Christ in all the scriptures Numbers 20

 Christ in all the scriptures

The rigours of wilderness life      Numbers 20

The chronology, stated in Numbers 33v38-39, places this chapter at the fortieth year after leaving Egypt.  Very little is revealed of the years after leaving Sinai, mercifully, for it was a story of failure and contention.  In Numbers 33 we learn that, from Sinai, they moved to different locations many times, but the Spirit of God is silent on that forgettable part of their history.  There is a tinge of sadness throughout the chapter, which begins and ends with the death of prominent people, and traces the ongoing dissatisfaction of the people, and the uncharacteristic disobedience of Moses.  Before they reached the promised land, they experienced suffering on many levels.  This is the lot of God's people on the way to glory, the suffering before glory.  We should take in the lessons that are here.  The failures of men (and that includes those of our generation) only enhance the perfections of Christ.

The death of Miriam   20v1.

By any standards Miriam was a "mother in Israel".  Her part in the preservation of the baby Moses, and subsequent upbringing at a perilous time (Exodus 2v1-10), marks her out as a devoted sister, and courageous woman.  She was a prophetess, known by all, and led the worship of the women after the crossing at the Red Sea (Exodus 15v20-21).  Sadly, she challenged the authority of Moses at a time of rebellion (Numbers 12).  She reverted to type for her name means "rebellion", and she questioned the judgment of the Lord in appointing Moses as leader.  She was sanctioned and healed, but remained anonymous until the time of her death.

The dissent of Israel   20v2-6

How long will the dissatisfaction go on?  How many times have we been here?  Murmuring against Moses and Aaron, and the Lord who has fed and watered them for 40 years!  It has been well said that the book of Numbers reveals the patience of God with His people. The five books of the Pentateuch reveal the character of God: Genesis His Sovereignty; Exodus His Power; Leviticus His Holiness; Numbers His Patience; Deuteronomy His love.  Acts 13v18 sums it up perfectly, "The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm brought He them out of it.  And about the time of forty years suffered He their manners in the wilderness".   Scripture waxes eloquent concerning the longsuffering and forbearance of God.  He is patient and loving and understanding of the frailty of mankind.  Time and again they murmured against Him, yet He gave them their requests even in the face of rebellion.  Paul says that "the goodness of God leads to repentance" (Romans 3v40), but Israel, at large never seemed to get there.  As Moses and Aaron fell on their faces to plead for God's mercy, the glory of the Lord appeared to them (Numbers 20v6).  His glory is His goodness in the face of insults...refer Exodus 33v18-19. 

The disobedience of Moses and Aaron   20v7-13    

The Lord instructed them to produce water from the rock to satisfy the people.  We should note that not only did He tell them what to do but how to do it!  God's work must be done God's way, for His way is perfect.  The modern world, take note, God expects us to do His bidding in His way!  The consequences for failure were severe.  The oft-repeated call, "We have our own way of doing things here", to justify a contrary approach to problems other than indicated in the word, is unacceptable and will lead to loss of reward, as it did with Aaron and Moses.  Aaron and Moses were denied entrance to the promised land.  Aaron, the confirmed High Priest of Israel in the face of rebellion, and Moses, the man closest to God among all men, they both lost reward.  It was a simple disobedience, instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck the rock with the rod.  This act displayed a serious flaw of character, as he vented frustration at the people, calling them rebels.  It also deviated from the type of Christ as the Rock, as the rod of God did not strike twice, in the words of the hymn, "God will not payment twice demand; Once at His bleeding sureties' hand and the other one at mine".  Also God did not strike the Rock in anger, "...it pleased the Lord to bruise Him" (because of the blessings that would flow).  God takes a dim view of anyone or anything that spoils the types of the death of Christ.  The sacrifice of Christ was emphatically only once-Hebrews 9v28; 10v10v12v18v26.  Moses, the most loyal servant, failed in the aspect of his greatest strength (his superior meekness to all men), as he struck the rock in anger and frustration.  He paid a heavy price, we should take note.  The meekest man in all the earth failed in His meekness; Peter, a most courageous man among all God's servants, withered before a maid at the judgment hall.  The weaknesses and failures of all are recorded in scripture.  Yet they point to the One who never failed, who displayed God's character in perfection, the One who is our Rock from which we drink the living water, and the safe Haven to whom we all flee in trouble.  "He hath done all things well"-Mark 7v37; "Never man spake like this man"-John 7v46; "I do always those things that please Him"-John8v29.  

The hostility of Edom   20v14-21

Despite his personal loss, Moses proceeded with the journey to Canaan, asking the Edomites to grant them safe passage through their territory, even offering to pay for anything they used of theirs.  Reminding them of their history, and recounting their present troubles they requested their close relatives to help them (Edom were descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob).  This help was denied, and they threatened them by amassing on their border.  Israel turned away to seek another way.  There are two lessons here: first to expect hostility from the unbelieving world.  Jesus told His disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"-John 16v33.  He also said to expect opposition from relatives.  Edom acted in a callous way to their kinsfolk because they were of a different mindset, and lifestyle.  No doubt they would cite family tensions from the past to justify their decision.  The second lesson is that Israel were not in a fit moral state for God to change this.  Proverbs 16v7 records, "When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."  Israel's ways did not please the Lord, and they were denied ease of progress.  Nationally, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people"-Proverbs 14v34.  Whether individually, or nationally these principles are irreversible in the government of the universe.  Only Christ, when He comes, will subdue all opposition and bring conditions of universal peace.

The demise of Aaron and transference of the Priesthood   20v22-29

They journeyed to mount Hor, where in the fifth month of the 40th year, Aaron died.  Whether or not this death was premature for his part at Meribah, we cannot be sure.  He was stripped of his Priestly garments and was buried on mount Hor.  His eldest son, Eleazar, was made High Priest in his stead, and so the Aaronic Priesthood was continued.  In contrast, the Priesthood of Christ is untransferable-Hebrews 7v24, "But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood".  He is of the order of Melchisedek, of whom it is said, "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually"- Hebrews 7v3.  In Christ the priestly order is established forever, and greater than anything that has gone before. 

Christ in all the scriptures The Red heifer part 2

 Christ in all the scriptures

The offering of the Red heifer part 2 Numbers 19

"OUTSIDE THE CAMP"

We can now consider the distinctives of this seventh aspect of the offering of Christ, of which there are many.  The ashes of an heifer in running water were "a water of separation, a purification for sin for the congregation"-Numbers 19v9.  Thus it typifies the death of Christ to deal with post conversion defilement.  The letter to Hebrews expands on this...1v3 ("He made purification for sins"); 9v13-14 ("...the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God"); 9v23 ("It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these"); 10v2 ("the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins"); 13v12 ("Wherefore Jesus also that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate").  All these are reference to the red heifer offering.  The death of Christ deals with all aspects of sin, including sin defiling us by unavoidable association.

The offering was red, perhaps alluding to ahdam (for red earth) applying this to all men.

