God's Eternal Purpose...it's in chapter 2

Very important Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's kingdom can be found in various chapter "2’s," and their fulfillment is found in an important New Testament chapter "2".

The Kingdom in Prophecy

The "time" element for the coming of the kingdom of the Messiah is found in Daniel 2:44. It would come "in the days of those kings" — the kings of the Roman Empire (approx. 31 B.C. to A.D. 476).
The "location" element of the prophecy is found in Isaiah 2:3 — "For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
The "how" of the coming of the kingdom is prophesied in Joel 2:28-32, where God says that He will "pour My Spirit on all mankind."

The Kingdom Accomplished

The fulfillment of all three of these prophecies is found in Acts 2 in the New Testament! The preaching was within the days of "those kings," the Roman Empire (approx. 30-33 A.D.). It was first done in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 2:5,14). And it was accompanied with the outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4, 16-21). Peter quotes Joel 2, and says "this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel!"

Remembering these prophesies, all found in chapter "twos" in the Old Testament, and their fulfillment in a chapter "two" in the New Testament, makes it easy to keep it in our mind and teach it to others.

Is the phrase ‘church of Christ’ proper?

Is the phrase ‘church of Christ’ proper to describe a local congregation?

An objection is made that since the 3 words ‘church of Christ’ cannot be found [per se] in any “book, chapter, or verse” of the Bible;  to refer to a single congregation by these words is NOT speaking as the oracles of God. 

This position sets forth that unless and without a passage ‘word-for-word’, such cannot be!  First of all, it denies that any inference may be made from statements, commands, and/or precedent setting examples, whereby authorization for the use of ‘church of Christ’ may be made from the Bible.  It is an admission of ignorance of the use of metonymy in the Bible.

Consider some parallels:

Parallel #1. The word Sunday…may we properly say that the Bible authorizes saints to assemble on Sunday?  Must we say ‘first day of the week’?  Have you ever used Sunday?  [so also for any other day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  Can we say ‘Saturday’ for Sabbath?  You don’t find Monday thru Saturday in the Bible, but is it implied by necessity?  What is the ‘name’ of the Sabbath Day? What is the name of the seventh day of the week?  Is it a failure to speak as the oracles of God to say the name of the Sabbath (or seventh) Day of the week is Saturday?  How may we properly use the word ‘Saturday’ or ‘Sunday’ for the first and seventh days?

It is by necessary implication! The Sabbath or the seventh day is by name Saturday. So likewise for the first day of the week; it’s name is Sunday.

Parallel #2. “Erroring Christian” – what about this phrase? Have you ever used it? Can you find it in the Bible? Can you produce book, chapter, and verse?  Is it ‘scriptural’ to use this phrase on the basis of such passages as 1 Tim. 1:19 – “concerning faith have made shipwreck”, 2 Tim. 2:18 – who concerning the truth have erred…” 2 Tim. 2:8 – “reprobates” and 2 Peter 2:20-2 - if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome…known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back…”

An ‘erroring’ Christian exists, by necessary implication, from the passages given above. I can be speaking by the oracles of God and use the phrase ‘erroring’ Christian, although no book, chapter, and verse can be produced.

Parallel #3. Child of God.  I cannot provide book, chapter, and verse for the phrase, Christian in/of Christ, saint in/of Christ, disciple(s) in/of Christ, yet if the relationship with Christ exists by virtue of the new birth, then that person may be called a child of God. I can provide book, chapter, and verse for the plural phrase, “children of God”; but I cannot produce book, chapter, and verse for ‘child’ (singular) of God.  Am I speaking as the oracles of God in referring to a single child of God? Yes, for I can read of a Christian.

As I can read of Christian and of Christians; of a disciple and of disciples; of saint and of saints, so likewise, I can, by necessary inference be accurate in saying that the individual Christian; the individual disciple; and the individual saint is an individual child of God, while not being able to produce book, chapter, and verse for the phrase “child of God”.  The singular is, of necessity, implied by the plural “children of God” as existing.

