5_14_2023 - The Protecting God

Opening Prayer)

(Sermon Introduction)

Today we begin our new series entitled “New Eyes,” focusing on seeing what we call the “Old Testament” with “New Eyes.”

(Series Context)

We recognize that it takes a lot of time and study to unpack the Old Testament with “New Eyes.”

However, we cannot overlook the importance of the Old Testament to the development of the Early Church and to the understanding the Gospel message and the depth of what Jesus the Christ has done for us.

I cannot tell you the number of times over the years that I have had well meaning people tell me, even those claiming to be Christians, that Jesus Christ hasn’t always been.

As we begin today I want to set the stage for this series with an understanding that Jesus has always been, He is, and He will be forevermore.

John 1:1–5 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus is a distinct person of the Trinity.

As we take a look at the First Testament with New Eyes, I find it interesting how many western believers miss the obvious things that eastern believers would see quickly.

For instance, Eastern Eyes when they meet Jesus for the first time, find that He is all over the texts of Scripture.

They see Him readily, while we struggle to make the connection.

Rev. Lynn Lapka

All Scripture is prophetic in one sense or another, all of it speaking and looking to Jesus.

(Sermon: “The Tomb” at Central Assembly, Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.)

2 Peter 1:19–21 (ESV)

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon

“Just as every road of England leads to London, every road of Scripture leads to Christ.”

“Don’t you know, young man, that from every town and every village and every hamlet in England, wherever it may be, there is a road to London? So from every text in Scripture there is a road toward the great metropolis, Christ. And my dear brother, your business is, when you get to a text, to say, ‘Now what is the road to Christ?’ I have never found a text that had not got a road to Christ in it, and if ever I find one…I will go over hedge and ditch but I would get my Master, for the sermon cannot do any good unless there is a saviour of Christ in it.”

(Spurgeon. “Christ Precious to Believers,” sermon at Music Hall, Royal Surry Gardens, London, March 13, 1859.)

Revelation 19:10 (ESV)

10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

As we work our way through Scripture, we are going to be looking at different accounts in the Old Testament where Christ is revealed in a powerful way.

I believe that God is going to give you new eyes as you read the Scripture, so that you see Christ!

(Context: The Angel of the Lord / Jesus Christ)

I want to remind you once again about The Angel of the Lord in these texts that we are studying isn’t some random angel.

The way He is referenced and the way that Scripture reveals Him it is clear that this “character” is in fact the Lord Jesus Christ.

William Pakenham Walsh

The unanimous voice of the early Christian Church acknowledged that “The Angel of the Lord,” who so frequently appeared as the Revealer of God’s will to man in the older dispensation, was none other than the Second Person in the glorious Trinity.

(Walsh, The Angel of the Lord, Or, Manifestations of Christ in the Old Testament, pg. VII, 1856.)

(Context: The Journey of the People of Israel)

The people of Israel have spent 430 years in captivity in Egypt have now been set free to wander the wilderness for 40 years on their way to the promised land: Canaan (later Israel).

Moses and Joshua have led the Israelites to victory over the Amorites and have positioned them in the plains of Moab east of Jericho and the Jordan River.

They are positioned to take the advance to their enemies, the Moabites.

Scripture leaves the Israelites there and shows us what happens on the Moabite side of the story.

This story is about the God Who works behind the scenes.

(Context: Balak and Balaam)

In Numbers 22–24, Balak, the king of Moab, hires Balaam a “seer/prophet of the gods” to curse the Israelites.

1109 / Balaam ‘Bal’ ‘am’ / בִּלְעָם / Not for/of the people

Balʻâm, two Hebrew words meaning “not” and “(for/of the) people.” Meaning “Not for/of the People, or Destroyer of the people.

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

1111 / Bâlâq, baw-lawk’ / בָּלָק / Waster

From 1110 meaning to waste or to be foolish. Quite literally, the foolish one.

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

Seeing the Israelites camping in his land, and knowing of their defeat of the Amorites, Balak fears that the Israelites will defeat the Moabites in battle and destroy their land, as well (Num 22:2–3).