It was female: in the offerings both male and female animals are used, the female emphasising the care of man's need.

It was sacrificed outside the camp, not at the altar in the tabernacle as other offerings.  This is emphasising Christ becoming sin for us.  We have already cited from Hebrews Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem.

The whole animal was burnt in contrast to others.  There was no laying out of the parts for our worship.  This was a conflagration for God cannot look upon sin.  What it meant to God to "make Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us", is not for perusal or worship it was done out of sight, it was done in the darkness, where no human eye could see.

The priest took of the blood to sprinkle 7 times before the tabernacle of the congregation.  Sin contracted from the dead defiled the whole camp.  The blood from the heifer cleansed the congregation!

A layman, (a clean man, not a priest) reduced the heifer to ashes, mixed it with running water (symbol of the Holy Spirit), and put it in a clean place for the purification of those members who became defiled.  What this means to us is awesome, every aspect of our defilement has been met by Divine beings.

As the man burned the sacrifice he also placed on the fire, cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet. These were the elements used in the cleansing of the lepers(Leviticus 14v4-6) the particular symbol of sin representing defilement.  Thus all defilement from sin from whatever source is removed in the death of the heifer!

None of us will ever know what sin means to God, nor the cost to Him to put it away so comprehensively.  Sin will be expunged from the universe, and from all believers, in all its forms.  For our part we need to be exercised, to keep ourselves clean by the gracious provision of God in Christ.  This will involve our approach to God as Hebrews 10v22 suggests, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water".  Let us cease to mention our sins in public, God doesn't want to be reminded of sin.  Deal with it in the secret place, in the darkness, where it will remain for all eternity.  Burn the red heifer outside the camp, where Jesus died alone to take away all uncleanness.  Let us, in full assurance of faith, come with joy and worship, and approach Him, clean every whit, our consciousness of sin forever gone, for God remembers none of it.  Brethren, let us free ourselves from dead works to worship the God who has fitted us for glory yet to come.

Through Thy precious body broken
Inside the veil;
O what words to sinners spoken
Inside the veil!
Precious as the blood that bought us,
Perfect as the love that sought us,
Holy as the Lamb that brought us
Inside the veil.

When we see Thy love unshaken
Outside the camp;
Scorned by man, by God forsaken
Outside the camp;
Thy loved Cross alone can charm us,
Shame need now no more alarm us,
Glad we follow, nought can harm us
Outside the camp.

Lamb of God, through Thee we enter
Inside the veil;
Cleansed by Thee, we boldly venture
Inside the veil:
Not a stain; a new creation;
Ours is such a full salvation;
Low we bow in adoration
Inside the veil.

Unto Thee, the homeless stranger
Outside the camp,
Forth we hasten, fear no danger
Outside the camp.
Thy reproach far richer treasure
Than all Egypt's boasted pleasure:
Drawn by love that knows no measure,
Outside the camp.

Soon Thy saints shall all be gathered
Inside the veil:
All at home, no more be scattered,
Inside the veil.
Nought from Thee our hearts shall sever;
We shall see Thee, grieve Thee never;
Praise the Lamb! shall sound for ever
Inside the veil.

Hymn by Elizabeth Dark   Believers Hymnbook

The Red Heifer offering Numbers 19 part 1

 Christ in all the scriptures

The offering of the Red Heifer  Numbers 19 part 1

We have already established that all the offerings depict different aspects of the one offering of Jesus Christ.  There are seven in all, and, together, they present the panoramic view of the death of Christ.  We tend to be content with saying that "Jesus died for me", but the Holy Spirit would have us understand the various aspects of it, portraying the fulness of the work accomplished, resulting in such a full salvation.  They are:

1) The burnt (ascending) offering- Leviticus 1; the death of Christ in devotion to God, all on the altar for God.  This aspect is expanded in the gospel of John

2) The meat (grain) offering-Leviticus 2; the perfection of His life, typified in fine flour, fragrant frankincense, fresh oil, and flavouring salt.  All the frankincense was for God.  This pervades all four gospels.

3) The peace offering-Leviticus 3; Man and God in perfect harmony, in fellowship, enjoying the same meal.  In this all the fat (the best) was for God.  The subject matter of Luke's gospel and the second half of Ephesians 2.  Full reconciliation to God and man will be the outcome for those of faith.  

4)  The sin offering-Leviticus 4; sins of ignorance fully removed.  Sins of omission as well as sins of commission.  Not only what we do that is evil, but what we fail to do as dependent creatures.  We all come short of the glory of God, Christ in His death dealt with the whole aspect of our sinful nature.  In the sin and trespass offerings all the blood was for God.  Subject matter of the gospel of Mark and Peter's first epistle.

5)  The trespass offering-Leviticus 5.  Wilful, deliberate, disobedience and rebellion, or failure to observe the commandments of the Lord.  Faith in the sacrifice of Christ removes the offence and results in God's forgiveness (4 times in chapter 5, "it shall be forgiven him"-v10, v13, v16, v18).  Aspects of this in the gospel of Matthew, written to Jews who had the law and who should have known better.

6)  The drink offerings-Exodus 29v38-42; Numbers 15v3-16 (also Lev. 23 and Num. 28-29)  They were libations consisting of measures of wine poured out on the offerings on the altar.  Their purpose was to enhance the flame and produce a sweet aroma.  The pouring out meant that none of them could be recovered and symbolise total surrender and consecration. This is cited by Paul in Philippians 2v17 in the context of his service for that church.  Also at the end of his life he described his death as a libation offering to the Lord (2nd Tim. 4v6).  This offering was fulfilled in Christ, who so poured Himself out in the service of God-refer Isaiah 53v12 "He poured out His soul to death..."; John 10v17, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life..."; John 15v13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you"; Philippians 5v2, "Christ also hath loved us and given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour"; Philippians 2v7, "He emptied Himself (R. V.- poured Himself out), and took upon Himself the form of a slave...".   His libation offering enhanced all His other offerings, bringing sweet pleasure to God.  From the most brutal, most treacherous murder of the Son of God, there arose that beautiful fragrance to God, which enabled Him to bless sinful mankind.  The potion was measured wine for each offering, and the biblical symbol of wine is that which makes glad the heart of man (Psalm 104v15).  There was from the extreme suffering of Calvary, that which brought pleasure to God (Isaiah 53v10).

7)  The offering of the Red heifer-Numbers 19.  This is referred to in Hebrews 9v13-14, "For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  This is the seventh and final aspect of the one offering of Jesus Christ once for all.  It has to do with cleansing from defilement on the wilderness journey.  The chapter is emphatic..."it is a purification for sin"-v9; "He shall purify himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day"-v12; "...the ashes of a burnt heifer of purification for sin..."-v17.  Not only did this defilement affect the individual but the whole household, and indeed the whole congregation.  What is this defilement?  It is not personal sin for that was dealt with in the sin and trespass offerings.  This is defilement by proxy! defilement contracted from contact with a dead body.   It may be in the home or at work in the field, or returning from war, contact with death meant defilement.  In a congregation of several million it was likely to be a daily occurrence, and everyone was affected.   Such is the holiness of God that even personal contact with the dead demanded cleansing.  We begin to understand the need for constant cleansing.  How are we to understand this today?

