Beha alotekha. Numbers 8:2 In thy causing the lights to go up, over-against the face of the candlestick do the seven lights give light.

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1 ^t.l{)[]h;b. Numbers Corinthians 10:6-13 Beha alotekha The LORD is telling Moses to tell Aaron YLT Numbers 8:2 In thy causing the lights to go up, over-against the face of the candlestick do the seven lights give light.' ^t.l{)[]h;b verb hiphil infinitive construct suffix 2nd person masculine singular of the verb hl'[' B. preposition meaning in ^ suffix 2nd person masculine singular thy or your (singular) Hiphil- Causative, as reflected in Young s Literal Translation (above) Holladay hl'[' Hif. 1. bring up, lead up Gn 46 4 ; sacrifices to altar Gn 8 20 ; 2. bring over s.thg, s.one: frogs upon land Ex 8 1 ; cause (healing) to grow Je ; 3. make high, bring (high) up, make s.thg go up Aliyah comes from this Hebrew word to go up to Jerusalem, to go live in Israel Ap: There is a light related command from Yeshua that applies to all believers, Jew or Gentile, no matter we live on this planet: Lift up your light for all to see. CJB Matthew 5: "You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don't cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. Ap: We are smaller lights that represent the true Light of the world, Yeshua, who shines through us. CJB John 9:5 Yeshua said, While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Ap: Since light reveals truth, our mission is to reveal truth. Q: In what ways do we reveal truth to others? I Corinthians Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian Church in about AD 55. This church had problems: Immaturity, factions, immorality, false teaching, abuse of the Lord s Supper, and litigation in pagan courts. They were not doing a good job as lights in Corinth. In the following section of his letter, Paul warns them to learn what not to do from the negative example of the Israelites in the wilderness. 1

2 I Corinthians 10:4-13 CJB 1 Corinthians 10:4-5 and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit- for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah. Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert. We know about the Israelites drinking water from a rock after Moses struck the rock, but this rock did not move anywhere. Paul derives a spiritual analogy from this physical rock, suggesting they drank from a spiritual Rock also. God was taking care of them in the desert in spite of their rebellion. He further states the Rock was the Messiah Yeshua who followed them. In the Tanakh there are references to God as the Rock. CJB Deuteronomy 32:3-4 3 "For I will proclaim the name of ADONAI. Come, declare the greatness of our God! 4 The Rock! His work is perfect, for all his ways are just. A trustworthy God who does no wrong, he is righteous and straight. CJB Psalm 18:32 32 "For who is God but ADONAI? Who is a Rock but our God? In the New Covenant Yeshua is referred to as the Rock, pe,tra, in several additional places. ESV Romans 9:33 as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." NAU Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Q: What does it mean to you that God is a Rock? What attributes are in view? Q: How do we drink from the spiritual Rock? NAU 1 Corinthians 10:6 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. CJB 1 Corinthians 10:7 7 Don't be idolaters, as some of them were- as the Tanakh puts it, "The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to indulge in revelry." CJB Exodus 32:3-6 3 The people stripped off their gold earrings and brought them to Aharon. 4 He received what they gave him, melted it down, and made it into the shape of a calf. They said, "Isra'el! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!" 5 On seeing this, Aharon built an altar in front of it and proclaimed, "Tomorrow is to be a feast for ADONAI." 6 Early the next morning they got up and offered burnt offerings and presented peace offerings. Afterwards, the people sat down to eat and drink; then they got up to indulge in revelry. The first step in idolatry is worshipping something that supposedly represents the true God. But the true God is quickly supplanted by a god of one s own invention. The Israelites were explicitly told not to do this. CJB Exodus 20:4-5 4 You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. 5 You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, ADONAI your God The Corinthian believers were committing idolatry and sinning by reverting to their pagan practices of immorality and partying instead of obeying the commands of 2

3 Messiah Yeshua. Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth, teaching them while he earned his own living as a tent maker. Their behavior must have grieved him. CJB 1 Corinthians 10:8 8 And let us not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, with the consequence that 23,000 died in a single day. NAU Numbers 25:1-9 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel. 4 The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger (qumo,j LXX) of the LORD may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor." So the plague on the sons of Israel was checked. 9 Those who died by the plague were 24,000. This was an approximate, rounded number. Perhaps one source rounded up and the other rounded down. Q: Does God become angry and wrathful when people sin? a. b. c. d. NAU John 3:36 36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath (orge) of God abides (futuristic present) on him." NAU Romans 1: For the wrath (orge) of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. ESV Revelation 14:10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath (thumos), poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. NAU Romans 5:9 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath (orge) of God through Him. Q: Is wrath the same as anger? ovrgh, (orge) translated wrath 30 times in NAU NT translated anger 6 times in NAU NT qumo,j (thumos) translated wrath 9 times in NAU NT Trench s Synonyms of the New Testament says this: Thumos is more of a turbulent commotion, the boiling agitation of feelings Orge is more of an abiding and settled habit of mind Both Greek words are used in reference to the LORD s disposition toward sin and sinners Webster s Dictionary states that wrath & anger are synonyms (same meaning or close). Wrath adds the concept of punishment in retribution. 3

