Thoughts on the readings for May 30th (Joshua 16, Isaiah 22,Hebrews 1, 2)

Joshua 16 outlines the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim. This was Joshua’s own tribe and it is significant that the faithful leader, who was the only other spy to completely trust in the Living God. Joshua together with Caleb courageously stood against the rebellious congregation of Israel. Sadly this tribe fell away from the values of Joshua in the long era when judges ruled the nation of Israel and were known for their great pride. At the division of the kingdom in the time of Rehoboam and his servant Jeroboam. Ten tribes went with Jeroboam and formed the northern kingdom of Ephraim ie Israel. Verses 1-9 describe the boundaries and territory allocated to Ephraim. The last verse of the chapter closes on a disturbing note, similarly to that in chapter 15. It tells of Ephraim failure to destroy the Canaanites.

Isaiah 22:1-11 tell of the failures of the leaders of Judah and their terrible behaviours for which the nation’s Almighty Sovereign would bring His judgments on them. Despite the sufferings of His people they did not turn to their God. The Assyrian siege brought great suffering for Judah. Verse 11 explains that the LORD had formed Jerusalem He had sculpted the geography for the protection and deliverance of Judah. The water course that would be brought from outside the city to provide an abundance of fresh water during the siege of Jerusalem. Verses 12-14 speaks of the different attitudes to the seemingly imminent destruction of the residents of Jerusalem. Some sought help from neighbouring kingdoms; others sought to abandon all hope and give themselves up to pleasure; a few, such as the faithful remnant, trusted that their Sovereign would save them. Verse 13 is quoted by the Apostle Paul to describe what may well be the attitude of non believers at the time of the resurrection. If there is no resurrection believers might as well embrace death –
1 Corinthians 15:29-32.
Verses 15-19 the Omnipotent Creator tells of His humbling of the haughty chief scribe, Shebna. This rich and faithless officer had sought praise and prominence had hewn out for himself an impressive tomb. Archeologists have recently discovered the seal of Shebna establishing the truth and historicity of the Bible. As part of the divine discrediting of Shebna was the transfer of the role of governor to God’s faithful servant Eliakim – meaning established by Yahweh. Eliakim is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ who will receive the keys of government in the receiving of the key of office – the key to the city. Compare verses 21-25 with Isaiah 9:6-9 and the keys of the saving gospel promised to Peter by our Lord in Matthew 16:17-19. Again we are reminded of the attention of our Lord to the small vessels (which we may well be) as well as the great.

The letter to the Hebrews is the only book in the Bible, whose human pen person is unknown. Of course all 66 books are given from God as He breathed His thoughts into Holy Writ (Scripture). Hebrews makes this clear from the outset. There are good reasons for the human scribe’s identity remaining hidden. The time of writing is
65-66 AD. Some believe that the author is Priscilla (the wife of Aquila); others argue that its style and content are of the great Apostle Paul. But if the author was known to be Paul, or a close associate of his, some of the message may have lost its appeal to the readers. The message is for believers to flee Jerusalem before its destruction. The listeners needed convincing that the way of Christ is “better” than the way of those bound by the Law. Another dominant theme is, as John Carter points out in his book “The Letter to the Hebrews” – what he calls watchwords of resolution, “Let us …”. Slowly read aloud verses 1-4; pause and ponder. The book is about God; His revelation to believers of every age through diverse means, but culminating in His being revealed in His incomparable Son. Those verses tell us that Jesus, God’s Son, is “the express image” of his Father – the Greek word is “character” and it means the impress of a king’s seal in wax – the exact likeness; so that Jesus could say to Philip in John 14:9 that, “whoever has seen me has seen the Father”. God’s character was seen in a man, His Son (see John 1:14-18). Verses 5-14 provide 7 quotes from the Old Testament which demonstrate the Lord Jesus Christ’s superiority to the angels. Chapter 2 continues the theme of “how much better Christ is than the angels. The first four verses teach us to diligently heed the warnings lest we ‘drift away’ from the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. The Greek words in the metaphor speak of a boat breaking loose from its moorings and slipping away. Verses 5-18 reveal Jesus’ great work and of the necessity that in every respect Jesus be of the human race and that our Lord fully share in all the temptations common to our human condition (nature). The ESV entitles this section, “The Founder of Salvation”. The writer commences it with a quote from Psalm 8 written by David when God has given him victory over his foe – the Philistine giant Goliath. That our God concerns Himself with us insignificant creatures is amazing. God’s instrument in securing victory over sin and death is through a frail, but Divinely strengthened son of Adam – Jesus. The writer reveals that the chosen method of the Father is to open a gracious door offering grace and mercy through the forgiveness of sins and mercy, leading to the opportunity to receive eternal life(“aionian Zoe” age-abiding) through the outworking of God’s power to overcome sin in human flesh. Note that GRACE (unmerited favour), by the forbearance of God, is a primary dynamic factor in God’s salvation and a great motivation to His children. These details are seen particularly, in the letters of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews. Verses 10-13, of Hebrews 2, explains the fitness of God’s chosen solution and the bond that this creates between our Saviour and those being saved. Our Lord Jesus Christ was one with us ie the descendants of Adam in so far as his natural condition. So, according to Scripture, he is our brother. Nonetheless, he is to be revered as a father since through his suffering of hardship and travail we become his begotten children. Paul to prove this quotes Psalm 22 and Isaiah 8. In verses 14-15 the writer proves this by using language which demonstrates by means of voluminous repetition ideas showing how vital it was that Jesus’ nature was in all respects as ours. By this means the devil (Greek “diaballos”) was destroyed in his sinless life, and through death eradicated for ever for Jesus. And forgiveness is established as the basis for God to ultimately do the same in each repentant believer, in prospect now and in actuality, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes in his kingdom. Verse 16 in the ESV translation points out that he did not aid angels – for they are already immortal – but the death stricken and needy “seed of Abraham” are the beneficiaries of salvation’s work. And so, verses 17-18 tell us that this qualifies Jesus as a high priest competent to understand and support each of us in our struggles against sin.