Christ in all the scriptures Around the throne of God

 Christ in all the scriptures

Positioning of the tribes around the Tabernacle  Numbers 2

  Benjamin

  Manasseh

 Ephraim

Reuben  Simeon  Gad   Tabernacle  Dan  Asher  Naphtali

 Judah

Issachar

Zebulon

This is the cameo of the 12 tribes around the Tabernacle.  Note the evident shape of the cross, when looking from above!!  The symbolism is clear, God dwelling amongst His people in view of the cross.  The cross of Christ was no afterthought, it was the basis of everything, it was planned in eternity, and here it is symbolised in the Tabernacle-"Who verily was foreordained before the world began..."-1st Peter 1v20.   All the congregation of Israel, settled in order with God at the very centre of their lives, by the cross on which Jesus would die some 1500 years later.  The view of this from above was spectacular, as stated by the false prophet Balaam in Numbers 24v2-9 "And Balaam lifted up his eyes and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him...How goodly are thy tents O Jacob, and thy tabernacles O Israel..." (read the whole section).   The man who was sent to curse them by the king of Moab could only bless them.  Indeed he pronounced by the Spirit of God a blessing on all who blessed them, and a curse on all who curse them.  Never before had there been seen such a magnificent spectacle as this, and so the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12v2-3) was ratified, which it will be forever.  All who curse Israel do so at their peril!

The twelve tribes were settled in four groups of three as illustrated: Judah, Issachar, Zebulon-on the East; Reuben, Simeon, Gad,- on the south; Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin,-on the west; Dan, Asher, Naphtali,-on the north; all in relation to the Tabernacle.  The natural order was changed as Reuben lost the rights of firstborn through transgression, and Judah became first among the tribes as predicted by Jacob in Genesis 49v10.  The order in procession as they journeyed was, by Divine decree, Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, Dan (refer Numbers 10v14-28. 

The New Testament clearly reveals that the Tabernacle was a "pattern (similitude, or copy) of things in the heavens"-Hebrews 9v23.  This brings a direct link to Revelation chapter 4v7, where the throne of God is encircled by four living creatures with the figurative identity of the lion, the man, the ox and the eagle.  In terms of creation these four symbolise:

The lion, the highest form of wild animals; the calf (or ox) the highest form of domestic animals; the face of man the highest form of God's creation; the flying eagle the highest form of birds.

In terms of new creation, they represent Christ as depicted in the four gospels-Matthew the lion King; Mark the servant ox; Luke the perfect man; John the visionary eagle.  Matthew, His authority as king; Mark, His availability as servant ; Luke, His empathy as man; John, His credibility as God.

Wonderful how God's word all gels together to present the person of Christ, which is the primary subject of the bible.  In Him, heaven and earth are brought together, God and man are reconciled, and we are on a journey to the land of rest forever!  From beginning to end and all the way through it is Christ in all the scriptures.

The tribe of Levi were separated from the other tribes to camp in close proximity around the Tabernacle.  This was to monitor reverent approach and inspection of sacrifices, to maintain standards for God.  This important service is described in detail in chapters 2 and 3.  At this point we should observe God's disciplinary ways with His redeemed people, as suggested by the chapter before us, by commenting on Reuben, Judah, Simeon and Levi.  Genesis 49 can be considered as "the judgment seat of Jacob", just as His redeemed people will be accountable at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14v12).  The issue of our sins were dealt with at the cross, and will never be raised forever, but our status in heaven will be according to our character on earth, and this brings challenges to us for our lives.

Reuben was firstborn, and held a privileged position as leader of the twelve tribes, but lost it due to a contemptuous sin against his father.  The declaration was "Unstable as water thou shalt not excel"-Genesis 49v4.  At Sinai he was demoted to second place in the camp.

Judah was far from perfect, suggesting a profit motive at the betrayal of Joseph, and his unholy behaviour towards Tamar (Genesis 37 and 38).  Yet, when in Egypt, he offered himself as hostage in the place of his younger brother Benjamin.  Perhaps this act of mercy was the reason the Lord (who knows all that we will become) gave him the preeminent place-Genesis 49v10, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (the Messiah) come...".  Judah was promoted to leadership at Sinai, and remained head of the tribes until Christ.

