THE CHRISTIAN RACE

Posted on by BETH

God sets a race to run before every child he receives encourages us to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (He 12:1).  The picture of a runner running for the crown is one of the clearest pictures God gives us his purpose.  He That race has a crown to win (1 Cor. 9:24-27).  There is a definite mark or finish line (Phil 3:14).  There are specific unbreakable rules (2 Tim 2:5).  Several months before Paul died  he said: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7,8).

Paul knew where to run and did.  The runner who does not know the mark, will run aimlessly, without heart.  He will run toward every bright light that beckons.  The Lord does not want anyone to be “tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).  The one who believes in a wrong goal runs heartily, but will arrive at the wrong mark. “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:5). We must see God’s plan as it is.  What avail is it for a man to choose what he wants to believe, only to find a few moments after he dies that he missed the mark?  He warns us that many will be shocked who not only knew him, but they were absolutely certain that they were serving him (Matt. 7:21-23).  Even on judgment day they will still believe they knew him and were serving him.  We don’t want that to happen to us.

It is not a question of doubt.  It is a matter of faith – faith in God’s word – every word.  We need to know the truth – all of the truth.  God’s plan can be made to be too hard or too simple.  To do so is to miss the mark.  Many, like the Pharisees, will miss the mark because tradition is strong.  Some have said: “If ‘so-and-so’ has not taught it, it is not so.”  Faith in men is the wrong faith.  Paul did not use his own words so “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:5). Our faith must be in God – in every word that proceeds out of his mouth.  This is not our natural inclination.  “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better” (Luke 5:39).

On judgment day, we will all wish we had heard and understood every word. God has never said that the gospel is simple.  The closest we can come to a ‘simple’ gospel is in 2 Corinthians 11:3.  The word ‘simplicity’ is literally singleness (not folded), which is ‘sincerity.’  There are first principles in the gospel for babies (Heb. 5:11-14) but there are second principles of the gospel which are not easy to be understood (2 Pe 3:15,16).  God hid this wisdom of the gospel from the foundation of the world so that no prophet or anyone else ever imagined what it is (2 Cor. 2:6-11).  He tells plainly that he revealed these things in wisdom.  God’s wisdom is not simple.  Paul preached the gospel in all wisdom (Col 2:28).  The gospel makes disciples (Mt 28:19), baptizes those who have been made disciples, and then teaches them all Jesus taught them – the complete truth (John 16:13).  This is not simple.

PART 1: GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN

Posted on by BETH

Our Father has an eternal plan for his children.  An overall picture of that plan will help us to better understand.  (1) God created this world with his own purpose in mind (Eph. 1:5-11). It belongs to him and he is fulfilling his own purpose for making man.  (2) he has revealed his complete purpose to man in the scriptures.  (3) the great commission gives an overview of this purpose.  (4) He shows us a pathway that will fulfill his purpose.  (5) he shows us the entrance to the pathway.  (6) he reveals the specific steps of the pathway that lead to the goal, his ultimate purpose for man (1 Pet. 2:21). God has a right to make the rules for man to live by because He is the creator and thus total owner and says: “the world is mine, and the fulness thereof of the world and everything in it”  (Psa. 50:12). Contrary to popular thought, he did not create this world simply so that man could enjoy it.  Man’s plans are temporary, but God has a marvelous eternal plan for his creation.

Addendum:

God has never said that the gospel is simple.  The closest we can come to a ‘simple’ gospel is in 2 Corinthians 11:3.  The word ‘simplicity’ is literally singleness (not folded), which is ‘sincerity.’  There are first principles in the gospel for babies (Heb. 5:11-14) but there are second principles of the gospel which are not easy to be understood (2 Pet. 3:15,16).  God hid this wisdom of the gospel from the foundation of the world so that no prophet or anyone else ever imagined what it is (2 Cor. 2:6-11).  He tells plainly that he revealed these things in wisdom.  God’s wisdom is not simple.  Paul preached the gospel in all wisdom (Col. 2:28).  The gospel makes disciples (Matt. 28:19), baptizes those who have been made disciples, and then teaches them all Jesus taught them – the complete truth (John 16:13).  This is not simple.

COVETOUSNESS: Lesson 11–Eli and Samuel’s Sons

Posted on by BETH

“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord. And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord” (1 Sam 2:12-17). “Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (1 Sam. 2:22).

“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment” (1 Sam. 8:1-3).

The quality of heart that causes men to turn aside to lucre, take bribes and to pervert judgment is pure covetousness. They wish for more and more, and so stoop to devious, sinful means to satisfy their greed. Why did God condemn Eli for the behavior of his sons but count Samuel righteous when his sons were also wicked?