The world in which we live, through which we are passing to glory is a world dominated by evil thoughts and deeds and attitudes-Galatians 1v4; 1st John 2v16; John 1v10; 1st Corinthians 1v21.  Indeed in Ephesians 2v1-3 the world is seen as "dead men walking", physically alive but spiritually dead.  Their lives are controlled by the demon prince who has created a world order contrary to God, and their lifestyle is dominated by carnal lusts of body and mind, and whose destiny is judgment.  We are not of it but we must live in it and witness to it of the mercy of God.   We touch the "living dead" by contact with our neighbours, our workmates, our colleagues, even family.  We don't always know it but defilement comes readily in a world dominated by evil.  Christ died to deal not only with the root of sin but the fruit of sin which can so easily charm us and break fellowship with the Lord.  Relationship will never be broken but fellowship can and will be.  The death of Christ has dealt with both aspects of our need, the initial cleansing and the daily need for it.  Both are cited in the New Testament, and He has made provision.  Consider the following scriptures:

John 13v10, "He that is washed (bathed all over) needeth not save to wash (daily) his feet but is clean every whit".  Titus 3v5, "...the washing of regeneration (initial overall cleansing) and renewal of the Holy Ghost (ongoing cleansing)."  1st John 1v9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins AND to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".  So comprehensive is the death of Christ for us, He has dealt with our eternal and our temporal needs in the sight of God.  For our part, we are in awe at the holiness of God that such high standards are required for our reconciliation.  We are equally in awe at the comprehensive efficacy of the death of Christ to bring us to God.  Hebrews 10v14 says it all, "For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified".  That one offering included restoring the glory of God; demonstrating the dignity of humanity; removing every impediment to peace and harmony; banishing the memory of sins and iniquities forever; forgiving all trespasses; pouring Himself out for the pleasure of God and the joy of man; inexhaustible cleansing till the journey's end.  

 

Christ in all the scriptures Maintaining the sanctity and integrity of the house

 Christ in all the scriptures

Maintaining the sanctity and integrity of the house  Numbers 18

There is no higher calling in life!  To serve the living God is the highest honour accorded to man.  Aaron and his sons were were given that honour, and their wider family the Levites joined with them in the great work (there is a play on words as Levi means "joined").   This honour applies to all believers today, who, by reason of new birth, serve as priests of the living God, as we have established many times in these studies.  However, with high honour comes responsibility and protocol; with authority comes accountability.  The central verse in this chapter is 18v5 "And ye shall keep the charge of the the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel".  Due to their sin and rebellion in questioning the authority of Moses and Aaron, the Lord made it clear they were challenging the authority of God Himself.  They were to learn that sin brought the wrath of God, even upon His own people.  Association with God called for sanctity of living and service.  Chapter 18 and 19 declare the nature of God's holiness; in 18, the priesthood can be defiled by carelessness and human error; in 19, contact with a dead body brings defilement.  God is very sensitive to sin in all its forms.  Even the most sacred work of temple service can be defiled, and unwitting and unintentional contact with a dead body defiled them.  To grasp the importance of this we must realise what we are in Christ: 

Our bodies are the temple of God-1st Corinthians 6v19-20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple (the inner shrine) of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Our local church is the temple of God-1st Corinthians 3v16-17, "Know ye not that ye are the temple (inner shrine) of God, and that the the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which ye are."

The church, the body of Christ, is the temple of God-Ephesians 2v21-22, "In whom all building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple (inner shrine) in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Believer, grasp it, since your new birth in Christ, there is never a time in your life when you are not endowed with holy privilege.  The challenge is to live up to the high calling.  Paul appeals to the Ephesian believers..."And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you"-Ephesians 5v30-32.  It grieves Him when we we sin, He is very sensitive to it. Don't continue it such that He must act in discipline.  Sin can raise its ugly head even in the most sacred duties.  We are called to highest service, as Aaron and the Levites were, to perform holy service free from sin.  

The chapter is full of principles of service that are timeless, and we should observe them.

Every servant will bear the iniquity of the sanctuary and of the priesthood.   "Thou and thy sons and thy father's house shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood"-18v1.  This emphasises the importance of the Priests and Levites to maintain the sanctity of the Holy Place, and to bear the iniquity associated with it.  This involves not only the integrity of the physical structure but the moral integrity of those operating within and around it.  This is a reminder of the holiness required in all of us in worship and in personal conduct.   For example, the men who pray in public are to "lift up holy hands without wrath or doubting"-1st Timothy 2v8.  Again those who preach in public are to "speak as the oracles of God"-1st Peter 4v11.  There are many Divine sanctions on those who fail in this of minor and major proportions.  The sanctuary must be preserved from defilement of any nature.

There are diversities of tasks in the congregation of the Lord.  The Priests alone operated the sacrifices and the sacred vessels; the Levites tended to structure and coverings in maintenance and transportation of the tabernacle; the people brought their gifts and tithes for the upkeep of tabernacle worship.  All were endowed with Divine gifts for their contributions.  God provided the Priesthood as a gift for the people as mediators between Himself and them; He provided the Levites as a support group to the Priesthood; He endowed the people to maintain the worship service.  The Priests and their families were fed from the residue of the sacrifices nominated by the Lord.  The Levites were paid out of the tithe offerings of the people.  The principle is declared in the New Testament that "they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel".  We have all been given different gifts for the purpose God has for us.  Anything we offer to Him is out of what He has generously given us.  He is a God of great diversity as is evident from the material creation, and a God of great generosity.  All of us have been fitly endowed for the role He would have us play in His sanctuary.

The allotted work was given to each as a charge-refer 18v3, v4, v5, v8.  This word is strong (mishmereth) and describes a sacred charge given in trust.  It is similar to the Greek parangello, also translated charge (or commandment)-1st Thessalonians 4v2; 1st Timothy 1v3, 1v5, 1v18; 4v11; 5v7; 6v13, 6v17.  The service of God is a sacred deposit, given to us to keep and to share.  Note the emphasis in the chapter: "And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of the tabernacle"-v3; "And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary and the charge of the altar"-v5; "to you they are given as a gift for the Lord to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation"-v6; "Thou and thy sons shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the veil; and ye shall serve"-v7.  This is an active repetitive service in the sanctuary of God, and it requires commitment and skill to maintain it.  There is a need today to see our service, whatever it be, as a solemn charge to the Lord.

The offerings were described as heave offerings and wave offerings (v8-11).  The heave shoulder and the wave breast, portions of the sacrifices to the Lord, represented the strength of the shoulder and the affection of the heart.  There was to be no mere ritual associated with the offerings, it must be with all strength and all heart affection....Deuteronomy 6v5. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy might".  Less of saying prayers and more of really praying!  Less of repetitive worship and more of real worship is what is pleasing to Him.