Levi was one of the two angry men in the atrocity against the family of Shechem, who had defiled their sister (Genesis 34).  They sought the honour of their father Jacob in the matter, but brought his name into disrepute among the Gentiles by their treacherous and cruel vengeance.  They had not learned the lesson that "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God".  This would lead to a permanent separation of two brothers throughout their history.  Levi, however recovered, as they alone remained loyal to the Lord, when the other tribes sinned in the matter of the golden calf(Exodus 32v23-29).  For this display of obedience, at a time of great departure, they were rewarded with the position of nearness to God in all their service, described in the prophecy of Malachi as "the covenant of Levi".

Simeon were to be "scattered in Israel" as the prophecy said (Genesis 49v7).  They never recovered, and, indeed, according to the boundaries in Joshua, their inheritance was among the smallest, and their land came within the compass of Judah.

All are redeemed by the blood of the lamb, but our position in eternity is determined by our character on earth.  Solemn enough, but even more solemn is the fact that what we are, and what we do, affects our progeny for centuries, as was the case in the tribes of Israel.  The world has a saying that "Actions have consequences", and this is a fact among the people of God, which fact should temper our behaviour whilst here.

"Let your conversation (manner of life) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ"-Philippians 1v27

Christ in all the scriptures A God of order

 Christ in all the scriptures

The God of order, a people of power  Numbers chapter 1

A cursory reading of the book, and, particularly in chapter 1, reveals that God is a God of order.  This is true in creation where the word cosmos (an ordered arrangement of things-the opposite to chaos) is used to describe the universe.  What is true in the material sphere is also true in the spiritual.  Paul says as much in 1st Corinthians 14v33 to the church at Corinth (a chapter to which we will refer in the course of the study) "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints".  The word confusion means disorder, it is not of God, for He is a God of order.

As He prepares Israel for a journey in difficult circumstances, He does so with very definite principles, which we can follow in the chapter.

1)  Males only called to go to war   "Every male by their polls"-1v2.  Unlike authorities today who commission women to the front line in warfare, God sanctioned only males.  Any restrictions God places upon women is out of respect for them.  As Creator, He knows them better than they know themselves.  Women have a much more noble task, to produce and rear the next generation.

2)  Mature men only  "...from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel"1v3.  God does not send juveniles into danger; He only sends those who are able.  He does not expect disabled or juvenile to become warriors, only able bodied men.  His commissions are tempered with compassion and understanding of human needs.  He exempts from military duty in the following situations: those who are betrothed, but not yet married; those who are newly married are excused for a whole year; those who have planted a vineyard but not yet eaten of the fruits; those who have built a house but not yet dedicated it; those who were fearful and fainthearted-refer Deuteronomy 20v5-10 and 24v5.  God respects the importance of romance and marriage and homes and establishment of business in a man's life.  He also recognises that some are not courageous enough to engage in war. 

3) Named leadership  "These are the names of the men that shall stand with you..."-1v5.  Every institution whether of a household or a business, or organisation, or nation, knows the necessity of  the need for structure.  God is here establishing the structure of Israel, moving forward.  He names the heads of the twelve tribes, men of renown in each tribe, to organise them in the service of God.  Under Moses and Aaron, these were responsible to communicate the will of God to their people.

4)  Public recognition   "And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names: and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward by their polls.  As the Lord commanded Moses, so He numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai"-1v17-19.  Nothing was done in secret, no one were in any doubt who were their men of war and who were their leaders.  The census was taken before they set out on their journeys.

5)  Israel were a formidable force  "These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.  So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel...603,550!"-1v20-46.   Anyone who thought this former nation of slaves would be weak or disorganised, would soon realise the contrary.  This was a powerful force for God, and for good, which would stand the test of time.  History has ratified it, and the best is yet to come!  There is no nation on earth as powerful as Israel with Almighty God by their side, and the future will confirm it.  Prophecy reveals that they will be invaded from all sides, but will repel all enemies, who, in the language of scripture, will "fall on the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee"-Ezekiel 39v4 (from the section Ezekiel 38v8-39v8).  They will be, by the decree of God, the "head of nations"-Deuteronomy 28v13; Jeremiah 31v7.

