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Thoughts on the readings for June 4th (Joshua 22, Isaiah 28, Hebrews 11)
Episode 914
Joshua 22 speaks of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh returning to their inheritance east of the River Jordan following their active armed service west of the river. Verses 1-9 tell of these tribes receiving their allotments before the other ten tribes fought for their territory after crossing into the Promised Land. Verse 4 explains how the LORD had now given rest to the tribes of Israel now occupying the Canaanite lands. The three tribes were given thanks and sent home to their own lands. Verses 10-34 describe how easily a misunderstanding between brothers can occur. Not wanting the children of the three tribes east of the Jordan – Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh – to have their children growing up in the belief that they have nothing in common with the children of the tribes on the western side of the river Jordan; an altar was built near the common border of both groups. The purpose of the altar was to direct the minds of those tribes on the east to the need for united worship of Israel’s God within the Promised Land. Without asking why the altar was constructed Phinehas summons the army of the western tribes to go up to fight against their eastern brethren. It was a case of being over zealous and of a failure to ask before acting. However, eventually enquiry was made – this should have happened before the army was mustered. The purpose of the altar was explained by their eastern brothers. When this was understood war was averted and all went home (presumably wiser for the experience). The altar was allowed to remain and was named “Witness” for the reason explained in verse 34.
Isaiah 28 is an indictment against the drunks in the fat valleys of Ephraim. Verses 2-4 speak of the Almighty’s judgments on these proud men. Verses 5-6 say that these judgments will vindicate the just. Verses 7-9 describe the disgusting scene of these drunkards. Verse 10 is a drunken ditty that speaks of the vile attitude with which these drunkards held the Word of God in contempt. The Word of the LORD was to these many tiresome – precept after precept and line upon line – it was a monotonous and repetitive and burdensome requirement. For this attitude Israel’s Sovereign would bring against the nation the Assyrians whose language was like a stuttering speech to the Israelites says verses 11-13. However the message of the prophecy is encapsulated in verse 16; that the Almighty would lay in Zion a precious cornerstone which would be the foundation for saving faithful believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. This basis was established by the sinless life of Jesus and the final pouring out of his life as a sacrifice on the stake on which he was crucified. God would judge the contemptuous Israelites who made a covenant with death. Yahweh would sweep away the lies that were the basis of the lives of those evil doers. There would be no means of escaping for the wicked. Verse 20 is an interesting metaphor describing the guilty’s inability to become comfortable. This would be because these wrongdoers had set themselves against God. Verses 23-29 use a series of word pictures which explain that the proper process must be used in harvesting (a symbol of judgment). And the right tool must be chosen for the correct job. The Omnipotent Creator knew exactly what He was doing and would use the best method to judge the wicked and a specially raised up Son to save the faithful.
Chapter 11 of Hebrews is about “by faith”: what can be accomplished; chapter 12
“with hope” :patiently enduring; chapter 13 “in love” the abiding overarching necessity for believers – these 3 (compare
1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:5-6)). The writer completed the book on the great and lofty themes of God’s Word. All good translations convey the sense of Hebrews 11 verses 1-3, that faith tells us that the framing, or adjusting, of this world’s ages has been done with our Lord Jesus Christ in mind. Faith is the reality, substance, of the things being hoped for. Withou
Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago