Deuteronomy 3:23-28 / Rejection
Notes
Transcript
Handout
As we continue to look at how we pray, more specifically how we prayer Gospel centered prayers, it’s an important part of the growth to deal with the issue of “When God say no.”
After all we are praying to a real God who is actually listening and responding to our prayers. And all of us at one time or another will need to deal with a God answering no.
So today we are looking at such an occasion, where God didn’t just say no, but seemed to “put a little mustard on it.” to borrow a term.
“And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ But the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’
Backstory
Backstory
(Numbers 20:7-12): The waters of Maribah.
People complaining (again) they were thirsty.
Moses & Aaron ask God for Help.
God instruct Moses to speak to a rock and it will gush out water.
Moses hits the rock with his staff instead … twice.
Water came but God tells Moses he will not lead people into Promised Land.
Might be tempting to just stop there.
“Moses sinned by not following God’s instructions.”
“He should have known better than to ask again.”
But we are totally dependent on God’s grace.
So it important for us to seek deeper answer by asking...
Why was Moses’ Prayer rejected?
Why was Moses’ Prayer rejected?
IF you read books or talk in christian circles you will find any number of answers and remedies...
I chose three types of answers to talk about today.
It was the wrong approach.
That’s not uncommon
People treat prayer like teenagers trying to extract a yes from their parents.
I have a plan to get a yes, but I need you help…
If advice on prayer starts with “If you want to get a Yes from God, then…”
Don’t walk…run!
However, you do see a “format” to the Lord’s Prayer
Jesus said, ‘This, then, is how you should pray...”
Did Moses fail to offer up a well formatted prayer?
“And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’
(verse 23) Moses pleaded with the Lord.
This acknowledges his dependence on God
(verse 24) Moses address Him. “Lord God”
Adonā – word for God of Israel – expresses His authority
Yahweh – Special name for God, given through Moses.
Continue to show glorify God…
Your greatness and mighty hand...
What god is like you?
(verse 25) Please let me go…
It seems to be a well formatted and thoughtful prayer.
We know from other biblical stories that It doesn’t take a “perfect prayer”
Exodus 5:23 – pretty very imperfect prayer
Then God replied...”Now you will see...”
Certainly because of grace, but God is ok with us going to Him in desperation.
Sometime those prayers aren’t pretty.
Moses was not rejected because he had the wrong approach.
(NOTE before you go)
Showing reverence in your prayers may not be a requirement but it should be a desire.
Showing reverence in your prayers may not be a requirement but it should be a desire.
(Why was Moses’ prayer rejected…2nd answer)
It was because he asked God to change His mind?
Moses has asked God to relent before.
Exodus 32 – the Golden Calf
God was going to destroy His people
Moses specifically ask God to relent.
God did just that.
Intercessory prayer by nature could be asking God to relent.
There was something wrong with what Moses desired to do?
No avoid un-necessary anticipation...
I think there is something to this answer.
James tells us how our desire effect our prayers.
Let’s go back to the waters of Maribah…
God instructed Moses...”tell the rock…in the eyes of the people.”
Read the words that Moses said to God’s people.
At the rock - Moses made it about himself.
“…shall WE bring water for you…”
Has an air of a boastful Moses.
“You want water? I give you water! Wack! Wack!”
By God’s grace…water came forth.
Observe God’s response (Numbers 20:12)
Because…
you did not believe in me
To hold me as holy in the eyes of the people.
Therefore…
It was imperative that the Israelites understand that God is what they needed.
At the that rock we learn something about how our desire play a part in our prayers
They thought their biggest need was water, but something much bigger was going on.
They thought their biggest need was water, but something much bigger was going on.
We might read this story of Moses’ rejection and conclude that God was like, “Moses why would you bother me with such a foolish question?!!”
God’s response in chapter 3 seems to be more:
God’s response in chapter 3 seems to be more:
Moses you know why you can’t go!
It’s not about you! (it CAN’T BE ABOUT YOU)
So stop asking me this.
Conclusion
We don’t have to have the “perfect” approach to talk to God (though we should want to)
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with asking God to relent.
Gospel centered prayers will seek to align our own desires with what God desires.
That’s not going to always be easy.
Our perspective is not the same as God’s perspective.