6)  The tribe of Levi were set apart to attend the sanctuary   "But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them...but thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it, they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof, and they shall minister unto it, and they shall encamp round about the tabernacle"-1v47-50.

They were substituted by the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh and their tribes, and set apart for holy service.  The most important factor in their community was the presence of God among them, as symbolised in the tabernacle.  The Levites were positioned closest to the tabernacle to maintain the sanctity of God among them.  This is the covenant of Levi in Malachi 2v4-9.  Because of their reverential fear of the Lord they were given the privilege of service in the holy place, of arranging the vessels and teaching the truth of God to the people.  This is the primary function of any community which takes the name of God-"Holiness becometh thine house O Lord for ever"-Psalm 93v5.  All else is secondary to this. The result was a sanctified, structured, organised people under God

Just as Moses appointed 12 heads of the tribes of Israel, so Jesus appointed 12 apostles to structure and organise the Church.  In the same way the Church is structured and ordered and strengthened and equipped to meet every situation.  Consider the order of the Church: note the prominence of the apostles teaching.

The Church, the body of Christ is one in essence, each member having their place in the whole.  "For as the body (the human body) is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ"-1st Corinthians 12v12.  Christ and His body, with many members, are inseparable, and function as one.  In these days of sectarian divides this truth must be heralded fro the rooftops.  Deviations from that may have caused the present weakness and lack of influence on the world.  Christ is the head, we are the body and practises should be altered to conform to that.  The same chapter tells us of the order in the body of Christ, that is the order of proper functioning under Christ..."But now hath God set the members, every one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him"-12v18.  Again, "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that..."-12v28.  No one can miss the order, first, second third...nor the fact this is God's action.  The apostles and prophets are no longer with us, but their writings are authoritative, and the task of the teachers is to expound the word of God so that the people of God can discern His will.  The point of the chapter is that there is an order under which all the members can exercise their gift for the good of the whole.

Acts 2v42 "...they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine...".  2nd Peter 3v1 "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you: in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance; that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour".  Note the teaching of the apostles is on the same level as the prophets of old: also that their teaching was authoritative for the early church, as it is for the church of today.

Divine structure, Divine order, Divine organisation, Divine unity, Divine sanctification, Divine power.  This is how God works.  Even in our weak and divided state, the Church of Jesus Christ is the most powerful entity on earth, and we are all privileged to be part of it.  And what of the future?  Says Paul, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world"?  Know ye not that we shall judge angels.  How much more things that pertain to this life? (1st Corinthians 6v2-3).  With all our imperfections we are the most formidable force on earth, against whom even the powers of darkness will not prevail-Matthew 16v18.  We know we can do better, so let's believe it, and get to it, to fix the aberrations that are holding us back!

Christ in all the scriptures Preparing for war

 Christ in all the scriptures

Preparing for war  Numbers chapter 1

"Take ye the sum of all the congregation of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel, thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies"-Numbers 1v2-3.

A whole year and one month has passed, since they left Egypt.  They have learned to walk with the Lord (accepting His laws and commandments and statutes (Exodus).  They have been instructed in the worship of the Lord (Leviticus).  Now they are introduced to a new phase of the life of faith, that of warfare with the Lord (Numbers).  God's redeemed people are to journey through foreign lands, to enter the promised land, and they will encounter hostilities.    Here God establishes that they must be ready, whatever comes.  Indeed, these three aspects of the life of faith, (walk, worship, and warfare) are prominent in the letter to Ephesians to the Church.  

Worship  Chapter 1v6 "..to the praise of the glory of His grace"; 1v12"...that we should be to the praise of His glory"; 1v14 "...unto the praise of His glory"; 3v21 "unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen".

Walk  Chapter 4v1 "...that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called"; 4v17 "...that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind"; 5v2 "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us..."; 5v8 "...walk as children of light"; 5v15 "...walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil".

Warfare  Chapter 6v10-17 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the (spoken) word of God.