He sends representatives to Pethor to pay Balaam, a seer, to curse Israel (Num 22:4–6), indicating that Balaam had a reputation for being able to directly connect to the gods.

Balaam insists that he must consult Yahweh, since he can only do what God says (Num 22:8, 18).

God initially refuses to allow Balaam to curse Israel or go with Balak’s messengers (Num 22:12). He eventually allows Balaam to go with the men—but forbids him from cursing Israel (Num 22:14–20).

This is where we pick up the story.

Numbers 22:21–35 (ESV)

21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.

24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”

30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

(Context: The Rest of the Story)

Upon Balaam’s arrival, Balak takes him to three different high locations from which they can view the Israelites.

At each site, they set up seven altars and offer sacrifices, and then wait to hear the oracle of Yahweh (Num 23:1–3, 13–15, 27–30).

Each time, Yahweh gives Balaam an oracle of blessing over Israel, which he repeats to Balak (Num 23:4–11, 16–25; 24:2–10).

He tells Balak repeatedly that he cannot bless or curse the Israelites if Yahweh does not will it (Num 22:18, 38; 23:8, 12, 26; 24:13).

After Balak has given up, Balaam gives one final oracle recounting how the Israelites will defeat their enemies, including the Moabites (Num 24:15–24).

(Sermon Title: The Protecting God)

The title of the sermon today is: The Protecting God.

Take note of a few things in the story:

Israel is unaware of the threat that they face.

God is not unaware of the work of the enemy.

The enemy can’t outrun God or escape His sight.

God is still in charge and sovereign over the enemy.

No one can thwart the purposes and plan of God, not even the enemy.

The enemy may bring challenges, but the Lord faithfully gives us what we need to win the battle.

1. God Fights for His People

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 (ESV)

1 “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people

3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them,

4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Psalm 34:7 (ESV)

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Some passages indicate that Balaam used divination to try to curse Israel, but Yahweh either refused to listen to him (Deut 23:5) or forced him to bless Israel instead (Josh 24:9; Neh 13:2).

These passages emphasize God’s saving acts for Israel rather than Balaam’s insistence that he can only speak what God allows.

2. God Removes the Curse from His People

In 2 Pet 2:15, Balaam is an example of extreme ungodliness.

The author associates Balaam with gaining wealth from wrongdoing.

Jude 1:11 associates Balaam with profiting from evil actions.

Revelation 2:14 condemns the church at Pergamum for following the teachings of Balaam.

This verse likely refers to Num 31:16, which may indicate that Balaam advised Balak to entice the Israelites to sin through eating food sacrificed to idols and sleeping with the Moabite women (Num 25:1, 2).

In Numbers 31:8, Balaam is killed in Israel’s battle with the Midianites.

Numbers 31:16 seems to blame the sins of the Israelites at Peor on Balaam.

This verse indicates that Balaam advised Balak to entice the Israelites into sin and idolatry in order to defeat them.

Joshua 13:22 remembers Balaam’s death in battle and adds that he practiced divination, a practice condemned in the biblical text

Micah 6:5 mentions Balaam and Balak in the context of Yahweh’s dispute with Israel.

The Balaam story in this verse proves that Yahweh is faithful to save because He stopped Balaam from cursing Israel.

Galatians 3:10–14 (ESV)

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

3. God Blesses His People

Deuteronomy 23:5 (ESV)

5 But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.

(Response)

(Invite the Worship Team and the Prayer Team)

Joshua 24:1-18 (ESV)

1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God.

2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac.

4 And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

5 And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out.

6 “ ‘Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.

7 And when they cried to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time.

8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.

9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,

10 but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand.

11 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand.

12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow.

13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods,

17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.

18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

(Sermon Recap)

The Protecting God:

God Fights for His People

God Removes the Curse from His People

God Blesses His People

(Worship Song)

(Closing Challenge)

(Closing Blessing)

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

(Response Card)

1. What did you hear? (Blank Lines)

2. How will you live it out? (Blank Lines)

3. Who will you share it with? (Blank Lines)

4. Who are you discipling? (Blank Lines)

5. What are you praying for? (Blank Lines)

6. How has God answers your prayers? (Blank Lines)