Thoughts on the readings for March 29th (Numbers 11, Proverbs 7, Luke 21)

Numbers 11 deals with one of those times when the lust of the Israelites brought a great plague upon them. They desired flesh to eat, even after the multitude had been miraculously fed by the manna in the morning. Because of the nation's burning lust. As a consequence of this the nation was burnt by the LORD's judgment and so the location principally for this judgment was named Taberah, meaning "burning". Verses 7 to 9 describe the appearance, texture and taste of the bread of the LORD's providing. For 40 years the Israelites were fed with Manna until they entered the Promised Land. Manna means "what is this?" Our Lord Jesus Christ takes up both the murmurs, both in Moses' time and after the Lord had fed the 5,000 people. He explains their questioning his origins and whether Jesus would feed the hungry for 40 years. John 6 from verses 22 to 69 should be read and contemplated. Verses 16-30 tell of the miraculous provision of the quail and the greed and speed with which they were consumed; eaten with the blood.Seventy additional elders were given to Moses to assist in the governance of the nation, who may have numbered up to 2 million people. Yahweh took of the spirit that was upon Moses and put it on these men, who started to prophesy. Two of those men, Eldad and Medad (meaning "God has loved" and "loving") stayed within the camp while they prophesied. Joshua told Moses to tell them to stop prophesying. Moses replied that his desire was for the Almighty to make all of His people prophets. Compare our Lord Jesus Christ appointing 70 helpers and bestowing the Holy Spirit on these men (see Luke 10). Verses 31 to 5 tell about the plague God sent in response to the nation's greed. It killed many of the Israelites and the place was now called Kibroth-hataavah, meaning "the graves of the greedy". The Apostle Paul tells us that the events which happened in the wilderness were recorded to teach us that "we should not lust after evil things as they did" 1 Corinthians 10 verses 5 and 6. Proverbs 7 could be entitled, "The Fool and the Seductress". Verses 1 to 5 are a strong appeal for the young man to embrace the commandments of the LORD. When they become the focus of our lives these commandments will direct our paths in the ways of the Almighty; and protect us from being seduced by worldliness. Verses 6 to 23 describe the encounter with and the smooth ways of the harlot. The harlot says to the young man that he is special and should embrace her. But to do so is not only to forsake the morality of God, it is also to be intoxicated with the world - see the Apostle Paul's comments in 1 Corinthians 6 verses 15 to 20. The seducer says that "the goodman is not at home"; she is in effect saying, 'live now there will be time to ready yourself for your Lord's coming later'. The foolish young man yields to her entreating for in fact she is appealing to what he wanted in the first place. Even if that was not his intention, he has failed to heed the Scriptural warning, "Flee fornication". Verses 24 to 26 tell of the disastrous consequences of his foolish choice. The chapter says should you be foolish enough to put yourself in a situation where temptation is highly likely, "then think again!" Luke 21 is the record of the Olivet prophecy given after 6pm on Abib 12th from the mount east of Jerusalem. The significance of the prophecy deals with events that would occur within forty years of its delivery; as well as matters relating to our days (end times) when the Kingdom of God will be once more set up on earth. The chapter began with a declaration of the widow who gave God all. Jesus foretells of the destruction of the magnificent temple, whose building had begun with Herod the Great; and to that point in time had still not been finished. When the temple was destroyed it would be totally overturned leaving not one stone on another - except for the older foundations which acted as a retaining wall for Herod to build on. Jesus says that there would be wars and rumours of wars but the disciples must wait until the end time of the Lord's prophecy. Persecution would be the disciples' lot, but they would be aided in their testimony before the authorities. Families would be divided over their support for Christ's teaching. Despite Jerusalem being surrounded by armies at AD70 there would be five opportunities for the disciples to flee to safety - the first of these was at the defeat of the Roman Tribune Cestius Gallus in AD66 (the others are mentioned in Robert Roberts book 'The Ways of Providence'). There would be the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, which spoke of the fall of the city to the Roman Emperor Titus. In regards to the final outcome of the prophecy, which relates to the time when the Kingdom of God will be set up on earth; we have the parable of the fig tree (national Israel's symbol), whose statehood began in 1948 and many of us have seen the fig tree blossom and flourish with the reoccupation of Jerusalem, Israel's eternal and undivided capital, in 1967. Be ready our Lord's return and his kingdom is indeed near. 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-march-29th-numbers-11-proverbs-7-luke-21/?feed_id=88753&_unique_id=67e671fd78aef