These three cardinal exercises sum up the lives of all who are in association with God.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is said to be "...the captain of our salvation, bringing many sons to glory..."-Hebrews 2v10.  We are on a journey to our eternal home, in the meantime we are in a hostile environment and we must be prepared.  The scripture speaks in military terms to describe the spiritual warfare of the people of God.  We are not of this world, we are strangers here, and some will be peacable toward us, others not.  This was the lot of Israel; it is also the lot of the Church.

Those of faith in Christ, today, must adopt a militant mentality, when faced with evil, as we will be.  God is a man of war (Exodus 15v3), and He opposes evil.  There are many sources of opposition to trouble the faithful, principal among them the following:

Evil from the world around us   Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"-John 16v33; If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world..."-John 15v18-19; it was the "Princes of this world that crucified the Lord of glory"-wrote Paul in 1st Corinthians 2v8; his attitude to the world is in Galatians 6v14 "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world".  The world system is evil and is hostile to the believer, and while we live in it we should not fraternise with it, and, if need be, oppose it.

Evil from within ourselves  Listen to the language of Peter, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which WAR AGAINST THE SOUL"-1st Peter 2v11.  Evil resides within us this side of the glory, and there is a battle to be fought there.  Paul wrote in Galatians 5v16-21, "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one too the other...and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections thereof".  We cannot be complacent, we must meet head on the enemy within passed on from Adam.  

Evil from above from the demonic empire in the stratosphere  Demon spirits who rule the air (including the airwaves) are the avowed enemy of believers.  This reality is expressed by Paul in Ephesians 6v12, "For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickednesses in high places".  Peter also says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world"-1st Peter 5v8-9.

From all around us, from within us, from above us, there are enemies seeking our downfall.  It is true with us, it was true with Israel under Moses.  The truth of God in this world is too precious, and must be preserved in the face of opposition.  Also the people of God must be protected.  The language of the New Testament indicates we are in a war situation, spiritually speaking.

Jesus advised His disciples, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation"-Matt. 26v41. Paul appealed to Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, by enduring hardness-2nd Timothy 2v3.  The word translated "kept" in the New Testament carries the thought of "kept as by a military garrison".  Examples are: 1st Peter 1v5, "Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time".  "Holy Father, keep  through thine own name those whom thou hast given me...While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name...keep them from the evil.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world"-John 17v11-16.  "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day"-2nd Timothy 1v12.   Believers are asked to keep things that are important to God, with a determination to preserve what is of value to Him.

Ephesians 4v2, "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"; 1st Timothy 5v22, "Keep thyself pure..."-this in the context of separating from leaders who persist in sin; 1st Timothy 6v20, "O, Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust; 1st John 2v5, "But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby we know that we are in Him"; 2nd Timothy 4v7, Paul said "I have kept the faith"; Jude wrote 1v3, "...earnestly contend for the faith that was once (for all) delivered unto the saints".

All of these have military connotations, and, in this world where we are strangers, we are to contend without being contentious.  Peter adds to it saying in 1st Peter 4v1, "For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind". 

Like Israel of old we are on a journey.  It could be long or short, smooth or rough.  The end is certain, and God will preserve us, but He wants us prepared for whatever comes.

Christ in all the scriptures A Prophet like unto Moses

 Christ in all the scriptures

A Prophet like unto Moses

Jesus gave us the key to the understanding of scriptures in John 5v39, when He corrected the error of the Jews, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me".  He expands this in Luke 24 by including all three sections of Old Testament revelation, referring to the writings of Moses, and the Psalms and the Prophets as "the things concerning Himself"-Luke 24v27v44.  Therefore the best understanding of scripture is that which reveals Him.  This is the whole purpose of these studies. 

