Hebrews

The Moses Syndrome

 “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock? Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly” Numbers 20:10, 11

The language of Moses and the context of this event suggest that Moses had lost his cool with the people over their continuing disobedience, lack of faith in the Lord and their rebellious nature toward the Lord. Only one who has never had to lead or manage another person or people would have difficulty identifying with his frustration.

However, for Moses and Aaron, prophet and priest, this single act of Moses would bar them from entering the Promised Land. What was it that Moses had done that invoked such a reaction from God? It may seem such a trivial and excusable action to us that we cannot fathom why the Lord would so humiliate Moses before all Israel.

Understanding as to why the Lord took such a strong action is evident in the passage. That evidence also reveals why many Christian never enter the rest of God (Psalm 95; Hebrews 4).

The command of God was to “speak to the rock” (v 8) but Moses “struck the rock twice with his rod.” The rod is symbolic of the authority of God which is evident throughout the exodus. This can be more readily seen in Numbers 21 when a bronze serpent is mounted on Moses’ rod. The question arises, “Was Moses prevented from entering the Promised Land because he was disobedient?” That might seem the case but we need to look deeper. Why didn’t Moses obey the exact literal word of the Lord?

The reason given by the Lord in verse twelve has two linked parts in it. Firstly Moses did not “believe” the Lord. As we read the history of Moses to this point it is very evident that Moses did believe the word of the Lord or he would not be where he was doing what he was. What has happened? Secondly, the Lord says that Moses did not “hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel.” To “hallow” is to esteem as holy or separate from that which is unholy.

When we combine the words of the Lord with the words and actions of Moses in verses ten and eleven we can see that Moses had made a huge shift in his own identification. He was identifying himself (intrinsically unholy) with the Lord (intrinsically holy) instead of the people Israel (intrinsically unholy). For a moment in his life spiritual pride arose in Moses’ heart and he spoke to Israel as if he was God. He had momentarily forgotten that he was also a rebel. In so doing he forgot his place and stole away the people’s concept of the holiness of God. In effect, he made himself equal with God (intrinsically holy). This may have been part of the reason for the murderous attitude of the Pharisees and scribes toward Jesus when He claimed equality with the Father.

Since Moses was the leader of God’s people there would have to be a significant consequence if the people of Israel were to have a true concept of the holiness of God restored in their minds.

When we have a critical spirit we are the same as Moses as he was at that time. Instead of pleading with our holy God on behalf of other believers we criticise them from a proud and arrogant heart. We could emulate King David as revealed in Psalm 35:11-14. A critical person will not experience the “rest” of God and they will darken, if not destroy, other people’s perception of the holiness of God.

True to Kind

“This is a faithful saying … If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself”  2 Timothy 2:11, 13

Paul encourages Timothy and all of us to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v 1) through faith in who Jesus is. There will be reward for remaining faithful. Paul gives the examples of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer to show that God is faithful. But even if we are not faithful God remains faithful. Why is this? It is because God and all His creatures are true to kind. God cannot act contrary to who He is and that is a foundation stone of true Christian faith.

The Bible reveals two things that God cannot do: God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18) and God cannot act contrary to His Divine Nature (2 Timothy 2:13).

In an attempt to reduce penalty or even avoid penalty the defence of an accused may call witnesses to demonstrate that the actions of the accused were “out of character”. This is wholly untrue. All of God’s creatures act absolutely according to what they are. We all act exactly according to what we are. The natural person is always in rebellion against God and can do nothing but sin. The problem is not what we do but what we are. What we do is the outworking of what we are. A person may be able to suppress behaviour but they cannot change what they are. “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).

Sinful thoughts, words and deeds are the symptoms of what we are. As in the case of one before a judge we may try to escape penalty by claiming otherwise but God will not be deceived. We are sinners and there is no remedy until we admit that we are sinners by nature. We cannot change what we are. At best we may be able to change some aspects of our behaviour but that will never make us compatible with God.

