This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730. Numbers 26:51 (ESV)
The total number in the new generation are not far from that of the first census (603,550 in the first compared to 601,730 in the second). If we are unfaithful to the Lord it will not reduce the size of the Lord’s army but it will cause the size of our reward to be diminished or completely lost. Gods plans and purposes always come to pass.
But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 26:64–65 (ESV)
It has been 40 years since the last census and all the unbelieving generation has died in the wilderness. God has proven himself faithful in three ways, 1) he has passed judgement as declared, 2) he has preserved the people through the wideness journey and 3) he has kept the faithful Joshua and Caleb alive. As believers in Jesus we are warned against being unbelieving and so never entering his rest in Hebrews 3:7–4:2. We also learn we lose nothing through faithfully waiting on God. We must find ourselves counted with the new believing and conquering generation, not the unbelieving, wandering one.
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (ESV)
Paul is teaching the Corinthians that true Christianity is founded in love, not knowledge. Knowledge without love can lead to an elitist type of faith community where those in the know are seen as superior to the ignorant…. This is the opposite to the teaching of God’s word. Self sacrificial love patterned after the love of Christ (shown in his death on the cross) builds up the church. Just because we know something dose not mean we should act on that knowledge, we must first ask, “will this build up or hinder my fellow believer(s)”. Our culture tells us knowledge is power and power gives us rights but the bible teaches that the real power is in serving one another in love.
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:6 (ESV)
In an increasingly pluralistic society where it is popular to say all religions lead to God or that there are many gods, or even that we are gods this verse is a refreshing reminder that the lying demons, false religions and wicked men are not really gods and are can not be compared to the one true God. Idols are empty and without power, except over those that believe or fear them and the spirits behind them.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Psalm 22:1 (ESV)
Jesus quoted this verse from the cross and in doing so he points us to look at this psalm as prophetic and to understand his suffering in light of it
“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Psalm 22:8 (ESV)
This is said to the Lord Jesus when he is on the cross in Matthew 27:39–44. This points to the fulfilment of prophecy again. Also we can learn a lesson from Jesus’ response to those who dealt so cruelly with him
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