INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Today as we continue our reverse look at the story of God’s deliverance of the nation of Israel from the clutches of Egypt, we are going to look at entering into the Promised Land, 1.0.
• As we examine this stage of God’s deliverance of the nation, we are going to notice a couple of important principles that will help us to navigate life.
• One we will see is that when we choose to follow our own path, there are consequences that follow. Take the Israelites for example.
• As a result of the Israelites’ rebellion and unbelief, they suffered severe consequences.
• The generation who rebelled against God (all those who were 20 years of age and older, except Caleb, Joshua, and Moses) were prohibited from entering the promised land.
• They were doomed to keep circling the desert for another forty years until they ALL died, and the next generation could enter in.
• The other principle that we will see that is important for us to understand is that God will ALWAYS give us opportunities to act in faith.
• This is important to grasp because we need to know that God wants us to be faithful to Him and He will give us every opportunity to act in faith.
• Up to this point in Israel’s deliverance history, time and time again God proved Himself to be faithful, he proved that He could be trusted.
• From the plagues to the parting of the Red Sea and everything in between, God provided and protected the nation as they faced opportunity after opportunity to act in faith.
• As each test stood before them, God gave them every opportunity to act in faith.
• The reason this is important to understand, especially given the context of the message today on consequences, is that when we are in the throes of dealing with the consequences of our choices, we really cannot say that God put is in a position to fail.
• Today we will cover a lengthy passage in the book of Numbers. Remember the book of Numbers covers about 39 years of history (about 1144-1405 B.C.), most of it was the wandering in the wilderness after refusing to enter into the Promised Land.
• This book takes us from about thirteen months after the Exodus from Egypt to the wandering in the wilderness.
• The book gets its name from two numberings of the Israelites, the first at Mt. Sini in chapter one and the second on the plains of Moab in chapter 26.
• Let’s begin by reading Numbers 13:26-29.
• SLIDE #2
• Numbers 13:26–29 (CSB) — 26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran (PAYRAN) at Kadesh KAY DESH). They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak (A KNACK) there. 29 The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites (HETH ITES), Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Opportunity knocks! (13:26-33)
• Imagine living a life where your life belonged to other people. Imagine a life in which you had little to no control of anything in your life.
• Now imagine one day being free!
• Imagine seeing the plagues of Egypt, imagine being released from slavery in Egypt and then seeing the mighty Egyptian army in pursuit of you.
• THEN imagine thinking that life was over, you are on the shore of the Red Sea, which is in front of you, and behind you, the Egyptian Army is fast approaching.
• THEN, God uses Moses to part the Red Sea, and you escape.
• It had probably been about thirteen months since they left Egypt and now God has them on the verge of getting into the Promised Land.
• Opportunity is knocking. God is giving the people the chance to be faithful, what will they do?
• As I explained in an earlier message, the people wanted to scout the land before entering, and in Numbers 13, God told Moses to send in some spies.
• Why did they want this and why did God allow it?
• Lack of faith on the part of the nation is why they asked, and God allowed so He could test them.
• When the spies returned and reported to Moses.
• The land was as God said it would be; however, ten of the spies saw a problem.
• Well-fortified cities, which archeology has shown to be true, and many strong looking warriors.
• The spies were scared they seemed to exaggerate the threat for dramatic effect. You see this when you drop down to verse 33.
• In your life, how many times have you been stopped in your tracks from fear of the obstacles ahead of you?
• The land was as God promised, yet ten of the spies were afraid. Afraid even though God had faithfully delivered them at each step of the journey.
• When we see things in our path, they are either obstacles or opportunities.
• Ten of the spies saw insurmountable odds but listen to Caleb.
• SLIDE #4
• Numbers 13:30 (CSB) — 30 Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!”
• Caleb saw all the things the other spies viewed, yet here he is, LET’S GO FOR IT!
• He wanted to go and to go now! No guts, no glory!
• Well, ten of his compadres would have none of that.
• They said they would lose an attack, then they proceeded to give an adverse report to the nation.
• There is weakness in numbers. ?
• What do you do when opportunity comes knocking? Do you trust God and go for it or do you…?
• SLIDE #5
II. Opportunity missed. (14:1-19)
• OH MY, what did the people do when presented with the opportunity to enter the Promised Land?
