If you think you’re standing firm …

As we get near to the end of Numbers, I wonder what you’ve made of the behaviour of the people of Israel in this book. Here is the generation that has experienced God’s most amazing act of liberation (until the cross) and yet all they seem to be able to do is moan and complain and go after other “gods” at every opportunity. Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh, but you’ll find similar thoughts in the New Testament. For Paul, writing to the Christians in Corinth, the Exodus generation provides a warning to us. Like us, they had tremendous spiritual privileges (e.g. they had God’s presence with them), and yet it didn’t stop them from giving in to temptation and going astray. Take note, says Paul:

‘These things happened to them as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!’ (1 Corinthians 10:11-12, NIV)

Scary stuff! But Paul goes on to add an encouragement:

‘No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’ (1 Corinthians 10:13-14, NIV)

So, while we read about the failures of the Exodus generation, let’s watch ourselves as well, that we don’t go the same way, and let’s thank God for his faithfulness towards us.

In the New Testament this month we’re moved on to Luke’s gospel. Luke is my favorite gospel, if you’re allowed to have such a thing. I’m not sure I can articulate exactly why that is. Maybe I like the thoroughness of his approach (see 1:1-4). Maybe it’s the fact that some of Jesus’ best known stories (e.g. the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son) are found only in Luke’s gospel. Maybe it’s the way Luke focuses on the way Jesus related to the underdogs of society (the poor, the outcasts, etc.). Or maybe it’s the way Luke introduces us to some characters we don’t find in the other gospels, people like Zechariah and Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna. It’s probably a combination of these and other things besides. What do you think?