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Numbers 13 – Stepping out in faith… (2 things)
- 1st – Spying out the land… vs. 1-20 Read Numbers 13:1-2
- The Children of Israel finally arrived at the Land God had Promised to give to them…
- God had Moses send in 12 ‘spies’ to check out the Land before they all entered…
- The men were all leaders – one from each of the twelve tribes…
- Among them was Hoshea (salvation) – who Moses renamed Joshua (God is salvation)
- They were to see how rich the land was – good soil / trees / samples of the fruit…
- They were also to see how strong the people were – their cities / fortifications…
- Spying out the Land…
- There are times we think God is calling us to step out in faith – but we are unsure…
- Perhaps it is to get involved in a ministry – or a new business – or a new relationship…
- We wonder – is it our idea / our desire – or is it really the Lord/Spirit directing us…
- One of the ways to find out – is to ‘Spy out the Land’…
- Step out in faith to see what happens – see what kind of ‘fruit’ comes from it…
- If we step out and try – and good things / ‘fruit’ happen – then it is likely from the Lord!
- The Children of Israel finally arrived at the Land God had Promised to give to them…
- 2nd – Giants in the Land… vs. 21-33 Read Numbers 13:25-33
- They traveled up the Jordan River valley towards Lebanon in the north…
- They came back down the Mediterranean coast as they returned to the camp…
- They brought with them grapes – so huge they had to be carried by two men on a pole!
- Often in our ‘Christian walk’ we want to ‘step out in faith’ – by just sitting on a bench…
- We have great ideas and intentions – but we are unwilling to actually step out and try…
- Perhaps we are afraid of the unknown / or we might fail / or what people might say…
- It is not enough to want to step out and follow the Lord – we have to be willing to walk…
- When we step out – that is when we find we bear HUGE fruit for God!
- The 12 returned after 40 days…
- They reported – the Land truly flows with milk & honey (abundance)…
- But – the people in the Land are strong – the cities are fortified and VERY large…
- There are the children of Anak – Giants in the Land – we are like grasshoppers to them!
- It never fails when we step out in faith – there are going to be challenges to overcome…
- We look at the challenges – and they seem like Giants that will crush us like bugs…
- When I began to pray about coming over to the Philippines – there were many Giants…
- The giant of language / culture – uncertainty of my ability to teach/pastor a church…
- There were many days I just wanted to give up and run in fear of those giants…
- If we look at the Giants – we will quickly become discouraged and overwhelmed…
- David was only a little shepherd boy when the giant Goliath came to taunt Israel…
- Mighty warriors cowered in their tents – but David was unafraid – I Samuel 17
- He knew that with God on his side – the Giant did not stand a chance!
- If we look to the Lord – like David – we can take down any Goliaths that comes our way!
- They traveled up the Jordan River valley towards Lebanon in the north…
Numbers 14 – Backsliding… (3 things)
Enter into the rest of the Lord – looking to Jesus – wholly trusting in Him!
1st – Backsliding… vs. 1-10 Read: Numbers 14:6-10
The people began to weep – they cried all night…
We wish we had died in Egypt – or even in the wilderness…
But now you are taking into this country to be slaughtered in battle!
Our wives and our children will be carried off as slaves…
So they began to plot – pick a new leader who would take them back to Egypt…
We have all been saved from the sin of the world (Egypt)…
But not all of us have entered into the Promised Land – abundant life in Jesus…
God wants us to enter in – He wants to give us the victory over sin – life in the Spirit!
We many are afraid to fully commit our lives to Jesus – hanging out on the edge…
Thinking it might be better to go back to the world – than forward in Christ!
Joshua and Caleb pleaded with the people – do not be afraid…
God had given the Land to them – He would go before them and defeat their enemies…
The people in the Land had no one – but Israel had God on their side!
The people in the land will be their lunch – they would devour them with ease!
If we remember who is with us – we will realize big Giants are no match for us!
Romans 8:31 – “If God be for us, who can be against us…”
Too often we get caught up in our problems – and we forget the power of our God!
No circumstance is too difficult – no Giant to powerful – nothing is impossible for Him!
The creator of heaven and earth – God almighty – can handle any problems we have!
We may see an overwhelming challenge – God sees the opportunity to show His power!
