Reset Exchange, 19 Eastbourne Road, Mount Croix, Port Elizabeth (2025)

08/08/2025

#202 Bible Study Numbers 14: The Great Rebellion
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Numbers 14.

In chapter 13, the spies have returned from checking out the Promised Land. 10 of them report back that it will be impossible to enter Canaan because of the mighty men there, but Caleb and Joshua said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30).

The majority of the spies lacked faith, and represented Israel which also largely lacked faith. They all knew God. They had seen firsthand the miracles He had performed, as well as His blessings, but they did not trust Him.

They forgot His power and they forgot how He had led them out of Egypt.

Now the people are faced with fear or faith: fear man or believe the Lord’s promise and enter into that promise.

They choose fear and refuse to enter the land in order to take possession. Instead, they complain and whine, saying that they should choose a leader to take them back to Egypt.

The people murmured against Moses and Aaron, but really, because this was a mission by the Lord and Moses and Aaron were simply the leaders He had chosen, the people were really murmuring against God; rebellion towards the Lord.

They murmured because of their lack of trust in God. Those who did not murmur - the few - would be those who had placed their trust in the Lord.

The Lord had made a promise to them, but they would rather die than put their trust in Him. Had they trusted Him at His word, they would have gone to battle and entered the Promised Land, but now they will never enter His promise and will wander around the desert until they die, only their children entering into the Promised Land. They said that they would rather die than believe the Lord, and the Lord will grant their request in His judgement: they will die in the desert.

It is easy to trust the Lord when we see and experience His goodness, but our faith is tested when He allows challenges. That is when we understand how much we truly trust Him.

In these moments, the people believe they know better than God. They trust themselves more than they trust the Lord.

At their rebellion, Moses and Aaron fall before the Lord, while Caleb and Joshua attempt to speak truth to the people, but they would rather have them stoned than listen to the truth!

They would rather kill them to listen to them speak of their unbelief and sin.

Enduring Word says, “Those who live in rebellion and unbelief often find those who live in faith and submission to God to be aggravating and disturbing.”

God offers Moses an alternative blessing but Moses still loves his people despite their rebellion and does not consider it. He intercedes for the people instead of taking the Lord up on His offer.

At the intercession of Moses, the Lord relents, but there will be consequences. They are sent back into the wilderness because they still have a slave mentality. However, God says that Caleb has a different spirit and follows Him completely and as such, he will see the Promised Land.

Enduring Word says, “Not even Moses and Aaron were excepted. They would also not enter the Promised Land, each for their own reasons. But we remember that Moses was not guiltless in this whole tragedy, having agreed to the request of the people to send out spies instead of simply boldly taking the land by faith.

Hebrews 3:7-4:16 makes it clear that God has a place of rest and promise for every believer to enter into, and it can only be entered by faith. The man of unbelief, self-reliance, and self-focus can never enter God’s rest and abundance.”

The ten spies would not even go back into the wilderness. Instead, they died immediately. They are likened to the leaders in Christianity today - they knew the promise of God, they saw the land was indeed good, but they instilled unbelief into the people so that they refused to take God at His word.

When the Israelites find out the consequences of their choice, they suddenly wish to “repent” but it is a false repentance, for they only wish not to have to wander in the desert for another 38 years. Now they heap more sin onto themselves by thinking they can change God’s mind if they now attempt to go into battle. But God has left them and they will not succeed if they try.

Again they show rebellion because Moses has warned them not to, but they do what they want regardless and of course, they are driven back and unsuccessful.

“Nature, poor, fallen human nature, is ever running into extremes. This miserable people, a short time ago, thought that though they had Omnipotence with them they could not conquer and possess the land! Now they imagine that though God himself go not with them, yet they shall be sufficient to drive out the inhabitants, and take possession of their country!” (Clarke)

Image from ifiwalkedwithjesus.com:

02/08/2025

Joshua 20: The Cities of Refuge

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 20.

In Exodus 21:12-14, Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 4:41-43, 19:1-13, God had instructed Moses to create cities of refuge for those who had accidentally killed someone, and now God commands Joshua to fulfill the word with 6 cities.

In those days, the person who was murdered was avenged by another family member, but in a case where the person killed another but did not harbour maliciousness, they would need protection until the magistrates could hear the case. The reason for avengers is that when murder goes unpunished, it brings God’s judgement (Numbers 35:31, 35:33-34).

“As a man might casually kill another against whom he had no ill-will, and with whom he had no quarrel, and might have his life taken away by him who was called the avenger of blood, though he had not forfeited his life to the law; therefore these privileged cities were appointed, where the person might have protection till the cause had been fully heard by the magistrates.” (Clarke)

“If an ancient manslayer did not flee to one of the cities of refuge, there was no hope for him; there was no other provision in the law of Israel by which he might be saved. If he did not flee there, the avenger of blood would overtake him.” (Boice)

When a person fled to one of these cities, they had to explain the case to the elders at the gate.

