Thoughts on the readings for April 11th (Numbers 29, 30, Proverbs 21, John 2, 3)

Numbers 29 is a continuation of the offerings mentioned in chapter 28. We are now looking at the sacrifices of the 7th month, which completed the civil year and commenced the religious year. The religious year begins with the Feast of Trumpets; just as the Passover began the civil year. Verses 1-6 outline the sacrifices for this Feast. Verses 7-11 deal with the sacrifices for the Day of Atonement, which occurs immediately after the 10 days of the blowing of the blowing of the silver trumpets. The major sacrifices for this day were the two goats - the goat that was slain for the remission of the nation's sins; and the live goat, which bore away the sins of the Israelites (called, 'Yahweh's goat'; Or, 'the scape goat' Hebrew "azazel"). These two offerings spoke of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, "who was delivered for our offences and raised for our justification" says Romans 4 verse 25. Verse 12 describe the offerings for the Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Booths, or the Feast of the Nations. It was called the Feast of Booths because Israel made booths and rested in them for seven days after they arrived at Sinai and had received the Law of God. It was known as the Feast of the Nations because of the sacrificing of 70 bulls, which spoke of all nations (Deuteronomy 32:8), throughout the Feast. Tabernacles held in the seventh month and lasting for 7 days, in which the people rested, tells of the millennial rest of Messiah's kingdom. Zechariah 14 tells us that it will be the Feast observed by all nations in Jerusalem. Numbers 30 tells us of the vows made by male and female Israelites. Numbers 30 verses 1-2 shows that a male's vows couldn't be overturned. Verses 3-16 tell us that the vows of a single daughter could be revoked by her father. And the vows of a married woman could be revoked by her husband. As Christ's bride we must always yield to his decisions. Proverbs 21 continues the theme of living justly. Brother Crawford tells us in volume 2 of his books on Proverbs that this chapter is about proverbs for the King of kings, ie our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 1 is ultimately true for every king. For while human kings may make plans their outworking is determined by the Almighty. So the wise king heeds the Words of his Sovereign and is directed by those words. This was especially true of our Lord Jesus Christ whose ear was opened by his God every day - see Isaiah 50 verses 4-9 - all of Messiah's steps were directed by his Heavenly Father. So we are told in the Scriptures that the steps of a good man are directed by the Lord. We are prospective royalty. This is told to us in 1 Peter 2 and in Revelation 5. Verses 4-14 outline desirable actions and disastrous actions. The ways of the wise will be directed by the Word of God. Verses 15-29 describe the outcomes that follow wise, or foolish, choices. Verse 23 is of significance to us all as it counsels us to control our tongue - compare James 1 verses 19-26; 3 verses 1-18. Verses 30-31 conclude the chapter with words we should slowly read aloud and ponder their meaning for the way we live. "No wisdom, no counsel, no understanding can avail against Yahweh" - verse 30 (ESV). He is with us and for us providing we don't forsake Him. The final verse says that there can be no victory without our God. Let Wisdom direct us to allow the Almighty to direct our walk to His Kingdom. In John 2 we have the first of the 8 signs John records. When Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt, at the time of the Exodus, their departure was accompanied by miracles, wonders (Hebrew 'Pala' - cp the angel Palmoni - the wonderful numberer) and signs. That Hebrew word is the equivalent of the word used for "signs" in the record of John. The first of these signs took place at Cana, in Galilee. Jesus was there, together with his mother and his disciples, most likely those he had called in chapter 1. It was perhaps the wedding of a relative. The sign was turning water into the highest quality wine. The result was verse 11 - his disciples believing in Jesus and the manifestation of his glory. Between verses 13-22 Jesus cleanses the temple for the first time - doing so again at the end of his ministry. He fulfilled the words of Psalm 69 and gave them the sign of his resurrection, which he said would be after 3 days in the grave. There are 8 recorded signs in John's record and many accounts of Jesus' visits to Jerusalem. The other gospels omit all these visits. At the end of John 2 we are told Jesus would not commit himself to anyone since he knew what humans are like - Jesus' understanding was possibly due 3 reasons: 1) what Scripture revealed; 2) Jesus' own experience; 3) his ability to read people's minds). Chapter 3 speaks of the first encounter between our Lord and Nicodemus, the holder of the second rank in the Sanhedrin ('the teacher'). John chapter 3 tells us of Nicodemus' first visit to Jesus; who in John's gospel records 3 visits - in ch3; in ch7; and again in ch19. Each is a step in bringing Nicodemus to know the Christ (ch3 the man who came by night; ch7 he who first came by night; and ch19 an open disciple, who brought the spices to prepare Jesus' body). The talk of chapter 3 centres in the imperative of being born "from above" - firstly by a mind developed by the Word of God 1 Peter 1:22-25 and then by immersion, or burial, in water. The 3rd chapter of John tells us that Jesus is the only man to go to heaven (v13) and salvation comes through belief in a crucified Messiah (v14 cp Numbers 21:4-9). The best known words of the Bible are found in John 3:16 - but read these words aloud and ponder verses 16-21. From verses 22 to the chapter's end we are told of the incomparable greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-april-11th-numbers-29-30-proverbs-21-john-2-3/?feed_id=89321&_unique_id=67f788966b5ce