The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass." The LORD answered MosesThis phrase highlights the direct communication between God and Moses, a central figure in the Old Testament. The Hebrew root for "answered" is "עָנָה" (anah), which implies a response or reply, often in a context of dialogue or prayer. This interaction underscores the personal relationship Moses had with God, emphasizing that God is not distant but actively involved in the lives of His people. Historically, Moses is seen as a prophet and leader, chosen to guide the Israelites, and this direct communication signifies the authority and trust God placed in him. Is the LORD’s arm too short? This rhetorical question uses anthropomorphic language to describe God's power and ability. The "arm" in Hebrew, "זְרוֹעַ" (zeroa), symbolizes strength and might. The question challenges any doubt about God's capability to fulfill His promises. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the arm was often a symbol of power and deliverance. This phrase reassures believers of God's omnipotence, reminding them that no situation is beyond His control or reach. Now you will see This phrase indicates a forthcoming demonstration of God's power. The Hebrew root "רָאָה" (ra'ah) means to see or perceive, suggesting that God's actions will be visible and undeniable. It implies a transition from doubt to faith, as God prepares to manifest His word in a tangible way. This serves as a reminder that faith often requires patience and trust in God's timing and methods. whether or not My word will come to pass Here, "My word" refers to God's promises and declarations. The Hebrew term "דָּבָר" (dabar) encompasses speech, matter, or thing, indicating that God's word is not just spoken but is an active force that accomplishes His will. The phrase "come to pass" underscores the certainty and reliability of God's promises. Historically, the fulfillment of God's word is a recurring theme in Scripture, affirming His faithfulness and sovereignty. This assurance encourages believers to trust in God's promises, knowing that what He has spoken will indeed be fulfilled. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who demonstrates His power and faithfulness. 2. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, who intercedes for the people and communicates with God. 3. The IsraelitesThe people of God, who are in the wilderness and express dissatisfaction with their circumstances. 4. The WildernessThe setting where the Israelites are journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land, a place of testing and reliance on God. 5. Quail EventThe specific event where God promises to provide meat for the Israelites, demonstrating His provision and power. Teaching Points God's OmnipotenceGod's rhetorical question to Moses, "Is the LORD’s arm too short?" challenges us to trust in His unlimited power. We should remember that no situation is beyond His ability to intervene. Faith in God's PromisesThe assurance that God's word will come to pass encourages believers to have faith in His promises. We are called to trust that what God has spoken, He will fulfill. God's Faithfulness in ProvisionJust as God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, He is faithful to provide for our needs. We should rely on His provision rather than our own understanding. Testing and GrowthThe wilderness experience was a time of testing for the Israelites. Similarly, our trials can be opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper reliance on God. Intercession and LeadershipMoses' role as an intercessor highlights the importance of prayer and leadership. We are encouraged to pray for others and lead with faith, trusting in God's guidance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the question "Is the LORD’s arm too short?" challenge your current view of God's power in your life? 2. In what ways can you apply the lesson of God's faithfulness in provision to your own circumstances today? 3. How do the connections to Genesis 18:14 and Luke 1:37 enhance your understanding of God's omnipotence? 4. What are some areas in your life where you need to trust that God's word will come to pass? 5. How can Moses' example of intercession and leadership inspire you to take action in your community or church? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 18:14This verse echoes the question of God's ability, as God asks Abraham if anything is too hard for the LORD, reinforcing the theme of divine omnipotence. Isaiah 50:2This passage speaks of God's power to save and deliver, similar to the assurance given to Moses. Jeremiah 32:17Jeremiah acknowledges God's great power in creation, affirming that nothing is too difficult for Him. Luke 1:37The angel Gabriel tells Mary that nothing is impossible with God, connecting the Old Testament assurance to the New Testament revelation. People Eldad, Israelites, Joshua, Medad, Moses, NunPlaces Egypt, Hazeroth, Kibroth-hattaavah, Paran, TaberahTopics Arm, Grown, Limited, Lord's, Meeteth, Pass, Power, Short, Shortened, Waxed, WhetherDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 11:23 5126 arm Numbers 11:4-34 4438 eating Numbers 11:21-23 8724 doubt, dealing with Library April 12. "They were as it Were, Complainers" (Num. xi. 1). "They were as it were, complainers" (Num. xi. 1). There is a very remarkable phrase in the book of Numbers, in the account of the murmuring of the