From BST Numbers by Raymond Brown, Chapter: Community Servants - Pg 40
God is powerful. Here he was at Sinai, communicating with them a year after they 'came out of Egypt' (1:1). It is the language of redemption. They were a unique people for whom God has acted as guide, deliverer, warrior and provider. They need not fear the future. An almighty God would generously meet their needs and always be their victor if, on their part, they listened attentively and responsively to his voice.
God as a guide: Exodus 13:20-22 :And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
God is deliverer: Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
God is warrior :
Exodus 14:26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen."
Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.
Exodus 17:8-16 Israel Defeats Amalek
8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." 10So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
14Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." 15And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, 16saying, "A hand upon the throne[a] of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
God is provider :Exodus 15:22-17:7 - Bitter Water Made Sweet, Bread from Heaven, Water from the Rock
Showing posts with label Numbers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Numbers. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2009
A coordinated ministry (Numbers 3:17 - 4:49)
From BST Numbers by Raymond Brown pg.39
" The three clans were counted, and the best years of all the men from 30 to 50 years of age were given for service in the work at the Tent of Meeting (4:43). The Lord ensured that every man was assigned his work and told what to carry(4:49). There was no place for ambitious scheming, a competitive spirit or quarrelsome rivalry about their duties. All were to work in harmonious relationships with one another and in dutiful submission to their colleagues, the priests. It anticipated the interdependent and mutually supportive relationships that were meant to characterize the early Christian churches. Sadly, this noble and enriching ideal was not always evident in the subsequent history of either Israel or the church. "
Some passages from NT to prove these points: -
1 Cor 12:4 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,[e] yet one body. 1 Cor 12: 21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
Eph 4: 11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[b] and teachers,[c] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[d] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 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.
1 Peter 4: 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Ryan: Well, you don't have to read John C Maxwell's book to learn about 360 degrees leadership... it is already in the bible! we are to submit to one another - to leaders, to peers, to those under us. It is indeed a sad scene over at the evangelical camp these days. Too many egos, too many people thinking they are the saviour of their ministries. It is a problem with this generation as well: "who are you to lead me?" We are a generation who well- don't like to be told what to do! We think we know better than others and even those above us. It is a terrible thing to do. Too many church schisms and splits to prove that devil is well at work among us....
" The three clans were counted, and the best years of all the men from 30 to 50 years of age were given for service in the work at the Tent of Meeting (4:43). The Lord ensured that every man was assigned his work and told what to carry(4:49). There was no place for ambitious scheming, a competitive spirit or quarrelsome rivalry about their duties. All were to work in harmonious relationships with one another and in dutiful submission to their colleagues, the priests. It anticipated the interdependent and mutually supportive relationships that were meant to characterize the early Christian churches. Sadly, this noble and enriching ideal was not always evident in the subsequent history of either Israel or the church. "
Some passages from NT to prove these points: -
1 Cor 12:4 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,[e] yet one body. 1 Cor 12: 21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
Eph 4: 11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[b] and teachers,[c] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[d] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 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.
1 Peter 4: 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Ryan: Well, you don't have to read John C Maxwell's book to learn about 360 degrees leadership... it is already in the bible! we are to submit to one another - to leaders, to peers, to those under us. It is indeed a sad scene over at the evangelical camp these days. Too many egos, too many people thinking they are the saviour of their ministries. It is a problem with this generation as well: "who are you to lead me?" We are a generation who well- don't like to be told what to do! We think we know better than others and even those above us. It is a terrible thing to do. Too many church schisms and splits to prove that devil is well at work among us....
