Sabotaging the Promise

Intro

300 Illustrations for Preachers “Grand Theft Auto” Leads to Grand Theft Auto

Sheriff’s deputies investigating the theft of an SUV in central Florida were surprised to discover the suspect had a lot more experience than they thought. Deputies found the stolen 1998 Dodge Durango parked in the driveway of a home, and inside they found the suspected thief playing the popular video game “Grand Theft Auto.” Authorities arrested 30-year-old Michael Ray Ekes and charged him with grand theft auto, burglary, and drug possession. When they arrested Ekes, a check of his records indicated that he had just gotten out of jail on bond on another charge of auto theft.

We do the things we think about.

Numbers 17 NASB95

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod, 3 and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households. 4 “You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you. 5 “It will come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout. Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you.” 6 Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods. 7 So Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the tent of the testimony. 8 Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9 Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the Lord to all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. 10 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.” 11 Thus Moses did; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did. 12 Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying! 13 “Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, must die. Are we to perish completely?”

Aaron’s Rod budding

Keys to Relating Authority

Numbers says much about relationship to those who bear God’s delegated authority. Some of God’s most severe judgments come for Israel’s rebellion against Moses and Aaron. These incidents present clear lessons for believers today.1

1 Hayford, J. W. (Ed.). (1997). Spirit filled life study Bible (electronic ed., Nu 36:6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

12:1, 2 Do not talk against God’s appointed leadership. It will bring His judgment and chastisement.

16:1–50 Never align in rebellion against God’s appointed leadership. He hates and deals severely with this offense. Such rebellion often results in judgment on the rebellious community.1

1 Hayford, J. W. (Ed.). (1997). Spirit filled life study Bible (electronic ed., Nu 36:6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

The life source associated with being in God’s presence.

The context of this pericope is the various rebellions after spying out the land & the question of authority over the nation of Israel. This story is a direct response from the Lord re-affirming the authority of the priesthood, specifically Aaron at the head of the tribe of Levi.

I am reminded of John 15:1 where Jesus declares that he is the source of life. “I am the true vine”, implying that there are many false vines out there.

Context

Israel sent 12 spies to be given a vision of the land they were being given, an inheritance.

Numb. 13:25-33

The land they would receive

The fruit that would be available

The contests the Lord would bring them through

The walled cities - Strongholds

The people they would overcome (giants) - Relationships

The result was they fell into fear & spread dissension among themselves

Joshua & Caleb gave a good report

In the minority (2 out of 10 spies)

1) Rebellion

Numb. 14:1-10

Begins with grumbling against God’s appointed leaders

Moved to grumbling about the salvation they had received

They looked back to slavery as good

They began to exaggerate & blame God for something that wasn’t happening

Attempted to create their own authority

Wanted to set up their own leader

Wanted a leader to lead them back to slavery

They wanted to control their leader (chaos)

Response of Moses & Aaron

Interceded for them to the Lord

What is the response of your leader when you question their authority?

Are they confident?

Do they go to the Lord for you?

Recognize who the rebellion is truly against.

Joshua & Caleb began to encourage the Israelites

Are there any encouragers around you?

Who is suggesting you go back to slavery?

They had vision and courage, having faith in what the Lord really could do.

Were willing to put themselves in danger for their leaders, recognizing the authority their leaders were stewarding.

2) Korah’s Rebellion

Numbers 16:1-40

One was a Levite & 3 were from the tribe of Reuben

4 attempted a coup (Korah, Dathan, Abiram, & On)

Convinced 250 Leaders of Israel

Must have been very charismatic

Numbers 16:3 NASB95

3 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”

Used spiritual language and were flattering the people they were trying convince

Remember, there had just been a rebellion that was put down, where the people recognized their sin

Moses redirected the question of authority back to God

Numbers 16:4–5 NASB95

4 When Moses heard this, he fell on his face; 5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself.

Moses was confident in his call

Heart of the Matter - Authority

We resist the authority that is placed over us.

There are several types of authority

Elected Authority (government)

Chosen Authority (work)

Local Authority (police)

Sovereign Authority (parents)

Spiritual Authority (God, church)

Numbers 14:9 NASB95

9 “Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

1 Samuel 15:23 NASB95

23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”

Numbers 14:31–34 NASB95

31 ‘Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey—I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. 32 ‘But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. 33 ‘Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness. 34 ‘According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition.

Pastor Bill Lichty, one of my former mentors who taught here for many years used to teach a very important principle, that I would like to talk about today. “Whatever we fantasize about while in the program, we are bound to do.”

If you are thinking about a life clean from any substance, while in the program, you will most likely make the most of your time while here

If you are fantasizing or thinking about getting high, or remembering fondly of the times you were using a specific substance, you are most likely wasting your time here & just going through the motions

If you are compromising any part of the program, you are sabotaging yourself.

I would like to bring to light one of the biggest ways that we often sabotage ourselves…are you ready? You might hate me when I tell you, but I want to shoot straight with you.