“It is important to note that this was not an arrangement by which a murderer could avoid justice. The one who murdered another was to be judicially executed. This was a device designed to save someone guilty of manslaughter but innocent of murder.” (Boice)

“A person was to be regarded innocent until proven guilty, and a minimum of two witnesses was required to condemn one accused of murder (Numbers 35:30).” (Madvig)

To stay protected, he had to stay in that city, and could only leave when the high priest died and he had been declared innocent.

“Since the high priest represented the sacrificial system, his death atoned for the sins of the manslayer…. Only on the occasion of a death—the high priest’s—was the manslayer free to leave.” (Howard)

These 6 cities were spaced about all over Israel, and to get to them would only take about a day. That meant that wherever you were in Israel, if you committed accidental murder, you could arrive at a refuge within a day.

While the cities were for the innocent, the cities represent Jesus Christ to us today - He is our refuge, but not only of the innocent, but of the guilty too.

22/07/2025

Bible Study Joshua 18-19: The Rest of The Land Divided
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 18 and 19.

The tabernacle was moved from Gilgal to Shiloh, and it remained there until the time of Eli, the high priest in 1 Samuel 1-4.

There were seven tribes that had not yet received their inheritance. “That which follows immediately would lead us to believe that after districts had been allotted to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh there was some slackness in continuing the work of settlement, for Joshua definitely rebuked the seven tribes for being slow to go up and possess the land.” (Morgan)

They had neglected to do what God had instructed and now they received a rebuke from Joshua.

“Apparently the remaining tribes had grown complacent. They were satisfied with nomadic life in the fertile land of Ephraim and Manasseh and were not eager to be involved in the warfare required to claim their own territory.” (Madvig)

“When it was necessary that all the people should go out to battle, they went with a measure of confidence, expecting miraculous help from God, and [trusting] in their numbers; but when each tribe found it necessary to fight for itself, in order to its establishment and the extension of its borders, it was discouraged, and chose rather a life of inglorious ease than the possession of an inheritance which would cost it much labour to conquer.” (Clarke)

Many children of God never have the fulfilment of fulfilling their ultimate calling, because they find that the price is too high.

‘As with previous lists of cities and locations, this collection of places reminds the reader that these were real places, not describing a symbolic or spiritual inheritance. When God promised a land to Abraham and his covenant descendants (Genesis 13:15, 17:8), God meant a real land.’ - Enduring Word

Finally, once all the tribes had received their portions, Joshua, received his. Here we see the model of a true servant of God. He waited until the last, in true humility and patience.

“Joshua waits until all the other inheritances are assigned before taking any for himself. Thus he preserves his right to a share of the land without any suggestion of an abuse of his leadership responsibilities.” (Hess)

“Joshua, who was usually the agent distributing the land, now received it from the Israelites (Joshua 19:49). He could not give himself his own portion.” (Howard)

Enduring Word: Being from the tribe of Ephraim, it was appropriate for Joshua to receive his inheritance in the general territory of that tribe. He went to the same difficult, hilly district of Ephraim that the tribes of Joseph had previously complained about (Joshua 17:14-18).

“It will be remembered that when Ephraim had complained, Joshua had charged them to go to the mountains and possess their possessions. Now when his opportunity came, he proved that he was prepared to act for himself on the advice he had given. To that very hill country he went, and there is a splendid ring of resoluteness in his character in the statement, ‘He built the city, and dwelt therein.’” (Morgan)

“All the inheritances were determined by lot, and this lot was cast before the Lord—every thing was done in his immediate presence, as under his eye; hence there was no murmuring, each having received his inheritance as from the hand of God himself, though some of them thought they must have additional territory, because of the great increase of their families.” (Clarke)

Image from: https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/296-joshua-18-and-19/

18/07/2025

Joshua 15-17: The Inheritance of Judah, Ephraim and Western Manasseh
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 15, 16 and 17.

‘The listing of these specific names, places, and geographic boundaries was of great interest to those who would inherit the land. This collection of places also reminds the reader that these were real places, not the description of a symbolic or spiritual inheritance. When God promised a land to Abraham and his covenant descendants (Genesis 13:15, 17:8), God meant a real land.’ - Enduring Word

About the land given to Judah: “The position allocated to it was the fighting front. It was touched by enemies on three sides; on the east, Moab; on the west, the Philistines; on the south, Edom…. The tribe whose standard was that of the kingly line, and from which that line presently was to spring, was to have its fiber toughened by the sternest discipline – constant watchfulness against the foe and long-continued fighting.” - Meyer

V16: Caleb trusted God and he was a bold and daring man, offering his daughter in marriage to the man strong enough to conquer a city to have her.

It seems Caleb’s daughter shares the bold traits of her father because she asks him for some choice springs too.

V63 of chapter 15: Jerusalem may have been a difficult terrain to conquer, but there is no good reason as to why the tribe of Judah could not overcome it.

