: Leading a ministry or an organization at times is overwhelming, even when we know that the Lord has called us and equipped us for the task. This leadership can be a burden of responsibility with a demand of accountability. Moses was responsible for six hundred thousand men on foot (v.21) as well as their families and all their belongings. It was a superhuman burden that the Lord had given him but He also had given His Spirit to work through this task. In frustration, Moses cried out to the Lord for assistance and the Lord answered by directing Moses to call seventy men to assist him in this burden and He would place the same Spirit upon them as was currently on Moses. This team of men helped Moses to accomplish the many tasks the people of Israel presented for them each day. Today we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and He resides permanently within us. He promised to give us this Comforter in John 14 and 16 before Christ ascended to the Father. It was fulfilled in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit filled the believers. This Spirit enables us to fulfill roles of leadership in the church and other places as we rely on His strength and wisdom. The Spirit of God has given gifts and gifted individuals to fulfill the enormous task of ministry.
Whatever burdens you are facing, remember it is not so large that you cannot endure them. Like Moses, we may cry out for relief but the Lord provides either the people or he resources to accomplish the next step of each obligation.
CHALLENGE: The Lord is attentive to our cries and has a solution ready before we pray! Paul found that to be true when he wrote to the Philippians, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). (Dr. Brian Miller)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? you shall see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. (7114 “short” [qatsar] means to dock off, curtail, cut down, much discouraged, grieve, trouble, reap, harvest, impatient or vex)
DEVOTION: There are many pastors receiving these Daily Meat devotionals. Some of them are in churches with only one senior pastor. The responsibility of the senior pastor is to lead the people in a direction that the LORD wants them to go. Some of the people in their churches don’t like to be led by their pastor. Do you think that any of these pastors ever felt like Moses in this chapter? They try to lead unwilling people in a direction they don’t want to go and all the people do is complain about their leadership.
Moses is dealing with a group of people who want meat instead of just the manna the LORD was providing for their daily diets. They had outside influences encouraging them to complain. It is so easy to complain. It is so easy to not be satisfied with what the LORD is presently doing in their lives.
Moses wants to give up. He wants the LORD to kill him. HE wants the LORD to realize he has had enough of their complaining. It is too much for him to handle any more. He informs the LORD that he ALONE is taking care of this large group of people who are forever ungrateful of his leadership.
The LORD tells Moses to pick seventy elders to help him. Moses picks the men and they receive the Holy Spirit as Moses had from the LORD. Two of the elders prophesied in the camp instead of at the Tabernacle where the rest of the elders were gathered. Some found this unacceptable but Moses said he wished that all of the children of Israel could prophesy.
Now back to the request at the beginning of the chapter for meat to eat. God tells Moses to tell the people that HE will provide meat for all of the children of Israel.
Moses has seen the LORD do many miracles at his own hand. He has seen miracles in the wilderness. There has been bread to eat every day for the first year of the journey in the wilderness. Now the people are complaining that there is no meat. They were remembering all the good things that they had in Egypt. They only remembered the good things of the past, not the bad things of slavery.
Now the LORD promised to provide meat and Moses asks HIM how? Here is a LEADER questioning God’s ability to provide for HIS people. Image a leader that doesn’t believe in the power of the LORD. Image a leader questioning God. Image God’s reaction to this leader.
The LORD asks a question of Moses that has an answer that we all know. Can we curtail God? Can we discourage God? Can we stop God from doing what HE says HE will do? The answer is NO!!!
God is in control. HE knows the beginning from the end of our lives. HE knows what we need to cause us to grow. HE knows what each church needs, in order, for it to grow.
I just talked with an individual who has been going through months of treatment for cancer and she realizes that God is working. She was willing to listen to what the Word of God stated regarding salvation. She asked Christ to come into her life. I just attended her funeral. She had stated to the family that “I have the key.” She knew that Jesus was the only KEY to get into heaven. God’s word is coming true in each of our lives TODAY. Don’t limit God!!!!! HE can do the impossible!!! HE is willing that none should perish but all come to repentance. The option is available to all but only a small percentage will become followers of Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: Stop thinking that God is limited to what we think HE can do!!! HE still does the IMPOSSIBLE!!!!