First, Eli was a high priest while Samuel was only a judge. Eli knew that his sons coveted other men’s wives and committed adultery with the women at the temple itself. Today, the church has the responsibility of putting adulterers and covetous men out of the assembly (1 Cor 5:10-12). Similarly, Eli had both the responsibility and the authority to remove adulterers and thieves from the temple, but he did not fulfill his responsibility. He may have rebuked the adulterer and covetous man, but those in authority have the responsibility to get that kind of person out of the assembly. A little leaven leavens the whole lump whether in Israel or in the church (1 Cor 5:7-8). Eli was the ultimate authority over the nation of Israel, his own sons included. Eli’s sons had left home many years before, and as a father he could chide but not physically restrain them; however, as high priest he had the responsibility to use force to stop their wickedness according to the Law of Moses whether that behavior was criminal or immoral. God condemned and cursed Eli because “his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not.” (1 Sam. 3:13-14).

Secondly, Eli not only did not restrain his sons, but he also accepted the stolen goods, (illegal booty), and honored his sons above God Himself (1 Sam. 2:29). Samuel did neither of those things. The high priest at the time Samuel was judge could have restrained Samuel’s sons as God expected Eli to do when he was high priest, but apparently no one was able to restrain them. Eli obviously loved or feared his children more than he loved or feared God.

In contrast to Eli, as a father after his sons became of age and left home, Samuel could only chide his son’s disobedience. Eli’s sons, as priests who offered God’s worship, had a far greater responsibility to be an example of holiness, purity and honesty. Instead of being good examples, their covetous hearts caused them to steal from God. Eli recognized this and chided them, saying: Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him (1 Sam. 2:24-25a)?

When people are covetous, they become God’s enemy. Eli’s sons not only destroyed their own souls by their greed but the souls of the family—even the High Priest. Samuel was not covetous and spoke freely of never taking a bribe: “…of whose hand have I received any bribe [kopher, “covering”] to blind mine eyes therewith?” (1 Sam. 12:3). Samuel waited until he was old before he appointed his sons as judges in the city of Beer-sheba; however, they could not handle the position with its great responsibilities and temptations and fell to some the sins of Eli’s sons.

Israel immediately pointed to the sins of Samuel’s sons as an excuse to ask for the object of their own covetousness. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Sam. 8:4-5). Covetousness seemed to destroy the entire nation in that time, which makes Samuel’s faithfulness all the more apparent. He was able to withstand the temptation to live for this life and lived for God and the next life.

“And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand” (1 Sam. 12:1-4).

What a wonderful commendation for Samuel. We know that no one, except a criminal wants a covetous ruler who accepts bribes. Why then would any man do what he hates in others? Even today, every man or woman who is known for covetousness is despised. We see by Samuel’s example that we should turn from such things because we belong to God who has promised to supply all our needs.

QUESTIONS:
1. Were Eli’s sons faithful to God (1 Sam. 2:12-17; 1 Sam. 8:3)?
2. Give at least two reasons why Eli was held responsible for the behavior of his sons?
3. How had Eli participated in the evil his sons were doing?
4. As a result of Eli’s evil actions, what did God tell young Samuel to say to him (1 Sam. 3:11-14)?
5. During his youth, Samuel was an assistant to Eli, the high priest. What was the designated lineage of the priests assistants (Num. 3:5-9, 12, 17, 32; Num. 4:46-47)?
6. Give the names of Samuel’s two sons. Be sure to include the scripture references.
7. In what city did they do their work? Give a scripture reference.
8. What were Samuel’s sons accused of doing? Include a scripture reference with your answer.
9. Did Samuel participate in the evil his sons were doing? Give a reference to prove your answer.
10. How might Samuel’s sons have kept themselves from such wickedness (Luke 12:15; 1 Cor. 5:11)?
11. DISCUSSION QUESTION: Besides Samuel, there were other righteous fathers who had bad sons. Name as many as you can remember and tell what they did wrong.
12. RESEARCH QUESTION: Samuel was known both as a prophet and as a judge of Israel. Explain the difference between the two types of work.

COVETOUSNESS: Lesson 10-Achan

Posted on by BETH

COVETOUSNESS
Lesson 10—Achan

The hope for the long anticipated Promised Land flowing with milk and honey was finally realized. Ending the forty year-long trek in the wilderness, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and headed toward Jericho (Num 20:21-21:3). The bitter experience with Edom’s refusal to allow them passage through their borders was now behind them.

Moses and Aaron had been gathered to their people rather than enter with Israel into Canaan because of the incident at Meribah (Num. 20:10-11, 13). Aaron was stripped of his priestly garments and his son Eleazar took his place. Moses and Aaron died and God himself buried Moses (Deut. 34:5-6; Num. 20:25-28). “And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities” (Num. 21:2). God’s promise of victory over their enemies was conditional on keeping themselves from the accursed thing.

