17 v.8 bloomed blossom Hebrews 9:4 It is interesting to reflect on that fact that the things that Hebrews 9 says were in the ark all relate to contention and rebellion amongst Israel. The manna - 'our soul loatheth this light brad' Aaron's rod - To quell the spirit of envy The tables of stone were the second set that were made. The first being broken over the incident of the golden calf.

18 v.1 With the great honour of being priest in Israel came the equally great responsibility of ensuring that everything to do with tabernacle worship was done properly. If anything was not done properly the sons of Aaron had to accept the responsibility. Jesus said 'to whom much is given much shall be received' Luke 12:48.

17:10 Aaron's rod was put in the tabernacle by the ark. However it was not in the ark when it was put in Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8:9) - the rod had served it's purpose. Those rebels were now dead, and the wilderness journey over.

18:20 The Levites were to have no inheritance in the land of Israel. They were to live off the tithes that the nation were to give them. Therefore they had to believe that they would be provided for in return for their service to God. If the nation were not faithful, then, the Levites would suffer because the tithes would not be given.

17:5,10 So do we think that Israel never murmured again during the wilderness journey. You should be alert for signs in the rest of the book of Numbers.

18 - This chapter marks the beginning of a long journey in the wilderness so it is fitting that the instructions given at Sinai are re stated. I don't suppose anyone, when they were at Sinai, anticipated 40 years of wandering. But now it begins and it is important to keep faithful to the commandments all the time. Likewise we do not know the length of our pilgrimage in the wilderness. However it is just as important that the things of the gospel are kept all the time we are 'wandering' there is no room for complacency. Nadab and Abihu died only a short while ago because they failed to make a distinction between holy and unholy.

17:10 Whilst we might think the indecent of Aaron's rod budding was designed to stamp for ever the authority of Aaron God's reason is a little different. His desire was that the murmurings  would stop. We should think about that. He is more concerned with unity in the body than authority. Are we?

18:7 The Levites were chosen by God to work on behalf of their brethren in the wilderness - but that job was a gift from God! How do we view our service to our brethren and sisters?

17:5-10 - Here we have a chosen one's wooden staff that temporarily produced new life by budding. But there is no new life for the rebellious. Later there would be a more significant priest chosen who would/will yield a permanent budding fruit from his death on the wooden cross for those who choose to obey and not rebel Heb 7:24-25

18:15-16 - the clean are sacrificed but the unclean are redeemed ...just as Christ who was clean paid for the unclean

17:8     Aaron’s rod performed more than God had said would be manifest to show His choice. V :5 simply says that the rob would ‘blossom’ but we see it manifested all the seasons in the way in which is was seen in the morning when the rods were taken out of the tabernacle.

18:2 In saying that the sons of Levi are to be ‘joined’ to Aaron and his sons we see a play on the name ‘Levi’ for the name means ‘joined’. Thus the sons of Levi could always think of their special position before God when they thought about their name. The name stood as a reminder. Likewise when we consider our position – brethren in Christ – we should realise the highly privileged position we are in.

18:9 In a very real sense the Levites were sustained by the willingness of the people to observe the sacrificial law. No sacrifices = no food. 1Cor 9:13 draws on this point.

13:15  The hard way that transgressors have to take is embodied in the curse upon Adam Gen 3:19

Prov 13:7-8 - here we have the contrast between material and spiritual wealth and perhaps an echo of Matt 13:44-46.

Prov 13:10; 12:15 - not only do we have the indication that the fool and the proud don't take advice, we have the observation that pride breeds quarrels. Juxtaposed to those who breed quarrels we have the peacemakers as Matt 5:9 notes "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God" (KJV) while James 3:18 expounds their role "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness" (NIV) and Luke 20:36 connects "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." (KJV).

Prov 13:12-13 - difficult passages to connect as Peter Forbes noted and I'm not at all sure how to connect them. I wonder if it's possible that v12 in a spiritual sense could mean when we put our hope in Christ on the backburner our heart/mind is spiritually sick but conversely when we act on a desire to serve we have the hope of eternal life due to Christs sacrifice on the cross (a tree of life of sorts). The tree of life in the garden of Eden was not eaten from (Gen 3:22) because there would first have to be a process of atonement (God can't stand sin in His presence) for hope of eternal life. Then maybe v13 connects by refering to the wicked at judgment will be destroyed while conversely those who reverence God's word will be rewarded (with eternal life when Christ returns to the earth establishing his kingdom).

13:1 We might have thought that the contrast that this verse would present would be between the ‘wise’ and the ‘fool’. However the opposite to the ‘wise’ is ‘scorner’. We do well to reflect on this. If we choose not to hear God’s instruction se are scorning Him.

