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The tempter came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."' (Matthew 4:~) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted UP, that everyoye who believes may have eternal life in him. (John 3:1~15)
Outline of biblical history, Numbers, Deuteronomy . After the law to the Israelites at Sinai, God directed them to go take possession of the promised land. Fearing the inhabitants of Canaan, they refused to do so, thus showing lack of confidence 'we in the promises of God. The whole adult generation come out of Egypt, with the exception of Joshua and was condemned to wander and die in the desert. Israel was forbidden to dispossess its kinsfolk, the nations of Edom, Moab Ammon, but was given victory over the other nations that opposed it finally, ' forty years after leaving Eygpt, Israel arrived in Midianite territory on the east side of the Jordon. Here Moses prepared the people for their possession and commissioned Joshua as their new leader.
A new nation has been born as the people of God, and the promises made to the patriarchs appear now to be gaining Israel's experiences of redemption f ie presence and word of the ruling Lc
one direction only: possession of a ne~ ~ised land of Canaan. Nothing summarizes Israel and the nature of God so well as the fam God told Aaron to pronounce over the people
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine
upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and
give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
These words have a very specific meaning. They restoration to a right
relationship with God, of tinual provision of every need, and of a healing
creation. So the name of God rests upon Israel They will bear his name
among the nations of th as the third commandment reminds them, thE bear
this name in vain by bringing it into disrepul The book of Numbers places
special emp~
I want to inform my hearers that God relates to His people as present pure and purposeful. He is always present with His people. He is pure/holy and demands that His people also be holy. Finally even though He must discipline His people because they disobey Him, He carries out His purposes of grace towards them.
This book is called NUMBERS from the several numberings of the people contained in it. It extends from the giving of the law at Sinai, till their arrival in the plains of Jordan. An account is given of their murmuring and unbelief, for which they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness nearly forty years; also some laws, both moral and ceremonial. Their trials greatly tended to distinguish the wicked and hypocrites from the faithful and true servants of God, who served him with a pure heart.
TRUST OF THE BOOK : NEGATIVE
OUTLINE
NUMBERS 8
Vs. 1-4
:
The work of ministers is to light
these lamps, by expounding and applying
the word of God. Jesus Christ
is the only Light of our dark, sinful world; and by his
atonement, by his word and the
Holy Spirit, he diffuses light around.
Vs. 5-26
: Here we have directions for the solemn ordination
of the Levites. All Israel
must know that they took not
this honor to themselves, but were called of God to it; nor
was it enough that they were
distinguished from others. All who are employed for God,
must be dedicated to him, according
to the employment. Christians must be baptized,
ministers must be ordained; we
must first give ourselves unto the Lord, and then our
services. The Levites must be
cleansed. They must be clean that bear the vessels of the
Lord. Moses must sprinkle the
water of purifying upon them. This signifies the
application of the blood of Christ
to our souls by faith, that we may be fit to serve the
living God. God declares his
acceptance of them. All who expect to share in the
privileges of the tabernacle,
must resolve to do the service of the tabernacle. As, on the
one hand, none of God’s
creatures are his necessary servants, he needs not the service of
any of them; so none are merely
honorary servants, to do nothing. All whom God owns,
he employs; angels themselves have their services.