Numbers 17 - Isaiah 9 – Romans 14 – James 2

Numbers 17
- The Lord told Moses to get a staff from each of the 12 houses.
- He was to put their names on the staffs, Aaron's name on house of Levi's staff
- Moses was to put the 12 staffs in the tent of meeting and God said his chosen man's staff would sprout.
- Moses collected the staffs in front of the people to ceases their grumbling against God.
- The next day Aaron's staff had budded, bloomed, and bore almonds
- God told Moses to put Aaron's staff back in the tent to show future rebels
- The people said they were undone and feared for their lives.

Isaiah 9
- Why would there be no gloom for her who is in anguish?
- Isaiah reflects to God's glory at the sea (probably the Red Sea that Moses crossed)
- The people walking in darkness have seen the light.
- The nation has multiplied and is full of joy Why?
- God has broken the staff of the oppressor like in the days of Midian.
- Ever boot of invader and every bloody garment will be fuel for the fire.
- This line is found in the book of Matthew during the Christmas story "For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
- This "son's" reign shall never end.
- He will establish justice and righteousness from this time and forever more.
- The Lord has sent a word against Israel.
- Which people's pride is Isaiah talking about in these verses?
- The people were saying how they would rebuild everything even better in their own pride.
- The Lord is stirring those in Rezin, Philistine, and Syria against Israel.
- God's anger has not turned away from Israel's misdeeds.
- When the Lord struck down the people of Israel they still did not turn to Him.
- God cut off Israel's head (elder and honored man (who was this at the time?))
- God cut off their tail (the lying prophets)
- God has struck down those leaders who are leading the people astray.
- God has no pity on even the widow or the fatherless because they are ALL evil doers.
- For these reasons his wrath is still on them.
- Wickedness burns and consumes by its very nature.
- The wrath of the Lord consumes the land and the people.
- The people devour the flesh of their own arm.
- Israel is against itself as stated by Isaiah "Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh;together they are against Judah."
- This is yet another reason why God's hand is still outstretched against them (repeated twice)

Romans 14
- Do not quarrel over opinions with those weaker in the faith.
- The weaker believer only eats vegetables.
- The stronger believer eat anything.
- The eater and abstainer should not pass judgment on each other for what they will or won't eat.
- God welcomes both of these believers regardless of what their eating beliefs.
- We are all servants of God so should not pass judgments on each other.
- The Lord is their master and will help them stand.
- Paul then addresses the "importance" of certain days to different believers.
- One person views certain days as important while another views every day the same.
- The one should observe the day in honor of the Lord.
- You can honor and give thanks to the Lord by eating or not eating certain things. (Paul seems to address the heart rather than the actual action)
- We are not to live or to die to ourselves.
- We are to live to and die to the Lord.
- For this reason Christ died and lived again, and He is now Lord of the living and the dead.
- We should not judge or despise our brother because we will all be judged by God eventually.
- We shouldn't judge our brother or do anything to cause them to stumble.
- Paul says nothing is unclean but it is unclean for the one who thinks it is unclean.
- Eating something you know bothers someone else is NOT walking in love.
- Paul is saying they should love in this way to show the good rather than the evil quarreling can cause.
- Kingdom of heaven is not about eating or drinking
- It IS about righteousness, peace, and joy found through Holy Spirit.
- We should pursue what makes for peace and and mutual upbuilding.
- Paul repeats himself and tell the Romans not to destroy what God is doing over what they eat.
- The only wrong thing about eating is causing another to stumble over food.
- Paul says not to eat meat or drink wine if it will cause someone to struggle.
- Keep your faith between you and God and keep free from judgment.
- Whatever we don't do by faith is sin, so if we believe it is wrong to eat or drink something then it IS sin for us.

James 2
- James tells believers not to show partiality to certain people over others.
- James gives an example of giving a wealthy man a good seat and making a poor man stand or sit at their feet as being evil because they have passed judgment on both men.
- Those who are poor in this world are rich in faith.
- And even though God says he loves the poor, they have dishonored the poor man.
- James points out that the rich are the people who drag them to court and blaspheme the Lord's name.
- James refers to "Love your neighbors as yourself" as the royal law.
- If we show partiality then we sin.
- If we keep the whole law but break only one part, then we are guilty of breaking it all.
-We should speak and act like those under the law of Liberty.
- Mercy triumphs over judgement.
- Saying you have faith without works is not good.
- Can a workless faith save us?
- Simply saying be filled and warm to the poor without giving them what they need is no good.
- Workless faith is dead.
- Your faith should be reflected in your works.
- Believing in God is not enough to save because even demons believe in God.
- James gives biblical examples:

1) Abraham
- was justified by works (offering up Isaac)
- his faith was active in His works
- His faith was completed by his works.
- Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.
- He was called a friend of God.
- What does James mean when he says, "a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

2) Rahab
- she was also justified by her works of helping the messengers.

- The body apart from the spirit is dead and so is faith dead apart from works.