Matt. 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. – [one single peacemaker is a child of God]

 Luke 20:36 - Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

 John 11:52 -  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Rom.8:16, 21-  he Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God… Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Rom. 9:8 – That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Gal. 3:26 -  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

1 John 3:10 -  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

If ‘children’ (plural), are referred to in the Bible as “of God”, then the individual ‘child’, is, of necessity, also “of God”.

Necessary implication elsewhere used:

What about Lot?

In Gen. 13:1 we read,  “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.”

We find that Abram ‘went up out of Egypt’ AND LOT WITH HIM.  Find book, chapter, and verse that so states that Lot went down into Egypt.  Can I teach that by necessary inference, Lot went down into Egypt prior to this?  I can by necessary inference from the facts found in other passages, yet I cannot produce book, chapter, and verse for it.

Thus, from the facts stated in Genesis 13:1, one can of necessity, infer correctly (and accurately teach that Lot went down into Egypt at some earlier time.

We have in Romans 16:16 - “…the churches of Christ salute you.”  Who is the apostle Paul meaning by this reference [in the plural] by the term ‘churches’? Additionally, what does he mean by the phrase “of Christ”?

These were referring to local congregations elsewhere who sent greetings to the brethren in the congregation there in Rome, to whom Paul penned his epistle. Those in Rome were the “you” in verse 16; they were the ones who were to greet the church in the house of Priscilla and Aquila (v. 5); and they were to salute ‘one another’ (v. 16).

If all of these congregations collectively were “of Christ”, then each single congregation, of necessity, would be “of Christ”.  The following texts provide other locations of the term ‘churches’, but is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

Churches (plural):

Rom. 16:4 – “all the churches of the Gentiles…” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in other localities) ~ these were churches of Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

1 Cor. 16:1 – “to the churches of Galatia…” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in the region of Galatia) ~ these were churches of Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ. [Bithynia, Paphlagonia, Cappadocia, and Lycaonia were in the region of Galatia]

2 Cor. 8:23 – “…our brethren…the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in other localities) these were churches of Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

Gal. 1:22 – “…unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ.” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in the region of Judaea) ~ these were churches of (in) Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

1 Thess. 2:14 – “for ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus…” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in the region of Judaea) ~ these were churches of (in) Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

Likewise, we read of a single congregation of the church (singular)

Rom 16:1 – the church which is at Cenchrea – a single congregation; it can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Cenchrea.

Rom. 16:5 – Likewise [greet] the church that is in their (Priscilla and Aquila’s) house. It can be called/referred to as the church of Christ.

1 Cor. 1:2 – Unto the church of God  which is  at Corinth, to them that are sanctified  in  Christ Jesus, called  [to be] saints, with  all  that in  every  place  call upon  the name  of Jesus  Christ  our  Lord…

[it can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Corinth, for to be sanctified in Christ, by metonymy is to be ‘of’ Christ]

1 Cor. 4:17 – “…as I teach every where  in  every  church…” (i.e., in every congregation or local collective) they were “of Christ”; they were taught the same uniform teaching as others who were sanctified, and thus, “of Christ”.

2 Cor. 1:1 –“…unto the church  of God  which  is at Corinth, with  all  the saints  which  are  in  all Achaia…” – “of God”, meaning that they were in some way connected in spiritual fellowship with God thru the same uniform gospel message that was preached “everywhere and in every church”.

Phil. 1:1 – “…to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” (this refers to a local congregation/assembly or church of Christ); by necessary implication, to be a saint, is to be “of” or “in” Christ; to be “of God” is equal to being “in God” – it has reference to relationship.

1 Thess. 1:1 – “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church (local congregation/assembly) of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and  [in] the Lord Jesus  Christ…” It can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Thessalonica. By metonymy, “of Christ” is equal to being “in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. It has reference to relationship.