In the book of Numbers we have already considered Christ as the Rock of Israel.  Now we can think of Him as the Prophet like unto Moses.  Deuteronomy 18v15 says, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me: unto Him shalt thou hearken".  The New Testament confirms that he was referring to Jesus.  There was a long expectation that "the Prophet" would come who would deliver them from the oppression of Rome.  They thought John the Baptist was the one, but he denied it-John 1v21 and 1v25.  Philip, in 1v45 seems to say Jesus is the one, "Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write".  Jesus, Himself said in John 5v46, "Moses wrote of me"; in John 7v40 many of the people were persuaded that Jesus was the Prophet.  Peter, in Acts 3v22-26 identified the Prophet as Jesus.  This is confirmed in the sermon by Stephen before the Sanhedrim in Acts 7v37-55.  As we read through this amazing record of Israel's wanderings, we shall encounter many similarities between the man Moses, and the incarnate Christ.  A cursory reading of the book reveals the overriding similarity, which is that they both spoke the words of God.  No less than 45 times do we read "The Lord spake unto Moses...", (or similar), and Moses transmitted His words to the people.  Moses was the great communicator of God in Old Testament times-Exodus 24v3-4, "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments...and Moses wrote all the words of the Lord...".   Exodus 33v11, "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to His friend".   This means that all the instructions that Moses gave to Israel in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy find their fulfilment in Jesus who communicates God to the Church today.

There is, of course, a vast difference between Moses and Christ but the principle remains the same.  Jesus is the ultimate communicator of God to men:

"The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him-John 1v18

"He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.  For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him"-John 3v33-34.

"I have given them the words which thou gavest me"-John 17v8

"If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness£-1st Timothy 6v3.

We have established that Moses, therefore is a type of Christ, and his commandments to Israel find a greater fulfilment in Christ.  The commandments laid down reflect the will of God for His redeemed people..  Using this as a guide we shall find many fruitful lessons for our spiritual lives today. 

Christ in all the scriptures The Rock that followed them

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Rock that followed them  Numbers chapters 1-36

"Moreover brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ"-1st Corinthians 10v1-4.

The book of Numbers is the record of the journeyings of the children of Israel, following their release from bondage in Egypt.  A journey that should have taken only eleven days (Deuteronomy 1v2-3) took almost 40 years because they were slow to learn the ways of the Lord.  How true to life that is for most of us, that it takes a long time from our conversion till we commit ourselves fully to the Lord.  The book of Numbers proclaims the patient longsuffering of the Lord.

This fits in perfectly with the Pentateuch teaching of the five books of Moses.  Scripture is most profitable when we study it as a revelation of God Himself, and these first five books have a specific revelation of the character of God.

Genesis the Sovereignty of God; Exodus  the Power of God; Leviticus  the Holiness of God; Numbers  the Patience of God; Deuteronomy  the Love of God. 

Each of these wonderful attributes of God are developed throughout the books.

They journeyed from Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea on the borders of the promised land: at Kadesh-Barnea they were turned back to the wilderness of Paran; from Paran they moved to Moab where they learned so much, and from Moab they entered the promised land.  Numbers chapter 33 makes very interesting reading and details all their journeys before they entered Jericho.  Every move was a massive effort, as the people without a land lived a pilgrim type life.  It is a story of the failure of men and the faithfulness of God.  Over the best part of 40 years they wandered from place to place.  God fed them in wilderness conditions, a company of over 2 million people.  They were never abandoned, though oftentimes they were severely chastised.  The lovely comment of Paul, cited above, that they drank of the Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ!  He was with them all the wilderness journey and supplied their every need.  There is an astonishing statement in Psalm 78v15-16, "He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.  He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers".  Imagine it if you will, all through a wilderness God gushed fresh water from the rock.  Paul applies that to us today spiritually.  What water is to people's bodies, Christ is to our souls, and He follows us all the way.  Spiritually, this world is a wilderness to the Christian today, and only the constant supply from above will satisfy us.  Manna from heaven, and water from the Rock, this is the spiritual diet for all the redeemed who have come through the waters of baptism unto Christ.  He was the Rock that followed them, and He is the Rock that is by us through life.

