Finding Help Reflections on Numbers I say, “Help comes from God.” I tell people, “You’re not alone.” Both are empty phrases if I don’t live like I believe them. The book of Numbers shows us that as the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they, too, struggled to live out these words. After 40 years of wandering, they were likely wondering if God had fallen asleep on the job. The author of Psalm 121 spotted this problem. The ancients believed the gods dwelt on the mountains, but the psalmist says otherwise: “I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (hcsb). God doesn’t sleep. In contrast to the belief that gods drifted into the underworld, and consequently awful things happened, the psalmist explains that God is always present: “He will not allow your foot to slip … the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.” We think we are different than the ancients, but we, too, link terrible things to God’s supposed ineptitude, or his judgment. The psalmist says the opposite: God is a shelter from the elements. God doesn’t get sunburned. Even though people believed the “sun” and “moon” gods brought unbearable weather, the psalmist says: “The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm.” Again, we think we are more advanced than the ancients, but we have the insurance clause for “other acts of God.” Rather than viewing the Lord, or the gods, as the cause of unexpected disaster, the psalmist views him as a Protector. But why would God protect us? God doesn’t blush. It seems that any creator would look at what we have done to the world and either hate us, or be embarrassed. Instead of blushing, God turns his face towards us. God teaches the priests, via Moses, to request his presence. Psalm 121 echoes the priestly prayer: “The Lord bless you and protect you; the Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” God follows this by saying, “In this way [Aaron and his sons, the high priests] will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them” (Num 6:24–27). God’s undaunted presence marks believers. Here’s how we can be enveloped in that presence. Find help in Jesus. Just prior to his arrest and betrayal, Jesus prays, “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, … protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one” (John 17:11). Our acceptance of Jesus makes us one with the Father. Consequently, we are protected. But help is not for hoarding. We are called to use God’s protection to create community Find help in community. Jesus prays for love, which is at the center of good community: “May [the believers] be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23). When believers unite in Christ’s love, the broken can be helped. Bring help to the world. The fruits of our Bible study should not be private. We have to live what we believe. Jesus ends his prayer by saying, “I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them” (John 17:26). We should show God and other people the love he has shown us. Let’s take our needs to God, watch him act, and then make him known. FOOD FOR THOUGHT. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
AN INDEPTH BIBLE STUDY ABRAHAM (Gen. 11:23–27; 25) 1. Which line of descent from Noah is most fully described, and why? The line from Shem, because in that line were the Jewish people who wrote the books of the Bible; and from whom, after the flesh, Christ came. Gen. 11:10–26. 2. From what sons are the Gentiles descended? The other white races are supposed to have descended from Japhet, and the black race from Ham. 3. What was Abraham’s name in his early life? Abram. 4. Where was Abram born? In Ur of the Chaldees, S. E. of Babylon. Gen. 11:28. 5. To what land did his father remove, and why? To Haran, still on the river Euphrates, but in the northern part of Mesopotamia; perhaps because of God’s call to Abram while in Ur. 6. Which of Abram’s brothers died before they left their native land? Haran, the father of Lot. 7. After his father’s death did Abram stay in Haran? No. God told him to leave his home and go to a land he would afterward show him. This was Canaan, or Palestine. Gen. 12:1–9. 8. Who went with him? Sarai his wife, Lot his nephew, and their servants. 9. What promise did God make to Abram? That he should have many descendants who should form a great nation owning the land of Palestine, and that “in him should all the families of the earth be blessed.” See Gen. 12:2, 3, 7; 13:14–17; 15:5; 17:5–8; 22:17, 18. 10. To what finally did the promise refer? To the coming of Jesus Christ. 