Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

The book of Numbers is about Israel’s 40-year journey through the wilderness toward Canaan, the promised land—a place God had long ago promised to their forefather Abraham (Gen 12:1–3).

Numbers begins in the Sinai Desert, shortly after Yahweh gave His law to Moses, the man who led the Israelites out of slavery (see Exodus).

Numbers ends with the Israelites on the Plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from the promised land.

The book contains narratives, laws, poetry, and census lists.

The various genres create a holistic picture of the Israelites’ journey and their developing relationship with God.

The book of Numbers is about Israel’s 40-year journey through the wilderness toward Canaan, the promised land—a place God had long ago promised to their forefather Abraham ().

The book of Numbers is about Israel’s 40-year journey through the wilderness toward Canaan, the promised land—a place God had long ago promised to their forefather Abraham ().

Numbers begins in the Sinai Desert, shortly after Yahweh gave His law to Moses, the man who led the Israelites out of slavery (see Exodus).

Numbers ends with the Israelites on the Plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from the promised land.

The book contains narratives, laws, poetry, and census lists.

The various genres create a holistic picture of the Israelites’ journey and their developing relationship with God.

Numbers begins in the Sinai Desert, shortly after Yahweh gave His law to Moses, the man who led the Israelites out of slavery.

Numbers ends with the Israelites on the Plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from the promised land.

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016).

Faithlife Study Bible.

Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

The book contains narratives, laws, poetry, and census lists.

The various genres create a holistic picture of the Israelites’ journey and their developing relationship with God.

Discussion:

The Purpose of the Book:

The Central Thought- Obedience and Orderly Service:

This book shows clearly the necessity of obedience and the results of disobedience.

In this book, God shows clearly the necessity of obedience and the results of disobedience.

God gave them the law, the tabernacle, the priesthood, and His abiding presence in order to bring them into the promised land, where if they obeyed His commandments, all would be well them and they would live long in the land.

God gave them the law, the tabernacle, the priesthood, and His abiding presence in order to bring them into the promised land, where if they obeyed His commandments, all would be well with them and they would live long in the land.

The Tabernacle Typified Service and Order: ; ; ; .

Faithful Obedience:

The book itself shows God’s love and demand for order.

* Just as the tabernacle was at the center of the camp, so service to God was the center of their lives.

* Each tribe and family had its allotted position, and every man had his work assigned him in the camp or on the march.

* From this truth, we learn God’s people are saved to serve.

* In matter of fact, in the Christian dispensation, we are admonished, “Let all things be done decently and in order” ().

* The New Testament provides the diving order for salvation, acceptable worship, Christian living, work, service, organization of the church, and “all things that pertain to life and godliness” ().

* God demands that we make things according to the pattern that He has given us in the inspired scriptures (; ).

* The Tragic Results of Disobedience: * In no other book are the consequence of obedience and disobedience brought into focuse more clearly or sharper than in numbers.

* Three instances include the rebellion of the people at Kaddish, when they refused to enter Canaan (Chapters 13-14).

* Koran’s rebellion, when he led 250 princes of the congregation against Moses (Chapter 16).

* And the disobedience of Moses and Aaron at Meribah (Chapter 20).

* For their rebellion at Kadesh, the people were barred from Canaan and made to wander forty years and perish in wilderness.

* God caused the earth to open up and swallow Korah and his group and their households, and “16:32-33.... * The disobedience of Moses and Aaron cost them the ability to enter the promised land.

* Faith and Obedience: * In these examples, unbelief and disobedience are interchangeable.

* According to , the people “could not enter because of unbelief.”

* Then in , the word of God reveals, “they were an example of disobedience.”

* In , Moses disobeyed God, and God said, “Because you did not believer Me...” * There is no difference between belief and obedience, or of faith and works, in the sight of God.

* A saving faith is always an obedience faith.

* In , we are warned to beware of unbelief, and in , we are told faithwithout works is dead.