It is a very touching thing that our Lord, in His incarnation, experienced every aspect of Israel's trials, and the same for us His believing people today.  This aspect is stated in Hebrews 4v15 and 2v17-18, "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren...for in that He himself suffered being tempted (tested); He was in all points tested like as we are, yet sin apart".  And so we read in Matthew 2v15, He was called out of Egypt.  Matthew quotes from Hosea 11v1, which refers to Israel, but Matthew, through the Holy Spirit, applies it to Christ.  What this means is that all the prophecies concerning Israel are fulfilled in Christ.  In Matthew 4 and Luke 3, He was tested in the wilderness, during 40 days, just as they were tested 40 years.   Israel is a small rejected country, surrounded by many enemies, yet are destined to rule the world of nations.  Likewise Christ is despised and rejected by men, but He will rule the world in righteousness.  He experienced poverty, and hunger, and thirst, and weariness, and sorrow, and rejection, and persecution, all things which are the lot of humanity in this world.  Redeemed Israel murmured against Him, they disobeyed Him, they mocked Him, yet He followed them and supplied them through all their journey.  He was with them at Sinai, at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Paran. in Moab, and on into Jericho and the Promised Land.  This is the story of the book of Numbers, He was the Rock that followed them, and supplied their every need.  To bring them streams of fresh water in the desert, God had to "clave the rock" Psalm 78v15.  This points to Calvary, where Christ was crucified for the life of the world.  Remember it was "in the cleft of the Rock" that Moses beheld the glory of God pass by (Exodus 33v21-23).

Well might we  sing, "Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee...".

He is our Rock (Psalm 18v2), we can depend on Him.  Can He depend on us??  

EASTER MESSAGE

 EASTER MESSAGE

The wonder of the resurrection of Christ

Today, Sunday 20th April 2025, is a worldwide celebration of the resurrection of Christ.  We cannot be sure it is the exact date, but we can be sure about the reality of the great event.

The resurrection declares Him to be the Son of God with power  Romans 1v4.  He came in a human body, subjecting Himself to bodily limitations, and even more to the cruel whims of godless men.  "For though He was crucified through weakness, yet now He liveth by the power of God"-2nd Corinthians 13v4.  For the sake of our salvation He allowed men to mock Him, abuse Him, torture Him, kill Him.  Now, in the same body, glorified in heaven, He is the Son of God with power, no more humiliation, as Paul wrote, "He is the head of every principality and power".  All His adversaries will become the footstool of His feet.

The resurrection guarantees the justification of every believer  Romans 4v25 "He was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification".   God ratified His work on the cross to remove our offences by raising Him from the dead.  He presented His work before the supreme judicial throne, and God accepted it enabling all who believe to be justified.  All who believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses

The resurrection proclaims Christ's victory over sin and its consequences  Romans 6v9 "...knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him".  He had no sin of His own, but became sin for us.  "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death"-1st Corinthians 15v26.

The resurrection guarantees that the bodies of all believers will be raised from the dead-Romans 8v11 "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you".  No longer mortal, no longer sinful, raised, changed, and glorified just as He was raised in glory.

The resurrection guarantees every believer an eternal inheritance- 1st Peter 1v3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you".

The resurrection of Christ is fundamental to the preaching of the gospel  1st Corinthians 15v1-4.  Paul goes on to shew the futility of life without the resurrection of Christ.  It means we are all doomed without hope, that the apostles are liars, that all preaching is vain-refer verses12-19, and all believers are "of all men to be pitied".  He concludes, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  The faith of all believers will be ratified, their sins are forgiven, their bodies raised and glorified, and the apostles preached the good news to the world!

ON A MORE SOLEMN NOTE 

The resurrection of Christ assures all men that God will judge the world in righteousness  Acts 17v31 "He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance to all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead".

Christ in all the scriptures Devotions

Christ in all the scriptures

Singular vows in devotions to the Lord  Leviticus 27

This closing chapter of Leviticus is intriguing and introduces another dimension to the wonder of our God.  In chapter 26, the issue was statutes, laws, judgments, commandments.  These were mandatory, the observance of which brought blessing, and the disregard brought cursing.  Now in chapter 27 the issue is vows of devotion to the Lord, and these are voluntary: they are gifts to the Lord beyond His commandments in gratitude to His goodness.  A look at the New Testament reveals that Paul differentiated between what was mandatory, and what was expedient in his letter to the Corinthians (refer chapter 7 and 14 particularly)  In1st Timothy 2, he divides the chapter into two sections-v1-7 "I exhort therefore..."; and v8-15 "I will therefore...".  The first appeal was exhortatory in light of Divine grace to the world; the second was mandatory using apostolic authority.  There are things we must do, there are other things we could do in light of the goodness of God.  The God of majestic holiness demands our obedience, but He also deserves our offerings.