2 Thess. 1:1 – Paul, and Silvanus, and  Timotheus, unto the church  of the Thessalonians  in God our  Father  and the Lord Jesus Christ;  it can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Thessalonica. (same as in 1 Thess. above)

[“of” or “in”] Christ = meaning that a relationship exists with Christ. A single individual may be referred to or a plurality of people, depending upon the context. Thus, a church (local collective/assembly/congregation) may be said to sustain a relationship with Christ.  This may properly be expressed as saying that they are “in” or “of” Christ.

Church = ‘universal’ usage

Eph. 5:23 – For  the husband  is the head of the wife, even  as Christ  is the head of the church: and he  is the saviour of the body…

(see also, Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25, 27, 32).

Col. 1:24 – “…for his body's sake, which is the church…”

Universally or locally, whether referring to one singular congregation or a plurality of congregations, by virtue of the new birth, they are the church(es) of Christ.  To refer to them as such is speaking by the oracles of God.

RDB

copyright 2011

"...Our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book..."

 What would YOU do if you found out that your

parents and grandparents had been wrong religiously?

King Josiah faced such a decision!
2 Kings 22-23 & 2 Chron. 34-35

2 Kings 22:1-2 – Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem…he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left…

Josiah repaired the Temple [vv. 3-7]; during this process “the book of the Law” was found – (this was the Law of Moses) vv. 8-10 states, “And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD’…and Shaphan read it before the king.”

Josiah’s reaction—vv. 11-13:

“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes and said, “great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us." 

[In the parallel account of 2 Chron. 34:26-28, it reads: But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD. Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants’."]

Josiah’s repentance/commitment to faithfulness

2 Chron. 34:29-33 — “Then the king…gathered…all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem…and…went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem…and he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant (Law of Moses) that had been found in the house of the LORD…and the king…made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book….then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.  And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.”

Josiah Restored the Passover feast

2 Kings 23:21-23 – “And the king commanded all the people, Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.  For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah.  But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.” 

{2 Chron. 35:18 — “No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”}

In closing, we read:

2 Kings 23:24-25 – “Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”

CONSEQUENCES (PUNISHMENT) WERE NOT AVERTED:

2 Kings 23:26-27 – “Still the LORD did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. And the LORD said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there."

Lessons:

His motivation: We find that Josiah’s efforts to return the people were motivated by his “setting his heart to serve God fully or faithfully."  [2 Chron. 34:3 – “…while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father…”]

He was diligent:  2 Kings 22:2, “…and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left…” 

When he found that their worship was not as it ought to be, he faced and made a tough decision.  He recognized that anything less than a return to the commanded pattern would be futile.  There were religious errors that existed in his day.  He took action against them…the proper action: GO BACK AND FOLLOW JUST THE BIBLE (the Book of the Law/Covenant-i.e. the Law of Moses)!  See again 2 Chron. 34:31-33 above.

Josiah recognized (2 Kings 22:13), that his parents and ancestors had been wrong religiously:
“…our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us." 

Josiah’s father was Amon.  We are told of him in 2 Kings 21:20-22, “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.  And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.”

Josiah’s grandfather was Manasseh.  We are told of him in 2 Kings 21:2, “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.” 

Thus, God said, in 2 Kings 21:11-12, “Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.”

But Josiah did not do as his father and grand-father.  He had the courage to follow God in spite of the condemnation it meant regarding his relatives.  This alone is more than most are willing to do today.  What of your relatives…what if they are wrong, even though religious.  What do you need to do?

You will not change God’s will in removing the punishment for sin.  However, you can do something about the sin.  In doing something about the sin, you can avoid the punishment.  You can save others, by your decision also.  Do you believe God?  Do you care for your relatives?  If you truly cared for them and for yourself, you would do as Josiah did.

rdb
copyright 2011

“Proxy” Membership?

What is involved in membership in a local church?  How important is it? 

Many people claim membership or affiliation to a church.  The ‘criteria’ varies but in general, membership in a local church is something that is commemorative of one’s conversion. 

Quite often, on Memorial Day, there are homecomings or special services held and people will return to and attend the church wherein their conversion occurred. From this, we see that it much like a reunion.  Such behavior reveals the attitude that prevails toward membership with/in a church.