The first and best to be brought to the Lord (v12-19).  "All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord, them have I given thee.  And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it"-18v12-13.  All offerings to the Lord first, and then we partake, is the principle.  What we bring is of the best produce.  Applied to all Christian service now, what a difference it would make to our gatherings!  King David said, "I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing"-2nd Samuel 24v24.  In contrast the people brought to the Lord "that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick...thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand?"-Malachi 1v13.  What we bring, and how we bring, reflects our reverence toward Him.  He deserves the first and the best from all of us.  He gave His best for us, may we render our best in return!  "Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed  part out of it"- Numbers 18v29.

   

Christ in all the scriptures Aaron's rod that budded

 Christ in all the scriptures 

Aaron's rod that budded      Numbers 17

Despite all that had happened the murmuring continued, and the Lord determined to bring it to an end.  He introduced the test of the rods.  The chapter is all about Aaron's rod, that budded in the holy place.  The rod is a rich symbol in scripture, encompassing authority, discipline, guidance, protection, and judgment.  It is interesting to trace the usage of bible words.  The rod was a kind of walking stick, useful also to ward off enemies troubling the flock, as well as guiding them to new pastures.  When called to Egypt, Moses' rod took on miraculous qualities, and was used by God to bring the supernatural plagues upon Egypt. (Exodus 4v2, v17, v20; 7v10, v20; 8v5, v16,; 9v23; 10v13).  He used the rod to part the Red Sea (14v16), and to smite the rock to bring water for the thirsty camp (17v6).  In the hand of Moses a humble stick of wood became "the rod of God"-refer Exodus 4v20 and 17v9.  The predominant thought of the "rod" in scripture is of Divine authority placed in the hands of men.  The Lord described the Assyrian as "the rod of His anger"-He would use the foreign king to bring discipline to wayward Israel (Isaiah 10v5).  He also used Israel as "the rod of His inheritance", when restored Israel fulfilled the will of God-Jeremiah 51v19-20.  It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for rod is the same as for "tribe" in scripture.  Out of 251 occurrences, 182 are translated tribe.  We thus conclude, that, in God's terms, a tribe is a community of people under the authority, discipline, protection, and guidance of the Sovereign Lord.  This is an important reminder of the necessity of correction in the life of believers who are called to recognise God's authority, and to submit to His guidance on their spiritual journey.  This is a solemn reminder that each group that calls itself a church today is under the authority of God.  

He commanded Moses to take rods from each of the tribes, with Aaron representing the tribe of Levi.  They were to place them before the ark of the covenant in the holy place, with each rod named after their tribe.  The answer to their leadership problem was from God.  The rods were examined and the dead wood of Aaron's rod had budded miraculously, producing overnight fruit, life from death.  There could be no argument to this.  Aaron, whose leadership had been challenged, was divinely established as high priest.  God determines who rules in His house.  There is no argument today who rules in God's house.  Hebrews 3v6 says it, "But Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end".  Hebrews 4v14, "Seeing then we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession".  Hebrews 6v20, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek".  Hebrews 8v1-2, "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man".  It was God who called Aaron to be the high priest (Hebrews 7v4).  It was God who appointed Christ to lead the worship of the people of God from the sanctuary above.  He is the Head of the body the church, He endows it with gifts.  It is a challenge to His authority if either we promote to leadership those ungifted for the task; or we refuse those who are gifted their true place among us.  Christ gives the gifts and He expects them to be used for the benefit of all.  Those so gifted require good character to be effective.  If we are persuaded that our local spiritual leaders are appointed by Him, then we must submit to them according to Hebrews 13v7, v17.  The risen, glorified Lord Jesus has called and gifted men to lead us, and we should follow them in the measure they are followers of Christ.

Aaron's rod was preserved in the ark of the covenant, along with the tablets of stone and the golden pot of manna.  Our studies are of how the bible depicts Christ.  In the tablets of stone we have the Divine law unbroken and preserved in Christ.  In the pot of manna Christ is the spiritual provision and food of His people.  In the rod that budded we have life springing out of death, a wonder that was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ.  "On the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds"-17v8.  No doubt this is resurrection life, from a dead piece of wood there comes buds and flowers and fruit.  The subject of resurrection is massive and reveals that the resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of every believer both physically and spiritually-Romans 8v11 and 1st Corinthians 15v51-54.  It also establishes Christ as Lord of the living and dead with all authority in His hands-Romans 14v9 and  1st Corinthians 15v22-25.  No one in the camp of Israel could doubt the message of Aaron's rod.  No one alive today should doubt that all authority in heaven and upon earth is given to Christ, and all who oppose Him are lost.  The fear of death gripped the hearts of the sceptics in Moses day, as it should do in our day.  

Christ in all the scriptures The gainsaying of Korah

 Christ in all the scriptures

The gainsaying of Korah  Numbers 16

"They have perished in the gainsaying of Korah"  Jude 11

The audacious rebellion of Korah is etched eternally in the woes of holy scripture as a warning to every believer and to the entire world.  Man's open rebellion will be crushed by the unmitigated wrath of Almighty God.  There will be no exceptions.   A cursory reading of this chapter brings solemnity to the soul, yet its content is reality.  Reality about the unfettered sin in the heart of man; reality about the unmitigated wrath of God against human sin, particularly against rebellion.  We will first tabulate both of these realities in the chapter, then consider what this says about future judgment in the hands of Christ.  

The rebellion of man   Korah, who was at the heart of this rebellion, was of the favoured tribe of Levi, and a cousin to both Moses and Aaron-refer Exodus 6v16-21.  This rebellion in the camp of Israel was fomented by a man who was born into privilege of the highest order.  Jesus warned the people of His day, that, in a time of departure, "A man's foes shall be they of his own household"-Matthew 10v36.  The challenge was against the leadership of Moses, and the priesthood of Aaron.  Great privilege does not always result in good attitude.  Korah, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On, spread unrest and defiance among 250 prominent men in the congregation.  This unholy alliance would not be the only one in the history of Israel.  Using holy sounding words to cover their evil, (v3) they questioned the authority of Moses and Aaron.  Amid every rebellion there is always a spurious religious reason for the uprising.  Here is a summary of their delusion:

"Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord"?-16v3.

"Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness (these are the same people who refused to enter the land), except thou make thyself a prince over us"? 16v13.

Following the death of Korah and all his rebels, the congregation murmured, "But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord"-16v41.

The rebellion spread to the whole camp.  One man can be a force for evil!

The wrath of God   Challenge to the authority of divinely appointed leadership is a challenge to the Almighty Himself!  When feeble man challenges the omnipotence of God there is only one outcome, and the chapter bears this out in no uncertain terms.  The fallacy of equality (an error which pervades modern society today), and the perversion of historical facts (also a delusion today), brought the visible presence of God down among them.

