Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Numbers 25:13 (2)

Introduction:

We often view salvation (and sin) as monolithic — when they are multi-dimensional

· John Stott’s major book: The Cross of Christ – numerous dimensions to sin, salvation

TO START, WE’RE LOOKING AT A DEEPLY TROUBLING STORY – LET’S SEE WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT THE DESIRE OF GOD, THE WRATH OF GOD, THE COVERING OF GOD

I) The Desire of God: The Intimacy of Marriage with His People

A. The Language of a Broken Marriage

i. A long slide into an affair: Yoked to a mistress

1. A Transition & milestone: Time to check in with the Israelites

2. After 40 years complaining TO God Israel “couples” to Baal (vv. 3, 5)

ii. God is “jealous” for the single-hearted devotion of His people (vs. 1)

1. “Whoring”: not illicit sex but about the cheating

2. Jealousy: negative, or desiring devotion rightfully yours (vv. 11-13

B. The Heart-Desire of God

i. God’s Desire is to Know Us:

1. God created us to be known & loved as deeply & personally as marriage

2. Our heart’s longing: To be known deeply & intimately by God (Ps. 17)

ii. Therefore, Sin is a much bigger problem than rule-breaking

1. Is Christianity rule following vs. rule breaking? No! betrayal

2. EXAMPLE: dear Abby letter about a wife obsessed with baseball

AND IT’S FOR THAT REASON THAT GOD IS PROVOKED TO ANGER.

II) The Anger of God

A. God’s Anger is Provoked by Sin (vv. 3, 4, 10)

i. God’s anger is not a temperamental reaction

1. Our anger is often tied to injured pride, our own standards

2. BUT: not always: MSU shooter (and other injustices=anger!)

3. God’s anger is “the purest and most perfect form of this.” (J. Stott)

ii. God’s anger is a response to a flagrant provocation of infidelity (vs. 6)

1. Bringing a Midiante woman to the TOM= a mistress in the marriage bed

2. EXAMPLE: husband texting, (denying!); glimpsing, finally, in bed

3. QUOTE: The more holy and chaste a husband is, the more wrathful he becomes if he sees his wife inclining her heart to a rival.” – Calvin

B. God’s anger is tied to his Mercy

i. We object to a God of wrath (vv. 5, 8)

1. Difficult details: Leaders executed; a couple, stabbed to death

2. The common narrative: God is a god of love, the OT God is bloodthirsty

ii. But “Wrath is the twin of God’s mercy.”

1. EXAMPLE: a call one night – your daughter is drunk, and you bring her home, and impose no consequences – you’ve not been merciful, but permissive

2. So also mercy is the “twin of God’s wrath”

GOD’S DESIRE IS FOR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP – AND HE IS PROVOKED TO ANGER WHEN HE SEES US DOING THAT WHICH DESTORY THIS. WHAT DOES HE DO ABOUT IT?

III) The Atonement of God

A. God’s Anger is Pacified by a Representative Mediator

i. God deals with the Group (vv. 6, 7, 8)

1. An unnamed “man/son of Israel” brings guilt on the whole

2. A named priest has the task of defending the holiness of God (vs. 7)

ii. A Zeal for the Holiness of God (vs. 7 & vs. 13)

1. Phineas is jealous, as God is, and acts to uphold the holiness of God

2. Propitiation: “quenching God’s personal penal wrath by blotting out our sins…” – J.I. Packer

B. God’s Anger is Resolved by THE Mediator

i. Are we in danger?

1. Our sin: polluting, corrupting, tainting: Bitterness? Unforgiveness? Etc.

2. …We too deserve the penalty

ii. We have a greater mediator

1. Jesus would be a true and greater:

i. Priest with a zeal for God’s holiness would come

ii. Who would not destroy others, but would himself be the one pierced with the sword of God’s justice

iii. Would be put out from the presence of God so we might be brought in

2. At the cross, God’s anger would fall on Jesus to make atonement

iii. Living in the covenant of peace secured for us

1. so that God might turn his face toward us and embrace us with his smile

2. An alcoholic…a parent w. years of regret…

Transition:

Conclusion

In a world plagued with shame & sadness, the Gospel offers hope