A while back I read an article of someone very prominent in the religious realm, who "switched" membership from one church to another church.  It further substantiates that membership is at best a ‘token’ commodity with most.

Let me share a scenario with you on the subject of church membership and see if you would acknowledge my claim of church membership.

What if I had never lived in Lexington, KY, and had only occasionally visited this congregation over a span of 55 years?  What if my residence had been say, Miami, FL.?  Further, what if I said was retiring and switching my membership to New Orleans, LA.?  (I still live in Miami).  The reason for this is that I have long maintained a close relationship w/the preacher there in New Orleans, and that he had worked w/me over the years.  I’m unable to travel now, and watch the worship services of the New Orleans church on TV.   Upon what basis might I claim membership at Mill Street and at New Orleans?

I now share with you a factual situation regarding church membership:

The date is Dec. 29, 2008 – Dallas Morning News contained this article.

After more than half a century as a member of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, ----------------- has switched his membership to a church closer to his home in the North Carolina mountains.

------------ was voted in as a member of the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, S.C., on Sunday.

The Rev. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas, said he had been contacted by ---------------personal assistant in recent days about the membership switch.

"We'll always treasure the relationship," Dr. Jeffress said.

------------- joined First Baptist Dallas ----------------- in 1953. First Baptist Dallas was then led by the Rev. W.A. Criswell, and was widely considered the preeminent church in the Southern Baptist Convention.

But ------------ has never lived in Dallas, and visited the church only rarely through the years.

------------has long lived in Montreat, N.C., and is essentially home-bound there now. He watches TV broadcasts of First Baptist Spartanburg services.

The pastor of First Baptist Spartanburg, the Rev. Don Wilton, has preached for -------------- and has ministered to -------------- in recent years.

"He has been faithfully visited by Dr. Wilton, whom he refers to as his `TV pastor,'" said Larry Ross, a spokesman for ----------.

Mr. Ross added, "This was not an easy or quick decision by -------------, but he increasingly felt it was important to unite with First Baptist Spartanburg, as that has had his attention and focus, especially through television, in recent years."

------------- has relayed to Dr. Jeffress his "love and appreciation" for First Baptist Dallas and Dr. Jeffress' ministry, Mr. Ross said.

Who is this??? 

Here is the same article with the blanks filled in:

After more than half a century as a member of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, the Rev. Billy Graham has switched his membership to a church closer to his home in the North Carolina mountains.

The famed evangelist, 90, was voted in as a member of the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, S.C., on Sunday.

The Rev. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas, said he had been contacted by Mr. Graham's personal assistant in recent days about the membership switch.

"We'll always treasure the relationship," Dr. Jeffress said.

Mr. Graham joined First Baptist Dallas during his first crusade in the city, held at the Cotton Bowl in 1953. First Baptist Dallas was then led by the Rev. W.A. Criswell, and was widely considered the preeminent church in the Southern Baptist Convention.

But the globe-trotting evangelist has never lived in Dallas, and visited the church only rarely through the years.

Mr. Graham has long lived in Montreat, N.C., and is essentially home-bound there now. He watches TV broadcasts of First Baptist Spartanburg services.

The pastor of First Baptist Spartanburg, the Rev. Don Wilton, has preached for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and has ministered to the evangelist in recent years.

"He has been faithfully visited by Dr. Wilton, whom he refers to as his `TV pastor,'" said Larry Ross, a spokesman for Mr. Graham.

Mr. Ross added, "This was not an easy or quick decision by Mr. Graham, but he increasingly felt it was important to unite with First Baptist Spartanburg, as that has had his attention and focus, especially through television, in recent years."

The evangelist has relayed to Dr. Jeffress his "love and appreciation" for First Baptist Dallas and Dr. Jeffress' ministry, Mr. Ross said.

What is involved in membership?  How important is it? 

Acts 9:26, Paul tried to join himself to the disciples...

1 Peter 5:2 – Feed the flock...“among you”...

Ought there not be a way to identify who is a member of the flock versus who is not?

rdb
1/9/2011

Do you have ears to hear?