At the heart of this intriguing chapter is the fact that all our possessions are His; that "He made the world and all things therein", and anything we give to Him is of what He gave us. The chapter begins "When a man will make a singular vow..."-v2.  The Hebrew word pala means wonderful, or marvellous, something hard to do, something extraordinary, or beyond the call of duty-refer Genesis 18v14 (hard); Exodus 3v20 (wonders); Exodus 34v10 (marvels).  How gracious of the Lord to describe anything we give to Him as wonderful, but this is the meaning throughout the chapter.  He speaks about devoting persons (v2-8), animals (v9-13), houses v14-15), inheritance (v16-21), land (v22-25).  A reading of the chapter reveals He does not necessarily mean the giving of all these, but He puts a monetary value by which they would be deemed to have given the gifts as stated.  He gives some regulations regarding all these, for these are gifts to the LORD, and there should be due reverence.  That which is given to the Lord, is called "a devoted thing", and was not for return except on redemption terms.  He makes provision, however for recall, because He graciously accepts that people make vows hastily without counting the cost, and find themselves in difficulty.  For example Paul reminded the Corinthians (2nd Cor. 8v10-12) that they had purposed a year ago to give to the poor saints in Jerusalem, but it had not still materialised, and he said, "As there was a readiness to will, so there would be a performance out of that which ye already have".  They had promised but not yet fulfilled.

All of this goes to the integrity of our words and our ambitions.  A vow is not necessarily for the time it was made, but perhaps for time in the future.  It is a noble thing to make a vow, a commitment unto the Lord, but sometimes the ambition is beyond our ability.  God does not expect us to give of what we do not possess, and He graciously compensates, both now and in eternity for anything we give.   The subject is so vast that we cannot linger, save to say that what we give of an extraordinary nature is a delight to the Lord.

To bring all this in line with our core subject, namely, "Christ in all the scriptures", we can look to the greatest example of all, Christ Himself, who vowed to save the world by the sacrifice of Himself.  There was no duty upon Him to do all that He did, but He did it out of compassion and love to us.

God, Himself, made vows, and unlike most of us He keeps them.  As Balaam the prophet proclaimed under inspiration, "God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent: hath He said and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?-Numbers 23v19.  He first made an oath to Abraham-Genesis 22v16-18 to bless all his seed.  He swore to David that of the fruit of his body He would set on his throne-Psalm 132v11; and that this throne would be everlasting-2nd Samuel 7v16.  He swore to Christ that He would be a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek-Psalm 110v3-4.  "All the promises of God in Christ are yea, and in Him Amen unto the glory of God by us" wrote Paul in 2nd Cor. 1v20.  To Titus he wrote (1v2) "...in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began". 

The singular vow that Jesus made is truly wonderful, yet it was also truly hard for Him.  This is recorded in Hebrews 10v5-10.  It is His vow to God on behalf of us:

At His birth "When He cometh into the world, He saith, (quoting from Psalm 40v6-8-Septuagint version) sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and offerings for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will O my God".  Above when He said "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offering and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither had pleasure therein"; which are offered by the law; then said He "Lo I come to do thy will O God", He taketh away the first that He might establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all".

In His public life (Luke 9v51) "And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem".  He came into the world to die, to glorify God and save mankind.  Like the flint of an arrow, He set His face, nothing would stop Him until He had finished the work.

At His death (Isaiah 50v5-7) "The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheek to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  For the Lord God will help me ; therefore I shall not be confounded: therefore have I set my face as a flint; and I know that I shall not be ashamed".

A truly hard pathway, a truly noble cause, a marvellous vow accomplished for He could say, "I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work thou gavest me to do"-John 17v4 The hymnwriter-Wylie McLeod in his lovely hymn, "A perfect path of purest grace..." crystallises the thought-"THE VOW WAS ON THEE THOU DIDST COME TO YIELD THYSELF TO DEATH.  AND CONSECRATION MARKED THY PATH AND SPOKE IN EVERY BREATH".