Untitled Sermon (3)

Introduction

The Promise of the Land Flowing with Milk and Honey

God promises to Abraham a land that He will give to His decedents ()

Genesis 15:18 ESV

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

God called Moses to lead His people into the Land flowing with Milk and Honey ()

Exodus 3:8 ESV

and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

A poetic description describes the fertility and bounty that awaited God’s people

Milk=livestock; Honey= Farmland, Life!

NOTE: The land of Egypt wasn’t terrible! But God had a plan and when God has a plan He gets them accomplished

It doesn’t matter if things are “working” right now, God will move you from that to what HE wants!

In that text, God also tells them about the enemies they would encounter and the trials they would endure along the way

Finally we get to where they finally arrive to the outskirts of the promise land

Moses chooses twelve men to go to Canaan and scope out the land and come back with a report

: Spying out the Land

Verses 17-20: What they were to spy out

Verses 25-33: The bad report of the spies

as they had a mouth full of the fruit God had given them!

God promised the land (flowing with milk and honey), they finally reached the land, had a mouth full of the land, super natural guidance, and yet they say they’re going to die because the next step was too big to win

Today: We must replace a DOUBTING attitude.... (Numbers 14)

1. Doubting Neglects God’s Vision/Promises (v.1-5)

Explanation

Verse 3: Why did the Lord bring us here? We should’ve stayed in Egypt!

Doubting focuses on the “now” but God’s Will always focuses on the end and “where to”

Doubting causes you to take things in your OWN hands instead of going with the leading of God

Doubting says, “God I will follow you only if it’s what I believe is the right thing and what I have done before us”

Did you notice our first attitude in these opening verses?

Verse 2: And the Israelites COMPLAINED!

When you pair doubting with complaining you get unwilling

How do you get this from the text?

Look at verse 4

Unwilling to follow the promises and plan of God and unwilling to follow the leader God gave you!

The Israelites thought Moses was wrong for leading them to where they were!

Verse 5: Moses and Aaron fall down before the congregation

This wasn’t a act of fear or second guessing, this was a brokenness and plea for the people to TRUST in God’s PLAN and that they are acting in behalf of YAWEH

Argumentation

We find this passage referenced in the NT in the book of Hebrews

All the warning statements of Hebrews is in reference to our attitude towards to the Word of God

This warning statement exhorts us to LISTEN and FOLLOW the Word of God

Illustration:

Ever been to someone’s house and the furniture didn’t look very strong

If the owner confirms that it will hold you, you will probably sit down on it

Application

Now to this point, there is SOMETHING that God is pressing on your heart (don’t be scared)

When have you this week, tried to take things in your own hands because the “now” doesn’t look promising?

Why are you doubting? Think about it?

Answer by saying, I am doubting because_________

2. Doubting is Common (v.6-10)

Explanation

In the midst of God’s people crying and complaining, two of the other spies (who were there as well) spoke up!

Verse 6-9: Joshua reminds the people of the promises of God!

Things will be okay! If we obey God, He will give us victory!

The result of Joshua speaking truth of God’s Word: the people REBELLED!

This wasn’t those who were outside of the Israelite camp

This was God’s PEOPLE!

As a result from hearing TRUTH, the went to pick up stones to throw at God’s spokesmen

Argumentation

See, doubting is common even amongst the people of God

If you want to be obedient servant of God, you must live a life of FAITH! (Next week’s message)

But here’s the deal, doubt is common, faith is uncommon

Illustration:

Have you ever been in a large crowd but you had to walk the opposite direction from everyone?

What does everyone say? I’m a fish swimming.... UP STREAM!

Let me ask you a question: Where do you find the bigger fish?

Waters that are come and the fish are just kind of floating?

OR the waters the are moving fast and they are swimming AGAINST the stream

Application

Don’t fall into the crowd of DOUBT!

They are the ones saying, look how wrong this is! If God was for this, then we wouldn’t be here right now or this wouldn’t be happening!

The people rebelled against their chosen leader AND the spies who spoke truth to them

They received their consequences because

3. Doubting is OFFENSIVE (To God) (v.11-29)

Explanation

End of verse 10 gave us a foreshadowing of what is to come: “the glory of Lord appeared”

Bum Bum BUUUUUUUUUM!

God’s response: Verses 11-12

God’s punishment to the nation for their doubting in Him

Everyone would pass away that is 20 years and older in the wilderness

Where they complained the most ultimately was the house of their death

The NEXT generation will receive and walk in the blessings that God promised!

Application:

Your doubting in the promises/vision God has for your life is sinful!

Doubting in an almighty God is SINFUL!

What are you doubting in this morning? Who are you doubting in this morning?

Answer this: I am doubting in _____________ because ________________

If you can’t answer that equation, then it’s time for us to confess before God

Those who aren’t walking with God....

There will be a day where you must answer whether you believe God is who He says He is, or He isn’t

If He is, you will perish in the wilderness wandering of your own life for all of eternity in a place called Hell

BELIEVERS....

Let’s get before God this morning and leave ALL doubt in Him and begin trusting the process of God in our lives!

DOUBTING (little or big) is a SIN against your Heavenly Father