"And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods...and they perished from among the congregation"-16v32-33.

"And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense"-16v35.

"And it came to pass when the congregation was gathered against Moses, and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and behold the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared"-16v42.

"...there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun...now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah"-16v46-50.   

A challenge to the authority of God is an invitation to judgment.  Almost 15,000 perished in the rebellion, from among His own people.  This is a warning to all generations that an Almighty God has at His disposal the elements of creation to crush any rebellion.  The Lord is wonderful in mercy, He is fearful in wrath.

How do we relate all this to our subject, "Christ in all, the scriptures"?  We all love the thought of "Gentle Jesus. meek and mild"; the record of the babe of Bethlehem is the greatest story ever told; we respond readily to the mercy and grace and the love of God in Christ and these are major themes in which we rejoice, and so we should.  In the rebellious world in which we live, where the authority of God is being challenged, and the perversion of God's truth is spreading like a cancer, we need to be reminded of the wrath of God, a subject that has all but disappeared from our thinking, even from church platforms where it should be preached.  At His first advent Jesus came in meekness and humility as the world's Saviour.   At His second advent (which must be very soon) He is coming in judgment.  He is coming to put down all rebellion, for everything that is contrary to the word of God is simply rebellion, man's thoughts against God's.  He is coming to make war-Revelation 19v11, "In righteousness He doth judge and make war".  This is an aspect we hear very little of today, and it needs to be told.  He is coming to silence every gainsayer; He is coming to put down every rebel.  Beginning with the godless rebel who will rule the world at that time, the beast with his arch propagandist, the false prophet; then the old devil who deceived the world will be chained and silenced; also the people who followed them, with all the buildings on earth wherein the deception was promoted, will be brought down.   The God of heaven, who has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5v22 and 27), will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained (Christ) Acts 17v31.  He came to be our Saviour, praise God!  But all rebellion will be put down, every rebel will be banished forever.  The One who died to save us, will wield the sword of Divine justice.  "Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations; and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God"-Revelation 19v15.  This is why a chapter like Numbers 16 has been included in holy writ.  If God did that to His own people back then, what will He do to the godless rebellious people of today?

There is a notable sequel to this dramatic incident.  The Spirit of God is not finished with the family of Korah.  It seems his sons had stood apart from this rebellion.  Numbers 26v11 tells us that in the heat of the rebellion, when the wrath of God fell, "the sons of Korah died not". They had not been part of the uprising and they were spared.  They lived to be endowed with talents that found them involved in the musical and poetic productions of the Levites, which in the course of time became their occupation in the settled conditions of the land.  They were contributors to, or recipients of, a number of beautiful Psalms involving personal devotion to God, absolute trust in God, and themes of worship and community.  These are found in Psalms 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.  Twelve Psalms in all attributed to the sons of Korah!  The father had created a monstrous rebellion, but the sons lived to serve the Lord and His people.  The heart warming conclusion to this treachery is as follows:

Family legacies do not determine everything, we are not defined by the failure of our fathers: God can redeem anything and anyone-examples in scripture are numerous.  Korah's sons lived to produce works that magnified the Lord.  Korah held a high position as a prominent son of Levi, but abused it.  His sons received endowments from above which they used for the Lord.  The fruits of their lives are recorded for us today in the above mentioned Psalms.

Christ in all the scriptures Numbers 15

 Christ in all the scriptures

Numbers 15

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I will give unto you..."!

This notable opening, considering the content of chapter 14, is remarkable.  The Lord has forbidden an entire generation to enter the land ever, yet here He is speaking of the next generation doing exactly that.  He says, not IF but WHEN you settle in the land!  Amid the confusion of the present day, it is high time the modern world awakes to the reality of what is here.  God gave them this land! and nothing, and no one, will take it from them.  Israel are far from a perfect people, but they are God's people, and He gave them the land they occupy now.  I remember the comment of the late politician Tony Benn, who said of this, "I did not realise God was an estate agent"!  The whole world needs to understand that the Lord OWNS every square inch of this earth, and He has given this particular land, "the glory of all lands", to Israel.  To oppose that is to oppose Almighty God, who has given them this land, a fact repeated many times in holy writ.  Psalm 24v1 declares "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein".

The chapter presents the instructions for true worship on entering the land.  The principles are outlined as follows:

15v1-21  Pleasing the Lord; v22-29 Obeying the Lord; v30-36 Fearing the Lord; v37-41 Displaying the Lord.

Pleasing the Lord  (1-21).  Five times in this section we read "of a sweet savour unto the Lord"-v3, v7, v10, v13, v14.  This is the first principle of worship when they settle in the land.  It would not be practical in the desert, but when they occupy the land these ingredients would be readily available and they were expected to "Honour the Lord with their substance, and with the first fruits of all their increase"-Proverbs 3v9.  God invites them to bring of His bounty to Him.  We do not possess anything that He has not given us first.  In the present day the sacrifices are spiritual rather than material, but it may involve giving of our material possessions.  God wants to be worshipped in His prescribed way, not any old way of our choosing. So He gives specifics on offerings: in any offering made by fire unto the Lord, whether of a burnt offering, or sacrifice in making a vow, or in a free will (spontaneous) offering, there were measures given for each approach involving fine grain, and oil, and wine.  For us today these rituals point to the sacrifice of Christ in all aspects; to the perfection of His offering, to the Holy Spirit who inspired Him, and to the outpouring of joy in doing the Father's will.  These are what bring a sweet odour to the Lord in contrast to the stench of sin from humankind.  He said, "I do always those things which please Him"-John 8v29.  Likewise, we are also encouraged to please Him-Colossians 1v10, "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God".  The New Testament reveals what is pleasing to God, and it is a study worth pursuing.  Some examples are; Hebrews 1v6, to please Him we must have faith; preaching a sound gospel-1st Thessalonians 2v4; keeping His commandments-1st John 3v22; doing good and sharing what we have-Hebrews 13v16; living sanctified lives-1st Thessalonians 4v1; walking in fellowship with God-Hebrews 11v5; prioritising the things of God-2nd Timothy 2v4; obedience to parents-Colossians 3v20; supporting God's servants-Philippians 4v18; Praying for the unbelieving world at all levels-1st Timothy 2v1-4.  He is a giving God and He deserves something from us.  We note that the pardon pronounced in chapter 14 is based on the blood sacrifice of Christ, and God delights to receive our thanksgiving and devotion.  Whatever we give to the Lord, He gave us more.  He gave His all.  He seeks heart worship from a reverent Spirit, while He enriches us with many blessings.  He seeks full devotion with a joyous spirit from all His people and all associated with them.  In their giving, the first portion was for the Lord, "Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the Lord an heave offering in your generations"-v21.  The heave offering was of the shoulder, symbolising strength.  Remember the first commandment-"...love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might"-Deut. 6v5

Obeying the Lord  v22-29  This section deals with the incidence of sin in the camp or in the individual.  Sins of ignorance (v24-29) are still sins.  The principal is established, "Though he wist it not, yet is he guilty"-Leviticus 5v17.  No one can know all sins, which are offensive to God, it is a learning process.  The instructions given to Moses were not suggestions, they were commandments:

"And if ye have erred and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses, even all that the Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforth among your generations...". 

