Promised Land Part 2

Intro

last week: The Spies return with news of the promised land

Illustration: doing it my own way

Moses’ Intercession

The Lord appears in the tent and speaks to Moses after this and Moses tries to get out ahead of his people’s failures

the last few times, for Moses sake and because it has not interfered with God’s plan, God has spared the people for the most part

this time is different and the turn is obvious

Moses gives his same speal

Moses reminds God of the character that they follow him for

God reminds Moses of the justice that must come with that grace

Israel’s Defeat

despite all of this and Moses surely breaking the news, the people attempt to go take the land anyway

Israel’s Defeatbause of this and in stark rebellion to God because of their being upset

they go to fight but they are missing what has brought them this far

this will be the theme going forward for all of the conquest, just as it was for their first battle

just as it is for every battle anyone might face,

success and failure are not mine to govern

Wandering Generation

they will not see the promised land and more than that, they will not simply humbly accept their fate

laws of cleanliness and Sabbath mentioned again

in every part of their lives, including mandatory rest, they are to remember that they are called to be a people set apart

over and over they will forget, they will complain, they will turn to things other than the God who saves them and keeps his promises

Application

you can go your own way and do your own thing

God doesn’t just stick his hands in every interaction between humans

especially not today

you and I are meant to be God’s hands and feet now

but God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous

you can talk about what you deserve and what you think you are meant for and what you think you have earned

but the one who has designed good for you from the beginning is the only one who can really make a difference

and he doesn’t care what you want

he cares about what you need and what the rest of his creation needs from you