2019-03-24 Numbers 13

Numbers 13:1–2 CSB

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.”

Numbers 13:17–20 CSB

17 When Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up this way to the Negev, then go up into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 Is the land they live in good or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications? 20 Is the land fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land.” It was the season for the first ripe grapes.

Numbers 13:26–31 CSB

26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” 31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!”

Numbers 14:1–3 CSB

1 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

Numbers 14:1–3 CSB

1 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

Numbers 14:1–4 CSB

1 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”

I. God sets the agenda.

Numbers 13:1–2 CSB

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.”

A. God has an agenda, and will fulfill it. He will either work through you or despite you.

Numbers 13:1–2 CSB

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.”

Illus: A few years back I was being interviewed and a person asked me, what one word I would use to describe the church.

I thought about love. We should be loving. We should display the love of God to a broken and dark world.

I thought about truth. At the center of the church is the sermon from Scripture expounding God’s Word.

I chose to use the word missionary. Everything we do at church is around God’s mission, his agenda. Just as he sent out the Israelites with a specific job, He has given us a job, a mission, and agenda today.

God is going to accomplish his mission. He did with Israel, and He will today.

Israel rejected God’s plan choosing their own wisdom over God’s so God fulfilled His plan despite the people we wanted to work through.

Today we reject God’s agenda in pursuit of our own agendas. If we continue to reject God’s agenda, we will be a people God works despite of.

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

B. When God works through you, He will not fail.

Numbers 13:1–2 CSB

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.”

Illus: I believe the reason that we do not accomplish God’s mission is because we do not truly have faith in God.

Yes we believe that God saves us from our sin. Yes we believe in principle that Jesus is working in the hearts of men and women.

Does God change the heart? Is God active and at work in the world today? We don’t have a big enough view of God.

If we actually believed that God changes hearts and that He would accomplish his mission, we would boldly go out and share the gospel, and also we would share it far more often.

The reason we are not apart of God’s mission for us is because deep down we doubt whether God will work.

Philippians 4:13 CSB

13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

II. Fear and doubt keep us from faith.

Numbers 13:26–31 CSB

26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” 31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!”

A. When we fear, our eyes are on the obstacles and not on the God of all power.

Numbers 13:27–28 CSB

27 They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there.

Illus: We are living in a day of fear. It’s funny the things we fear.

We fear losing the comfort we enjoy.

We fear awkwardness in relationship after sharing the gospel.

We fear that true faith would mean sacrifice in our lives.

We fear politics.

Truthfully we have come to embrace the ease of nominal faith. We go to church, get saved, give God enough to ease our consciences, and settle for a faith that does not resemble the call Jesus has before us.

We fear

If we want to become real followers of God, it will mean facing the fear and stepping out of nominal faith. It will require us to go beyond the comfort of our own strength and trusting that God will provide and protect us as we follow Him.

Matthew 14:22–31 CSB

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

B. What keeps us from accomplishing God’s mission today?

Numbers 13:30–31 CSB

30 Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” 31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!”

Illus: I can get the fear of the Israelites. They were facing real life and death threats.

We have become crippled by comfort allowing the talking heads, digital distractions, and ease of life to become so pervasive in our lives that we no longer pursue the mission of God.

Following God is a choice. The Israelites eyes were not on God but on the enemies greater than them. They forgot that their God was greater.

Where are your eyes fixed today? Most of our eyes are so consumed by the digitized voices on television, the internet, and social media that we no longer hear the call of God to daily faith in Him.

If the world has so consumed us that we have lost the call to sacrifice all for the crucified saviour then we are no different from the cowering scouts.

James 1:5–8 CSB

5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

III. Our fear leads to rebellion against God.

Numbers 14:1–4 CSB

1 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”

When fear controls your heart, you exchange the true God for false gods.

Illus: We are called to live in fear. wait what?

we are called to live in the fear of God. It is to understand the pure power and sovereignty of God that all things fade compare to it.

Our problem is that we take our eyes off God and fear things that are not God.

We exchange the fear of God for fear of things which God is sovereign over.

What consumes your heart today, take it and place it in God’s hands. He’s got it.

Proverbs 14:26–27 CSB

26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death.