The meticulous ritualistic detail, given for their worship, reflected the perfection of divine ingredients that would produce the desired sweet odour.  None of us would consider challenging a renowned chef as to how to make a savoury meal.  Deviation from these instructions was a sin, as it countermanded the will of God.  Reverence to the God of perfection demanded conformity in the finest detail.   As much as Israel were given many hundreds of laws (some reckon well over 2000), the Church has less commandments by comparison.  Christ, in His life and death, fulfilled the law in total (Matthew 5v17-18.  He fulfilled the moral law, the civil law, and the ceremonial law in minute detail.  His life and death were a total devotion to the will of God. Nevertheless there are some notable commandments in Christianity which we do well to honour.  At conversion the ordinance of baptism (Matthew 28v19; Mark 16v16; Acts 2v41; Romans 6v3-4; Colossians 2v12.  On the first of every week, remembrance of Him in the emblems bread and wine (Matthew 26v26-27; Mark 114v22-24; Luke 22v19-20; Acts 20v7; 1st Corinthians 11v23-26.  We are commanded to love one another (John 13v34-35; 15v12; Romans 13v8; Ephesians 5v2; Hebrews 13v1; James 2v8-"the Royal Law"; 1st Peter 1v22; 1st John 3v11v14; 5v2.  The instructions concerning church order are said to be the commandments of the Lord (1st Corinthians 14v37); acknowledgement of headship in head coverings (1st Corinthians 11v4-5); charismatic gifts must be interpreted for the edification of the church (1st Corinthians 14v4-17); public teachers (prophets) to demonstrate courtesy in their participation (14v29-33); female members to accept a silent role in the matter of public participation (1st Corinthians 14v34-38, with 1st Timothy 2v8-15).

These are some of the external commandments which are relatively easy to obey.  There are hundreds more to do with our moral lives-scholars have listed over 1000 commands under the headings of "beware", "give", "give not", "let", "love", "love not", "withdraw", "avoid", "be", "seek", "eschew", "mortify", "occupy", and many many more.  The gospel teaches that we are no longer under law, but it is expected that "the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in us"-Romans 8v4; we are not saved by works...but "unto good works"-Ephesians 2v9-10.  The commission of the apostles involved "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"-Matthew 28v20.  It is a serious error to propagate that in this day of grace there are no laws we are expected to obey.  This has led to moral relativism, a concept which is far from bible truth.  

Sins of ignorance are still sins and need to be atoned for by sacrifice.  Whether the sin is known only to the individual, it still needs to be dealt with as individual sin affected the whole camp, and required the action of the priest.  Sins confessed are sins forgiven, which is the bounty of the grace of God in Christ.  This was true prospectively for the Israelite, it is true practically and wonderfully for the Christian believer.

Fearing the Lord  v30-36   Presumptuous sins are to be dealt with in the severest way.  Those who commit blatant public evil within the congregation must be punished, and that publicly, either of excommunication or loss of life.  "Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken His commandment; that soul shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him"-15v31.  The purpose of such extreme punishment is to ensure the fear of the Lord in their midst.  Deuteronomy 13v10-11, "And all Israel shall hear and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this among you"; 17v12-13, "And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously".   There was the incidence in the wilderness of a man breaking the law of the Sabbath.  Not knowing what to do, they sought the Lord, who declared the death penalty of stoning from among them.  This was the ultimate penalty, and would be viewed with horror and condemnation in the present day.  Blatant sin is described as "a reproach against the Lord"-(v30); the punishment reflects the Divine attitude to sin, He must put it away from the redeemed congregation.  The people must learn the reality of sin against the Lord.  There are incidents in the New Testament where people have died because of blatant sin.  Others, where some are excommunicated from the community; leaders, who are publicly rebuked within the community.  All this is to create a sense of the fear of the Lord amongst His people.  Concerning unregenerate man, "there is no fear of God before their eyes"-Psalm 36v1 and Romans 3v18.  Believers are expected to fear the Lord, by living holy lives.  The apostle Peter refers to this many times in his first epistle, "...pass the time of your sojourning here in fear"-1v17; "Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king"-2v17; "Servants be subject unto your masters with all fear..."-2v18; "...your chaste conversation coupled with fear"-3v2; "...give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"-3v15.  The reverential fear of the Lord should be a mark of every Christian and every community of Christians.

Displaying the Lord  v37-41  "Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes (tassels) in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that you may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a-whoring"-v38-39.

There was always a tendency for them to stray in heart, and the fringe with the tassels served as a reminder of who they were.  To coin a phrase we need to "remember whose we are, and who He is".  Many of the commentators say, "Be what you are!".  As we pass through a world in opposition to God we must display the beauties that God has bestowed upon us.  It reminds us who we have become in conversion, and testifies to others in contact with us.  These beautiful tassels with the ribbon of blue reminded them, and all who saw them, they were a heavenly people, they were different, and actions and attitude reflects this.

  

Christ in all the scriptures Numbers 14 part 3

 Christ in all the scriptures

Numbers 14 part 3

 "Great God of wonders all thy ways Display Thine attributes divine; But the bright glories of thy grace Above Thine other wonders shine.

Such deep transgressions to forgive! Such guilty, daring worms to spare! This is Thy grand prerogative, And in this honour none shall share.

Pardon from an offended God! Pardon for sins of deepest dye! Pardon bestowed through Jesus blood! Pardon that brings the rebel nigh!

Who is a pardoning God like thee? Or who has grace so rich and free?"

The hymn by Samuel Davies far better expresses the thoughts of these scriptures than I could.  Pardon from an offended God was the portion of rebellious Israel; it is also the portion of every true believer today.  The next section-v21-39, however, begins with a "But". 

"But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord".  This reveals the reality of fellowship with God.

The discipline of the Lord  Numbers 14v21-39

Divine pardon is full, and final, and free.  It guaranteed the future of Israel, that stands until now, and forever.  There are no eternal consequences, but there certainly will be earthly ones.  God will be glorified on earth no matter the situation.  As Psalm 72v19 prophesies, "And blessed be His glorious name forever; and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen."  The heavens are filled with the glory of the Lord, and earth will be the same.  The dark night of sin will be ushered away to leave this earth in the full blaze of His glory.  On the way to that there will be correction.  God pardoned the nation, but must deal with the rebellion, and this He does.  He is holy, and must be seen to be so, and open sin must be put away.  The judgments were severe, and all rebels must suffer in some way.  We can do no better than to list the discipline that came on those who, so blatantly, strayed from trust in the Lord.

