Study No.2 Facing the Dangers of Life by Faith Shippensburg Bible School, 2016 Theme: A Journey of Life in a Wilderness of Death 1
Who is on Yahweh s side? (verse 26) Who is for Yahweh (Roth). Israel s sin challenged God s sovereignty, Exod.20:5; Hos.13:4; Isa.45:21 A contrast between Aaron and Moses Aaron compromises, in hope of bringing good out of evil: vv. 2, 5. [Aaron chosen by Israel because of weakness, Exod.24:14; Num.12:1-2] Moses meets the problem head-on: vv.26-27. He displayed the necessary credentials, 2Sam.23:3 [Exod.18:21; Deut.16:18-19] The Levites respond vv.26-28 Sin must be addressed: v.28 There is no room for partiality, v.27; Matt.10:37 A blessing for faithful execution, Deut.33:9-10; Num.8:24-25 (marg/rv to war a warfare ) 2
The Golden calf (?) 3
Toward the Land Israel take their journey: Num.33:16-18 An enthusiastic start: Num.10:33-36 Influenced by the deceitfulness of sin, Heb.3:13: Complainers, Num.11:1 Lustful, Num.11:4 Dissenters, Num.12:1-2 Rebellious, Num.13-14 Goshen Rithmah Hazeroth Kibroth-hattaavah Mt. Sinai 4
Numbers 11:4-6 Mixed Exod.12:38 multitude, v.4: (Hb. H628, aspsuph ), Mixed (Hb. ereb: the gather woof interwoven up in together [Stg], rabble [BDB], contemptuous material [Gesenius]. Attached themselves to Israel, Exod.12:38; Lev.24:10 Did eat in Egypt freely, v.5: (Hb H2600, chinnan ) = gratis, devoid of cost, [transl. without cost 1Chron.21:24] Soul dried away, v.6: Heb. (H3002) yabesh = something dead (e.g. dry bones, Ezek.37:2,4). Believed it was well with them in Egypt (v18). Nothing at all, v.6: (Heb. H369, ayin ) to be nothing, non-existent, non-entity. 5
Numbers 14 An inspired commentary They limited God s ability: Psa.78:41 They forgot what God had done for them: Psa.78:42 They despised the pleasant land: Psa.106:24 They murmured: 1Cor.10:10 God destroyed the unbelievers: Jude 5 Hebrews 3:8-19 They tempted and proved God, (v.9) Displayed an evil heart of unbelief, (v.12) They departed from the living God, (v.12) There was a hardening of the heart, (v.15) They refused to hear God's voice, (v.15) 6
The basis of faith Hebrews 11 Salvation depends upon the assimilation of the mind to the divine ideas, principles, and affections, exhibited in the Scriptures. This process commences with a belief of the gospel spiritualmindedness can only grow within a man by a daily intercourse with that mind there unfolded. Away from this, the mind will revert to its original emptiness. Faith gives substance to things hoped for, v.1 (RV) Noah made preparation because of things not seen as yet, v.7 Abraham obeyed, not knowing whither he went, v.8 Moses endured, as seeing Him who is invisible, v.27 Without faith, impossible to please God, v.6 7
Kadesh The climax of unfaithfulness Israel questioned God s promise Num.13:1,2 God promised a good land, Exod.3:8 Abraham s seed promised the land, Gen.12:7 The land promised to this generation, Gen.15:16 God was remembering His promise, Exod.2:24 God assured Israel of possession Deut.1:21 set = Heb. nathan (H5414), to give, deliver Israel requested to spy out the land Deut.1:22 Israel lacked confidence in God s ability, Deut.1:32 God had already searched the land, Deut.1:33 Israel ignored the voice of the dead Gen.50:24,25; Exod.13:19 8
Hebron: Numbers 13:21 Abraham settled there: So they went up, and searched the land Gen.13:18, cp. Spies, from the wilderness of Num.13:21 Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. Place where promised seed given, Gen.18:1,10 Place where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob buried, Gen.25:9; 49:31, 29,30 died in faith, Heb.11:13 Eschol: Separated themselves from own countrymen, Gen.14:7,8 Confederate with The land was exactly Abraham, Gen.14:13, 24 as Yahweh said, Fearless in the face of Num.13:26-27 danger, Gen.14:9,15 10 Mt. Hermon Numbers 13:22-23 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were And they came unto the brook of Eshcol,
Walking by sight Israel s decision governed by what they SAW, Num.13:28,32,33 Israel placed emphasis upon human resources, Num.13:31 They didn t believe God s word, Psalm 106:24 Claimed to be looking after the best interests of Ecclesia, Num.14:2-3 Contrast God, v.31 They murmured, Num.14:2 [ in their tents, Deut.1:27] They discouraged the people, Num.32:7-8, [Three times spoke evil of the land, 14:31,36,37] They sowed discord, Prov.6:19 (2Thess.3:11; 1Tim.5:3) 11
Joshua and Caleb What made them different? They developed a positive attitude - Num.14:24; 27:18 Exhortation: Rom.8:9 They stayed close to the things of God - Exod.32:17;33:11 Exhortation: Matt.6:33 They were determined to conquer the flesh - Num.13:30; 14:6-9 Exhortation: Rom.8:31-32 Their enthusiasm never waned - Josh.14:10,11; 24:15 Exhortation: Heb.3:14; 1Cor.15:58 12
Who were Joshua and Caleb? Joshua, the son of Nun of Ephraim (1Chron.7:20,27) Joshua was focused on the future: Joshua, Yah shall save ; Nun, posterity. Of the tribe of Ephraim (1Chron.7:20,27) = fruitful Described as a servant (Num.11:28), a minister (Exod.24:13) Filled with God s Purpose (Num.14:24; 32:12) Willing to stand alone and firm in faith, (Josh.24:15) Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, a Kenezite (Num.32:12) Caleb, a dog ; Jephunneh, for whom a way is prepared ; Kenezite, a hunter Of Gentile origins (Kenezite, Gen.15:19) Not overwhelmed by giants (Num.13:6, 30; 14:8) Filled with God s purpose (Num.14:24; 32:12) Consistently zealous (Josh.14:6-13) Displayed another spirit (Num.14:24) 13
Who were Joshua and Caleb? Numbers 14:6-9 If Yahweh delight in us : (v.8). They appreciated God s atoning work Israel was not the focus Num.14:21, Kingdom is going to happen with or without us. Consider Duet.10:15; 7:8; (Rom.11:28). they are bread for us, and their defence is departed (v.9). defence = shadow (marg). Bread: Bible echo!!! Exod.16:21 the manna; it melted when the sun waxed hot. Nations just like the manna when sun waxed hot. 14
Who were Joshua and Caleb? Numbers 14:24 where into he went : consider comment in Deut.1:36, land he hath trodden on Bible echo: Gen.13:18. Caleb followed exactly what Abraham had done and so must we, Romans 4:19-21 Sadly, God gave Israel what they desired Num.14:2; vv.28,29 The same principle applies to ourselves Gal.6:8,9 15
Walking by Faith ABRAHAM - Staggered not at the promise (Rom.4:20) MOSES - Endured as seeing Him who is invisible (Heb.11:27) DAVID - Yahweh that delivered me..he will deliver me (1 Sam.17:37) DANIEL - My God hath sent His angel (Dan.6:22) JESUS - For the joy that was set before him endured the cross (Heb.12:3) 16
Let Him that Thinketh He Standeth, Take Heed Lest He fall But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief Hebrews 3:17-19 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it...let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief Hebrews 4:1,11 17