God is holy; God is undefiled; God is without sin; God is love; God is righteous and just; God cannot deny who He is and if we are to come into His presence and have communion with Him then what we are must be changed. We cannot change what we are. This is why Jesus makes the emphatic statement that “you must be born again” (John 3:3). This is not a command but a statement of fact. To have communion with God we must have the same nature. This is only possible by way of a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 6:15) through which we are made “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

When Jesus died on the cross He took our sin nature to death as well as the penalty for sin acts. In His resurrection He opened the door for a new life (Ephesians 2:10). The Gospel of Christ reveals God’s remedy for the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) but also the remedy for what we are. Jesus’ resurrection necessitated His death on the cross; for us to live the resurrection life we must die to self.

God cannot change who and what He is. He is holy and without sin. If anyone is to come into His presence it is they who must be changed. Only Jesus Christ is able to do that for He alone bore our sin and rose again.

Surrender of Body

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10)

Hannah was not unique in Israel in being childless but the depth of her sorrow may well have been unique. How did she come to be in such bitterness of soul and weep in such anguish? There is no way she could have artificially produced this. The factors that would have brought her to this place in her life are varied but are all under the direction of just One.

In her family she was the more loved of two wives (v 5). The other wife had many children (v 4) and taunted Hannah with regard to her childless state (v 6). This was aided by the need for sons to retain the inheritance of land under the Law. Also, she was a married woman who had a desire to be a mother.

In addition to these more personal provocations was the state of her nation. Along with her husband she was faithful in presenting offerings to the Lord in God’s house. However, this was not the case for the majority. We ought not to forget that at that time the Lord still presenced Himself in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle.

Year by year as Elkanah and Hannah brought their sacrifice to the Lord they could not help but notice the abuse of position exercised by Eli’s sons who did not know the Lord (2:12ff). Eli was the appointed Levitical priest and his sons served under his authority. Eli was complicit in his sons’ actions (2:29) and this would bring about the eventual end of the Levitical priesthood. The priesthood would, from a future time, be led by a “Faithful Priest,” (2:35) namely, Jesus Christ. The state of Israel added its weight of sorrow to Hannah’s heart.

None of these factors arose artificially in Hannah. Bringing them all together is the providential hand of God. Hannah’s part was to surrender her own body to the Lord for His service. In this she is a kind of fore-runner to Mary who also wholly surrendered her body to the Lord for His service and to bring into the world the Son of God. Hannah was granted her heart’s desire because she was wholly surrendered to the Lord. Lack of surrender is evidence of lack of faith in Jesus Christ – and we know that without faith it is impossible to please the Lord (Hebrews 11:6).

We cannot artificially produce the bitterness of soul and anguish of heart that Hannah experienced. If we surrender our whole being, including our bodies (Romans 12:1), Jesus will allow His desires for other Christians and for a world helplessly lost in sin and under the power of darkness to flow from within our own hearts. It will only be then that we will pray a prayer of the kind that Hannah has done. That we don’t anguish over Christians who fail to follow Jesus Christ to the cross and grieve a lost world so that we pray and labour in ministry is evidence that we are not surrendered to Jesus.

We fail to pray and grieve because we have not wholly surrendered ourselves to the Lord. It means that we are not experiencing the reality of “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for Me” (Galatians 2:20).

More-ish

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” Psalm 34:8 (source: http://hilldaleworship.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/150-days-of-psalms-psalm-34.html)

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.”
Psalm 34:8

Saturday night we sometimes treat ourselves to chocolate; “Just three pieces each,” we declare, “and we’ll have some more another night.” An hour later and the whole block has gone. Another night we might open a bag of cashew nuts with the declaration that we will only have a handful each. Three handfuls later we lock the remainder away where they are not easily accessible to discourage further pilfering. Does this sound familiar in your home? Maybe you are more disciplined but you know the feeling that goes with foods that are more-ish.

While many people still want to debate the existence of God many others have discovered that He can be known, loved and enjoyed. Perhaps those who find Him the most more-ish are those who have suffered in some way in this fallen world. They have tasted Him in a way that others have not and long for more of His intimate and comforting fellowship. The Psalmist knew this well when he penned, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1, 2). He longed to be in God’s presence. Peter wrote of this longing for the Lord, “… as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2, 3). This comes from the heart of one who really knows the Lord Jesus. Again, the Psalmist writes, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103).