: 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. (4347 “plague” [makkah] means wound, slaughter, smote, any epidemic disease with a high death rate, scourging, misery, affliction, calamity, or pestilence)
DEVOTION: Contentment was a lesson the children of Israel needed to learn. They needed to be happy with the things that the LORD provided for them. HE was able to provide more than they could ask or think but HE also was making sure that they remembered that HE was in control of the situation.
There was a group in the camp that were not satisfied with just manna each day. They were thinking of all the choice foods of Egypt. They were not thinking of the slavery. They were not thinking of their request to the LORD that HE take away their captivity. They were not thinking of how HE protected them from the Egyptian army. They had sung songs of praise but now they were complaining.
God doesn’t like us complaining. HE respects our request for answers to our present situation but HE doesn’t want us demanding what we think we should have from HIM.
Now they had received what they demanded from the LORD. However, they didn’t seem to take the time to prepare the food properly and there was an outbreak of food poisoning that killed many people. That is just one theory regarding what was causing them to die. The LORD is in control of life and death for each of us.
Today we have many false teaching, going around the world telling people that God will provide all they want if they will just “claim it.” This is a false teaching and something that this passage addresses.
We are to learn contentment regarding what the LORD provides. We can ask for more in a humble spirit and wait to see if HE grants it to us. If not, we should be content with what HE gives when HE gives it.
Someone has said that God can give three answers to our requests. HE can say “yes” or “no” or “wait a while.” We are to be content with any of the three answers.
CHALLENGE: God doesn’t mind us questioning as long as we are willing to wait for HIS answer.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Moses asked question of LORDverses 11-15
Moses questions LORD’S answerverses 21-23
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Moses prayed for fire to leaveverse 2
Moses prayer regarding leadershipverse 11-15
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a grou
Tabernacleverses 24, 26
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Words of the LORDverse 24
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1-3, 10, 16, 18, 20, 23-25, 29, 31, 33
Anger of the LORDverses 1, 10
Fire of the LORDverses 1, 3
Ears of the LORDverse 18
LORD’S handverse 23
MY Wordverse 23
Words of the LORDverse 24
Came down in a cloudverse 25
God (Elohim)verse 29
LORD’S peopleverse 29
Wind from the LORDverses 31, 32
Quails
Wrath of the LORDverse 33
Great plague
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverses 17, 25, 26, 29
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Egyptverses 5, 18, 20
Fish of Egypt
Kibroth-hattaavahverses 34, 35
Buried the people that lusted
Hazerothverse 35
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Complainedverses 1, 6, 13
Displeasedverses 1, 10
Lustedverses 4, 34
Wrong memoriesverse 5
Complained regarding mannaverses 6-9
Wretchednessverse 15
Despisedverse 20
Envyverse 29
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Favor of the LORDverse 11
Sanctifyverse 18
Question Godverses 21-23
Prophesiedverses 25-27
Prophetsverse 29
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Complain about mannaverse 1
Fire of the LORD: Taberahverses 1-3
Mosesverses 2, 10-16, 21, 22, 24, 27-30,
Afflicted by LORD
Response to LORD
Taberahverse 3
Children of Israelverse 4
70 Eldersverses 16, 17, 24, 25, 30
Take some of Moses’ spirit
bear the burden
spirit rested on them
prophesied
Tabernacle of the congregationverse 16
Eat fleshverse 18
Prophesy at the Tabernacleverses 24, 25
Prophesy in the camp: Eldad & Medadverses 26, 27
Joshua – son of Nunverse 28
Servant of Moses
Quailsverses 31, 32
Plagueverse 33
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
24–25 This chapter interplays several themes: the arrogant lust of the people, the impassioned distress of Moses, the plan of God to bring an answer of judgment to the people, and the purpose of the Lord to bring an answer of grace to his servant. These two verses relate to the subject of the seventy elders, introduced in vv.16–17. The coming near of the Lord in the cloud (v.25) brings us back to 9:15–23, the description of the hovering cloud and fire. But this text advances on it in some way, speaking of the cloud coming down or, better, of the Lord coming down by means of the cloud. Sovereignly, mysteriously, graciously, the Lord apportioned the same Spirit that was on Moses on the seventy elders. Again, the idea is not that the Spirit is divided into smaller units but that it is the very same Spirit of God who empowers Moses that now animates these men. The Christian cannot but think of Pentecost in Acts 2. In a sense what occurred here in the desert is a presentment ahead of time of the bestowal of the Spirit on the believers in the Upper Room following the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The taking of “some” of the Spirit from Moses suggests the release of some of the burden that he bore. They will share in that work with him. The text states that these elders prophesied, but they did not continue to do so. It seems that the temporary gift of prophecy to these elders was primarily to establish their credentials as Spirit-empowered leaders rather than to make of them ongoing agents of the prophecy of the Spirit. Their principal task will not be revelatory; God still speaks through Moses. The task of the elders will be to help in the administration of the immense population, in its varied needs, especially in the context of the increasing impiety of the people. (Allen, R. B. (1990). Numbers. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, p. 794). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
11:24–29. Before this came to pass, however, Moses selected 70 … elders and gathered them about the tabernacle (cf. v. 16). Then the Lord appeared in the cloud … took of the Spirit that was on Moses, and placed that Spirit on the 70. As a result they began to prophesy, but only this one time (lit., “and they did not add“). All that was necessary was for their ministry to be publicly authenticated so the whole community could see that they possessed the same spiritual qualifications and authority as Moses himself. Prophesying here does not refer to prediction or even to proclamation but to giving (in song or speech) praise and similar expressions without prior training (see the comparable experience of Saul in 1 Sam. 10:9–11). This prophesying could be done only in response to the special visitation of the Spirit.
