Numbers 20 - Isaiah 12 – 1 Corinthians 1 – James 5

Numbers 20
- The people entered the wilderness of Zin in the first month in Kadesh and Miriam died there.
- There was no water for men or livestock there and the people grumbled against Moses.
- They wished again that they had stayed in Egypt rather than leaving to enter Meribah
- They wanted a place to plant grains, figs, and pomegranates.
- Moses and Aaron went to the tent of meeting and fell on their facing (They turned to God)
- The glory of the Lord appeared to them and told Moses to strike a rock in front of the people and water would come out of it.
- Moses went and did as God had said but he struck the rock twice.
- Water came out abundantly
- The Lord confronted Moses and Aaron and rebuked them for not showing God to be holy in front of the people.
- Meribah means "quarreling" because God used this quarreling to show Himself to be holy.
- Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the King of Edom to ask the king to allow the Israelites to pass through his land.
- Moses reminds the king of the hardships Israel has been through and also how God rescued them out of Egypt.
- Moses promised that the Israelites wouldn't take anything from the fields or vineyards but they would simply pass through on "The King's Highway"
- The King of Edom said he would come out and fight them if they tried to pass through.
- They again asked the king if they could pass through and would pay for anything they used.
- Edom again said no and came out against them with a lager army.
- Israel turned away from Edom.
- They left Kadesh and went to Mount Hor.
- God told Moses and Aaron that Aaron would not enter Edom.
- Aaron was to give his robes to Eleazar.
- God told Aaron he would die at Mount Hor.
- Moses put Aaron's robes on his son in the sight of the whole congregation.
- Aaron died at the top of Mount Hor and the people mourned his death for 30 days.

Isaiah 12
- Isaiah tells the people they will thank the Lord for the fact that He will turn away His anger to comfort them.
- God is our salvation (said twice)
- We should trust and not be afraid.
- They will draw water from "the wells of salvation" (Why is wells plural?)
- We should give thanks to God and proclaim of His deeds to others.
- We should make God's glorious deeds known to the world.
- We should shout for joy because God is great in our midst.

1 Corinthians 1
- Paul greets them by reminding them he was called by Jesus.
- Paul writes them with his fellow apostle, Sosthenes.
- He greets the church in Corinth and points out that they all serve the same Lord Jesus Christ.
- God the Father and Jesus = grace and peace (Paul typical greeting to churches)
- Paul thanks God for the grace at work in them through Christ.
- They were enriched by Christ in speech and knowledge.
- The Corinthians are not lacking in any spiritual gifts as they wait upon Christ's return.Christ will sustain them as guiltless when He returns.
- God is faithful as is seen by the giving of His son.
- Paul appeals to them in Christ not to create divisions
- They should be united as fellow believers.
- Chloe reported quarreling among the Corinthians to Paul.
- They are are saying they follow different people "Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ"
- Paul points out that Christ is not divided.
- Paul reminds them that he wasn't crucified for them and they were NOT baptised in Paul's name. ( Crispus and Gaius and the household of Stephanaus were baptized BY Paul.)
- Christ didn't send Paul to baptize, but to preach the gospel to them.
- The Gospel is NOT about Paul's wisdom, but about Christ's power through the cross.
- To focus on wisdom takes away from the power of Christ's death on the cross.
- The Gospel is folly to the lost but power to the believers.
- Paul quotes when God said He will destroy the wisdom of man.
- Paul says the wise, the scribe, and the debater are wise in the world's eyes but fool before God.
- Paul's preaching wasn't powerful, but the message was.
- The Jews demand signs and the Greeks demand wisdom but Paul simply preaches Christ crucified.
- Christ demonstrates the power and wisdom of God to believers.
- The weakness of God is stronger than man.
- Paul reminds the Corinthians that not many of them were seen as "wise" by worldly standards, or inherently powerful or of noble birth. (He humbles them)
- God uses foolishness to shame the wise, the weak to shame the "strong"
-God uses the low things to exalt Himself so that no one may boast.
- Because of God alone we are in Christ.
- In Christ we received wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
- If we boast about anything we should boast in the Lord.

James 5
- James starts this chapter with a warning to the rich.
- He says they will weep at the miseries to come.
-Our riches will rot and clothes be eaten by moths.
- Their gold and silver will corrode and be evidence against them.
- The rich withhold wages from the laborers and harvesters and their cries have reached the Lord.
- Is James saying having money will always lead to destruction and misery?
- The rich have lived in luxury and self indulgence fattening their hearts for slaughter.
- Is James referring to Christ or the believing laborers when he says, "You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. "?
- James tells the believers to therefore be patient like a farmer waiting for the rains and the harvest.
- James tells them to establish their hearts for the coming of the Lord.
- James tells them not to grumble and judge for The Judge is standing at the door.
- James points us back to the suffering and patient prophets.
- Steadfast people are seen as blessed.
- He points to Job's steadfastness and how God was compassionate and merciful to Job.
- James tells them not to make oaths but to let there yes=yes and no=no
- Oaths lead to condemnation.
- Sufferers should pray
- Cheerful should praise God.
- Sick should have elders anoint them with oil and pray for them.
- Pray of faith will save the sick and raise them up.
- James says we should confess our sins and prayer for one another for healing.
- the effective prayer of the righteous has great power.
- James points them to Elijah and how his prayers held off the rain for 3 years and 6 months.
- After that Elijah prayed and it rained and the land bore fruit.
- A brother who brings back and wanderer will save his soul from death and help him cover his sins.
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