Comments for April 13

The Gadites and Reubenites could have taken possession of their allotment east of the Jordan right away. However, Moses obliged them to help the rest of the nation to become settled in the Promised Land first. The good of the whole community was paramount.

We too should follow this example. The welfare of our community in Christ should be foremost in our thoughts and deeds.

The land to the east of the River Jordan had been conquered by God’s command. I presume therefore that it was in God’s plan to include that in "The Promised Land" given to the Israelites. That whole territory makes today’s Israel look rather small, doesn't it?

The tribes on the East of Jordan were the first to be carried captive due to their idolatry (1Chron 5:25-26). Perhaps choosing to live on this side of the Jordan wasn't such a good idea? It appears to have been their idea, not God's, and there is no indication in this chapter that God was consulted at any time. We should be careful not to put our own slant on what God commands us to do.

Number 32 - Reuben and Gad - cheerful givers?

Numbers 32:1-2- Israel were now assembled to the East of the River Jordan. Reuben and Gad had huge herds of cattle and sheep and requested that they possess this area of land because it was idea for grazing their cattle and sheep (v.4, 24).  Moses reminded them that their fathers' had brought discouraging reports of the strength of opposition and defences of the nations living in the land (Num.13:28-29). 

Numbers 32:12- It was only Caleb and Joshua that had "wholly followed the LORD".

Numbers 32:25-31- Once prompted by Moses the children of Reuben and Gad showed cared for their brethren. They first ensured their families were safe in cities in Gilead then crossed the Jordon with brethren to take the promised land.

Notice,Eleazer the priest and Joshua were summoned by Moses to confirm the agreement with Reuben and Gad before these two key witnesses. It was Joshua who was to lead them across the Jordan river to take the land (Numbers 32:28-29).

Num.32:33, 39-41 -Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh were blessed by the LORD with their portions of land to the East of Jordan valley. 

Lessons for Us

Do we give our time willingly in the service of our LORD or are we reluctant and only do so when shamed or prompted to do so? 

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."(2Cor.9:6-7)

"DO NOT WEAR YOURSELF OUT TO GET RICH"
I once heard the saying that no-one ever said on their deathbed that they wished they had spent more time at the office. That is very true. From the deathbed our whole perspective on life comes into focus. Our focus will no longer be on how much money we have in the bank but on how we have used what we have spent. Or maybe we will wish we had used our time more profitably instead of spending it at the office earning more money. But the proverb has a stronger meaning than just sending time to get money. It tells us not to wear ourselves out to get rich. If getting rich wears us out then any benefit we would get from our riches will be of no use to us at all. Riches do wear many people out. They work hard, put in long stressful hours and on top of that have the worry of protecting all the "Assets" they have gained. They need insurance, alarms and other protections, and due to the worry involved can die an early death. There is wisdom in the words of Solomon - especially when we consider that those who possess less need God more. Riches are not worth the bother. You cannot serve God and riches. So choose God!

V.6  The Hebrew expression having an evil eye (ayin ra) refers to someone who is mean and stingy.  We are told to avoid such false people, preferring simpler offerings given in the right spirit to grandiose ones given with the wrong attitude (Prov 15:17). 

PRAISE FROM GOD
It comes down to the way we live and who we seek to please. Many people only try to please themselves, not caring about anyone else. Clearly this sort of attitude is not acceptable to God. Others, like the leading Jews, did everything so that they could receive praise from men. What they did looked godly, but in reality it was just a big show so that people would look at them and praise them. And Jesus, on the other hand, was motivated to please his Father in heaven.

Jesus said to the Jews, "I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts ... How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" It is possible that this reproof applies to us just as much as it applied to the Jews. Our praise from God comes later - not now, but the praise we hear from people is instant. So in many ways it is easier to be motivated to please men rather than God. Let's change that and make every effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God.

LEARNING FROM THE BEST

Jesus, the Son of God, the greatest man that ever walked the face of the earth knew that all he was and all he did came from his Father. He said, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these."

I wish that we could get to know God as well as Jesus, so that we would also be able to learn as effectively from him and become people like Jesus. But just as Jesus learnt all he needed from God, his Father, so he has left us his teaching for us to follow. He said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

So it is up to us to listen to the words of Jesus and believe in what he says. If we can just follow his teaching, putting it into practice in our lives we will become like him, having learnt from the greatest man that ever lived. Learning from the best and consistently following that teaching is a sure way to be successful. Best of all, his lessons are free. Enrol today!

Not all manuscripts have: waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had
(end of verse 3 and verse 4).  It is suggested only the less important manuscripts contain this. The KJV contains this while the RV has omitted it.  Whatever the textual veracity, the important lesson of this chapter is that Jesus had the divine power, and the willingness, to heal.

V.8 What a challenge this would have been to a man who had confessed his own complete inability. Most modern versions say a mat, but the Greek word used is KRABBATOS (2895). Which we understand was a camp-bed or cot. The man was told to pick it up and walk. After not walking for for thirty eight years, he accepted the challenge, he picked up the bed and walked. What a challenge to each one of us to accept the challenge issued by Christ, to each one of us. "Follow me"

THE FEAST OF THE JEWS (John 5:1)

So what exactly is the feast of the Jews that is mentioned here? Well, the writer does not tell us exactly what feast this was, but we can discern the time frame of events which might help identify the feast.

If you take John 4:35- where Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest."

- It seems to imply that in John 4:35 Jesus spoke in December

Now if we compare it with John 6:4- it records that “Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near.”

- So it must therefore be a feast occurring in the interval between December and the Passover, and this is no other than the feast of Purim

This may help solve the mystery!

5:18  Jesus was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God

Trinitarians endorse the argument of the Jews in their claims about Jesus - that is,  Jesus is claiming equality with God.

But consider the following:

1. Jesus claimed that God was his Father (v17). While this was literally true it does not, of itself, signify equality with God, except according to the Jews' theology.

2. Jesus immediately debunks the equality claim by stating "the Son can do nothing of his own accord but only what he sees the Father doing" (v19) and "I can do nothing on my own" (v30) and "I have come in my Father's name" (v43). No equality in these statements.

3. Believers all have God as their father and claim God to be their father. Yet they are not equal with God. By the same principle, Jesus' claim to a special relationship with God based on God being, in some sense, his father, does not confer equality with God. The Jews should have known this, but chose to ignore it.