The Bite of Sin, Numbers 21:4-9

Numbers 21:4-9, The Bite of Sin

Psalms 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

INTRODUCTION

Romans 7:21 “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.

You may have heard said like this, every time I choose to do good, evil is present on every hand.

I didn’t wake and want to cuss no one out. I didn’t plan on drinking or eating that much. I had no intention on looking at that man or woman and lusting in my heart like I did.

But because of the sins of Adam and Eve, we are sinful by nature and let’s me honest, sometimes we can not help it.....TALK, PREACH....(we all have sinned both knowing and unknowing)

So don’t beat yourself up because none of are perfect and no one can do by themselves and glory to God, He knew this when He created us and He had a plan to save us....once again He had us on His mind.....TALK, PREACH…(we were gonna need saving)...

Saving, Salvation....Deliverance from the power and effects of sin. Sin is powerful because it knows when to show. The effects are ones that we do not want. Separation from God and the judgement that comes from that separation. But Glory to His name, He has made a way for us to get that salvation. That free salvation....TALK, PREACH....

And here in the book of numbers we have an example of how God continues to save His people then and we can apply it us today.

Let’s walk....

BODY/POINTS

the biblical concept of salvation as it develops from the sense of physical rescue in the present life (e.g., deliverance from danger or crisis) to the idea of spiritual rescue often associated with the afterlife (e.g., forgiveness from sins, eternal life)......TALK....(GOD helps on this side so we can make to the other side)

And since no one is perfect and we all need help, John Calvin said, Since no man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men; neither is there any other thing that keeps us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief…TALK.....

Salvation is there for all who wants it.

The Book of Numbers written by Moses himself. The book picks up in the 13th month after the exodus from Egyptian slavery and ends with the 40 years of wandering. It covers almost 39 yrs of their wilderness wandering.

Chapter 20 is actually showing the last year of their wilderness journey and now they journey to enter the promise land begins here in chapter 21.

After all they had been through and after all God had done for them and showed them, it amazes me how they still would become doubtful and unbelieving and sinful…TALK, PREACH…(let’s not be too hard on them because it still happens today)

However in this text we will see, doubt and discouragement, which always opens the door for sin to enter, Then we will see God’s judgement and discipline upon the people. The people will repent and God will provide salvation...

The people are ready for the promised land, however there is still some traveling to be done. Here in verses 1-3 we some headaches arises....

As the new generation of Israel begin their approach to the Promised Land, the new generation encounters their first hostile army — Arad the Canaanite, in the South.

After having some men lost to Arad, Israel vowed to God that they will utterly destroy the cities of Arad. That is, they would devote the cities of Arad unto God by completely destroying them. God then granted them victory (the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites).

Here they have their faith and trust in the Lord and He delivered them. However they must take another route to get to the promised and here is where the trouble begins...

The fatigue of Israel by a long march round the land of Edom, because they could not obtain passage through it the nearest way:

The Tony Evans Study Bible Chapter 21

The arduous journey intended to skirt hostile Edom frustrated the Israelites who resorted to their favorite complaint against God and Moses: Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? (21:5).

So they are tired and frustrated and discouraged and the start complaining… Numbers 21:5 “And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.”” ...

Did they not remember about the manna from heaven? Did not they remember the quail and the sweet water from the rocks? God had been taking care of them for 40yrs so what’s so different? NOTHING..

But the devil takes advantage of their situation and sin rears its ugly head again...

It’s in our lowest and lonelist times, when there is some doubt or discouragement that sin will pop his head up....TALK, PREACH...

We need to remember God is always looking and booking. So now we see discipline from God.. Numbers 21:6 “So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.”

The Tony Evans Study Bible Chapter 21

So, since they were determined to complain about dying, God gave them something to actually complain about. He sent poisonous snakes

Matthew Henry states, Justly are those made to feel God's judgments that are not thankful for his mercies.

Some theologians believe the ones that died were the remaining few from the old generation that God had promised would not see the promised land because of their complaining.

Whomever it was God’s will shall be done. We should take note of this,....TALK, PREACH....(you haven’t be able to go forward because of sin, God doesn’t bless a mess)...

The people have been bitten by sin, God has passed judgement and now the people repent....

Numbers 21:7 “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.”

The fastest way to healing is to admit that you have a problem...They confess their fault: We have sinned....Paul tells the Roman church ...Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” ......TALK,PREACH..

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 20–21

Here we have the two aspects of the Law of God: behavior toward God and behavior toward one another

They describe their sin....We have spoken against the Lord, and against thee.....TALK, PREACH...

Lastly they ask Moses pray for deliverance.....pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people........TALK,PREACH...

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 20–21

God could have ignored his people’s plight, for they deserved to die, but in His love and grace He provided a remedy. The intercession of Moses in v. 7 reminds us of the prayer of Christ, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do

Look at what God says and provides....Numbers 21:8-9 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”

The people prayed that God would take away the serpents from them (v. 7), but God saw fit not to do this: for he gives effectual relief in the best way, though not in our way......TALK, PREACH…(his ways or not our ways)

The people needed to have faith in God’s provisions for them…God provided an antidote and all they had to do was obey. It was their obedience that saved them. They were to look upon the bronze serpent. It wasn’t the serpent that healed but God was doing the healing thru their obedience.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 20–21

Salvation came through looking by faith to the uplifted serpent in the center of the camp

CONCLUSION AND CLOSE

Well church the only thing that has changed is the date. We still get bit by sin. We still need to repent and ask for forgiveness. And God has made a way for us to get healed....

Our Saviour has told us so (Jn. 3:14, 15), that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so the Son of man must be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.

And just like the serpent wasn’t lifted up in some hidden corner but it was lifted so everyone in the camp could see and have a chance to be healed....

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has been lifted up so all can see him and go to him for salvation....TALK, PREACH CLOSE...

(bite of sin leads to hell but looking up leads to eternal life......)

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Nu 21:7.

Elliot Ritzema, 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Reformation, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013).