As we approach Numbers 35, God’s people stood on the verge the Promised Land. They were to enter and, with God’s help, to transform it from a bad land into a holy land. But this would require certain precepts—such as those in Numbers 35. This chapter contains what appears to be archaic laws, but they were foundational to a just society in the Promised Land and have a great deal to teach god’s people in the 21st century. We will consider this chapter under three broad headings: 1. Provision for the Levites (vv. 1–8) 2. Protection and Punishment Under the Law (vv. 9–29) 3. Pollution of the Land (vv. 30–34).

In his pursuit of instilling in the Colossians a Christ-centred worldview, Paul uses the analogy of being disrobed of sin and being robed in the virtues of Christ (3:5–17). In vv. 5–11, in particular, he focuses on the first part of that metaphor: putting to death what is earthly in us. As the year comes to a close, and we take the time to reflect on our lives, let’s take the time to see what needs to be put off, put to death even, in order to put on Christ.

The land of Israel is of deep interest to Christians, and rightly so. At the same time, many Christians over-emphasise the “holy land,” forgetting that, under the new covenant, that piece of real estate is nothing special. While Numbers 33:50–34:29 focuses attention on the holy land, it is important for new covenant believers—Jew and Gentile—to understand that Christians should think less about the land of Israel and more about the true Israel of God (Galatians 6:16) and the promise that the true Israel will inherit the earth. We will study these verses together under four broad headings: 1. It was a Bad land (33:50–56) 2. It was a Bordered Land (34:1–15) 3. It was a Blessed Land (34:16–29) 4. Conclusion: There is a Better Land

In 2 Timothy 1:3–7, Paul reminds Timothy of the wonderful gift of sincere faith that he inherited from his mother and grandmother, and then cautions him not to neglect this gift. Though these words were written directly to Timothy, there is much we can learn from this text. We will study it under two broad headings. 1. Paul Reassures Timothy of His Gift (vv. 3–5) 2. Paul Reminds Timothy Not to Neglect His Gift (vv. 6–7)

As is true of many chapters of Numbers, chapter 33 is not exactly stimulating reading—until one understands the context. For the handful of Israelites from the first generation, along with the multitude of the second and new generation, the travel itinerary recorded here served as a record of remembrance intended to lead to reverence. This “journey journal” was intended to jar the memory of God’s people concerning God’s faithfulness to his promises and to his people. It also served to remind them of God’s grace so that they would not be overwhelmed with guilt. It will help us in the same way as we study this text, which we will do so under four broad headings: (1) A Glorious Exodus (vv. 1–15) (2) A Groaning Experience (vv. 16–40) (3) A Growing/Great Expectation (vv. 41–49) (4) A Grave Exhortation (vv. 50–56)

It’s all too easy to make the Christian life mystical and completely miss the boat. May God help us to think more like our Saviour as we seek to live lives of muscular, rather than mystical, faith.

Numbers 32 records what at first blush seems to be a common-sense and harmless idea by the leaders of two tribes of Israel. Yet as we dig into their request, and as we study the outcome of this decades and even centuries later, we see that it was not a harmless suggestion at all. The decision to live on the fringe apart from the community of faith is rarely a good idea. Living on the fringe can be dangerous to the spiritual welfare of both the individual Christian and to the local church. May God teach us and protect us. We consider this chapter under the following headings: (1) An Indifferent Request (vv. 1–5) (2) An Indignant Rebuke (vv. 6–15) (3) An Innovative Response (vv. 16–32) (4) An Instructive Result (vv. 33–42)

It is all too easy to forget that we are in a spiritual battle. This loss of focus can cause us to grow complacent and open ourselves up to spiritual attacks and even to falling away from the faith completely. As we take a closer look at Hebrews 3:12–15 we will do well to heed the warning of the writer, and to thank God for the church as his means of grace to persevere together. We consider these verses under three broad headings: 1. The Reality of Apostasy (v. 12) 2. The Deceitfulness of Sin (vv. 13b–15) 3. The Blessing of the Ordinary Church (v. 13a)

It has a been a long journey for Job—and for the reader. But it has been worth the effort. As we consider the final chapter, we finally come to the part of the book that the reader anticipates: Job’s restoration and renewal. If we think, however, that the moral of the story is “hand onto God and everything will work out,” we have missed the point of the book. As we consider the final chapter of this incredible book, we seek to glean its true lesson under the following broad headings: 1. Job Repents (vv. 1–6) 2. The Friends Rebuked (vv. 7–9) 3. God Restores (vv. 10–17)