In Job 34:3-4 Job’s friend Elihu stated, “…the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.”

A common “battle” all face:

Who will you listen to for answers in religion?

Who will you believe?

An illustration of the importance of who we listen to in the religious realm is seen in the story of the mixed report of the spies who went to spy out the land of Canaan.

The report from the 12 spies - Numbers 13

 2 said: “…we are well able…v.30;          10 said: “…we are not able…v.31

Why was there not agreement on their report?  What was the difference?

4 - Moses’ instructions: Numbers 13:17-20

17Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, "Go up…18and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, 19and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, 20and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land."

What was the focus of these instructions? 

Their report: Num. 13:25-28

25At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. 26And…they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27And they told him, "We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. (cont’d)…

Key word here is “HOWEVER”, in verse 28

Num. 13:30-33

30But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.“32So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.

Verse 31 helps to explain verse 28 and what ‘however’ meant.

• What made this report ‘bad’?
• Did they have ears to hear? (Job 34:2-4)
• Consider what had been said earlier…

Background: Instructions/statements of God:

Num. 13:1-2 – “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.”

Deut. 1:19-21 – “…and we came to Kadesh-barnea.  And I said to you, 'You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us.  See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Deut. 9:23 – “And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, 'Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,' then you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God and did not believe him or obey his voice.”

• How well did they listen/remember what God had said?  What of the promises made to their great father Abraham regarding this land?
• What do you see as most significant in these instructions/statements?  Let us look at these passages again…

1st significant statement of God:

 Num. 13:1-2 – “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.”

Deut. 1:19-21 – “…and we came to Kadesh-barnea.  And I said to you, 'You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us.  See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Deut. 9:23 – “And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, 'Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,' then you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God and did not believe him or obey his voice.”

• He had sworn an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob years earlier the same – Gen.

12:7 17:8; 24:7; 28:4.

• God plainly said that He would give them this land.  Did they have ears to hear?  What does this phrase mean?

                                

Deut. 1:20-21- (2nd significant statement)

And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord our God doth give unto us.  Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

• “…fear not, neither be discouraged.”
• Hint as to what “ears to hear” mean. 
• Was it that they didn’t they hear it or that they didn’t believe it?
• This wouldn’t be known until they went there to spy

Deut. 1:23-26 - Moses’ words to the 2nd generation

“…I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe. 24And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. 25And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, 'It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.'  26"Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. (cont’d)

• Whose words are Moses quoting?  The 10 spies, or the 2 spies?                                         

Deut. 1:27-31

27And you murmured in your tents and said, 'Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there."' 29Then I said to you, 'Do not be in dread or afraid of them. 30The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.'

• Note what murmuring can reveal of one’s ‘ears’. 
• Again, whose words are being quoted by Moses?  The 10 or the 2?
• Note what murmuring can reveal of one’s ‘ears’. 
• Again, whose words are being quoted by Moses?  The 10 or the 2?

Deut. 1:32:

Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God…”

• What ‘word’?

Let us look at Num. 14 for the answer.

Num. 14:1-4

1Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”(cont’d)

Caleb & Joshua again speak: Num. 14: 6-9

6And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.”

• Here we have the answer to the question asked earlier

The response by the people? Num. 14:10

Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.

• Stone who?

The Lord’s response: Num. 14:26-35

26And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27"How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. 28Say to them, 'As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. 32But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.' 35 I, the LORD, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die."

• God’s words make it clear, however, at this time, for them, it is ‘judgment day’.

Num. 14:36-38

36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— 37the men who brought up a bad report of the land— died by plague before the LORD. 38Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.

• Note the ‘ears’ of Joshua and Caleb.  What does the phrase ‘ears to hear’ mean?

Joshua & Caleb

Num. 14:24 -But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Deut. 1:36-except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!

Josh. 14:8 - But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God.

• What about you?

When it comes to the question:

“What must I do to be saved”?

Who have you listened to? 

Who have you believed?

• Do YOU have ears to hear?

rdb

copyright 2011