by Paul Apple | Feb 23, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE BLESSED PRESENCE OF GOD’S PROTECTION, FAVOR AND PEACE MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THE BELIEVING COMMUNITYINTRODUCTION:Here is the classic OT benediction passage. I can remember as a child my pastor frequently closing sermons with this text. It has such a...
by Paul Apple | Feb 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: OCCUPYING HOLY LAND REQUIRES EXTREME EXTERMINATION OF THREATS TO COVENANT WORSHIPINTRODUCTION:These final marching orders issued by God to His elect nation Israel through His chosen leader Moses show that God doesn’t mess around when it comes to spiritual...
by Paul Apple | Feb 20, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: COMPROMISE WITH GOD’S REVEALED AGENDA LEADS TO A QUAGMIRE OF COMPLEXITYINTRODUCTION:Obedience is the simplest course of action. When we start to compromise and introduce our own wisdom as if we have devised a better plan than God, it opens the door to...
by Paul Apple | Feb 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SEVERITY OF GOD’S VENGEANCE EXPOSES THE FALLACY OF ATTACKING THOSE WHO ARE UNDER HIS PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION AND PROMISED BLESSINGINTRODUCTION:Balaam thought he had figured out a way around God’s prohibition of cursing the Israelites so that he could...
by Paul Apple | Feb 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS MUST BE BASED IN DIVINE SELECTION, MUST FUNCTION ACCORDING TO THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE SPIRIT, AND MUST ISSUE IN PASTORAL GUIDANCE AND CAREINTRODUCTION:In verses 12-14 Moses had just been reminded by the Lord of his exclusion...
by Paul Apple | Feb 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DESTRUCTION FROM SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY CAN ONLY BE MITIGATED BY THE ATONING ZEAL OF A FAITHFUL HIGH PRIESTINTRODUCTION:Here we see the height of Israel’s rebellion and failure in the wilderness – just after experiencing victory and just before entering the...
by Paul Apple | Jan 31, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ENEMY OPPOSITION CANNOT UNDERMINE GOD’S PROMISED BLESSING ON HIS CHOSEN, CONQUERING, COVENANT PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:Balak enlists the prophetic word of the famous seer Balaam to curse God’s people and undermine God’s kingdom agenda. But the covenant-keeping God...
by Paul Apple | Jan 28, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE OPPORTUNISTIC PROPHET OF IMPURE MOTIVES RECEIVES EMBARRASSING PERCEPTION AND PROTECTION FROM HIS DUMB DONKEYINTRODUCTION:This story is best known from being acted out in children’s Sunday School classes. Everybody loves a talking donkey! What an...
by Paul Apple | Jan 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IMPURE MOTIVES LEAD TO COMPROMISING SITUATIONSINTRODUCTION:Chapters 22-24 cover the story of Balaam and Balak as the Lord assures Israel of His covenant promise to bless the chosen nation. In this introductory portion, Balaam demonstrates the tension between...
by Paul Apple | Jan 16, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD GRANTS VICTORIES OVER POWERFUL FOES WHEN WE FOLLOW HIS GAME PLAN AND DON’T SHRINK BACK IN FEAR FROM THE CHALLENGEINTRODUCTION:Israel certainly had abundant testimony to God’s power and faithfulness. However, Israel also had a track record of disbelief...
by Paul Apple | Jan 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE ONGOING GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING, THE LORD’S PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HIS GRACIOUS SALVATIONINTRODUCTION:Our spiritual journey involves a myriad of different experiences. Sometimes the Lord graciously provides victory where previously we had suffered...
by Paul Apple | Jan 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION FOR THE NEW GENERATION THAT WILL ENTER THE PROMISED LAND (DESPITE THEIR CONTINUING CONTENDING AND COMPLAINING) REQUIRES THE DEATH OF ITS FAILED LEADERSINTRODUCTION:This is a sad chapter indeed. Sandwiched between the accounts of the...
by Paul Apple | Jan 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CLEANSING FROM CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH DEATH MAINTAINS CLOSE CONTACT WITH A HOLY GODINTRODUCTION:The previous chapters in Numbers have already addressed the distinctive roles of the priests and Levites and the protection against usurpers who...
by Paul Apple | Jan 6, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL LEADERS BEAR HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES BUT FIND THE LORD TO BE THEIR PORTION (OVER AND ABOVE GENEROUS COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICE)INTRODUCTION:Having validated the special role of the Aaronic priesthood and punished the usurpers who were not...
by Paul Apple | Jan 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD VALIDATES HIS APPOINTED SPIRITUAL LEADER TO SHUT THE MOUTHS OF DISPUTERSINTRODUCTION:The issue continues to be the validity of the uniqueness of the high priestly role of Aaron. The Israelites, despite previous revelation from God that should have been...
by Paul Apple | Jan 3, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA:THE WORK OF ATONEMENT AND PROPITIATION BELONG ONLY TO THE DIVINELY APPOINTED HIGH PRIEST AND MEDIATOR —ONE TRUE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MENINTRODUCTION:As we study this passage we must keep in focus the parallels to the ministry of Jesus Christ as our great...
by Paul Apple | Jan 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: LEADERSHIP ENVY STIRS UP UNJUSTIFIED ATTACKS THAT BRING DOWN THE HAMMER OF CATASTROPHIC DIVINE JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:Defying God’s appointed leadership reflects a fatal lack of fear of the Lord. Here we see the arrogance of those who attack Moses and Aaron...
by Paul Apple | Dec 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S DISCIPLINE WILL CONFIRM US IN HOLINESS AS WE:- REJOICE (PLEASE) THE LORD- RESPECT THE LORD- REMEMBER THE LORDINTRODUCTION:This passage of detailed instructions about various offerings and sacrifices may seem out of place in the...
by Paul Apple | Dec 22, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DEVOID OF GODS’ FAVOR, PRESUMPTION RECKLESSLY RUSHES FORWARD TO CERTAIN SPIRITUAL DEFEATINTRODUCTION:When God calls us out for our disobedience, we should never try to fix things on our own. We must follow the divinely prescribed formula of repentance and...
by Paul Apple | Dec 21, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PERSISTENT COMPLAINING TESTS THE LIMITS OF GOD’S PATIENCE BUT THE APPLICATION OF HIS MERCY AND JUDGMENT PROTECT HIS REPUTATIONINTRODUCTION:God is not someone to be trifled with. Complaining and grumbling are serious offenses. The authority of His appointed...