4 CJB 1 Corinthians 10:9 And let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. CJB Numbers 21:5-6 5 The people spoke against God and against Moshe: "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? To die in the desert? There's no real food, there's no water, and we're sick of this miserable stuff we're eating!" 6 In response, ADONAI sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit the people, and many of Isra'el's people died. spoke against God by bitter complaint Very dangerous thing to do! test evkpeira,zw Matthew 4:7 (ekpeiradzo) 7 Yeshua replied to him, "But it also says, 'Do not put ADONAI your God to the test.'" ( Testing God in Matthew 4 was deliberately putting oneself in a life threatening situation and challenging Him to rescue You. Testing Him in Numbers 21 was complaining against the Lord and challenging His appointed leader, making demands, insubordination. CJB 1 Corinthians 10:10 10 And don't grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroying Angel NAU Numbers 16: But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD'S people." 42 It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 "Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly." Then they fell on their faces. 46 Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!" 47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. 49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. "You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD'S people." This is a reference to Korah, Dathan, and Abiram along with 250 of their followers (Numbers 16:3-35) They accuse Moses of killing Israelites, yet Moses was actually rescuing them from God s wrath by making intercession for them, more than once. The destroying angel was rapidly executing people for their rebellion. Moses and Aaron intercede by making atonement for the people, but not before 14,700 had died. Lesson: It is dangerous to grumble against the Lord and His appointed leadership. Philippians 2: Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 4

5 ESV 1 Corinthians 10: Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. Let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall Q: What does Paul mean by this statement? NAU 1 Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. NET 1 Corinthians 10:13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. Q: Which is it? Temptation or trial? peirasmo,j peirasmos (noun) used 21 times in New Testament [GING] peirasmo,j, ou/, o` 1. test, trial 1 Pt 4:12. Of testing God Hb 3:8. 2. temptation, enticement to sin Mt 6:13; 26:41; Mk 14:38; Lk 8:13; 11:4; 22:40, 46; Ac 15:26 v.l.; 1 Ti 6:9; 2 Pt 2:9; Rv 3:10 peira,zw peiradzo (verb) used 39 times in New Testament [GING] peira,zw 1. try, attempt Ac 9:26; 16:7; 24:6. 2. try, make trial of, put to the test a. generally Mt 16:1; 22:18, 35; Mk 10:2; J 6:6; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Cor 13:5; Hb 2:18; 11:17; Rv 2:2; 3:10. Of making trial of God Ac 5:9; 15:10; 1 Cor 10:9; Hb 3:9. b. tempt, entice to sin Mt 4:1, 3; Mk 1:13; Lk 4:2; Gal 6:1; 1 Th 3:5; Js 1:13f; Rv 2:10< Both trial and temptation are translated from the same Greek word. You could translate either way. This promise applies to both temptations and trials. The Israelites were undergoing a trial in the Sinai desert. They did not have a way of providing for themselves. In the midst of this trial, they were tempted to complain. Far too often they fell into this temptation, incurring the Lord s anger. Every trial leads to a temptation to doubt the Lord and complain. Every temptation becomes a trial in that it is difficult to resist and take the right road. Promise: The Lord will never ever allow us to be tried or tempted beyond our ability to bear it, with His help. He will give us the endurance to go through it. He will provide a way of escape, according to His timing. It is temporary. Q: What is a trial? A: A trial is a difficult circumstance in life. It may be health problem, physical pain, mental anguish, loss of family member or friend, loss of a job, loss of social standing, 5

6 loss of monetary security, unanswered prayer, vehicle breakdown; any negative situation that confronts you, large or small. Trials are a normal part of life. ALW 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your trial, as though some strange thing were happening to you; With every trial Satan tempts you to blame God, be disappointed in God, to give up on God, to stop praying, stop trusting. God allows trials just as He did with Job, for a reason. God allowed Satan to take Job s property, destroy his children, and ruin his health. Satan tempted Job to curse God due to God not blessing him any longer. But it did not work. Job held fast to his faith; he questioned God and even became cynical, but he never cursed God. When God corrected Job, he took it well, with humility. NAU James 5:11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. Ap: If we do not respond in the right way, trials may result in bitterness and hardened heart against God as it did with the Israelites in the wilderness. NAS Hebrews 3:8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, ALW Luke 8:13 "And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of trial fall away. If we respond in the right way, trials strengthen our endurance and lead to spiritual maturity. NAU James 1:2-4 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NAS James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. How to respond in the right way: 1. Thank the Lord that He will work good out of the trial. a. b. ALW Romans 8:28 We know perfectly well that for those who are loving God, He continually works all things together toward good CJB Ephesians 5:20 always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 2. Trust the Lord with all your heart. a. CJB Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths. 3. Ask the Lord for grace and strength to do the above. 6

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