1)  They were forbidden to enter the land  "Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it"-v23.  Caleb stood out as an example of faithfulness.  The Lord said of him, "My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me wholly, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it."  They were told to turn away from the land where the Amalekites and the Canaanites were living, and go toward the wilderness by the Red Sea, for they were in no fit state for conflict (verse 25).  Only Caleb and Joshua were permitted to enter (verse 30).

2) They were prescribed to wander in the wilderness for forty years  The equivalent of one year for every day they spied out the land and returned with an evil report.  During this time an entire generation who left Egypt in redemption power will perish in the wilderness at God's own choosing and in His own time.  Of the millions who left Egypt, only two entered the land along with the children born in the second generation, under 20 years of age.  Such was the scale of the rebellion, and such was the discipline of God.  The Spirit of God writes through Paul in 1st Corinthians 10v5, "But with many of them (the greater part of them) God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness".  This is a devastating culling of His people, and it serves as a warning to all today who would continue in sin in the face of the grace of God.  The Spirit wrote, following the exposition of the grace of God in Christ in the gospel, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!"-Romans 6v1-2.  And God will forbid, for He will introduce discipline as the following New Testament scriptures confirm: Acts 5v1-11;1st Corinthians 3v17; 11v30-32; Revelation 2v22-23.  Five of the seven churches of Revelation were told to repent, to change their thinking and their ways!  To all seven, the command was repeated to all individuals within those churches, "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches".

3)  The ten leaders who brought the evil report died by the plague instantly.  Leadership which has gone astray is a blight in the congregations of the Lord's people.  "And the men which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land .  Even those men that did bring up an evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord".  In these days of clamour for spiritual leadership, it is important to observe that with high status comes high responsibility.  The people would suffer eventually but the leaders were removed instantly.  Scripture warns us about this; Hebrews 13v17 they must give account for those under them; James 3v1 "Become not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.  Jesus said, "To whom much is given, of the same shall much be required"-Luke 12v48.  It is one thing for those led to sin, it is another for leaders to incite rebellion.  To lead the people of God is a position of solemn responsibility, ultimately answerable to God.  Paul wrote concerning elders, "Them that sin rebuke before all that others may fear"-1st Timothy 5v20.  They are to be honoured for good, but rebuked for evil.  To lead a whole camp astray is unacceptable.  Elders must be apt to teach and they will be held accountable for their teaching.  They are to feed the flock of God, they are to discipline the unruly.  To do that they must be blameless and have a good report of the outside world.  The absence of these things diminish the authority of God invested in them, which is the only status they have.  But to lead God's people astray, and foment rebellion will not be tolerated. This is God's house and He will take control.

The delusion of false remorse  Numbers 14v40-45

Moses declared all these things to the people, and they mourned.  The sense of loss was deep, but the reality of it was shallow.  There is a difference between remorse and repentance.  They had plenty of the former but little or none of true heart repentance.  Contrary to the command of the Lord, they attempted to exonerate themselves by gathering at the hill top, intending to enter the land to expel the enemy.  This is an amazing picture of human behaviour.  When the Lord told them they could enter the land they were fearful and refused.  Now the Lord forbids them to enter the land, and, now they want to do it (and enthusiastically for they rose up early in the morning).  It seems that erring humanity is intent on solving its own problems, doing things their own way.  Yet another display of self trust and mistrust in the Lord.  Moses warned them not to go, but they entered the land with disastrous consequences.  They went WITHOUT THE LORD for "...they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp".  They went but the Lord was not with them.  "Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah".   This was an ignominious event in Israel's history, for their army was not only defeated, in what was their first conflict, but they were pursued as far as Hormah which is said to be 100 miles north of this point.

Their tears were "crocodile tears, they were false.  Remorse is not repentance, for it focuses on how an action affects me, rather than how it affects others, including the Lord.  They went in their own strength and contrary to the word of the Lord, and were defeated.  Not until Israel learns that "obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams", will they become overcomers.  This withering observation by the prophet Samuel to king Saul sums up their history.  For us, in the present day, there is a tendency to focus on self effort, pointing to the great sacrifices we are making for the Lord in terms of time and resources, yet where are we in the matter of obedience?  Is the Lord with us in all that we do; are we heart sorry for our failures, seeking to trust only Him?  Otherwise, Israel's failures will become ours.  These things are "written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the age are come" (1st Corinthians 10v20).  We are living in momentous, dangerous times, and we need the Lord with us.

 

Christ in all the scriptures Numbers 14 part 2

 Christ in all the scriptures

Numbers 14 part 2

We continue this astonishing chapter in which the judgment and mercy of God are displayed in awesome harmony.

The Dialogue of Moses  Numbers 14v13-25

In view of the whole rebellious congregation the Lord speaks directly to Moses.  This episode reveals to us God's attitude to sin, even amongst His redeemed people.  "I will smite them with pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than them".  We must never minimise God's intolerance to sin, particularly wilful sin in the face of privilege.  What follows is an intercession by Moses of unparalleled appeal.  He ignored the offer to exalt Himself and exterminate the rebels.  He appeals to God on three grounds: 1) the reputation of His name.  2) the superior character of His person.  3) the greatness of His mercy.  This was a high point in Moses life, even greater than his decision to refuse the palace of Egypt.  Moses relinquished personal grandeur for the greater glory of God, and the needs of his beloved people.  Most of us would place personal glory above everything else.  

We ponder for a moment what this reveals.  Firstly, human sin is hurtful to the Lord, it is offensive to Him.  We can only truly know this when we understand that MY sin is hurtful and hateful to Him.  Secondly, Moses denied himself highest honour in order to save his erring people, here he becomes the saviour of Israel.  Ask yourself what you would do if you were offered this by the Sovereign Majesty in heaven.  Thus he foreshadows One who would deny Himself to save the world.  It is written of Jesus, "He thought it not robbery (a thing to be grasped) to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation (emptied Himself), and took upon Himself the form of a servant..."Philippians 2v6-7.  He "looked on the things of others" to become their Saviour and Intercessor, He looked on my things to be my Saviour and Intercessor.  What follows in Moses prayer reflects what is happening every day in heaven for us, as "He continues to make intercession for us"-Isaiah 53v12; Romans 8v34; Hebrews 7v25.  His intercession for us reveals His deep connection and concern for us, and for the glory of God.

He appeals on the basis of the greatness of His name  Numbers 14v13-16

"And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by daytime in a pillar of cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.  Now if thou kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which He sware unto them, therefore He hath slain them in the wilderness".

The Name of the Lord is important, His reputation matters.  From this we understand that the outside world knows what God's people should be.  This very public annihilation would diminish the reputation of God in their eyes.  He is not a capricious God, that is He is not subject to sudden and unaccountable changes in mood, He does not act arbitrarily, but according to consistent principles clearly revealed.  What the unbelieving world thinks of Him, even if they don't accept Him now, will culminate in universal acclaim to His glory.  

