35 NASO (take); Num 5-7, John 3&4

[Bruce Bertram]

Numbers 5 starts off with Israel having to put lepers, people with discharges and who are unclean because of contact with a dead person outside the camp. But then God tells Moses that a person who sins must confess and pay restitution, either to the person wronged, and family member, or the priest.

6“Speak to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the LORD, and that person is guilty, 7then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged. (Numbers 5:6-7 NASB95)

Notice that ‘committing a sin’ is the same as ‘acting unfaithfully against the Lord,’ and that there is a ‘fruit in keeping with repentance’ in the restitution.

Speaking of being faithful, the rest of chapter 5 details the process of testing a woman for adultery. The ‘water of bitterness’ consists of ‘holy water’ and some of the dust from the floor of the Tabernacle, along with writing the curses (penalties) on a parchment and washing it off into the water. The woman drinks the water, and if she is guilty her stomach swells and she can’t have kids. If not, then she is able to have kids. Notice that before she drinks her ‘hair is unbound’ (verse 18 ) which is the same concept as ‘uncovering the head.’ Notice also that the woman has plenty of time to confess before she is tested.

Chapter 6 has two parts, the main part being the laws concerning a Nazarite vow, and the other being the manner in which the high priest is to bless the people of God.

24The LORD bless you, and keep you; 25The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NASB95)

A Nazir is one who dedicates himself to God for a time or for a purpose. He is not to consume any part of a grape while he is dedicated, and he has to let his hair grow for the duration. Samson comes to mind as a person who was like a Nazir, and Jesus told us that He would not ‘drink of the fruit of the vine’ until the Passover receives its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.

Chapter 7 lists the sin, peace, and dedication offerings from each of the twelve tribes for the Tabernacle. There are a total of 12 silver dishes, 12 silver bowls, and 12 gold pans full of incense, one from each of the tribes. Also given was a large number of livestock for sin and peace offerings, and for dedication of the altar. Chapter 7 concludes with the statement that God spoke to Moses from between the cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant.

John 3 tells us of a discussion about the Kingdom of God between Jesus and one of the religious leaders of Israel, Nicodemus, who comes to Jesus by night. Contrast the timing with verses 19-21 where Jesus speaks of the Light. In this section we have the famous 3:16, but that is hardly the extent of the ideas taught here. For instance, compare the ‘we’ of verse 11 with the ‘us’ of 4:22, and see if you can’t detect a perspective shift. Also compare 1:11-13 with Jesus’ statements on being born of water and spirit. Jesus tells Nicodemus that in order to see the Kingdom of God a person must be born again, that is, of the Spirit. Remember He is speaking to a leader of a people who think they are the Kingdom of God. Jesus also points out that if a person cannot understand natural things, how will they understand spiritual? Later in the chapter Jesus is with the disciples baptizing in Judea near the same place as John the Baptist (Aenon (springs) near Salim (peace)). The religious leaders take note of the fact that Jesus’ disciples are baptizing more people than John and his disciples. But John adds to his previous testimony concerning Jesus that he (John) must decrease and Jesus must increase, and that as a friend of the Bridegroom he is happy that it is happening.

Once Jesus knows that the religious leaders are aware of the baptizing difference He moves up toward Galilee traveling through Samaria. Jesus stops for what ends up being a few days at a town in Samaria after speaking with the woman at the well. In this discussion Jesus speaks of living water and worshipping God in spirit and truth. He also tells the woman things about herself that He wouldn’t have known normally. The villagers come out and listen to Him, and many people there come to trust in Jesus through this encounter. Jesus continues on to Cana of Galilee where He heals a ruler’s son by request.

Shalom

[Bruce Bertram]

Here, carry this.

What would you think if you found out that your whole purpose in life, your job, your career, was to simply carry something back and forth? That’s it, just carry. Tote that barge, lift that bale. No fanfare, no promotions, no wealth that comes with a higher position – just carry something.

God tells the sons of Gershom and Merari in Numbers chapter four to carry parts of the tabernacle. They are set apart for this work; this is their job. The Gershomites carry the curtains, covering, and other hangings, while the Merariites carry the bars, pillars, sockets, pegs, cords and boards. Of course, they would have other duties in the tabernacle when it is set up, but these families are specifically set apart to carry certain items when the tabernacle moves.

John the Baptist is given a similar tasking. He is to go out to the desert and live there, performing the service of baptism for all who come. John is about six months older than Jesus, and started his public ministry before Jesus started His. For a while their ministries overlap, and at the point of the John chapter three (verses 22-36) narrative many people are responding to Jesus perhaps more than John. But John has no problem with this.

30“He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 NASB95)

John knows that it is not his success that is important. He is not the point; Jesus is. He knows that everything he has was given to him by God, anyway.

27John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. (John 3:27 NASB95)

If all John is supposed to do is spend a short time helping to prepare the way for the bridegroom, then John as the friend of the bridegroom is happy. John performed an important function “crying in the wilderness” and helping “make straight paths” for the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3). He does not promote himself, but existed and worked to promote God and God’s plans, which in this case was the advent of the Lamb of God. He humbly submitted to the task assigned to him by his God, even to the point of getting beheaded.

Sometimes we find ourselves in humble circumstances, lifting that bale and toting that barge, or carrying around pieces of a tent in a wilderness.

58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB95)

Sometimes we submit to those tasks, and sometimes we try to reach beyond what we have been assigned and try for more glory.