The writer of Hebrews tells us that some taste the word of God and find it unpalatable and reject it and Him. They never know what it is to have intimacy with the Lord (Hebrews 6:4-6). They choose to love the world rather than God.

Those who have truly received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour discover that He is a true friend who loves them and desires to share their life in every aspect. Their appetite for His company and fellowship cannot be satiated. Chocolates and nuts will eventually fill us up (even if our taste buds still want more) but we will never get to a place where we have had enough of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the contrary, the one who has received more of Him will have an even greater thirst for more. On the one hand He satisfies our every longing but on the other hand He becomes even the more more-ish.

“O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water”
Psalm 63:1

Joy Ahead

“looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

At Easter we rightly give special focus on the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ without which we would be without hope. The Gospel writers make it clear that Jesus was in no doubt that He came to earth for the cross. Without His substitutionary death for the sin of mankind we should all perish. Without His bodily resurrection we would have no assurance or expectation resurrection for ourselves. Jesus came to reconcile people to Himself. Why would He endure such pain and humiliation at the hands of His creation?

The answer is in Himself, in His Divine Nature. To say that He came solely out of love is inadequate and falls short. Jesus came to glorify God. To glorify God means to reveal His majesty, beauty, wisdom, power, in short, His Divine Nature, within the Creation. Love is an aspect of God’s glory but not all.

The Lord had made a prophetical statement to Satan in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15), an unconditional Covenant with Abraham (12:1-3; 15) and King David (2 Samuel 7:16) and He will show Himself faithful to His word including His word that came through the prophets. When the whole creation is restored and God dwells with men on the earth then His glory will be revealed for all to see.

“And I [John] heard a voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).

Paul writes, “He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” “Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:25, 26, 28).

God will finish what He began in the Garden of Eden. He will have His Creation in perfect harmony with Himself and He will make His home with men (Revelation 21:22-23:5).

When the writer of Hebrews wrote concerning Jesus Christ, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” it was the consummation of the victory over sin, the devil and death when God in all His holiness dwells with men that He had in mind. That is when He is seen face to face by His creation in all His glory (Revelation 22:4). That which Peter James and John saw on the Mount of Transfiguration was a foretaste of what all people who put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ shall see.

Likewise when we have our focus on that same glorious future we will gladly endure the cross by laying down our lives for Him and the brethren (1 John 3:16). As Jesus is in resurrected humanity so shall we be in the resurrection (1 John 3:2). We shall never have the distinctive of the Divine Nature but we shall be perfect in humanity just as Jesus is.

God’s goal is to finish what He began and dwell with men. In Jesus Christ, we can begin enjoying His presence or continue enjoying His presence today.

The Word of Life Manifested

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life – the life was manifested, and we have seen, …” 1 John 1:1

There is most assuredly a “WOW” factor in John’s heart as he wrote these words. This is another way of expressing one of the names given to Jesus, Emmanuel which means God with us. It is hard to imagine that anyone could describe God’s presence in the person of Jesus Christ any better than John has.

John was able to hear all that Jesus spoke and taught, observe Jesus with his eyes, study Him with his mind and touch Him with his hands. He was even able to lean against Jesus at Passover. Who did John know Jesus was? He was absolutely convinced that Jesus is God co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. That is the testimony of this letter of his.

Since Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden no one had the opportunity to have this kind of intimacy with the Creator. This was especially so for Peter James and John. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God had spoken to men in various ways through history but that the appearing of Jesus was unique beyond any comparison (1:1-4). The writer expresses the essence of Jesus coming into the world in verse 3, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The baby in a manger that we so readily picture at Christmas is God incarnate, the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, and it all exists for Him. We exist for Him! Jesus may have appeared a helpless baby but He was anything but helpless. It was mankind that was helpless, helpless to deliver itself from sin and death but Jesus has made it possible for any person to be delivered. Millions have discovered this and every day Jesus continues to build His church with those who discover the same reality. Peter calls believers “living stones” being built into a “spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Fortunately for us the disciples were just ordinary men as we are today and that meant that questions were raised in their minds when they didn’t understand something. When they asked those questions Jesus answered them which is also to our gain. Thank God they were not so proud that they did not ask but rather humbled themselves before God and asked.

