Wandering

02/04/2019 Wandering

Series: The Story Of The Bible 

https://vimeo.com/313100405

What Does The Bible Say?

Numbers 10-Deuteronomy 30

33 They marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the Lord, with the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant moving ahead of them to show them where to stop and rest. 34 As they moved on each day, the cloud of the Lord hovered over them. 35 And whenever the Ark set out, Moses would shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!” 36 And when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel!” (Numbers 10:33-36 NLT)

The Israelites had three complaints about the journey. (Numbers 11 & 12)

Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp. (Numbers 11:1 NLT)

The Hardships

4 Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. 5 “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. 6 But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” (Numbers 11:4-6 NLT)

The Food

While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. 3 (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.) (Numbers 12:1-3 NLT)

The Leader.

The Israelites come to the Promised Land. (Numbers 13) 

The Lord now said to Moses, 2 “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.” (Numbers 13:1–2 NLT)

What guides your choices in life?

28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! (Numbers 13:28 NLT)

Ten spies saw the power of men. 

9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:9 NLT)

Two spies saw the power of God.

26 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 27 “How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me. 28 Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. 29 You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. 30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 34 “‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’ (Numbers 14:26-30, 34 NLT)

God saw that His children needed to be disciplined. 

11 “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach.  (Deuteronomy 30:11 NLT)

God’s call to obedience is easy to understand.

19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT)

We all have a choice.

How Can You Obey:

Learn to enjoy the journey.

Learn to walk by faith not by sight.

Understand choices have positive or negative consequences.

Question 1 of 5

Tell about a time you got lost on a drive or a hike. Where did things go wrong and how did you finally find your way home?

Question 2 of 5

Describe some ways God might help us get back on track when we are wandering.

Question 3 of 5

Throughout Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, God disciplined His people (sometimes quite strongly) to get them back on course. What are the values of being disciplined by the One who loves us and wants the best for us?

Question 4 of 5

There were no less than ten outbreaks of “juvenile behavior” by the people of Israel during their desert wanderings. How can Christians today be like this – complaining, grumbling, and rebelling against God’s leading and plan?

Question 5 of 5 

How have you seen the sins of one generation poison and damage those who came after them?And conversely, how have soon seen good choices and spiritual maturity be passed on as a blessing to the next generation?