To show that the bestowal of the Spirit was an act of God unrelated to Moses’ presence, the Lord placed the Spirit on two men … Eldad and Medad, who had not joined the others at the tabernacle (Num. 11:26). They began to prophesy which so surprised the assembly in the camp that the people sent a messenger to Moses to inform him of it. Joshua, when he heard, became greatly disturbed and asked Moses to forbid this “unofficial” prophesying. Moses correctly interpreted Joshua’s concern as one for Moses’ unique character as mediator of God’s blessing, but chided Joshua with the fervent wish that all God’s people might share such a measure of God’s Spirit with him. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). Numbers. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 227). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
11:25 prophesied. Here the prophesying refers to the giving of praise and similar expressions of worship to the Lord without prior training. The text is clear that this was a one-time event as far as these men were concerned. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nu 11:25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
11:25 The Spirit rested upon them (Acts 2) is a divine empowerment of the seventy elders who would aid Moses in the administration of the camp. The prophesying they did on that occasion was a mark of the divine presence, much like the extraordinary speaking in other languages by the Spirit-empowered disciples of the risen Christ (Acts 2:6–12). We may describe this OT event as a “sign gift,” marking the men as specially empowered by God’s Spirit. We note as well in this verse the association of Yahweh with the cloud of His presence (10:11). (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 208). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 25. And the Lord came down in a cloud, &c.] In a cloud of glory, or a glorious one, as the Targums; either in the same that went before the people in the wilderness, or in one distinct from it, and only used on this occasion, as a visible token of the presence of God: and spake unto him; to Moses, talked with him, as he said he would, ver. 17 and took of the spirit which was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders; see the note on ver. 17 and it came to pass that when the spirit rested upon them they prophesied; either they sung the praises of God, which is sometimes the sense of prophesying, 1 Chron. 25:1, 2, 3 blessing God for the honour done them, and the gift bestowed on them; or they opened and explained the laws of God, in virtue of the gifts they had received, according to which they were to assist Moses in the government of the people, or they foretold things to come: the Jews say they prophesied of the quails, but that is not very likely: and did not cease; from prophesying; the spirit of prophecy continued with them, which, in some cases, might be necessary: or, they ceased not to prophesy all that day, though they afterwards did: and in the Hebrew text it is, they added not, that is, to prophesy, and Jarchi says they only prophesied that day, as it is interpreted in an ancient book of theirs, called Siphre: wherefore this spirit of prophecy is thought only to be given them as a temporary thing, for the confirmation of their having received the spirit of government, or gifts qualifying them for that, and to make them respectable among the people, and to show that they were appointed to it by divine authority, and that this was not a device of Moses to ease himself. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 756). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
makkâ may also be rendered “plague” or “affliction.” In ot times, plagues seem to have been a kind of epidemic disease often sent as punishment for sin. Once the Hebrew people left Egypt, God demanded obedience of them. Should they disobey, God solemnly warned, “I will bring more plagues upon you, sevenfold as many as your sins” (Lev 26:21). A “very great plague” (makkâ) occurred in the wilderness as the people were gluttonously eating the quails (Num 11:33). This plague may have been a severe stomach disorder. On the plains of Moab, just prior to the Conquest, God’s people are again threatened with afflictions, “severe and lasting,” if they fail to observe the law and revere God’s name (Deut 28:59, 61). Several generations after the Exodus, the Philistines were yet impressed with the reputation of the God of the Hebrews who “smote the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness” (I Sam 4:8). (Wilson, M. R. (1999). 1364 נָכָה. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The Post-Church Christian by J. Paul Nyquist and Carson Nyquist J. Paul = President of Moody Bible Institute
Many view the church in a negative light. It’s seen as narrow, judgmental, stodgy, and out of touch with the real world. (p. 89)
You can race through time, trying to find an era in the history of the church that is free from the stain of sin. It can’t be found. The church has always been an imperfect product with cracks and crevices. (p. 90)
If you’re honest, you know your life is a string of victories and failures. You want others to accept that reality and not reject you for your stumbles. (p. 91)
You laugh. You say, “I tried once to change the church and got shot down. It’s not worth trying again.”