When Philip asked Jesus, “Show us the Father” (John 14:8), Jesus made it quite clear to him and all the disciples that He was claiming that He and the Father are one. That is, they are indistinguishable one from the other and inseparable (v 9).

As we spend time in reflection on who Jesus is this Christmas may it lift our hearts in praise and worship now and in holy submission for the years ahead while He tarries.

Blinding Shadows

“… since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, …”   Hebrews 8:4, 5

There is nothing wrong with copies and shadows. When driving a bus it is quite helpful to look for a shadow behind as a warning that someone is too close. The vehicle may be unseen but the shadow tells of its presence. However, the shadow is not the concern. The real concern is the object that casts the shadow. If the shadow is cast over the bus it will do no damage but if the object that casts the shadow comes in contact with the bus there may be serious damage.

The writer of Hebrews explains that the priesthood, tabernacle and offerings were given by God and therefore very important to Israel. However, they are but shadows of heavenly things (v 5). They have a limited appearance of the real but have no substance in themselves (10:1).

Israel has generally taken the shadow as the real. When the real came down from heaven they did not recognise Him because they thought the shadow was the substance. The law given by God through Moses in every aspect was a shadow of Jesus Christ. The moral aspects of the law describe Jesus and the ritual aspects describe how he would reconcile men to God. It was the scribes’ and Pharisees’ focus on the shadow the blinded them to that which is the real object.

When a church becomes stagnant it may be because the people have ceased gazing upon the real and focused on the shadow. Paul warned Timothy that in the last days there would be religious people who have “a form of godliness but deny its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). We are in those last days and the people he is describing are people who worship the shadow and not Jesus.

In a similar way that the law, tabernacle and objects in the tabernacle were shadows of heavenly things so is our church building and the objects we use in worship. They have no intrinsic value so far as our relationship with God is concerned. This may unsettle some but the pulpit and communion table could just as easily have been firewood and may yet become that. The unused contents of the cup and the bread taken at communion go down the drain or into the rubbish bin. These are shadows and the sooner we grasp that the better because then we will give our worship, love and attention to the real object of which these are but shadows. Just as it has been for Israel it is possible that we may give our attention to shadows instead of the One who casts the shadow.

The writer of Hebrews says that the law was a shadow of heavenly things (10:1). Well, John writes in his Gospel that heaven came down in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and dwelt among us. Matthew records two names for the One who casts the shadow in chapter one of his Gospel: “Jesus” for He will save His people from their sins (v 21) and “Emmanuel” which means God with us (v 23).

Like Israel the professing church in our day may be becoming more preoccupied with the shadows of Jesus Christ. We cannot change the focus of others, but we can ensure the focus of our attention and faith is on the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ – and not the shadow He casts.

On to Maturity

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” Hebrews 2:3

When I was a child my thoughts at Christmas centred on what I might receive as gifts. This is generally the mindset of a child in the early years in regard to most things. As I grew into my teen and early adult years my mind was more concerned with what I could do with the holiday break. Later when I became a father the thought was more on what I would give to my children. This is part of the nature of maturity and taking responsibility in life.

This outline is also true of our walk with our Saviour. We came to Him because of what He is able to give us, eternal life, and take from us, the consequences of sin. As we progressed in our faith we began to look for things to do for Him. In Christian maturity however, we are concerned more with Him and what we can give Him – not get from Him.

In relation to other Christians and family this is also a sign of maturity. No relationship will last if it is based on what we can get out of it. This is why we have so many breakups in marriages and other relationships. They are often based on what one get out of it and not what can put into it.

Just as we want to come to maturity ourselves we also desire this for our children and grandchildren. None of us appreciate a grown person who still thinks only of their own wants and what they can get out of a relationship. The same is true for Christians. Let us go on to maturity and do all we can to ensure others do likewise.

What do you give to someone who has everything? Fortunately, in the Bible God lets us know what He desires of us. What He describes is not a list of projects or even a description of how we must live. He does give us a description of godliness in the Bible which is seen most notably in Jesus Christ. The description is not a requirement for acceptance but rather a guide for us so that we know when we are going astray, or remaining true to the nature of the Jesus Christ who lives in us.

