Do You Have Billy-Goat Faith?
Lessons From The Exodus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Numbers 13:1-3, 26-33; 14:1-4
1 The Lord now said to Moses,
2 “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.”
3 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.
26 to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land.
27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces.
28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!
29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”
30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”
31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”
32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.
33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.
2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.
3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”
INTRODUCTION:
I- RECOGNIZE THE POSSIBILITIES. (Numbers 13:1-3, 17-25)
I- RECOGNIZE THE POSSIBILITIES. (Numbers 13:1-3, 17-25)
1 The Lord now said to Moses,
2 “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.”
3 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.
17 Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country.
18 See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many.
19 See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps?
20 Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.” (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)
21 So they went up and explored the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near Lebo-hamath.
22 Going north, they passed through the Negev and arrived at Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai—all descendants of Anak—lived. (The ancient town of Hebron was founded seven years before the Egyptian city of Zoan.)
23 When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them! They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs.
24 That place was called the valley of Eshcol (which means “cluster”), because of the cluster of grapes the Israelite men cut there.
25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned
A- God wants us to understand his promises. (Numbers 13:1-3)
A- God wants us to understand his promises. (Numbers 13:1-3)
1 The Lord now said to Moses,
2 “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.”
3 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.
1- The plan to send out twelve men to spy out the land began with God’s directive.
2- God wanted Israel (every tribe) to have information about the richness of the land and the scope of His promise to them.
3- God took the initiative to give us great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:3-4)
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
B- God wants us to recognize His amazing gifts to us. (Numbers 13:17-20)
B- God wants us to recognize His amazing gifts to us. (Numbers 13:17-20)
17 Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country.
18 See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many.
19 See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps?
20 Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.” (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)
1- Notice the instructions that Moses gave to the spies:
a. He wanted a comprehensive examination of the land and the people.
What is the land like?
What are the people like?
How many of them live there?
What are the towns like?
Is the land fertile?
Are there many trees there?
b. He wanted visual evidence:
Bring back samples of the crops.
c. God wanted them to get excited about the possibilities!
2- God wants us to dig deeply into His Word and learn the possibilities of this life in Christ.
(Col 3:16)
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
(1 Pet 2:2-3)
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
C- We need to obey in taking an honest assessment of the possibilities. (Numbers 13:21-25)
C- We need to obey in taking an honest assessment of the possibilities. (Numbers 13:21-25)
21 So they went up and explored the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near Lebo-hamath.
22 Going north, they passed through the Negev and arrived at Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai—all descendants of Anak—lived. (The ancient town of Hebron was founded seven years before the Egyptian city of Zoan.)
23 When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them! They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs.
24 That place was called the valley of Eshcol (which means “cluster”), because of the cluster of grapes the Israelite men cut there.
25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned
1- The twelve spies all started out well.
a. They moved out in obedience to God’s mandate and their instructions.
b. They carried out the entire mandate.
They traveled 350-400 miles in their scouting journey.
If they rested on Sabbath days they traveled 35 days out of the 40.
This means that they traveled between 10 to 12 miles per day; if not, they travelled about 8 to 10 miles per day.
They collected amples of the fruit of the land.
Grapes
Pomegranates
figs
2- Many times we start out well and with good intent.
a. The real trick is to finish well what we have started!
Paul testified that he had finished his race well. (2 Tim 4:6–8)
6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
We must remained focused on the race God has given to us. (1 Cor 9:24–27)
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!
25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
II- REFLECT ON THE SITUATION WITH REAL FAITH. (Numbers 13:26-33)
II- REFLECT ON THE SITUATION WITH REAL FAITH. (Numbers 13:26-33)
26 [the men returned] to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land.
27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces.
28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!
29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”
30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”
31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”
32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.
33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
A- Focus on the goodness of the reality of God’s promises. (Numbers 13:26-27)
A- Focus on the goodness of the reality of God’s promises. (Numbers 13:26-27)
26 to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land.
27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces.
1-All of the spies readily testified of the goodness of the land and its fruitfulness.
a. They admitted that the land was fertile and abundant in all that was needed to live.
