Numbers 15-16

Review…

• Numbers 13-14 – The Promised Land…
  • When they arrived at the Promised Land God had them send out 12 spies…
    • They returned after 40 days – and gave a report – a bountiful land…
    • But there were giants in the Land – they were like grasshoppers in their sight!
  • Israel wept – complained against God – decided to pick a new leader go back to Egypt…
    • Joshua and Caleb stood up and encouraged they people to enter – ‘God is with us’…
    • In response the people made plans to stone Joshua and Caleb!
    • God stepped in and told Moses He was going to wipe Israel out – start over with Moses!
    • Moses stood of for Israel – for God’s Name’s sake – show grace to Israel…
  • Consequences…
    • Israel would wander for 40 years till all those over the age of 20 had died…
    • Only their children (Joshua & Caleb) would be allowed to enter into the Land!

Numbers 15 – When you enter the Land… (4 things)

• 1^st – Hope in the face of failure… vs. 1-2 Read Numbers 15:1-3
  • Israel had disobeyed God – and as a consequence would wander for 40 years…
  • It would have been easy for Israel to be overwhelmed – thinking all was lost…
  • But God was not done with Israel – they would still – one day – enter into His Promise…
  • Like when Jesus told Peter he was going to deny the Lord 3 times…
  • But in Jesus’ next breath He gave Peter one of the greatest promises of the Bible…
  • John 14:1-2 – “Don’t be troubled… There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you.”
  • God was far from through with Peter – in fact – He was just getting started!
  • Not the end – but the beginning…
  • God is not surprised when we make mistakes – He knows exactly who were really are…
  • Psalms 103:14–“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
  • In fact God uses our mistakes to help teach us the greatest lesson…
  • Not to trust in ourselves – but instead to be completely dependent on Him!
• 2^nd – If you want to please the Lord… vs. 3-21 Read Numbers 15:18-20
  • Freely give an offering to the Lord… vs. 3-16
  • God is a gentleman – He will not force us to do anything we don’t want to…
  • God does not make anyone go to heaven – He just provides the way…
  • God does not make us surrender our lives to Him – we have to choose to give it…
  • To often we cling onto our life – thinking we cannot afford to give it away to God…
  • But when we give our life away – when we live for Jesus – we find true life!
  • As we obey His Word – we will live a life that is very pleasing to the Lord!
  • Be thankful to the Lord… vs. 17-21
  • When Israel entered the Land – they would be able to live off the Land (no more Manna)
  • But they were to give the first of their crops to the Lord as an offering…
  • It was a way of saying thank you to the Lord for all He had provided…
  • So often in life – we forget to be thankful for all God has done for us – given to us…
  • We tend to think about all we don’t have we think we still need – but really just ‘want’…
  • If it was a need God would provide – Luke 12:31 – if we don’t have it – don’t need it!
  • We overlook the simple things – food / clothing / family / a home / our health…
  • Like kids – who rarely are thankful for the things they have – food/clothing/shelter
  • But God calls us to be thankful for all things – for all God has done for us – every day!
  • Looking at what He has giving us – not what we think we still need…
  • I Thessalonians 5:18 – “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
• 3^rd – Defining sin… vs. 22-36 Read Numbers 15:27, 30-35
  • Ignorant of the Law of God…
  • If you (or your community) unknowing broke the Law – had to offer a sacrifice…
  • Ignorance is not an excuse for breaking God’s Law – you can’t say ‘I did not know’…
  • The Law of God defines for us what is right and wrong in written form…
  • But all men have the ‘Law of God’ written on their hearts – we have a conscience…
  • Romans 2:14 – “Those who do not have God’s written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong.”
  • There are many who sin against God – who don’t know the ‘Law of God’/Bible…
  • They may not know God’s Word – but its still sin – they still have their conscience…
  • Rebelling against the Law of God…
  • But those who openly rebelled against the Law – were to be cut off from Israel…
  • If there was wet paint – you didn’t know and touched it – you’d ruin the finish…
  • But if you say a sign ‘wet paint’ – and touched it anyways – rebellion!
  • Those who know what God expects – know the truth of His word…
  • Yet still choose to sin – that is rebellion against the Lord – far greater sin…
  • Do not fellowship with those who rebel against God – be influenced by their example
  • To emphasize the point we are given a story…
  • One day a man was caught gathering wood on the Sabbath day…
  • He was brought before God to see what his punishment should be…
  • Death by stoning – it seems a VERY harsh punishment for gathering fire wood…
  • Yet all of Israel knew they were forbidden to work on the Sabbath…
  • This man’s sin was not gathering firewood – it was openly rebelling against God!
  • The punishment is not about the sin – it is about the motivation for the sin!
• 4^th – Remembering the Word… vs. 37-41 Read Numbers 15:39
  • God commanded Israel to put tassels at the edge of their clothes…
  • The hem of Jewish clothes was very special – they had 4 tassels hanging from them…
  • As they walked around the tassels would bounce off them – a constant reminder…
  • They were there as a way to remind the Jewish people to look to the Word of God…
  • It is easy for us to forget – it is all about Jesus…