We may give ourselves to programs and on special occasions do things for Him but in reality it is each day when we set aside time to be alone with Jesus and His Word that we please Him. It is then that we surrender ourselves afresh to Jesus and give Him the gift He desires. The gift He desires is our heart. When He has our heart He has our all.

Paul writes his expression of this concept in terms of surrendering ourselves to Jesus as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1, 2). That is, we live to please Him and not just to please ourselves.

Power to Overcome

“… God and Saviour who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

For an aeroplane to fly there are a number of laws that are taken into consideration and are either utilised or need to be overcome. The laws that most readily come to mind are the law of aerodynamics and the law of gravity. The law of gravity will not go away and neither does the law of aerodynamics cease to exist even if nothing is utilising it. They always remain. We cannot simply turn them off as we do a light in our home.

The law of aerodynamics requires motion to be effective and energy is needed to effect that motion. In gliders that energy comes from the sun but most aeroplanes depend on engines to give them the required motion to bring the law of aerodynamics into effect.

In the verse quoted above Paul writes to Timothy clearly stating that God’s will is that every person should be saved. Peter and the writer of Hebrews write the same thing (2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 10:10; cf Romans 6:10). Equally clear in the Bible is that few will be saved (Matthew 7:13-15).

There are two laws in the Gospel of Christ that act in relation to each other much like the laws of gravity and aerodynamics. If the law of aerodynamics is not utilised an object will inevitably succumb to the law of gravity. For an aeroplane and its passengers that can be catastrophic. In like manner if the law of grace in Christ Jesus is not utilised a person succumbs to the law of God’s holiness and that is also catastrophic. For a plane to overcome gravity it requires energy. For a person to escape the law of sin and death he/she requires the grace of God through Jesus Christ (vs 5, 6).

Whether an aeroplane in the air or a sinner before our Holy God, whatever happens the laws are fulfilled. If an aeroplane crashes all the laws pertaining to it are fulfilled. It crashed because it did not have the power to bring the law of aerodynamics into effect. When a person is not saved all the laws of God are fulfilled. If a person is not saved it is because he/she had no power to bring the law of grace and forgiveness into effect.

It is God’s will that all be saved but it is only those who receive the grace of God in Jesus Christ who will be saved from sin and death. The reason for this is that He alone took away mankind’s sin and therefore He alone is the Mediator between God and men (v 5). Jesus Christ alone has the power to deal with man’s sinfulness. As Luke writes, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It was His blood alone that was shed on the cross at Calvary.

We who have received the grace of God in Jesus Christ now have the privilege and responsibility to tell others so that they may come to the knowledge of the truth and receive the gift of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, just as we have been so graced.

Faith or Commonsense?

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him” Hebrews 11:6

How often do we hear that something is ‘just commonsense’? The fact that we hear it so often reveals that it isn’t all that common. We sometimes hear the term in relation to the Christian life as well. With the 57 varieties of ‘Christian’ in the world these days what we may think should be common Christian thinking isn’t so common.

The fact is that commonsense is not faith and faith is not commonsense. Jesus referred to the Israelites that had been bitten by poisonous snakes in John 3:14. The account in Numbers 21:4-9 reveals that they could be cured by simply looking at a pole with a brass serpent attached to one end. That was not commonsense but it was an act of faith. “Commonsense and faith stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual; of impulse and inspiration” writes Oswald Chambers.

We must be careful not to apply what seems to be commonsense in the world, without considering God and His Word, to our spiritual life. From time to time God will ask us to do (or not do) that which defies commonsense to test our faith in Him (as He did with Abraham) but also to accomplish His purpose.

The just shall live by faith we are told and faith and common sense run directly against each other. We will either let one rule our lives or the other but never both.

Faith puts Jesus Christ and His Word first (God’s wisdom). Commonsense puts my knowledge and ability to reason first (man’s wisdom). It is for us to choose.

God will bring us into circumstances requiring actions of faith in order to educate our faith and destroy commonsense. Faith is the whole person rightly related to God by the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Faith is taking God at His word and living according to it even when I don’t see the outcome as being beneficial.