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Well, good evening family!
It is good to see you all here at the Midweek service.
Pastor Clark & Sally say there hello’s, they miss, and they are fine, and will be back this Sunday Lord willing.
For those of you who don’t know me my name is Anthony I am the High School Pastor, I’ve been attending the barn here for quite some time now.
I have a beautiful wife that the Lord gave me who helps in what God has called me to do.
I also have 4 children 3 girls & 1 boy.
Well, let’s get right into our study for today.
if you have your bibles open to the book of Numbers, Numbers ch. 21.
Background & Overview
1.
Current Study’s Background
The Historical Context of Numbers - The book of Numbers takes place at an interesting time for the nation of Israel.
The opening of this book takes place only a year after the exodus of Egypt.
Chapters 1-12 deals with the lives of the old generation that came out of Egypt.
Chapters 13-20 deal with a tragic transitional period
and the book ends with the new generation in Chapters 21-36 who end up at the doorstep of the land of Canaan.
Most of the book describes Israel’s experiences as they wander in the wilderness.
According to the Censuses recorded in the book there is a little over 2 1/2 million people.
And every time they wander around and camp in their tents they occupy several square miles.
The book records Israel’s movement from Mount Sinai to the wandering in the wilderness and then, to their arrival in Moab in the 40th year.
And the lesson is very clear: though it may be mandatory to experience wilderness times in our lives, it’s not mandatory to remain there.
For Israel, what was only an 11 mile journey turned into 40 years misery.
This book contains the records of 2 generations, two censuses, which is where it gets its title.
Numbers, the census of the first generation who came out of Egypt and the census of the new generation that grew up in the wilderness & conquered Canaan.
The Theme of Numbers - This is a book of divine discipline and shows the painful consequences of lacking faith in God.
There is an irresponsible behavior on the behalf of God’s chosen people.
So the Lord disciplines them but remains faithful to His covenant promises in spite of unbelief.
This book teaches us that there are no shortcuts to God’s promises & blessings, He sometimes uses trials & tests for specific purposes.
2. Current Study’s Overview
This brings us to our study for today in Ch. 21:4-9.
Ch.
21 falls into a transitional period going from the Old generation to the New generation.
in this section you see a series of failures on the behalf of the Old Generation to Inherit the Promised Land.
Read...
As you can see in our quick reading of today’s scripture, Israel once again fails to trust in the Lord because their hearts are not in the right place.
If you’re taking notes today we want to look at several things that involves Israel’s Failure.
Involves A Delay on the Way Vs. 4a
Involves Recognition of their Condition Vs. 4b-5
Involves A Divine Discipline Vs. 6-9
1. Israel’s Failure Involves a Delay on the Way Vs. 4a
So from Mount Hor the place where Aaron died they travel south back towards the Red Sea and then they go east to go around Edom so that they can then head back north towards Moab.
Now going by the Way of the Red Sea is a step backward and it was a lot of backtracking, it was a very long and meandering route.
So 3 questions come up in my mind when I read this:
Number #1: Why not continue north towards Beersheba and into the promised land?
They were so close!
(Pause)
In 1999 in the city of Joppa they unearthed an Egyptian gate with the name Amen-Ho-Tep III, the king of Egypt.
And I saw this with my own eyes a couple of years ago, the last time we went to Israel.
So Joppa was under the control of Egypt!
So some believe the Lord took them another way to protect them.
It was probably a very heavily guarded area and a strong point.
Now, the second question is this: If they couldn’t go north why not go east through the land of Edom and then north along the dead sea and into the promise land?
Well, because the King of Edom refused Israel passage.
Turn w/ me to...
So they couldn’t go north and they couldn’t go directly east through Edom, so they had to take a detour and back track around edom and into Moab.
So we understand practically and strategically why they couldn’t go north and through the land of Edom.
But, why not spiritually?
My third question is a theological question: Why, God?
Has anyone here ever asked the Lord?
Or am I the only one here?
Lord isn’t it your will for us to enter the promised land that is literally right over there?
Lord you promised us that you would give us the land of milk and honey.
It’s literally right there, God why not just give it to us, why are you allowing these detours, why is there a delay?
why are you closing these doors?
Lord you said… Your Word says this...
1. Israel’s Failure Involves a Delay on the Way Vs. 4a
APPLICATION: Understand God is very well acquainted with our journey.
And He understands what is best for us.
Now for the case of the Israelites it was to test them to see what was in their hearts.
Turn w/ me to...
Why did God add detours & a delay to the journey?
To humble them, to test them, to see what was in their heart if they would obey or not.
APPLICATION: You know, many times we foolishly gauge God’s will in our lives by the ease of the journey.
Instead of just being flexible with the Lord and trusting in Him.
Allowing Him to direct our path even when it doesn’t make sense.
Allowing Him to humble us so that we can correct what is in our hearts so that we can obey Him.
Last time I checked, the Bible says...
2. Israel’s Failure Involves Recognition of their Condition Vs. 4b-5
There is two things we want to recognize as it pertains to their condition...
2.1 The Condition of their Soul Vs. 4b
So the soul of the people became discouraged at the change of plans, they were not flexible with the leading of God.
Discouraged Hebrew - It speaks of being short or impatient.
The were discouraged because they were impatient towards God and His plans.
APPLICATION: You know, sometimes we Christians can be in a hurry to reach God’s plan for our lives.
Even when it comes to heaven, sometimes we say Lord just come get us now.
ILLUSTRATION: I remember one day my 4 yr old son Jonah tells me, “Daddy, I want to die”.
And I’m like what!? Noooo, I don’t want you to die!
And he’s like, “Well!
I want to be with Jesus!
You don’t want to be with Jesus!???
I had to correct some of his doctrinal beliefs already.
19th-Century Preacher A.B. Simpson Quote: “Beloved, have you every thought that someday you will not have anything to try you, or anyone to vex you again?
There will be no opportunity in heaven to learn or to show the spirit of patience, forbearance, and longsuffering.
If you are to practice these things it must be now”
Understand that this life will give us many opportunities to learn patience and we shouldn’t waste those opportunities.
Because God’s greatest gifts often times come slowly.
And sometimes we know that to be true, and we have faith that the Lord will accomplish His promises.
And we know, 2 Cor 1:20 says all of His promises are yes and Amen!
But even the best of us sometimes grow discouraged and worried because the results do not come when we want.
The Apostle Paul was a good example of this.
The Lord gave him a heart to go to Rome.
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