I hear you. And I’m not surprised you met with resistance. Effecting change is notoriously difficult in any human organization. Especially in the church. (p 92)
But form, style, ministry methods, and even terminology are all negotiable. (p. 95)
Galatians 6
Christians are to look out for one another and bear one another’s burdens.
INSIGHT
John Donne once wrote: “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main. . . . If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less.” What Donne wrote generally and poetically, Paul wrote specifically hundreds of years earlier: “Restore” one another and “bear one another’s burdens” (vv. 1-2); “do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (v. 10). We are part of one another, and we are to live for one another in harmony and mutual concern. We are all part of the same “continent”-the “continent” of Christ. (Quiet Walk)
DESTINED FOR GLORY
We shall be like him. 1 John 3:2
“We shall see him as he is.” “Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Do you know that you are destined for that? We shall see Him as He is—what a blessed, glorious vision to see the Son of God in all His glory, as He is, face to face—standing and looking at Him and enjoying Him for all eternity. It is only then that we will begin to understand what He did for us, the price He paid, the cost of our salvation. You and I are destined for that glorious vision; we shall see Him as He is, face to face.
But consider something still more amazing and incredible. We shall be like Him. “We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” This is John’s way of addressing the whole doctrine of the resurrection of our bodies, the ultimate final resurrection, the ultimate glorification of God’s people. What John is telling us, in other words, is that when that great day comes, we shall not only see Him—we shall be made like Him. Paul says that God’s purpose is that we shall be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). That is the argument, and that is the doctrine.
In other words, while we are here on earth, the Holy Spirit is working in us, doing His work of holiness in us and ridding us of sin, so that eventually we shall be faultless, blameless, without spot, and without rebuke. We shall have been delivered from every sin and vestige and appearance of sin within us; and in addition to that, our very bodies shall be changed and shall be glorified.
A Thought to Ponder: We shall see Him as He is—standing and looking at Him and enjoying Him for all eternity.
(From Children of God, p. 33, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Watchful Sobriety
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Several words are used in Scripture to imply spiritual watchfulness, and each has a slightly different meaning. Only as we compare and combine these words do we get the full force of the Scripture exhortations to watchfulness.
One such word is the Greek word agrupneo, translated “watch.” In Mark 13:33 we read, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” The word literally means to be sleepless and comes from two Greek words meaning “to chase” and “sleep.” It implies a purposeful and active state of awareness.
More commonly used is gregoreo. It is a stronger word, meaning to arouse oneself and shake off lethargy, implying activity as on the part of one who is fully awake. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13), and “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). “Watch ye, therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh” (Mark 13:35).
A third word is nepho, which literally means to abstain from drink that would produce stupor, as well as sleep, and therefore conveys the additional idea of sobriety. By combining the teaching of these three words, we are instructed not only to keep awake but to keep active and to avoid the intoxication of this world’s seductive pleasures.
In our text, we see that we are not only to be sober (nepho) and vigilant (gregoreo), but we also see the reason why. Our “adversary the devil” is a vicious opponent. He stalks us both day and night with brutal cunning. We dare not underestimate him by figuratively closing our eyes in sleep or dulling our senses with intoxicants. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober” (1 Peter 1:13).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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