I don't think it is necessary to strain for a connection between vs.12,13 which can be viewed as stand-alone verses. Each verse contains two opposite propositions of practical consideration. Verse 12 states a truism - in the first part, that hope (or expectation) unrealized over a prolonged period of time can bring disappointment; and in the second part that a realized desire (or longing) brings a source of (new) life (tree of life = source of life - see Prov 3:18 where the same phrase applies to wisdom). The first proposition in v.13 states that the one who despises (scorns, disobeys) the word (of God) will have to pay for his/her actions (judgement). This, also, has a future application when Jesus (the Word made flesh) will judge (John 1:14; 2Tim 4:1). The second proposition simply states that the one who obeys God's Word will be rewarded (Matt 16:27).

13:6 The way in which ‘righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way’ is that the person who thinks thus reflects upon what has been done for him and so strives to serve God faithfully. Rom 6:11

13:7 It is all about perspective isn’t it? The world views success by material passions but God values Godliness. This comes from submission to His will. So Jesus was ‘rich’ and yet ‘became poor’ 2Cor 8:9

13:10 We know that ‘contention’ displeases God bit it is so easy for us to want to defend our position. Solomon says this is ‘pride’. This is a warning we must heed whenever we seek to defend our position. Are we defending truth or our own status in our own eyes?

Chapter 3 draws heavily on the Old Testament.
v.6 'Abraham ... righteousness' quotes Genesis 15:6
v.8 'in thee ... blessed' quotes Genesis 12:3
v.11'just ... faith' quotes Habakkuk 2:4
v.13 'cursed ... tree' quotes Deuteronomy 21:23
v.16 'Abraham' 'seed' quotes Genesis 13:15
v.22 The Scripture which shows that all are under sin is Psalm 143:2
Reviewing these passages demonstrates how the gospel messages is rooted in Old Testament Scripture.

4:5 'adoption of sons' highlights the fact that Israel were not 'sons of God'. The position of those in Christ is so exalted. Whereas Israel's God was not their 'Father' He is ours because He has chosen us.This adopted sonship links us into the promise of 2 Samuel 7:14 as can be see by the way in which 2 Corinthians 6:18, using 2 Samuel 7, speaks of our position in Christ. With it come great responsibilities [see 2 Corinthians 6:14-18]

3:22-26 look for the key word 'faith' in all but v24

4:1-3 Bondage under the Law of Moses is contrasted with freedom in Christ

3:22 The 'Scripture' that concluded all under sin may well be Romans 3:9 - we should not always presume that 'Scripture' means the Old Testament.

4 :10 The 'days' and 'months' are the feasts of the law of Moses and the additions of the Scribes. In adhering to them the believer was shunning the freedom that comes to the 'son' who is no longer a 'servant'.

3:26 Whilst the argument of the chapter has been to establish that believers are the children of Abraham notice that those who have faith are 'the children of God' - the issue extends beyond mere nationalism.

Chapter 4 Notice the way that 'heir' is a keyword passing from 3:29  to 4:1,7

3:6  The appeal to Abraham – quoting Gen 15:6 – takes the Judaisers to a time before the law to highlight that faith pre dated the law of Moses.

4:30 Notice the precision of the quotation from Gen 21:10. Paul is stressing that it is not acceptable to mix Judaism with the gospel. The son of the bondwoman cannot be heir with the son of the free woman.

Can I follow on from yesterday’s comment? In Gal 4:25 Paul speaks of Mount Sinai being in Arabia, and this is the link with Gal 1:17. Mt Sinai (also called Mt Horeb) is not in Arabia as we know it today, but in the Sinai Peninsular, (although I am aware that some commentators tell us otherwise.) As he says Sinai is in Arabia (which is probably a general name anyway  for the whole of that region), did Paul in Gal 1:17 actually go to Mount Sinai?  If he did, then we have:
a)  Moses given the Law by God on that mountain,
b) Elijah having the wonderful demonstration of the wind, earthquake, fire, and then the still small voice (1Kin 19:11-12), and now
c) Paul being taught the gospel by Jesus.
This is only a suggestion! 

3:2,  The Judaisers would have all sorts of academic reasoning to try to seduce the believers away from the gospel in Christ. The danger for the believers would be to try to debate using the same sort of reasoning. However Paul, by the spirit, cuts to the key issue. How did they receive the spirit? In like manner we can so easily get bogged down in theoretical arguments when a simple question will resolve the problem.

3:7-8   The Judaisers would boast of his descent, at a natural level, from Abraham. So the introduction of ‘faith’ as a means whereby one is related to Abraham would come as a bit of a shock to them – but the quotation fromGen 15:6 proves the point and provides the route through which gentiles can be related to Abraham.

3:22 In quoting his own words in Rom 3:9  Paul provides the brethren in Galatia with a pointer to the letter to the Romans that they could read to provide a more detailed background to the point that he is making here.