* .. Understanding the Book: Christ Revealed in Numbers: * Christ is the smitten rock (20:7-11; see ). * Christ is the bronze serpent (21:6-9; see ). * Christ gives the city of refuge (Chapter 35; ).

* Christ is the animal sacrfice outside the camp (19:3; see ).

Application: * The Main Message: The two-fold message of Numbers is that God’s people are saved to serve and that they must be aware of unbelief ().

* * The Story- The story of Israel in the wilderness can be written in three words: Discontent, Disaster, and Discipline.

* Discontent: The Israelites marched from Sinai to the brink of the promise land, only to become afraid, murmur, and complain.

* Disaster: Because of their rebellion against God, He turned them back and would not permit them to enter Canaan.

Delivered from slavery in Egypt, they were not slaves to their own sins.

* Discipline: For 38 years, God caused them to wander in the wilderness before they finally returned to Canaan to enter the promise land.

* Their examples are “written for our learning,” so that we may not make the same tragic mistakes in our lives and be denied the blessing of heaven.

The book itself shows God’s love and demand for order.

When Moses and Aaron disobeyed God in smiting the rock, God said, “because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

().

Just as the tabernacle was at the center of the camp, so service to God was the center of their lives.

Each tribe and family had its own position, and every man had his work assigned to him in the camp or on the march.

From this truth, we learn God’s people are saved to serve.

In matter of fact, in the Christian dispensation, we are admonished, “Let all things be done decently and in order” ().

The New Testament provides the diving order for salvation, acceptable worship, Christian living, work, service, organization of the church, and “all things that pertain to life and godliness” ().

God demands that we make things according to the pattern that He has given us in the inspired scriptures (; ).

The Tragic Results of Disobedience:

Faith and obedience are inseparable.

Faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

In no other book are the consequence of obedience and disobedience brought into focus more clearly or sharper than in numbers.

Three instances include the rebellion of the people at Kaddish, when they refused to enter Canaan (Chapters 13-14).

Korah’s rebellion, when he led 250 princes of the congregation against Moses (Chapter 16).

And the disobedience of Moses and Aaron at Meribah (Chapter 20).

For their rebellion at Kadesh, the people were restricted from Canaan and made to wander forty years and perish in wilderness.

God caused the earth to open up and swallow Korah and his group and their households, and “ the men with Korah, with all their goods.

So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly” ().

The New King James Version.

(1982).

().

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The disobedience of Moses and Aaron cost them the ability to enter the promised land.

Faith and Obedience: , , , , .

In these examples, unbelief and disobedience are interchangeable.

According to , the people “could not enter because of unbelief.”

Then in , the word of God reveals, “they were an example of disobedience.”

In , Moses disobeyed God, and God said, “Because you did not believe Me...”

There is no difference between belief and obedience, or of faith and works, in the sight of God.

A saving faith is always an obedience faith.

In , we are warned to beware of unbelief, and in , we are told faith without works is dead.

In , James wrote, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

Understanding the Book:

The New King James Version.

(1982).

().

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Understanding the Book: Christ Revealed in Numbers: * Christ is the smitten rock (20:7-11; see ). * Christ is the bronze serpent (21:6-9; see ). * Christ gives the city of refuge (Chapter 35; ).

* Christ is the animal sacrfice outside the camp (19:3; see ).

Application: * The Main Message: The two-fold message of Numbers is that God’s people are saved to serve and that they must be aware of unbelief ().

* * The Story- The story of Israel in the wilderness can be written in three words: Discontent, Disaster, and Discipline.

* Discontent: The Israelites marched from Sinai to the brink of the promise land, only to become afraid, murmur, and complain.

* Disaster: Because of their rebellion against God, He turned them back and would not permit them to enter Canaan.

Delivered from slavery in Egypt, they were not slaves to their own sins.

* Discipline: For 38 years, God caused them to wander in the wilderness before they finally returned to Canaan to enter the promise land.

* Their examples are “written for our learning,” so that we may not make the same tragic mistakes in our lives and be denied the blessing of heaven.

Key Word: Wandering or Sojourning.

Key Verses: , , , .