  • The same idea came be applied to our lives today – reminders in case we forget…
  • Perhaps its a cross around our neck / or a sticker on our vehicle / a sign on our door…
  • Little reminders to point us to Jesus – help us remember life is about knowing Him!
  • Numbers 16 – The Rebellion of Korah… (3 things)
• 1^st – We all have our part… vs. 1-17 Read Numbers 16:1-5
  • Korah (one of the Levites) / Dathan and Abiram (from Rueben) – came to Moses…
  • They had stirred up 250 prominent leaders of Israel to rebel against Moses…
  • Moses had ‘Gone too far’ – they felt they were just as qualified to lead Israel…
  • Just because there is a need – does not mean we are the ones to step up and help…
  • Just because we have certain gifts and abilities – does not mean we are qualified…
  • The question is not who has the most talent – or the best ideas…
  • The question is whom has God called – who has God anointed for a work…
  • If God is doing the work – then we can have the confidence it will be fruitful!
  • John 15:16 – “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last…”
  • The best ideas – the most qualified – can do nothing without the power of God…
  • The worst ideas – the least qualified – cannot fail when God is on their side!
  • Moses told Korah and those who followed him – it was they who had ‘Gone too Far’…
  • They did not think their role God had given to them was important enough…
  • They looked down on their responsibility to move the Tabernacle and serve the priests
  • They wanted more – they wanted to be the priests – the leaders of Israel!
  • There is no place for ambition within the church – we each have a role to play…
  • I Corinthians 12:14-19 – “Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part…”
  • We may not like being a ‘foot’ in the church – but try walking without a foot…
  • Every part is necessary – and to God each part is equal in its importance…
  • In fact those roles that receive the most glory now (pastor) receive the least in heaven!
  • It is those who faithfully serve in obscurity now – who will receive the greatest honor!
  • Blaming others…
  • Moses summoned Dathan and Abriam – but they refused to come…
  • They accused Moses of taking from a ‘Promised Land’ – referring to Egypt!
  • Then they blamed Moses for not taking them into the ‘New’ Promised Land!
  • Moses had freed Israel from the bondage of cruel slavery – not from prosperity…
  • And it was their sin and disbelief of Israel that kept them from the ‘Promised Land’…
  • But it was easier to blame Moses for everything – than to take responsibility…
  • When we make a mistake – it is easier blame others for our poor choices/decisions…
  • If we take the blame – it means we did something wrong and need to make it right…
  • If we pass on the blame – then we don’t have to do anything – it was not our fault!
  • But if we do not own our mistakes we will never grow – learn to avoid sin…
  • And we will not be able to be forgiven – because we won’t admit our faults!
• 2^nd – Choose where to stand… vs. 18-40 Read Numbers 16:23-33
  • Moses challenged Korah – let God choose…
  • All who followed Korah/Dathan/ and Abiram – come and stand before the Tabernacle…
  • Including the 250 leaders – each with an incense burner – offer incense to the Lord…
  • Korah agreed and stirred up all of Israel – they gathered at the Tabernacle with Him…
  • The presence of God appeared – ‘Back away Moses so I can kill them all…’
  • Moses warned all the people to step away from Korah / Dathan / and Abiram…
  • Moses told them – if he was not chosen these men would die as old men…
  • But if he were chosen – the earth would open and swallow Korah (and company) alive…
  • Moses hardly finished speaking – the earth opened and swallowed them up!
  • All the people ran in fear as they heard their screams – they might be swallowed too!
  • The 250 leaders – fire jumped out of their incense burners and killed them all!
  • Be careful whom you stand with…
  • Be careful who you stand with – you will become like them – and share their fate…
  • Joash was a godly king all the days of Jehoiada the High Priest – II Chronicles 24:2
  • But when he lost the godly influence of Jehoiada – he became a wicked king…
  • II Chronicles 24:20 – “You’ve abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!”
  • We are foolish if we think we will not be affected by the people around us…
  • One of the greatest keys to a Godly life – it being surrounded by Godly friends!
• 3^rd – Blaming God… vs. 41-50 Read Numbers 16:41-48
  • The next day – Israel accused Moses of killing Korah and his men!
  • God told Moses to get back – He was going to consume them all on a moment!
  • Aaron (120 years old) ran between the living and the dead – make an offering…
  • 14,700 died before the plague was finally stopped!
  • When things do not go the way we want in life – we have a tendency to blame God…
  • It’s your fault! Get lost God – I don’t need/want you anymore…
  • Yet often we are actually suffering from our own poor decisions – sinful choices…
  • When we get sick – we ‘shake our fists’ at God – and say ‘this is all your fault’…
  • Forgetting that it is the lifestyle we have lived for years that led to our sickness…
  • When we have no money – we want to blame God for not providing…
  • Forgetting that all we foolishly spent on things we did not need…
  • When we take that attitude – we die – our spiritual life is stops – we are ‘lost’…
  • Not that we’ve lost our salvation – but God’s grace to us to live by day by day gone…
  • Until we see we are wrong – and his grace restores us – then we can begin again!