Chapter 16:5-10: Gezer is another example of a city where the Canaanites were not driven out. “It appears that the Canaanites were not expelled from this city till the days of Solomon, when it was taken by the king of Egypt his father-in-law, who made it a present to his daughter, Solomon’s queen. See 1 Kings 9:16.” (Clarke)

It could be that the Canaanites were not driven out so that the tribes would have labourers, but it would still have been disobedience to God. “The use of forced labour among Canaanite towns in the Jezreel Valley was a known practice.” (Hess)

A little sin can do great harm. “As a result of this failure, the Israelites were corrupted by intermarrying with these pagans and engaging in their perverse and idolatrous worship (Judges 2:1-3; 3:5-6; 10:6).” (Madvig)

“They took their inheritance, but they did not take possession of it. In the will of God, and by the consent of Ephraim, it belonged to them; but they failed to appropriate it in all its fullness, because they left these Canaanites in possession.” (Morgan)

“The whole history of Ephraim was a sad one for long centuries and their failure began here.” (Morgan)

The tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Menassah failed to drive out all the Canaanites.

“They had the power to remove the Canaanites from the land and so to be God’s instruments of judgment to remove wickedness, but they chose to tolerate wickedness and to use for their own purposes that which God had devoted to destruction. And so they sowed the seeds of their own destruction.” (Howard)

Chapter 17:14-18: “They complained, ‘We haven’t enough room!’ The fact was that the enemy was deeply entrenched in the area which they did have.” (Redpath)

“The Joseph tribes exhibited a degree of arrogance and greed in their confrontation with Joshua. The tone here sharply contrasts with the far more humble requests presented by Caleb (Joshua 14:6–12) and the daughters of Zelophehad (Joshua 17:4), both of whom appealed to the Lord’s promises as the basis for their requests.” (Howard)

Only one lot: “They challenged the outcome of the lot (goral), which was controlled by God. Thus, in their request they were challenging the very workings of God himself.” (Howard)

Joshua’s response to their complaints was wise. He told them that if they are such a great people, then they should go and take the land for themselves and fully occupy what the Lord had given them.

“Joshua would not reverse the decision of the lot; but as there was much woodland country, he gave them permission to clear away as much of it as they found necessary to extend themselves as far as they pleased.” (Clarke)

“If you say you are so great, if you think you are so wonderful, then there is plenty of unoccupied land within the limits of your present lot.” (Redpath)

The tribes of Joseph gave excuses as to why they could not drive out all the Canaanites.

The truth is that God was with them, but they chose to disregard that and complain.

Image from: https://bible.art/meaning/joshua-15%3A17

11/07/2025

Bible Study: Joshua 14: Division of The Land & Caleb’s Inheritance

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 14.

The promise to inherit the land had been made by God to His people a long time ago. Now they have battled for the land and it is time for it to be divided amongst the tribes, which would be done by casting of lots between the priest, Joshua and the heads of the tribes, excluding Reuben and Gad who already had their lands.

Essentially, by casting lots, the choice would be made by God of who got what.

We tend to think of Israel as 12 tribes, but there were actually 13. Joseph was divided into two tribes; - Mannaseh and Ephraim. ‘This explains why there are two and one-half tribes on the east side of the Jordan, nine and one-half tribes on the west side of the Jordan, and one tribe with no province as their inheritance.’ - Enduring Word

As this is going on, Caleb - one of the men who initially went to spy out the land to bring a report back to the people of what to expect in a battle against the Canaanites, and one of two who followed after the Lord and trusted Him - came forward to enquire about the promise made to him at that time about his land.

(It was only Caleb and Joshua who remained of the old generation who would enter the Promised Land, because they were the only two who believed the Lord.)

Caleb came boldly to recount what Moses had said of him. Enduring Word says it is fitting for God’s people today to imitate Caleb’s boldness in asking for what God promised him. God’s people may find this difficult to believe, but God appreciates this kind of boldness (Hebrews 4:16).

“Caleb was not being self-serving by claiming that he had fully followed the Lord; he was simply stating a fact that Moses also had recognized (see the words at the end of v. 9, which are found in the Lord’s mouth almost verbatim in Numbers 14:24 and in Moses’ mouth in Deuteronomy 1:36).” (Howard)

‘Caleb was one of only three people in the Bible of whom it was said, they wholly followed the LORD. The others were Joshua (in partnership with Caleb, Numbers 32:11-12) and David (1 Kings 11:6). In the New Testament, the idea of wholly following the LORD is presented in passages such as Romans 12:1-2, which instruct the believer to present themselves to God as living sacrifices.’ - Enduring Word

V16: Then the land had rest from war: “There were no more general wars; the inhabitants of Canaan collectively could make no longer any head, and when their confederacy was broken by the conquests of Joshua, he thought proper to divide the land, and let each tribe expel the ancient inhabitants that might still remain in its own territories. Hence the wars after this time were particular wars; there were no more general campaigns, as it was no longer necessary for the whole Israelitish body to act against an enemy now disjointed and broken.” (Clarke)

Reset Exchange

08/08/2025

02/08/2025

22/07/2025

18/07/2025

11/07/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category