children of Israel in the wilderness. It reads like this: "When the people, as it were, murmured." Like most marginal readings it is better than the text, and a great world of suggestive truth lies back of that little sentence. In the distance we may see many a vivid picture rise before our imagination of people who do not dare to sin openly and unequivocally, … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. ) Ver. 1. "And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." The communication of the Spirit of God was the constant prerogative of the Covenant-people. Indeed, the very idea of such a people necessarily requires it. For the Spirit of God is the only inward bond betwixt Him and that which is created; a Covenant-people, therefore, without such an inward … Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Deaf Stammerer Healed and Four Thousand Fed. ^A Matt. XV. 30-39; ^B Mark VII. 32-VIII. 9. ^b 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech [The man had evidently learned to speak before he lost his hearing. Some think that defective hearing had caused the impediment in his speech, but verse 35 suggests that he was tongue-tied]; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue [He separated … J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Baptist's Testimony. "There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.... John beareth witness of Him, and crieth, saying, This was He of whom I said, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. For of His fulness we all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. … Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I Third Sunday after Epiphany Text: Romans 12, 16-21. 16 Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. 19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. 20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire … Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II False Ambition Versus Childlikeness. (Capernaum, Autumn, a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XVIII. 1-14; ^B Mark IX. 33-50; ^C Luke IX. 46-50. ^c 46 And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest. ^b 33 And he came to Capernaum: ^c 47 But when Jesus saw the reasoning of their heart, ^b and when he was in the house [probably Simon Peter's house] he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way? 34 But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest. [The Lord with his disciples was … J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit. "The Holy Spirit was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified."--John vii. 39. We have come to the most difficult part in the discussion of the work of the Holy Spirit, viz., the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the tenth day after the ascension. In the treatment of this subject it is not our aim to create a new interest in the celebration of Pentecost. We consider this almost impossible. Man's nature is too unspiritual for this. But we shall reverently endeavor to give a clearer insight … Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit Third Sunday Before Lent Text: First Corinthians 9, 24-27; 10, 1-5. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, … Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King. (Jerusalem and Bethlehem, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 1-12. ^a 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem [It lies five miles south by west of Jerusalem, a little to the east of the road to Hebron. It occupies part of the summit and sides of a narrow limestone ridge which shoots out eastward from the central chains of the Judæan mountains, and breaks down abruptly into deep valleys on the north, south, and east. Its old name, Ephrath, meant "the fruitful." Bethlehem means "house of bread." Its modern … J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Messiah's Easy Yoke Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. T hough the influence of education and example, may dispose us to acknowledge the Gospel to be a revelation from God; it can only be rightly understood, or duly prized, by those persons who feel themselves in the circumstances of distress, which it is designed to relieve. No Israelite would think of fleeing to a city of refuge (Joshua 20:2. … John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Of Immediate Revelation. Of Immediate Revelation. [29] Seeing no man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son revealeth him; and seeing the revelation of the Son is in and by the Spirit; therefore the testimony of the Spirit is that alone by which the true knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be only revealed; who as, by the moving of his own Spirit, he disposed the chaos of this world into that wonderful order in which it was in the beginning, and created man a living soul, to rule and govern it, so by … Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews. (Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went … J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology. (Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two … Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Numbers Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution … John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 11:23 NIVNumbers 11:23 NLTNumbers 11:23 ESVNumbers 11:23 NASBNumbers 11:23 KJV
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