HISTORY OF ISRAEL

“Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them” (Ezek. 20:13 NKJV).

Here in this verse we have the summary of Israel’s history and their conduct in the wilderness. It is also a summary of the conduct of all mankind as demonstrated by the way of life of people in every age. Our verse speaks of the rebellion of Israel and the retribution for Israel.

Rebellion of Israel – “The house of Israel rebelled against Me.” This rebellion has manifested itself in two ways. First, their actions: “Walked not in My statutes.” Israel did not obey God and would not live according to His Word. This has been the problem, not only for Israel but for all mankind. Humanity simply will not obey the Word of God even though this is where we can find real life. Second, their attitudes: “They despised my judgments.” The word “judgments” here is another name for the Word of God. The Israelites despised the Word of God. So do folks in every age. Today, the Bible is not wanted in our schools. And if we despise the Word of God, we will not obey it.

Retribution for Israel – “I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.” Israel’s rebellion brought retribution. Our verse speaks of the fury of the retribution and the fatalities from the retribution. Fury: God’s fury came upon Israel because He was angry with them for their rebellion. The last thing we want to do is get God angry. But most folk only worry about getting men angry. When God gets angry then judgment will come. Fatalities: Many Israelites died in the wilderness because of their rebellion against God. Death is the result of sin.

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Your obedience to God today determines what you’ll be for God tomorrow!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Deadness

In Rom. 4:19 we read, “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb” (NKJV).

Deadness is the Greek word nekrōsis (νέκρωσις =nek'-ro-sis). It describes a putting to death, state of death or deadness. Figuratively, it is a description of impotency. In classical Greek nekrōsis is used to describe the process of mortification, the dying (loss of power, even withering) of parts of the body. In the Septuagint, nekrōsis denotes a state of deadness. In the New Testament nekrōsis is used to indicate both the process or act of dying (loss of strength, vitality) and the resultant state of death. Here in Rom. 4:19 the word is used to describe the “deadness” of Sarah’s womb, her incapacity to bear a child

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be despised (Zech. 11:8).

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 27:20

Did You Know…

The Bible states that the Lord Jesus had brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3).

Bible Quiz

If you couldn’t bring a lamb for your sin offering what did the law allow in its place?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What kind of bread was to be eaten at the time of the Passover Celebration? Bread made without yeast (unleavened bread) – Deut. 16:3.

Names For God Found in the Bible

“Ancient of Days”

"I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire” (Dan. 7:9).

1. Meaning – Ancient of Days speaks of God’s eternal nature and denotes the fact that God is without beginning and without end.

2. Insights – In context, Daniel has a vision, and as he continued looking, there is a judgment scene - he saw thrones set in place for a royal court. Then the “Ancient of Days” took His place on His throne. This is none other than God the Father, and is the only place in all of Scripture where God the Father is represented in a human form. His title here expresses His holy, honored, and revered appearance. The white clothing and hair indicate purity and truth. His throne flamed with fire, indicate majesty in judgment, and it had wheels that flamed with fire. By taking His place on the throne, He indicates He is ready to pronounce judgment.

Did You Know...Christian History

John Fletcher was named Jean Guillaume de la Flechere at birth on September 12, 1729, in Nyon, Switzerland. He was a Swiss-born English divine and Methodist leader.

Fletcher was educated at Nyon. As a young man he intended to enter the army. A series of circumstances foiled his plans. In visiting England in 1752, he became personally acquainted with John and Charles Wesley. Falling under the influence of Methodism, Fletcher determined immediately to become a pastor. Five years later he was ordained. After assisting John Wesley and preaching to French-speaking Swiss expatriates, he threw himself into assisting the vicar of Madeley.

Madeley was a hard town. Fletcher literally chased down sinners to share the gospel with them. No matter what the excuse they gave for not attending church, he denied them of it, even walking through the streets ringing a bell loudly at five in the morning so they would have no excuse for not waking themselves on Sunday morning. He was an avid supporter of Sunday schools and set up one at Madeley.

Fletcher was also very charitable with most of his salary used to supply necessities for the poor, and a good part of his private income spent in the opening of chapels and spreading the Gospel. He loved his neighbor as himself as Scriptures taught. No weather could keep him indoors. Wherever and whenever he was needed, there he was found. To help the poor he gave of himself so greatly that his health broke, a condition aggravated by his constant exposure to the elements.

Fletcher was strong in his insistence on regeneration. Only with a new birth, a new creation, did one belong to Christ. This is a constant theme of his sermons. Fletcher was also a prolific writer, and although born and reared in Switzerland, he adopted the English language so thoroughly that he left fine works in it. He is considered a key interpreter of Wesleyan (or Arminian) theology in the 18th Century, and one of Methodism’s first great theologians.

“I went to see a man that had one foot in the grave; but I found a man that had one foot in heaven!” So wrote one of John Fletcher’s visitors after visiting the godly preacher who had become gravely ill by his strenuous efforts for the kingdom of Christ. John Fletcher died on 14 August 1785.

A Little Humor

A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch. “I couldn’t help notice how happy you look,” she said. “What’s your secret for a long and happy life?” “I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day,” he said. “I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods and never exercise.” “That’s amazing,” the woman said. “How old are you?” “Twenty six.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“It is dangerous and fatal presumption to say tomorrow when God says today!”