“a land flowing with milk and honey”
b. They showed off the samples they had brought back.
2- We need to focus on the richness of God’s promises and provisions.
(Eph 1:3)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
(Phil 4:19)
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
B- Focus on the God who makes the promises. (Numbers 13:30)
B- Focus on the God who makes the promises. (Numbers 13:30)
30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”
1- We need to focus on the faithfulness of God.
(1 Cor 1:9)
9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Heb 10:23)
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
C- Resist the temptation to give in to “Billy-Goat faith.” (Numbers 13:28-29, 31-33)
C- Resist the temptation to give in to “Billy-Goat faith.” (Numbers 13:28-29, 31-33)
28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!
29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”
31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”
32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.
33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
1- Billy-Goat faith always chooses to look at the negative factors and sees things through the eyes of human ability.
a. The key word is always “but.”
b. We need to look at circumstances through the lense of faith in a all-powerful God.
(Matt 19:26)
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
(2 Cor 5:7)
7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
III- REJECT BILLY-GOAT FAITH BY CHOOSING OBEDIENCE. (Numbers 14:1-12)
III- REJECT BILLY-GOAT FAITH BY CHOOSING OBEDIENCE. (Numbers 14:1-12)
1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.
2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.
3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel.
6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.
7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!
8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.
9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.
11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?
12 I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”
A- Choosing to live by “Billy-Goat faith” will always lead to rebellion. (Numbers 14:1-4)
A- Choosing to live by “Billy-Goat faith” will always lead to rebellion. (Numbers 14:1-4)
1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.
2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.
3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”
1- Billy-Goat Faith leads to despair. (Numbers 14:1)
1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.
2- Despair leads to complaining. (Numbers 14:2)
2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.
3- Complaining leads to rebellion against God. (Numbers 14:3-4)
3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”
Deciding to turn away from God’s way to the world’s way. (Isaiah 53:6)
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
Recruiting those who will lead our way. (2 Tim 4:3–4)
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
B- Rejecting “Billy-Goat Faith” means choosing obedience to God over fear of uncertainty. (Numbers 14:6-10)
B- Rejecting “Billy-Goat Faith” means choosing obedience to God over fear of uncertainty. (Numbers 14:6-10)
6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.
7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!
8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.
9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.
1- Joshua and Caleb admonished the people of Israel to trust in God and receive the gift of the land.
2- We must choose to trust in our God, who is able, to fulfill his promises to us instead of choosing despair and rebellion.
(Prov 3:5–6)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
(Phil 4:6–7)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
IV- REMEMBER THAT REBELLION IS COSTLY. (Numbers 14:19-25,30)
IV- REMEMBER THAT REBELLION IS COSTLY. (Numbers 14:19-25,30)
19 In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”
20 Then the Lord said, “I will pardon them as you have requested.
21 But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the Lord’s glory,
22 not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice.
23 They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it.
24 But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.
25 Now turn around, and don’t go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.”
30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
A- Choosing “Billy-Goat faith” and its rebellion leads to disaster.
A- Choosing “Billy-Goat faith” and its rebellion leads to disaster.
1- When Israel chose to give in to their doubts and rebel against God lost the right to enter the promised land.
Instead of God’s rest, they wandered in the wilderness a year for each day the spies scouted the land. (Numbers 14:34)
34 “ ‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’
2- Those who chose faithfulness to God (Joshua and Caleb) would be able to enter the land after the 40 years. (Numbers 14:30)
30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
3- Choosing to rebel against God is a costly decision.
Refusing to believe the Good News is costly. (Hebrews 4:1-3)
1 God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.
2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.
3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’ ” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.
As believers, we must choose to walk by faith. (Hebrews 11:6)
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
CONCLUSION:
I- RECOGNIZE THE POSSIBILITIES.
II- REFLECT ON THE SITUATION WITH REAL FAITH.
III- REJECT BILLY-GOAT FAITH BY CHOOSING OBEDIENCE.
IV- REMEMBER THAT REBELLION IS COSTLY.