He appeals on the basis of His excellency of His character  Numbers 14v17-19

"And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord (Adonahy-sovereign Lord) be great according as thou hast spoken, saying, the Lord (Jehovah-the eternally unchanging One) is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.  Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy...".

God had spoken of the power of His justice, His holy wrath upon sin.  Moses appeals to the power of His grace, which is greater even than His judgment.  The New Testament makes this clear in Romans chapter 5 where the power of grace is superior to the power of sin (sin reigned...grace reigns-verse 20).  The power of God is awesome in judgment, just as He said He could terminate a nation at a stroke; the power of His grace is even more.  The music industry produced a song called "the power of love", and God's version of it is the greatest drawing power on earth.  It is to this Moses appeals.  The character of God is such that He is apart from all in His judgment, but also in His merciful dealings.  His mercy toward people does not compromise in any way His revulsion of sin, and will be enacted within families in the course of time.  However His lovingkindness is always to the fore, and He must act in accordance with His character.

He appeals on the basis of God's consistent dealings with His people  Numbers 14v19b

"...and as thou hast forgiven them from Egypt until now".  If He would pardon them for the treachery of the golden calf (as an extreme example), will He not also pardon them now?  Consistency is implicit in the title Jehovah, and Moses appeals to the Lord on this basis.  Note the reverence with which he spoke to the Lord; in chapter 33v13 he had referred to them as "thy people", now in the wake of God's threat to disinherit them, he spoke of "this people", repeating how the Lord described them in 14v11 (refer v13, v14, v15, v16, v19).  In this Moses is acknowledging the Lord has a right to disinherit them, but because of the greatness of His mercy He will pardon them.  "And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word".

The prayer intercession of Moses that day saved a nation from extinction, and preserved an undeserving people, a status that continues to this day.  We can only imagine, yet we know it is true that our Saviour in heaven lives to intercede for us.  His work of intercession will go on until we are glorified, yet its purpose is to wean us away from sin and mistrust in the Lord.  The grace of God toward us is truly amazing, but we must not tarnish it with perpetual sin.  As we shall see next, although they escaped eternal consequences, there were earthly consequences, the glory of God must be paramount. 

 

Christ in all the scriptures Numbers 14

 Christ in all the scriptures

Numbers 14 part 1

"Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (ages) are come"-1st Corinthians 10v11.

This text could be written across Numbers 14 along with other O/T scriptures.  This chapter is solemn in its outcome, for what it reveals about human nature and the Divine character.  Nothing is hidden, or embellished.  The details are at times excruciating, but it is a warning to us today.  This is  how God acts with the rebellious spirit amongst His people.  The chapter presents the enduring principles of God's justice, His mercy, His faithfulness in His dealings with His people.  We should take note for we are at the end of things, as they were at the beginning of things, and we are therefore more responsible, for we are more informed.  To sin against light is a serious matter.  God will judge all sin, but first He must judge it when it arises amongst His people, "Judgment must begin at the house of God"-1st Peter 4v17.  At stake was the glory of the Lord (Numbers 14v10 and 14v21) which is the last consideration when sin grips the minds and hearts.

This difficult chapter can be divided as follows for our learning:

The Dissension of the people v1-10

The Displeasure of the Lord  v11-12

The Dialogue of Moses  v13-19

The Discipline of the Lord  v20-39

The Delusion of remorse  v40-45

The dissension of the people  Numbers 14v1-10

This was no minority uprising; this was wholesale rebellion, similar to the golden calf  atrocity in Exodus 32.  The toxic poison of the rebel spies had infected the entire camp.  This is a warning today against unhealthy talk taking hold in the congregations of God's people: "All the congregation lifted up their voice..."-v1; "All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron..."-v2 (the word murmured is more than an undercurrent, it suggests a public dissent); "The whole congregation said unto them, would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness"-v2 (their rejection of Moses and Aaron was a rejection of God); Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation..."v5; Joshua and Caleb "Spake unto all the company of the children of Israel..."-v7; "But all the congregation bade stone them with stones..."-v10.  The Lord intervened in no uncertain terms, "The glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel"-v10.  God's servants had acted and spoken, and now the Lord will finish the matter.  They rejected God's appointed servants calling for new leaders to take them back to Egypt, and threatening to stone Joshua and Caleb who spoke the truth. 

The displeasure of the Lord  Numbers 14v11-12 and 14v22

At this the Lord appeared in the cloud above the tabernacle.  Decisive action was about to be taken, for God only moves thus in judgment.  "And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel"-v10.  Not now resting upon the mercy seat in the sanctuary (symbolic of His presence among them in blessing), but confronting the whole congregation in judgment.  "And the Lord said unto Moses, how long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me for all the signs which I have shown among them"?  He expands on this in v22, "All these men which have seen my glory and my miracles which I have done in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me (put me to the test) these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice".  We must take from this that the Lord is weary with our mistrust and unbelief.  He understands our weakness but will not tolerate our wilfulness.  Ten times is not an arbitrary number, for God does not estimate, He is meticulous in His words.

1) Questioning God at the Red Sea  Ex.14v11-12

2) Complaining of bitter water at Marah  Ex.15v24

3) Murmuring at the desert of Sin  Ex. 16v1-3

4) Transgressing in collecting the manna Ex. 16v20

5) Collecting manna on the sabbath Ex. 16v27-29

6) Complaint about lack of water at Rephidim Ex. 17v2-3

7) Engaging in rank idolatry Ex. 32v7-10

8) Complaining at Taberah Numbers 11v1-3

9) Despising the manna for the food of Egypt Numbers 11v4-9

10) Failing to enter the promised land Numbers 14v1-4

The Lord is longsuffering, slow to anger, as it says throughout holy scripture.  Psalm 86v15 "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth".  There are many scriptures referring to this, such as: Exodus 34v6; Numbers 14v18;Nehemiah 9v17; Isaiah 30v18; Ezekiel 20v17; Joel 2v13; James 5v11.  The longsuffering of God is His patience and mercy toward humanity, and is a characteristic we are encouraged to imitate for ourselves.  Where would any of us be were it not for the amazing patience of God?  He is longsuffering to the world in general (Romans 2v4; 3v25; 2nd Peter 3v9.  He is longsuffering to the believer, as is evident throughout scripture.   He waited 120 years in the days before the flood.  He has waited almost 2000 years in the present age of grace.  However there is one characteristic of God which is finite-His longsuffering.  He will not tolerate sin forever, He will obliterate it from existence and those who remain rebellious will suffer eternally.  At the heart of all rebellion is unbelief, self reliance, trust in men, and mistrust in God.  Israel, the most privileged nation on earth were in large part guilty of it, and still are today.  We thank God for those in Israel, like Moses and Aaron, and Joshua and Caleb, and many others including the apostles of Christ who brought the truth of God to us and to the world.  It falls to us to continue that work and we hope that these short blogs will do just that.  God be praised for the remnant who stand faithful today in an ever changing and deluded world.  God will judge the world and judgment begins at the house of God.