God Satisfies Our Souls

GOD SATISFIES OUR SOULS (Outline)

MARCH 26, 2023 – Lent 5 – NUMBERS 21:4-9

INTRO.: Are you satisfied with your life? Content with how the Lord has taken care of you? Our sinful nature likes to grumble and complain. We think everything is not quite the way we want it to be. All too often we focus too much on the earthly rather than the spiritual. "(To be sure, many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ) …Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in their shame. They are thinking only about earthly things" (PHILIPPIANS 3:19). Our text today reminds us GOD SATISFIES OUR SOULS. I. We confess our dissatisfaction. II. God provides satisfaction.

I. WE CONFESS OUR DISSATISFACTION.

A. Verse 4. Israel was wandering in the wilderness. They had to take a longer route around Edom.

1. Edom is the land of Esau’s descendants. Esau and Jacob (Israel) were twin brothers.

2. The Edomites banned the Israelites from traveling through their land. Now travel farther.

3. The Israelites “become very impatient along the way.” Unhappy with traveling any farther.

B. Verse 5. Israelites grumbled against God and Moses. Now will we die in the wilderness?

1. “No food...No water...Disgusted by this worthless food!” Oops, God did provide daily food.

2. People not satisfied with manna. Only had to gather every day. Discontented with God.

C. Verse 6. The Lord sent snakes among the people. The snakes bit the people. People did die.

1. Now the people really had a reason to grumble and complain. Or so they thought.

2. This was the Lord’s discipline for his children. Wanted their attention. Lessons to learn.

D. The Lord uses discipline in dealing with his people. Our loving, heavenly Father does not take revenge on us because of wickedness. Rebellion. Sin. Our Lord Jesus Christ has taken all our punishment upon himself. The disobedience debt we owed is removed. We know that we still will face different times of trials in our lives. All of the difficulties we experience are for our good. Not evil. The Lord loves us with a perfect love. Enduring love. His discipline in our lives reveals that love for each one of us. "Do not reject the LORD’s discipline, my son, and do not despise his warning, because the LORD

disciplines the one he loves as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased" (PROVERBS 3:12, 13). Our parents disciplined us. They loved us. They wanted the best for us. Heavenly Father always satisfies.

E. Granted, we do not always like to be disciplined. But we learn. We grow in our understanding of what is good and right. What is bad and wrong. This is a good thing. The Lord’s discipline directs to more fully understand his faithfulness. Our loving, heavenly Father satisfies our souls. "No discipline seems pleasant when it is happening, but painful, yet later it yields a peaceful harvest of righteousness for those who have been trained by it" (HEBREWS 12:11). Note that the Lord’s discipline “yields a peaceful harvest of righteousness.” Peace and righteousness are God’s good blessings discovered through discipline. An interesting conversation this week: A woman wondered about children confused about their sexual identity. She concluded that maybe, just maybe, they were seeking their parents’ love. Discipline. Out of love parents will and can say no. Children need to hear this truth. Something to think about.

F. Israel spoke against God. Even though the Lord provided their daily needs. It all started because they were impatient. Very impatient. None of us are that impatient are we? We als are very impatient. Our society is one of immediate results. Fulfillment of desires here and NOW! “Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the valuable harvest from the ground, patiently waiting for it, until it receives the early and late rain" (JAMES 5:7). We watch. Patiently wait.

GOD SATISFIES OUR SOULS. We confess our dissatisfaction, discontent, impatience.

II. GOD PROVIDES SATISFACTION.

A. Verse 7. Snakes discipline seemed harsh. Israel: “We have sinned”. Spoken against God. Moses.

1. Israel admitted their disobedience. Asked to Moses to intercede with God for them.

2. Moses did pray for God’s people for God’s deliverance. Moses prayed often for God’s people.

B. Verse 8. The Lord answered Moses. God told Moses to make a bronze snake. Place it on a pole.

1. Anyone that was bitten and looked at it lived. What?!? Sounds like idol worship. No!

2. This was what the Lord commanded. The snake did not save. Wanted people looking up.

C. Verse 9. So, Moses made a bronze snake. Put it on a pole for people to look at.

1. All who looked at the bronze snake lived. Again, the Lord God wanted his people to look up.