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Numbers 12 :3
NIV (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
ESV Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Numbers 12 :3
From NBC
The author comments about Moses’ humility (3). True humility consists in a commitment to obeying God’s will to the point of self–denial. Such self–sacrifice can leave a man vulnerable and forced to cast himself on God to protect and sustain him. Further, as he strives to serve God, he discovers his own weaknesses and failings, and in that way reaches a proper view of himself. Humility is not a negative quality (devaluing of self) but a positive commitment to service, supremely exemplified in Christ (Phil. 2:3-8). Moses showed humility in continuing to lead Israel through the desert for forty years, even though it was a burden. He did not defend himself but turned to God, who defends and helps the humble (Pss. 147:6; 149:4; Mt. 5:5; 1 Pet. 5:6). On this occasion, the Lord left Miriam and Aaron in no doubt as he upheld his servant Moses. Thus, Numbers records three ‘complainings’ before Israel was half way to Canaan.
ESV Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Numbers 12 :3
From NBC
The author comments about Moses’ humility (3). True humility consists in a commitment to obeying God’s will to the point of self–denial. Such self–sacrifice can leave a man vulnerable and forced to cast himself on God to protect and sustain him. Further, as he strives to serve God, he discovers his own weaknesses and failings, and in that way reaches a proper view of himself. Humility is not a negative quality (devaluing of self) but a positive commitment to service, supremely exemplified in Christ (Phil. 2:3-8). Moses showed humility in continuing to lead Israel through the desert for forty years, even though it was a burden. He did not defend himself but turned to God, who defends and helps the humble (Pss. 147:6; 149:4; Mt. 5:5; 1 Pet. 5:6). On this occasion, the Lord left Miriam and Aaron in no doubt as he upheld his servant Moses. Thus, Numbers records three ‘complainings’ before Israel was half way to Canaan.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
BST Numbers
My church is going to study Numbers this year , so there is no better way for me to get geared up than reading this BST commentary. I have a lot of encounters with Numbers, right now being my 'wandering' years... i have a lot to glean from this book personally. Another highlight for me is the difficulty i had when studying on why God would reject those who do not obey his command to conquer the land in chapter 13. This is human responsibility at its peril! And this only points me to obedience leading to the transformation that i long desired. Well, does the text mean that salvation can be lost? Did those folks who died in the 40 years actually made it to heaven? that is the question that i would like to ask.
Back to the book. I have not read it, hence cannot comment... i will make the comments once i read it. yea.
The introduction to this commentary is made available at www.ivpress.com
Part 1: Getting Ready (1:1-10:10)
1. God's People Prepare (1:1-2:34)
2. Community Servants (3:1-4:49)
3. Keeping the Camp Clean (5:1-31)
4. Short-Term Voluntary Service (6:1-21)
5. Inherited Riches (6:22-27)
6. Giving and Receiving the Best (7:1-89)
7. Israel's Role Models (8:1-26)
8. Three-Dimensional Grace (9:1-10:10)
Part 2: Setting Out (10:11-12:16)
9. Sharing Good Things (10:11-36)
10. Leadership Issues (11:1-35)
11. Disloyal Colleagues (12:1-16)
Part 3: Drawing Back (13:1-14:45)
12. Giants or Grapes? (13:1-33)
13. Israel's Sleepless Night (14:1-45)
Part 4: Marking Time (15:1-25:18)
14. When God Speaks Again (15:1-41)
15. More Leadership Tensions (16:1-50)
16. Kept as a Sign (17:1-18:32)
17. The Perils of Pollution (19:1-22)
18. Coping with Crisis (20:1-21:3)
19. Life for a Look (21:4-9)
20. The March to Moab (21:10-35)
21. Seeing with the Seer (2:1-24:25)
22. A Tragic Sequel (25:1-18)
Part 5: Pressing On (26:1-36:13)
23. Facing a Different Future (26:1-65)
24. Human Rights and Divine Commands (27:1-11)
25. Leadership Lifestyles (27:12-23)
26. Variations on a Majestic Theme (28:1-29:40)
27. Keeping Promises and Identifying Dangers (30:1-31:54)
28. Alternative Destinies (32:1-42)
29. Recollections and Resolutions (33:1-56)
30. Generous Provision (34:1-36:13)
The introduction to this commentary is made available at www.ivpress.com
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