Numbers 14 tells of Israel's rebellion against their obligation to take possession of the Promised Land. The congregation believed the report of the 10 faithless rebels, who had said that the conquest of the Land was impossible. The entire assembly sided with these men and sought to remove the God given authority of Moses and Aaron. These rebels appointed a captain over them and said that it would have been better if they had all died in Egypt. Joshua and Caleb unsuccessfully tried to turn their minds back to the promise of God. The enraged mob were now determined to stone Joshua and Caleb. Our Sovereign now entered into the contest and told the faithful to separate themselves whilst our LORD would send His plague to destroy the rebels and start with a new nation out of Moses. From verses 13 to 19 we are told of Moses' intercession for the nation. Moses recalls what the name bearing angel had taught him about Yahweh's merciful and gracious character. Moses was fearful that the Great Name that had been magnified through Israel's deliverance from Egypt would now be disgraced. From verses 20 to 38 the Almighty pronounces two oaths. The first oath related to the saving of Caleb and Joshua and the giving to of the promised land to them. By contrast the second oath declared that none of the rebels would ever see the Land. The second oath incorporated Yahweh's declaration to "fill the earth with His glory" (14 verse 21). This covenant was sworn upon God's very existence. The theme is prominent in the Old Testament - Psalm 72 verses 18 to 19, Isaiah 6 verse 3 and 11 verse 9
Habakkuk 2:14. The Isaiah 11 quote tells us that the LORD's glory is more a moral glory associated with understanding and action than merely a physical splendour. Moses understood this when he asked in Exodus 33 verses 17 to 19 to have Yahweh's glory revealed to him. The response from the name bearing angel is stated in Exodus 34 verses 5to 8; see also Jeremiah 9 verses 23 to 24. The writer to the Hebrews tells us in chapters 3 and 4 that their failure to enter the Promised Land was due their hardness of heart and their failure to trust in the Living God. As a consequence the carcasses of the rebels were strewn through the wilderness over the next 38 years. The 10 faithless spies died in the plague that the LORD sent. Verses 39-45 tell us that the Israelites refused to accept the punishment God had declared and futilely attempted to take the land; despite Moses imploring the nation to abide by their Sovereign's decision. The rebels were sorely defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
Proverbs 10 commences the second section of the book. Chapter 10 verses 1 to 19. 19 is spoken in the third person.
Chapter 19 verses 20 to 22 is delivered in the second person. Chapters 10 to 12 of Proverbs address the theme of a wise son makes his father glad. This theme is stated in chapter 10 verse 1. Verses 2 to 32 tell us that this wisdom is seen in righteous actions. Verses 2 to3 declare that the way of righteousness is the best security. Verses 4 to 5 say that industry is the wise way and that idleness is foolish. Verses 6 to 7 state that righteousness brings blessings. Verse 8 contrast the teachable (meek) and the opinionated. Verse 9 tells us that only the wise walk confidently. Verse 10 reveals that the one who winks with his eye is a deceiver. Verse 11 reveals that the secret to eternal youth is to be found in responding to the words of the righteous. Verse 12 outlines that the righteous seek to cover another's faults rather than to stir up strife. Verse 13 speaks of the wisdom of listening as opposed to being stubborn. Verse 14 tells of the wisdom of storing knowledge and the folly of a babbling fool's mouth. Verse 15 explains the folly of trusting in wealth. In the 16th verse the counsel is to use wealth wisely. Verse 17 asks the wise to remain teachable - ie meek. Verses 18-21 explain how words may be beneficial or harmful. Verse 22 is the secret to happiness in life - "the blessing of Yahweh that makes rich, and there is no sorrow" with that blessing. All other riches are vain, deceitful and accompanied by sorrow; see 1 Timothy 6 verses 5 to10. Verse 23 says that wisdom seeks true pleasure; not the false pleasure of fools. Verses 24 to 25 describe the insecurity of the wicked. Verse 26 says that the slothful is useless and annoying. Verses 27-30 tell that there is great security in walking in the path of righteousness. Verses 31 tot 32 outline that the wisdom of the righteous will be rewarded with abundance and the acceptable fruits of righteousness - see James 3 verses 13 to 18.
Luke chapter 23 commences with Jesus before the Roman Governor Pilate, who wants nothing to do with the trumped up charges levelled against our Lord. Pilate pronounces Jesus innocent and hearing he was from Galilee felt he could evade any responsibility by sending him to Herod. Herod had been curious about Jesus for some time. Upon questioning him, without an answer from Jesus, Pilate reverts to allowing his soldiers to mock and brutalise our Lord. Having found no fault in our Lord Jesus, Herod returns him to Pilate - a partial reconciliation occurs between the two potentates. Pilate once again declares Jesus innocent, but allows him to be brutally scourged (scourging was sometimes called the intermediate death - and many a man died under the barbaric scourge). Even this failed to evoke any pity. For the third time Jesus was pronounced innocent. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to bay for Jesus blood. and badgered Pilate into a decision that he did not want to make. Our Lord was delivered to be crucified and Barbaras was released. Jesus was so weak that the Romans pressed Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross. This man and his two sons became disciples. The women on the road to Calvary wept as they beheld our Lord, but Jesus told them to weep not for him, but for the miseries that would fall on them. Jesus was crucified between two thieves, who could have been Barabbas' followers. The place of his crucifixion was that of a skull; again in all probability that of Goliath's skull. The soldiers gambled for his clothes, as had been prophesied. Jesus, himself implored his Father to forgive them as they knew not what they were doing. One of the two thieves crucified with our Lord railed upon Jesus The other thief turned in repentance to Jesus and asked for Jesus to remember him when Jesus would come in his kingdom. Very likely the second thief understood the Gospel of the Kingdom. He was given the assurance of a place in that Kingdom. Jesus' words were that the thief would be with the Lord in that day. Neither were in paradise that day for Jesus spent the next three days in the tomb. Our Lord suffered the taunting of sinners, by masterfully controlling himself and as such our Lord was the Victor. Jesus died calmly at about 3pm and seeing that demeanour a hardened centurion exclaimed that surely this man was the Son of God. For six hours the Almighty veiled the scene with darkness, as a sign of His indignation at their doings. When Jesus died there was a great earthquake and the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom - showing God's displeasure. The law was now finished and Christ had opened of a new and living way. Two counsellors - Joseph and Nicodemas - from the Sanhedrin secured the body of Jesus from Pilate and took it to Joseph's unused garden tomb. The women, who followed our Lord and had just witnessed his crucifixion, now followed Joseph and Nicodemas to see where Jesus' body was laid and where they would later need to come with the spices they would purchase for his burial. The women then rested on the Sabbath day.
Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org
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