Numbers 36 - Isaiah 18 – 2 Corinthians 1 – Jude

Numbers 36
- The people of Gilead (of Manasseh/Joseph) spoke before Moses.
- They addressed the lots given to Zelophehad's daughter's
- They addressed the problem of the daughter's having to give up their inheritance once they married men from another tribe thus losing the family inheritance.
- Moses told those daughters to marry someone within their clan and no one will lose their inheritance.
- Each tribe shall hold their own inheritance.
- This command would hold true for future daughters as well.
- The daughters of Zelophehad married their cousins.

Isaiah 18
- Oracle concerning Cush (Nubia)
- They were known for sending messages by water
- God tells them to send word that a feared people will come conquering.
- Look for a signal from the mountains
- Listen for the trumpet to sound
- The Lord will look quietly from His dwelling like heat or dew and then cut off "shoots"
- The animals will feast on them.
- A tribute will rise forth from the feared people
- Who is Isaiah referring to with the description, " tall and smooth, feared near and far, mighty and conquering, and whose land the rivers divide?"

2 Corinthians 1
- Paul writes this letter with Timothy present
- They write to Corinth and all churches of Acacia
- Begins with grace and peace in this letter
- Paul acknowledges God as Father of Jesus, full of mercy and comfort
- God comforts us so we can comfort others
- We share in Christ's suffering and in His comfort too.
- Their affliction is for the Corinthians comfort and salvation
- They will find comfort when you patiently endure suffering.
- Paul says his hope for them is unshaken.
- Paul wants them to know about his suffering in Asia.
- They were burdened beyond their strength in Asia and despaired.
- They thought they'd be put to death there.
- They realized that was to make them rely on God instead of themselves.
- God has delivered them from sin so He will deliver them again.
- He asks them to pray so that many will give thanks
- Paul's testimony is: behaving with holiness, godly sincerity, and living in godly wisdom, not earthly wisdom.
- Paul wants them to fully believe in what they believe in part so that in the end they will be able to boast about one another.
- Paul wanted to come to them first so they might experience a "second grace"
- Paul wanted to visit them after Macedonia and before Judea
- Paul says he doesn't make his plans according to the flesh.
- Paul said he preached to them with Timothy and Silvanus
- All God's promises find their "yes" in Him.
- God has established Paul with the Corinthians in Christ.
- God gave them both His Spirit in their hearts as a guarantee (down payment)
- What was Paul trying to "spare" them from by not coming to see them?

Jude
- Jude, brother of James, writes this letter
- He wishes that mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to them.
- Jude wanted to write to them about "common salvation" but instead writes to encourage them to "contend for the faith"
- Some ungodly people have crept in among them (designated long ago)
- These people pervert the grace of God into sensuality and deny Jesus
- Jude says Jesus saved people out of Egypt and destroyed those who didn't believe.
- Angel who didn't keep their position He keeps in eternal chains until judgement day.
- Sodom and Gomorrah also serve as example of people deserving eternal fire.
- Some among them do the same thing; relying on dreams, defiling the flesh, rejecting authority, and blaspheming the "glorious one".
- The angel Micheal had contended with the devil about the body of Moses.
- Michael didn't blaspheme but said "The Lord rebuke you"
- Those people's "instincts and blaspheming are what destroy them.
- They walk in the way of Cain and abandon themselves like Balaam for the sake of gain, who died in Korah's rebellion.
- These people are fruitless trees, waterless clouds, twice dead and uprooted, like wild waves foaming up shame.
- All that is reserved for them in utter darkness.
- Enoch (7th from Adam) prophesied about these people.
- Enoch said the Lord came with 10,000 of his holy ones to execute judgment and convict the ungodly of all the ungodly things they've said and done.
- These are grumbler, malcontents, loud boasters, who show favoritism to gain advantage.
- Christ's apostles said, "there would be scoffers in the last times following ungodly passions.
- These people will cause divisions
- Jude encourages them to build each other up in holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in the love of God.
- Have mercy on those who doubt , seek to save others from the fire, show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
- Jude ends by acknowledging Him who is able to prevent them from stumbling, to present them blameless in His presence with great joy.
- It's in God, our Saviour the Jesus Christ is all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority now and forever.
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