11. Where did Abram first settle, and what was his first act in the land of Canaan? At Sichem, or Shechem, where he built an altar to God. 12. Where do we again hear of Shechem? See Josh. 24:1, 25, 26; John 4:5–42. 13. Where did Abram then make his home? Between Bethel and Hai, about twelve miles north of Jerusalem. 14. Was Abram a rich man or a poor man? He later became very rich; and was certainly not poor at this time. Gen. 13:2. 15. How had Lot prospered? Very much. 16. What was the result? A quarrel between the herdsmen of the two. 17. How did Abram behave on this occasion? He proposed that they should part, and gave Lot the choice of the land. 18. Do you think that Lot behaved as well as Abram in this affair? He made no liberal offer in return, and thought more of the goodness of the pasture than of the character of the people with whom he was to live. 19. Had Lot cause to repent his choice? He suffered constant distress of mind, and at length narrowly escaped with his life, with the loss of his wife, many of his family, and of most or all of his property. Gen. 19:15–29. “Delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).” 2 Pet. 2:7, 8. 20. What doleful news did Abram soon hear of Lot? That Lot and his goods had been carried away with other captives from Sodom, by the kings of Elam, Babylonia, etc. Gen. 14:11, 12. 21. What did Abram do? He armed his own trained servants and went in pursuit. He divided his men, attacked the enemy by night on several sides at once, routing them and recovering the prisoners and booty. 22. Who met Abram on his return? Melchizedek, king of Salem, which probably was Jerusalem. 23. Is this mysterious person ever alluded to again in the Bible? Yes, in Heb. 6:20; 7. 24. Of whom was he a type? Of Christ in being both king and priest. 25. Did Abram take of the spoil of the battle? No, he refused to take anything but food for his men, and the share of his allies among the Canaanites. 26. Who was Hagar? One of Sarai’s waiting maids, whom Abram took to wife, thinking thus to bring the fulfillment of God’s promise of descendants. Gen. 16. 27. Who was her son? Ishmael, the ancestor of the modern Arabs. 28. What especial covenant did God make with Abram soon after this? The “covenant of circumcision,” where God renewed his promise of many descendants, and promised to be their God; and enjoined upon him the rite of circumcision as a sign of the covenant. Gen. 17. 29. How did God change the names of Abram and Sarai? From Abram, or “high father,” to Abraham, or “father of a multitude”; and from Sarai, “my princess,” to Sarah, “princess” (for all the race). 30. Where was Mamre? Near Hebron, in Judah. Gen. 13:18. 31. What remarkable event happened to Abraham there? The Lord with two angels, or heavenly visitors, appeared to him in the form of men. Gen. 18. 32. How did Abraham receive them? With true Oriental hospitality, asking them to rest while he prepared food for them. 33. What did they promise to Abraham? That he and Sarah should have a son. 34. How did Sarah receive the news? She laughed, for it seemed to her impossible. 35. When the three visitors had eaten for what place did they start? For Sodom, to destroy it and rescue Lot. 36. Why were they to destroy Sodom? “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is very grievous.” Gen. 18:20. 37. How did Abraham plead for the city? By six times asking the Lord to spare it if there were fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and even ten, righteous persons in it. 38. How did the Lord answer him? He put no check on his prayer, and consented to do all that he asked. 39. Would the Lord have saved the city if Abraham had asked for it for the sake of Lot alone? He might have; but its destruction would only have been postponed, for Lot alone could never have reformed the city. 40. What warning did the heavenly visitors give to Lot? “Whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord.” Gen. 19:12, 13. 41. How many of Lot’s family believed the warning and fled with him? His wife and two daughters. But his wife looked back, and became a pillar of salt. Gen. 19:16–26. 42. Does there remain any relic of this event? The Dead Sea probably covers the place where they were. 43. When did God perform his promise to Sarah? At the end of a year, the time fixed. Gen. 21. 44. By what name was the child of promise called? Isaac, which means “laughter.” 45. What occurred on the day Isaac was weaned? Abraham made a great feast; and Ishmael mocked at the young Isaac. 46. What did Sarah wish Abraham to do? To send away Hagar and Ishmael. 