We remember the account of the men going to spy out the land and how Rahab hid them rather than betray God’s people to the enemy. Because of her faith in God they made a covenant to take her and her family out of Jericho before destroying it utterly (Josh. 2:18-20; 6:17). Before the battle, God had instructed the Israelites to march around the city once each day for six days and finally march around the city seven times on the seventh day before blowing the trumpets for battle (Josh. 6:3-20). Their obedience brought down the walls and every person and animal in Jericho was destroyed. The Israelites understood Jericho was to be burnt with fire.

If the story had ended as it began, there would have been no trouble to record, but of course Israel did not keep its part of the covenant. Joshua 7:1 records, “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.” God had specifically warned all Israel: “And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it” (Josh 6:18).

Achan apparently had no faith in God’s warning. God testified that “Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff (Joshua 7:11). Achan coveted the spoil after the battle of Jericho, when God had said explicitly that the silver and gold was His (Josh 6:19).

Nobody suspected anything was wrong until the battle at the city of Ai. Following that resounding defeat, they cast lots so see who among the people had sinned. When the lot finally fell on Achan, Joshua encouraged him to give God the glory by telling the truth. From his own mouth, Achan testified to what happened. “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it” (Joshua 7:21).
Achan’s name means trouble. The son of Carmi of the tribe of Judah, Achan unintentionally brought about the Israelites’ defeat at Ai (Josh 7:1, 18-24). He is called Achar in 1 Chr. 2:7, and described as the “troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the accursed thing.” What a shameful heritage to leave his family just because he did not overcome his greed for gain!

Questions:

1. Why did Israel not have the victory at Ai when they first went to battle (Joshua 22:20)?

2. Were most of the Israelites faithful to God (Joshua 6:24)?

3. Have you heard the term, “sin in the camp?”

4. Did Achan know that the gold belonged to God (Joshua 6:19)?

5. Who did Achan really steal from?

6. How were the children of Israel able to identify who among them had sinned in the “cursed thing?” (Joshua 7:13, 15, 18).

7. When the lot fell on Achan, what did Joshua say to him (Joshua 7:19)?

8. How did Achan give glory to God in his confession (Joshua 7:20)?

9. Where had Achan hidden the stolen things (Joshua 7:22)?

10. As a result of Achan’s sin, what punishment was dealt to him and his family (Josh 7:24)?

11. Did Achan’s covetousness only affect his own soul? Who else was “troubled?”

12. How were Achan’s wife and children influenced to disobey God’s warning?

13. Why was it necessary to burn Achan’s family and all his possessions with fire (Josh 7:24; Josh 22:20)?

14. What was the ‘heritage’ that Achan’s family received?

15. Could Achan’s family have avoided being condemned with him by exposing his sin?

COVETOUSNESS: Lesson 9 – Balaam

Posted on by BETH

COVETOUSNESS

Lesson 9—Balaam

Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Pet. 2:15). You will find the account of Balaam’s wicked betrayal of Israel in Numbers, chapters 22 to 24. The reading is long, but well worth the time you will spend to understand this covetous man. Balaam has been described as a prophet, a magician and a soothsayer (Josh. 13:22). He was summoned by the Moabite king, Balak, to curse the Israelites before they entered Canaan (Num. 22:5-24:25; Deut. 23:4-5).

The New Testament mentions Balaam in three passages. Peter speaks of false teachers who “…have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15). Jude speaks of backsliders who “…ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward…” (Jude 11). Balaam’s error was greed or covetousness, and obviously he was well paid to bring a curse upon the people of Israel.

The nature of Balaam’s curse is made clear by John in the Book of Revelation. It refers to some members of the church in Pergamos who held “the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication” (Rev. 2:14).

Before leaving Balak, Balaam apparently told the Moabite leader how Israel could be defeated if its people were seduced to worship Baal, “…to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication” (Rev. 2:14). This was exactly what happened. Israel was strong while she remained faithful to Jehovah, but she incurred the curse which Balaam could not inflict, the moment that the men of Israel committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab (Num. 25:1, 6; 31:15-16). In condemning “the way of Balaam,” the New Testament condemns the greed of all who are well paid to tempt God’s people to compromise their moral standards.

QUESTIONS:

1. What was Balak’s original offer to Balaam (Num. 22:16-17)?

2. Why did King Balak send more honorable men to Balaam the second time?

3. Whose idea was it to get money for cursing Israel (Num. 22:16-19)?

4. What was in Balaam’s mind from the beginning? (Num. 22:18)?

5. Was Balaam sincere in his desire to speak only what the Lord had put in his mouth (Num. 22:38; 23:12)?

6. Why did Balaam ask God the second time with the same question when he already knew God’s answer?

7. What did Balak offer to give to Balaam (Num. 22:16-17)?

8. Can we prove that Balaam got money from King Balak (Jude 11)?

9. Give the context and teaching about those who are like Balaam (Jude 11).

10. Think of as many kinds of people in the world today as you can who might be paid to seduce God’s people to do wrong.