• SLIDE #6
• Numbers 14:1–4 (CSB) — 1 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
• It turned into a cry fest.
• 1Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night.
• Then it went from crying to complaining.
• 2All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!
• From complaining to longing for the good old days of brick making for Pharaoh.
• 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
• To plotting an overthrown of Moses and Aaron.
• 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
• Joshua who was one of the spies jumps in and tries to calm the crowd. He said that if the Lord is pleased with us, we will have no trouble taking the land.
• Look at verse 9
• SLIDE #7
• Numbers 14:9 (CSB) — 9 Only don’t rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”
• It now goes from bad to worse, the people were going to stone Joshua, Caleb and those who wanted to take the land.
• God steps in, and He is not happy, God tells Moses I am sick of these people despising God, then God says it is time to wipe these folks out and start again.
• Amazingly, Moses intercedes on behalf of the people, so God does something different.
• How many times have we missed great opportunities because of fear and disobedience?
• How many times have we expressed our unbelief in God with grumbling and complaining?
• This leads to something none of us want.
• SLIDE #8
III. Consequences dealt. (14:20-38)
• In verses 20-38, God lays out the consequences for the nation’s lack of faith.
• Remember, God gave them the opportunity to respond and act in faith, they chose not to do so.
• Look at verses 28-30
• SLIDE #9
• Numbers 14:28–30 (CSB) — 28 Tell them: As surely as I live—this is the LORD’s declaration—I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. 29 Your corpses will fall in this wilderness—all of you who were registered in the census, the entire number of you twenty years old or more—because you have complained about me. 30 I swear that none of you will enter the land I promised to settle you in, except Caleb son of Jephunneh (JEFF FOONEY) and Joshua son of Nun.
• God honored Moses request not to wipe out the nation, but God dealt the consequences for the disobedience of the people.
• We have the freedom to act in faith or not to act in faith, we have the freedom of choice. However, when we choose to reject God, we cannot expect things to go well.
• It is not as if God just reigns terrible things down on you, but it is more of paying the consequences that follow bad decisions.
• Bad financial choices lead to consequences and so forth.
• We have to remember that when we chose not to act and respond in faith, we have to suck it up and take our medicine.
• This leads to our final thought, which if we do would be a bad mistake.
• SLIDE #10
IV. Doubling down. (14:39-45)
• Sometimes when we are dealt the consequences for a bad choice, we will compound the problem by doubling down and making it worse.
• Like the person who made awful financial choices that have come home to roost, deciding that they will just keep spending, kind of like trying to reject the consequences.
• Well, the nation did this on steroids. When Moses announced God’s decision, the people were overcome with grief.
• SLIDE #11
• Numbers 14:40–45 (CSB) — 40 They got up early the next morning and went up the ridge of the hill country, saying, “Let’s go to the place the LORD promised, for we were wrong.” 41 But Moses responded, “Why are you going against the LORD’s command? It won’t succeed. 42 Don’t go, because the LORD is not among you and you will be defeated by your enemies. 43 The Amalekites and Canaanites are right in front of you, and you will fall by the sword. The LORD won't be with you since you have turned from following him." 44 But they dared to go up the ridge of the hill country, even though the ark of the LORD’s covenant and Moses did not leave the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them as far as Hormah (HAR MA).
• The Israelites wept bitterly at the consequences of their sin (14:39). But their tears were not because of a repentant heart.
• They were just sorry for the consequences of their choices. They were sorry they got caught and called out.
• That their rebellious hearts were still the problem became evident when they decided to go up to battle, but now against the Lord’s direction.
• God had told them to go previously, but they had missed the opportunity to do so in his way and in his time.
• The window for obedience had closed. They were devastatingly defeated because they were still being disobedient in their hearts’ attitude.
• Similarly, God offers us grace, but there are still consequences for missed opportunities to obey God.
• Using God’s grace as an excuse to do what we want is a perversion.
• It reveals our profound misunderstanding of God's grace as well as our rebellious heart—and God does not take rebellion lightly.
CONCLUSION
• When we choose our own way instead of God’s way, we are exposing our rebellion and distrust of God.
• God will give us the opportunity to respond in faith when He gives us the opportunity, we need to take advantage of the opportunity.
• God loves us, He wants us to succeed!