3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5For each one will bear his own load. (Galatians 6:3-5 NASB95)

There’s nothing wrong in just doing what God assigns, even if it’s hauling tent stakes back and forth. To have God assign the task means that He is working us into His design, and whatever the function it will be a perfect fit if we just keep doing what He wants. Humbly persevering, even in jobs that seem to be lowly or out of the limelight, will reap a harvest of blessings.

In the midst of some encouraging admonishments along these same lines, Paul mentions being poured out like a drink offering.

14Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. (Philippians 2:14-18 NASB95)

So what if our service to God is simply to be poured out like a drink offering? We need to remind ourselves on a regular basis that God is the point, not us. He assigns us our place and our job, and gives us all we need to glorify Him. Maybe we don’t see it now, but soon enough we will. May God bless your work, however humble it is.

Shalom

[Bruce Bertram]

Numbers 4:21 - 7:89; Judges 13:2-25; John 3 and 4; John 7:53-8:11; Acts 21:17-32

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:11–12, ESV)

There’s an old joke about the Lone Ranger and his Indian friend Tonto. They get surrounded by a large group of hostile Indians and LR says, “Looks like we are in big trouble, Tonto.” To which Tonto replies, “What mean ‘we,’ paleface?" You probably have to be old to understand the joke, because it was well-known and popular in the ‘60’s when I was a kid (it probably was popularized, if not originated, by a Mad magazine comic). But it serves to introduce our subject for this week’s reading portion from John 3 and 4. The definition of ‘we’ can change a lot depending on the situation.

In John 3:11 Jesus responds to the Pharisee Nicodemus asking how a person can be born again by saying “we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.” “You” is a leader of the Jews, and a Pharisee. Jesus is from Judah, a true Jew, but not a recognized leader. So “we” cannot mean ‘Jewish,’ at least all by itself. At that time, to be Jewish was to be a descendant of Jacob, or a convert to Judaism, usually living in the area of Judea. They have the reputation of obeying God’s commands, but they really don’t. “We” could mean ‘the common people’ except that Jesus ties ‘we’ to “our testimony” getting rejected. So most probably “we” in this situation means those who “believe” in the Son of God. This is an important distinction.

Just a little later, in chapter 4, Jesus takes a side trip to Samaria. The Samaritans had a history of doing things different than God commanded, while retaining a Jewish identity (descent from the northern 10 tribes). Jewish in this instance meaning physically descended from Jacob (or converts) rather than simply from the tribe of Judah. They were also intermingled with people imported from other nations by Assyria (see 2 Kings 17). Jesus has a discussion with a woman of the Samaritans by a well where He stopped for a drink. He again contrasts “you” and “we.”

You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:22–24, ESV)

In this conversation, “you” is a Samaritan and “we” are Jews. This is set up by the fact that the woman recognizes Jesus as a Jew and that she is not (4:9). She also recognizes something different is going on because Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans if they can help it. “Salvation is from the Jews,” says Jesus, but not all Jews are part of the “we,” because not all of them believe in the Son of God.

So in these two conversations there are a “we” and a “you,” but in each case the comparison of each group changes. With Nicodemus, “we” means people who are Jewish but are different because “we speak of what we know.” With the Samaritan woman, “we” are different than “you” because “we worship what we know.” So “we” is a group of people who speak of what they know, and worship what they know. The point is, “we” know whom we worship, while the Jews and Samaritans do not. “We” are believers who speak of a God whom we know and trust, and worship the God we know. The Jews and Samaritans do things their own way. "We" know Him so we obey His voice.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:1–5, ESV)

“We” know God because “we” have believed in the Son of Man and been birthed or born by the Spirit. “We” worship God in spirit and truth, and “we” have “a spring of living water welling up to eternal life.” The spring is Jesus the Messiah, Son of the living God. “We” love the light because we do what is true, and we come to the light so that it may be clearly seen that our works have been carried out in God. “We” believe in His name, which does not mean a simple nod of the head or raising the hand and going forward. "We" trust God’s truth, and "we" have actions consistent with it. “We” are in the light because “we” know God and trust His words, acting on them in all areas of our lives. "We" live by every word that proceeds from His mouth.

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:3–6, ESV)

Truth is God’s Word.

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17, ESV)

The Spirit speaks only what He hears, and leads us to truth.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” (John 16:13–16, ESV)

Jesus is a member of several groups. He’s God, human, male, son of David, Son of God, and a physical descendant of Judah (a Jew) among others. There are also groups of which He’s not a part. He’s not a Pharisee, Sadducee, scribe, lawyer, or any other current (at that time) leader of Israel. He’s not a Samaritan, and not a pagan. These do not worship God in spirit and truth, they do not trust God, which is proved by their refusal to follow the living oracles of God. There are many Pharisees today, and not enough of them are like Nicodemus. He asked questions because he really was looking for answers and trying to understand. Today’s Pharisees have become like the self-righteous of old, looking to justify themselves by their own teachings and willing to crucify anyone who gets in the way of their power.

Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. (Hosea 4:1–3, ESV)

“We,” however, cling to the whole of the Word of God, applying every syllable to every corner and every breath or heartbeat. “We” bear witness to what we have seen, both earthly things and heavenly things. In contrast to men who love darkness because their deeds are evil, we practice the truth of God’s living oracles.

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2, ESV)

“We” are hated by the world but will not perish, for “we” have looked on the Son of Man lifted up and the blood of the Lamb of God has washed away our debt. “We” continue the cleansing from His blood every waking moment by application of the whole body of His truth to our heart, mind, and soul with every ounce of strength He gives us. “We” are not of the world because “we” are sanctified by consuming the body and blood of Jesus.

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:13–19, ESV)

Shalom
Bruce