2019-04-07 Numbers 20:1-3

Numbers 20:1–13 CSB

1 The entire Israelite community entered the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and they settled in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord. 4 Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? 5 Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It’s not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink!” 6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord spoke to Moses, 8 “Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock.” 9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence just as he had commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that abundant water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.” 13 These are the Waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and he demonstrated his holiness to them.

I. God lets you go without.

Numbers 20:2–5 CSB

2 There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord. 4 Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? 5 Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It’s not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink!”

A. God will let you go without to teach you to trust Him.

Numbers 20:2 CSB

2 There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron.

Illus: We have this false idea that God is good if He gives us what we want, but the devil is at work if we go without.

There are times when God will purposely let you go without. He does this for your greater good.

When we have, and have in abundance we see little need for God. We live in such a way dependent on ourselves numb to a being greater than us.

God lets you go without to lead you to him. Why? Your greater good. A person who is fat and happy in this world without God is condmned and eternally helpless.

For us believers, the greatest end in life is not comfort, but instead knowing and trusting God. We should live daily deepening our relationship with God and growing more dependent on Him.

Philippians 4:12–13 CSB

12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

B. Don’t despise the discipline of God.

Israel grew bitter for not inheriting the land they rejected.

Numbers 20:4–5 CSB

4 Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? 5 Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It’s not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink!”

Numbers 13:27–31 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. 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!”

Illus: I remember in my first ministry job I was a youth pastor in Pearsall, Tx (home of george straight). As a young man I believed I had ministry figured out. I tend to be an expert of everything I have not experienced.

During that time the pastor left and an interim pastor took over. He was a gruff and serious man.

I remember him calling me to his office, looking at me and giving me a good dressing down.

I walked out of his office with my tail between my legs, angry and bitter about what he said.

But he was right. And after licking my wounds I realized areas of deficiency that I never understood till his confrontation.

God’s discipline will sting and hurt… but it is for your good.

God cares enough for you to not allow you to remain in sin and self destruction.

Hebrews 12:5–7 CSB

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, 6 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives. 7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

B.

II. Faith is more than trusting God with the results, it is also trusting him with the process.

Numbers 20:6–11 CSB

6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord spoke to Moses, 8 “Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock.” 9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence just as he had commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that abundant water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

A. Never forget who is in charge.

Numbers 20:10 CSB

10 Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?”

Illus: I have always struggled with why God kept moses out of the promised land.

He obeyed God at great personal risk when he went before Pharoah and said, “God says, let my people go”.

He obeyed all the while the people of Israel fought him at every point.

Why did God keep him from the promised land when he hit the rock instead of speaking to it?

I don’t believe it was hitting the rock, but instead, it was Moses’ words to the people as he hit the rock.

“Must we” These words showed moses took a step that he should have never taken, placing himself as the leader of Israel… not God.

The refrain throughout the first five books of the Bible is to not forget who is in charge.

Did you know that God had to remind his people 87 times that he brought them out of Egypt?

Think about how the Ten Commandments start.

Exodus 20:1–3 CSB

1 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 3 Do not have other gods besides me.

The reason Moses did not get to inherit the promised land is because he broke the first commandment.

B. God’s way is better than your way.

Numbers 20:11 CSB

11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that abundant water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

Illus: I’m not good at following directions.

When Jenn and I got married we went to Walmart and bought a few of those particular board book shelves.

I remember getting those bookshelves home and Jenn telling me to follow the instructions.

As a guy, I didn’t think I needed instructions, so I put them together.

When I was finished, every piece in the box was together, but the bookshelves were not fit for putting books on.

They were designed to be put together in a certain way, and I chose to do it my way.

God designed us to relate to Him, relate to our fellow man, and our world in a certain way… and more often than not like moses striking the rock we choose to do it our own way.

John 6:28–29 CSB

28 “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. 29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”

III. In the end, Moses faltered.

Numbers 20:12 CSB

12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.”

A. Moses failed. Jesus Didn’t.

Illus: We have Easter coming up on April 21st.

Easter is a time we celebrate what Jesus accomplished that Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses could not… restoring broken men back to God.

At Easter we will celebrate the wonder of redemption and Resurrection.

Coming into Easter I wanted to put a challenge in front of you. If you have experienced the life changing power of Jesus Christ, I want you to invite someone to know that power.

We expect you to be here Easter Sunday, but our desire is that people’s lives will be changed that day.

As you exit the worship center today you will be given 4 invitations to easter. I want you to pray over these invitations and then hand them to people who do not go to our church.

If you are really industrious, as them to sit next to you, tell them you will pick them up.

Make this year the year an old friend starts coming back to FBC, or a new guest takes the first step of faith.

Hebrews 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Corinthians 10:10–12 CSB

10 And don’t complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.