47. Was this in accordance with the wishes of God? Yes, he so told Abraham. 48. What became of Hagar and Ishmael? After some hardships they lived in the wilderness of Paran, in Arabia, and Ishmael grew large and strong, and became the ancestor of a race whose present representatives are the Arabs. 49. What was the greatest trial of Abraham’s faith? The command of God to offer as a burnt offering his only son, Isaac, whom he loved. Gen. 22. 50. Where was this sacrifice to take place? “In the land of Moriah,” usually supposed to be the mountain of that name in Jerusalem. 51. Did he tell his son what he was about to do? No. When Isaac inquired for the lamb he replied that God would provide one. 52. When Isaac knew of his father’s intention did he resist it? No. 53. Was he able to have done so? Yes, as he was probably twenty-five years old, and his father was old. 54. Did God allow the sacrifice? No, the angel of the Lord spoke from heaven and said: “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” Gen. 22:12. 55. How did God provide the burnt offering? Abraham found a “ram caught in a thicket by his horns,” and offered him as a burnt offering. 56. By what name did Abraham call the place where this occurred? Jehovah-jireh, meaning “the Lord will see, or provide.” 57. What is said in the New Testament of this act? “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Heb. 11:17–19. 58. How old was Sarah when she died? One hundred and twenty-seven years. Gen. 23:1. 59. Where did Abraham bury her? In the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, or Hebron, which he bought for the purpose from Ephron the Hittite. 60. What more do we know about Abraham? He married a wife named Keturah, and had six sons. Gen. 25:1–6. 61. Did these sons share the inheritance with Isaac? No, Abraham gave them gifts and sent them away. 62. How old was Abraham when he died? One hundred and seventy-five years. Gen. 25:7. DID YOU FIND THIS STUDY TO BE HELPFUL? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE TOWER OF BABEL (Gen. 11:1–9) 1. As the population grew what did they plan to do? To build a city and a tower “whose top may reach unto heaven,” for their own praise and glory. 2. Where was it to be? On “a plain in the land of Shinar,” which most probably is what later became Babylon. 3. Of what did they build it? Of mud dried bricks, joined together with mortar made of bituminous slime. 4. What did God do about it? He “confounded their language” so that they could not understand each other, which, of course, put a stop to the work; and he “scattered them abroad … upon the face of all the earth.” 5. Why was God so unwilling it should be built? It was to be a monument to the power of man as distinct from the power of God. 6. What name was given to it? Babel, which means “confounded.” WE ARE BEGINNING OUR NEW SERIES OF REFRESHERS. WE HOPE YOU FIND THEM TO BE HELPFUL AND ENJOYABLE. YOUR COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
1. THE BEGINNING (Gen. 1:1–2:7) 1. What is the name of the first book of the Bible? Genesis, which means “Beginnings.” 2. What do we know of the beginning of the world? “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Gen. 1:1. 3. What is the difference between “created” and “made”? “Created” means made out of nothing; “made” means formed or developed out of something already existing. In the account of the beginning of this world the word “created” is used three times. 4. By what power did God create the world? By his word. Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 3:5. 5. Who is called the Word of God? Jesus Christ. John 1:14. 6. How do we know that Jesus Christ was with God in the creation? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.… All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1, 3. “Who is the image of the invisible God … for by him were all things created …” Col. 1:15, 16. 7. What was the last thing created? Man, who was made in the image of God. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER. JUST MAKING SURE WE DON’T FORGET. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
TRUST GOD Isaiah 26:3–4 With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you. Trust the LORD always, because the LORD, the LORD alone, is an everlasting rock. Psalm 37:3 Trust the LORD, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful. Psalm 32:10 Many heartaches await wicked people, but mercy surrounds those who trust the LORD. Proverbs 29:25 A person’s fear sets a trap ⸤for him⸥, but one who trusts the LORD is safe. Proverbs 28:25 A greedy person stirs up a fight, but whoever trusts the LORD prospers. TRUST GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
