Numbers-Deuteronomy – Page 136 – I'm Following Jesus

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Friday, February 28, 2020
Chapters: Numbers 10-11
Message: The Source Of A Virus

Hello My Friend,

With the Coronavirus spreading across the world, the most asked question is how the virus got started in the first place. A virus is a very contagious infection that actually begins from unclean practices, all it takes is the right atmosphere and temperature for a virus to form. Once it forms it is transferred through physical contact, and in many cases it is airborne, meaning transferred from one person to the next through coughing. A virus can land on surfaces and stay there for days, which is why it is so important to practice our own cleanliness. The source of a virus, and many do not want to hear this, comes from God, these are what we call those natural evils, and the result of the fall of man, it is one of those curses that we have to deal with because of sin. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” – Deuteronomy 11:26-28.

We must understand that judgment does come to God’s house first, we are His people, or say that we are, and even if we are saved by grace that does not mean that judgment does not come upon us. As for those who claim to be His people, and are not, they receive judgment too, in many cases it is through viruses, diseases, and plagues. Not every one that suffers with illness has sin in their lives, please understand that, sometimes God will afflict us so that we might find meaning and purpose through those things. The worldly on the other hand, cannot have it both ways, you must choose God or the world, and if you are going to choose God then He expects you to be serious about it, otherwise, judgment will come. Now, after two years and two months since the children of Israel, and their companions, left Egypt, the tabernacle was built, it was now time to move forward, and head toward the promised land. God commands for Moses to make two trumpets, these would be sounded to let them know it was time to come together, pack up and move, or if they were headed for war.

“Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” – Numbers 10:2-9.

“and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God,” God, in all His glory and power, could force all mankind to worship Him or die, but He does not nor ever has forced Himself upon anyone, He gives each person a choice. It is only when we call out to Him through our faith in Jesus, that He will remember the covenant He made with us, and save us from our enemies, above all, Satan himself (Romans 10:13). Remember, God gave the command that once He removed His cloud from over the tabernacle it was time for the people to move forward? It did, and wow, the time had come for them to move from Mount Sinai.

“And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” – Numbers 10:11-12,28-35.

“the same will we do unto thee.” Each and every one of us need to encourage our loved ones to accept Christ as their Saviour so that they too may be able to come into the promised land. God is no respecter of persons, we do not have to be a certain color, rich or poor, nor what your sin. We just need to have faith in Jesus Christ, who died to save all souls, no matter what we did. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” – I John 5:10-12.

Now, as the people journeyed, many of them began to complain, and not just some normal complaints, they were complaining about God, I imagined it must have been pretty bad for Him to hear it and get so angry that He set them on fire. I imagine that these were not the Israelites complaining either.

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.” – Numbers 11:1-6,10-11,14-15.

“it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it;” We may not want to admit it, but we complain a lot about the things we do not have or lost since we chose Christ. Once we move forward with Christ, we cannot look back, as that is actually what brings us to the temptation to go back and retrieve the things we lost (James 1:13). “and when Moses prayed unto the LORD,” Did you know that Jesus does the same for us? If it were not for the promise He made to save and keep us through our faith, we would all be consumed in the fire (John 17). “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting:” And here is what often holds us back, keeping friendships with those of the world. While we are to be cordial to all since that is what leads people to Christ, we must not develop close friendships with those of the world, even other Christians who do not walk as we do. They will lead us to desire the things of the world, and do not think that you can be the one to change them, they will indeed change you. How? The flesh is weak when it is not grounded in Christ (Romans 8:3). “Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?” Moses wants to know why he has to deal with all these people by himself, he felt as though he was the one being punished. God not only gave Moses some help, He told him that they were going to be fed with the meat they lusted after. Even he questioned how God would do this.

“And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as it were a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.” – Numbers 11:21,23-25,31-33.

“Is the LORD’S hand waxed short?” Do you see why God holds back sometimes? He is looking for our faith. “ere it was chewed,” Ere; before it was chewed, meaning they were like savages and swallowed it before it was even chewed. “and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.” God saw their lust, and that when He sent the plague, which was a virus in the meat. Historians account that is was about twenty-three thousand people. People who contract a virus tend to have a weak immune system, the same can ring true for a weak spirit. I can praise the LORD, that while I do suffer with some infirmities, I do have a pretty good immune system, and rarely get sick. I am not going to say that my faith keeps me from getting sick because that is not how it works, I am going to say that I have God’s grace backing me up. The world wants all the perks that come with having God in their lives without the responsibility, and this includes those who call themselves Christians. On the other hand, God will not be mocked, His mercies will not last forever for the unrepentant, He will judge His people.

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” – I Peter 4:16-19.

Today’s Prayer: God, I know You have great plans for me, much greater than anything I envision in myself, but in order for me to see them unfold I need to put my complete trust and faith in You alone. Although I cannot always see Your hand, I know You are there guiding me, just like You promise that no one can pluck me out of Your hands You promise that I will reach the promised land, even when I question You. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power, mercy, and grace, help me to remain faithful to You, send the people I need in my life to help me with situations that I cannot handle on my own. Let me be the help others need, and keep me from making friendships with those who would sway me away from You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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