Numbers 13 - Isaiah 5 – Romans 10 – Hebrews 11

Numbers 13

- God told Moses to send one spy from each of the tribes into Canaan.

- Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua

- The spies were to tell if the people were weak or strong and what their cities were like and whether the land was good or bad (because it was harvest time)

- Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt

- When was Zoan built?

- The took some grapes and pomegranates.

- Why did they carry the grapes on a pole carried by 2 men?

- They returned after 40 days.

- They reported that the land was fruitful but the people were strong and cities were fortified.

- Caleb the son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Isaachar quieted the people and said they could take the land.

- The rest of the men were scared to go and fight the giants who lived in Canaan

Isaiah 5
- Why is this section like a poem to his beloved?
- His beloved cleared the ground for a vinyard and built a watch tower.
- He wanted grapes but it grew wild grapes
- Why does this sound like a bad thing?
- Isaiah is asking the people of Jerusalem why they are yielding wild grapes.
- God is saying that because they are yielding wild grapes He will let destruction come to the vinyard.
- God desired justice and the people of Israel yielded bloodshed.
- God is saying that the houses will be empty and the vines will not yield a good harvest.
- God says woe to those who get drunk and forget Him.
- Man is humbled and brought low.
- The Lord is exalted in His justice and righteousness which the people have turned from.
- Woe to those who lie or bend the truth.
- The people were calling evil good and good evil (following the ways of the world)
- Woe to those who think they are wise and to those who are heroes at drinking.
- These people have despised God's ways and laws and will go down to dust.
- God has inflicted justice and His hand of justice is still bringing judgement on the wicked.
- The Lord will bring outsiders to lay the Israelites to ruin for their sins.

Romans 10
- Paul desires to see Gentiles saved through Christ though they were unaware of the Jewish laws.
- If we ascend to heaven we bring Christ down and if we descend down, we are saying we can raise Jesus from the dead. Christ did not need us to do either of these things.
- The truth is by faith the word of God is in our words and heart.
- Believing in your heart is what will save you.
- Heart = believing and being justified
- Mouth = confessing and being saved.
- For those saved by faith God makes no distinction between Jew and Greek.
- Paul asks how Greeks will believe if they have never heard the gospel.
- He also says that it is beautiful when someone proclaims the gospel to people who have never heard it before.
- Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.
- Is Paul saying that all people should be aware of the gospel?
- Paul quotes Isaiah who says that God found those who did not seek Him.
- But Isaiah says that God held out His hand to a disobedient and "contrary" people.
- Why did God choose to save a group of people that were so often so opposed to Him?

Hebrews 11
- This is the faith chapter
- Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- By faith we believe God spoke and created everything out of nothing.
- By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.
- By faith Enoch was taken up and never saw death because he pleased God.
- Without faith we cannot please God.
- By faith, Noah built an ark saving his family and condemning the rest of the people.
- By faith, Abraham went out not knowing where he was going and entered the promised land.
- By faith Sarah conceived and had numerous descendants even though she was too old. (why is Sarah seen as having faith since she had Abraham lay with her servant to conceive?)
- These people all died before they saw the things promised to them and didn't look back to where they were leaving from but forward to the better places promised to them by God.
- By faith Abraham offered up Isaac as a sacrifice, figuring God would restore Isaac even if he were killed because of God's promise to make a people from Isaac.
- By faith Isaac gave future blessings to Jacob and Esau.
- By faith Jacob bless the sons of Joseph before he died.
- By faith Joseph mentioned the exodus of the Jews and gave directions for his bones.
- By faith, Moses' parents hid him for 3 months
- By faith, Moses refused to be with the Egyptians and chose to be mistreated, he did not fear Pharaoh, and kept the Passover.
- By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea.
- By faith the walls of Jericho fell after 7 days.
- By faith, Rahab was spared during the invasion of Jericho for helping the spies.
- Why doesn't the writer expound upon the other Bible greats which he mentions in passing such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets?
- The writer simply mentions the trials they went through and the miracles that God performed through them.
- How does "sawn in two" also translate as "they were tempted"?
- All of those who had such great faith never lived to see what was promised which was Jesus' death and resurrection which would save those who would believe.