FOOD FOR THOUGHT “When you fix your thoughts on God, God fixes your thoughts.” “Focus on God, not your problem. Listen to God, not your insecurities. Rely on God, not your own strength.” “What consumes your mind controls your life.” Once you start losing the presence of God you have to fight. It’s time to make war! HAVE FAITH IN GOD, FOCUS ON GOD, AND PARTAKE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE THINK ABOUT IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Heart, Character of the Unrenewed 1. Hateful to God. Pr 6:16, 18; 11:20. 2. Full of evil. Ec 9:3. 3. Full of evil imaginations. Ge 6:5; 8:21; Pr 6:18. 4. Full of vain thoughts. Jer 4:14. 5. Fully set to do evil. Ec 8:11. 6. Desperately wicked. Jer 17:9. 7. Far from God. Isa 29:13; Mt 15:8. 8. Not perfect with God. 1 Ki 15:3; Ac 8:21; Pr 6:18. 9. Not prepared to seek God. 2 Ch 12:14. 10. A treasury of evil. Mt 12:35; Mr 7:21. 11. Darkened. Ro 1:21. 12. Prone to error. Ps 95:10. 13. Prone to depart from God. De 29:18; Jer 17:5. 14. Impenitent. Ro 2:5. 15. Unbelieving. Heb 3:12. 16. Blind. Eph 4:18. 17. Uncircumcised. Le 26:41; Ac 7:51. 18. Of little worth. Pr 10:20. 19. Deceitful. Jer 17:9. 20. Deceived. Isa 44:20; Jas 1:26. 21. Divided. Ho 10:2. 22. Double. 1 Ch 12:33; Ps 12:2. 23. Hard. Eze 3:7; Mr 10:5; Ro 2:5. 24. Haughty. Pr 18:12; Jer 48:29. 25. Influenced by the devil. Joh 13:2. 26. Carnal. Ro 8:7. 27. Covetous. Jer 22:17; 2 Pe 2:14. 28. Despiteful. Eze 25:15. 29. Ensnaring. Ec 7:26. 30. Foolish. Pr 12:23; 22:15. 31. Froward. Ps 101:4; Pr 6:14; 17:20. 32. Fretful against the Lord. Pr 19:3. 33. Idolatrous. Eze 14:3, 4. 34. Mad. Ec 9:3. 35. Mischievous. Ps 28:3; 140:2. 36. Proud. Ps 101:5; Jer 49:16. 37. Rebellious. Jer 5:23. 38. Perverse. Pr 12:8. 39. Stiff. Eze 2:4. 40. Stony. Eze 11:19; 36:26. 41. Stout. Isa 10:12; 46:12. 42. Elated by sensual indulgence. Ho 13:3. 43. Elated by prosperity. 2 Ch 26:16; Da 5:20. 44. Studies destruction. Pr 24:2. 45. Often judicially stupefied. Isa 6:10; Ac 28:26, 27. 46. Often judicially hardened. Ex 4:21; Jos 11:20. A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE NEED TO STOP CHECKING OTHERS AND START CHECKING THEMSELVES. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
FOOD FOR THOUGHT God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual Genesis 1:22 God blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the sea, and let there be many birds on the earth.” Job 42:12 The LORD blessed the latter years of Job’s life more than the earlier years. He had 14,000 sheep and goats, 6,000 camels, 2,000 oxen, and 1,000 donkeys. We bless God when we thank him for his mercies Psalm 103:1–2 Praise the LORD, my soul! Praise his holy name, all that is within me. Praise the LORD, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: Psalm 145:1–2 I will highly praise you, my God, the king. I will bless your name forever and ever. I will bless you every day. I will praise your name forever and ever. A man blesses himself when he invokes God’s blessing, or rejoices in God’s goodness to him Isaiah 65:16 Whoever asks for a blessing in the land will be blessed by the God of Truth. Whoever swears an oath in the land will swear by the God of Truth. Past troubles are forgotten. They are hidden from my eyes. Psalm 49:18 Even though he blesses himself while he is alive (and they praise you when you do well for yourself), One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare (Gen. 24:60; 31:55; 1 Sam. 2:20). Sometimes blessings were uttered under divine inspiration, as in the case of Noah, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses (Gen. 9:26, 27; 27:28, 29, 40; 48:15–20; 49:1–28; Deut. 33). The priests were divinely authorized to bless the people (Deut. 10:8; Num. 6:22–27). We have many examples of apostolic benediction (2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 6:23, 24; 2 Thess. 3:16, 18; Heb. 13:20, 21; 1 Pet. 5:10, 11). Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPay.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
DISCERNING TRUTH FROM ERROR 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, don’t believe all people who say that they have the Spirit. Instead, test them. See whether the spirit they have is from God, because there are many false prophets in the world. Colossians 2:8 Be careful not to let anyone rob you ⸤of this faith⸥ through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ. 2 Timothy 4:3–4 A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