But the people began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb…
When we are backsliding from Jesus – we do not want anyone around to remind us…
When Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead – John 11:43
It should have been a moment for everyone to realize Jesus was the Messiah…
Lazarus should have been the proof to anyone who doubted Jesus was God…
Yet instead of seeing Lazarus as proof – the leaders saw him as a threat…
John 12:10 – “The chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death…”
We want to remove anything – and anyone who convicts us of our lack of faith…
We do not want to open the Bible – we do not want to pray…
We do not want to go to church – we do not want to see other Christians…
In the end we are only really running and hiding from God…
2nd – Grace… vs. 11-19 Read Numbers 14:11-19
God asked Moses – ‘How long will these people reject Me’…
Even after all the mighty signs God had done for Israel – they still doubted the Lord…
God told Moses He would destroy them – then make a new nation from Moses…
For the 2nd time (the first was at Mt. Sinai) – Moses came to the rescue for Israel…
Moses argued with God – what would the Egyptians/inhabitants of the Land say…
They knew about the 10 plagues of Egypt – they knew about the Red Sea…
They knew God was with Israel (cloud/pillar of fire)…
If God destroyed Israel – nations would say God failed to bring them into the Land!
So not for the sake of Israel – but for the sake of God’s Holy name – spare them…
We are the church of God – and we carry His name out into a lost world…
We should be God’s representatives to those who do not know Jesus – shine for Him…
When the church has as many or more scandals than the world – the world mocks…
The light of Jesus becomes faded – much of the power/witness of the church is lost!
But God is slow to anger – rich in unfailing Love…
There was no reason why God should forgive and not judge the sin of Israel…
But Moses stood between God and the judgment Israel deserved…
We do not deserve forgiveness – we deserved to be judged for our sin..
But the Good News is Jesus went up to God – and he stood between judgment and us…
He paid the price – so we could have forgiveness – be called the Children of God!
3rd – Consequences… vs. 20-45 Read Numbers 14:27-34
The Judgment of God… vs. 20-38
The 10 spies who had given the bad report – were struck down by a plague – died…
God spared the rest of Israel – but not one of them would enter the Land…
Instead they would wander for 40 years in the wilderness…
One year for each of the days the spies were in the Land…
God commanded them to head back towards the Red Sea – the way they had come…
Being obedient – trusting in the Lord is the key to entering the ‘Promised Land’…
If we want to have a fruitful – effective life – we need to listen to God’s Word…
If we do not – like Israel – we will find we are left to ‘wander’ through the wilderness
We will miss out on all God has for us – we will wander aimlessly through life!
It was a consequence for their sin – choosing to make God their enemy…
When we sin – there is forgiveness – but does not mean there are no consequences…
If we choose to sin – there is always a price to be paid…
Galatians 6:7 – “Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow!”
They feared their children would be die – but instead they would all die wandering…
Their children would be their shepherds – they would end up inheriting the Land!
The only exceptions would be Joshua and Caleb – only two (over the age of 20)…
Joshua & Caleb and the kids would enter the Land – but also wander 40 years
God does not punish us for the sins of others – but we are still affected…
The parent who does not follow the Lord – whose example the children follows…
A friend who encourages others to drink/gamble/ect. – rather than grow in the Lord
I Corinthians 15:33 – “Bad company corrupts good character…”
Be very careful where you allow yourself to go – who you are identified with…
Choose VERY wisely whom you spend time with – we are affected by their lives!
False repentance… vs. 39-45
The next morning all of Israel set out for the Promised Land…
Amazingly they ignored the command of God again – and tried to ‘conquer’ the Land
They ‘realized’ they had sinned and now wanted to enter the Promised Land…
This was not Israel’s repentance – it was an attempt to escape consequences…
If you asked your child to get water from the well – and they refused…
After you grounded them for a week (consequence) they ran out to get the water
Because they wanted to get out of the grounding – too late – they missed their chance
II Corinthians 7:10–“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
It is easy to be sorry for the consequences of our actions…
Being sorry for our consequences is not a change of heart – that worldly sorrow
True repentance is realizing we’ve sinned against God – asking for forgiveness
True repentance is turning away from sin – and turning towards Jesus!
Moses asked them – why are you disobeying the Lord again…
They had missed their opportunity – God would not go with them into battle…
They had abandoned the Lord – so now God had abandoned them…
If they went into battle – they would be alone – God would not fight for them…
The people insisted – though nether Moses or the Ark went with them…
And when the Amalekites and Canaanites attacked them – they were slaughtered…
Because of unbelief they were unable to enter into the rest of the Lord…
Hebrews 4:3 – “For only we who believe can enter His place of rest. As for those who didn’t believe, God said, ‘In my anger I made a vow: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’ even though His place of rest has been ready since he made the world.”
Do not be like Israel – don’t hesitate to step out – do not fear the Giants…
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