Numbers and John....

Book of the Bible – Numbers (Hebrew title for this book is Bemidbar – meaning “in the desert.)

Author - Traditionally ascribed to Moses

Date of Writing – 1450-1410 B.C.

Number of Chapters - 36

To Whom Written – The people of Israel

Purpose of the Writing – Details the 38 years of journey that should have been an eleven day walk – but disobedience made the pathway rocky and long.

My Personal Summary -

The Book of Numbers amplifies a theme which rings very true today; “Believing in God is not enough. We must believe, trust, and obey God. The paths to God’s will for our lives do not just involve obedience, it revolves around it! The sheer logistics of the forty year wilderness journey stemming from disobedience, distrust and dishonoring of God points us toward a simpler way of living.

In our finite “wisdom” we translate what is actually simple into painful and costly complexity. We make a forty year struggle out of an eleven day walk!

We will experience life-challenges. We were never promised we would not go through lands of trial. We were also never told to stay in the land of trials either. Through obedience to God we find the map out of dry thirsty lands into a place of pure joy with God.

In Numbers 1-10 a census is taken and legislative instruction is given. The entire rest of the book is a record of mans failure to consult a map when lost. Numbers might record the first instance of, “be careful what you ask for!” It is clear the Israelites had needs. It is also clear that God met each of those needs. The struggle today seems to echo that of this time in that the grumbling and griping we do might be an indication of a rebellious spirit. It is easy to disguise our rebellious spirit with church vernacular or a certain type of behavior, but in the end, God knows our hearts and just how lost we are.

Book of the Bible - The Gospel According to the Apostle John
Author – John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (13:23)
Date of Writing – Between 50 and 70 A.D.
Number of Chapters - 21
To Whom Written – Gentile Christians needing a boost in their faith and to those without a saving knowledge of Yeshua.
Purpose of the Writing – Jn 20:30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

My Personal Summary

Whenever I read the Gospel According to John I cry. This book, more than any other profoundly impacts me to tears because it is inscribed on my very soul. I am so deeply moved because the words of John, the apostle who saw Christ, who loved and was loved by Yeshua writes with such deep love for his Savior that I am convicted by my lack of depth of faith that I must weep, and after weeping I am renewed and inspired to love God more deeply, more effectively.
John loved and loves his Jesus when he writes the words of this book, and when he revisits the torture, death and resurrection of his Savior he cries, much like me. I never physically saw Yeshua, but I see Him through the words of John.
This book was written that “we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name.” [Emphasis mine] LIFE! Not constant sorrow, wringing of hands, worry and fear. Life is now and here worshipping God the Father, serving Christ.
It all started with the Word, logos. The logos of God was the beginning and is the beginning. Everything that is good comes from the wellspring of Life of God. We are given what we need from this wellspring and John shows us what we are given is more than what we ever need.
The Word of God lived among us for thirty-three years and in that time changed all of time. In obedience to prophecy, John the Baptist claimed Christ before even one miracle was recorded. John testified boldly that the One who is come is greater than he is, and he was clear that we are to follow Him alone.
Jesus is God and though I am over my word allocation, I must say, Thank God for the many parables which instruct and inspire. Thank God for the suffering and sorrow of Jesus Christ. Thank God for His mercy and grace this is more than sufficient for me. The performance of the first miracle of Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana started a ticking clock that would not end until Yeshua was tortured and murdered, and resurrected from the sin grave I dug for Him! Soli Deo Gloria! The many healings by Yeshua are described, the preaching and parables of Jesus are recounted, and yet, there were so many John tells us it wouldn’t all fit in the world’s books. I cannot wait to ask John and even Yeshua Himself about all those others!