Numbers 20-21

Review…

• Numbers 17-19 – Rod of Aaron / The role of the Priests-Levites / Red heifer…
  • God wanted to put an end to the rebellions – establish His choice as leader of Israel…
    • He had all 12 tribes place a rod in the Tabernacle – name of their leader…
    • Only Aarons rob blossomed – and bore fruit – proving he was God’s choice!
  • God established to distinct roles in the service of the Tabernacle…
    • The priests were the only ones to offer sacrifices to the Lord…
    • The Levites were to minister practically be helping out the priests…
    • Both were provided for by through the sacrifices of the people / tithes…
  • God required a special sacrifice to purify those who were unclean – the red heifer…
    • It was to be sacrifices outside the camp – it’s ashes used to purify sin…
    • A picture of Jesus Christ – crucified outside the camp – to restore us to the Father!

Numbers 20…

• Living water… vs. 1-13 Read Numbers 20:1-13
  • 40 years had passed… vs. 1
    • Israel arrived at Kadesh – the same place where they had sent out the 12 spies!
    • Only the first 3 years of the wandering are recorded for us in chapters 15-19…
    • Between the end of chapter 19 and the start of chapter 20 ~ 37 years elapsed…
    • Most of the wandering in the wilderness was to put it bluntly – just a waste of time…
    • By this point most who were over 20 had died – including Miriam Moses sister…
    • It is now the 40^th year – and Israel picks up right were they left off…
    • When we don’t obey and follow the Lord – we end up ‘wasting a lot of time’…
    • We just wander around in life in circles – never really accomplishing anything…
    • God is patient – He will let us wander until we realize – He is all we will ever need!
    • When we turn back to Jesus – He picks up right were we left off in our walk of faith…
    • Better not to waste the years pointlessly – better to follow the Lord today!
  • The people began to complain… vs. 2-8
    • There was no water in the wilderness of Zin…
    • If only we had died with our family in the 40 years wandering in the wilderness…
    • Why have you brought us out of Egypt to this evil place – no food / no water…
    • So God commanded Moses to speak to ‘the Rock’ – and water would flow out…
    • This is the 2^nd time Moses was commanded to get water from ‘the Rock’…
    • When Moses was at Mt. Sinai (the Law) – God commanded Him to strike the Rock…
    • By striking the Rock – life saving water flowed out and rescued Israel from death…
    • But the Rock only had to be struck once – this 2^nd time Moses only had to ask…
    • The Rock that followed Israel in the wilderness and gave them water – was Jesus!
    • * I Corinthians 10:4 – “All drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
    • Jesus is our Rock – who was beaten (the cross) so that we could have life!
    • But He only had to suffer the cross once – that paid the price for all sin – for all time!
    • Now He is available to us anytime – freely giving the water of life to those who ask!
    • Not just any water – Living water…
    • Jesus attended the feast of Succoth – remembering Israel’s wilderness wandering…
    • Tradition was the priests would take 7 gold jugs of water from the Gihon spring…
    • They’d pour it down the ‘Steps of David’ – remembering the water from the rock…
    • * John 7:37-38 – “On the last day, great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
    • The water Israel drank only satisfied for a moment – they would be thirsty again…
    • Did you ever notice how things in this world never seem to satisfy for long…
    • If you get a new cell phone – you are satisfied – for a day or a week…
    • If you get some new clothes – you are happy – till they get their first stain…
    • If we only look to be satisfied from the world – we will be thirsty again…
    • But the water that comes from our Rock – Jesus – is ‘Living Water’ – the Holy Spirit!
    • When we drink deeply from Jesus’ Living water – we will find contentment…
    • We were not created by God to buy a cell phone / or wear the latest fashion…
    • We were created by God to know Him – worship Him – John 17:3
  • Striking the Rock… vs. 9-13
    • ‘Hear now you rebels’ – in anger Moses struck the Rock – and water flowed out…
    • Moses misrepresented the Lord – God was not angry at Israel – they needed water…
    • So God called Moses and Aaron to the Tabernacle – to have a ‘little chat’…
    • Because they had misrepresented God – they would not be able to enter the Land!
    • Moses had faithfully lead Israel for 40 years – put up with all their complaining…
    • Now he made 1 mistake – just months before the finish line – he was disqualified!
    • He would be allowed to see the Land – Deuteronomy 32:52 – but not enter in…
    • Be very careful how not to misrepresent the Lord…
    • Those who are in a position of authority – have a HUGE responsibility…
    • If a pastor is having a bad day – people might mistakenly think God is too…
    • People don’t see the Lord – but they do listen to and follow – pastors/leaders…
    • They will receive greater judgment because of their influence on others…
    • James 3:1 – “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
    • Therefore they must be very careful with his words/actions – people are watching!
    • The Law cannot bring you into the Promised Land…
    • Moses represents the Law of God – he received God’s commands on Mt. Sinai…
    • The Law can lead you to the ‘Promised Land’ – but the Law cannot take you in…
    • Instead of Moses – Joshua (Jesus) would lead Israel into the Promised Land…
    • We cannot get to heaven – the Promised Land – by keeping the Law / Good works…
    • The Law can show us we are not good – but it can do nothing to make us good…
    • The only way to get into heaven – is by following Jesus into God’s Promise!
    • Rejected by family… vs. 14-21 Read Numbers 20:17-18
  • Moses sent a message to the King of Edom asking permission to go through their land…
    • They were the ‘brothers’ of Israel – the descendants of Esau – brother of Jacob/Israel…
    • It had been 400 years since they last saw each other – the time Israel was in Egypt…
    • They promised to take nothing from Edom’s land – they would just pass through…
    • But Edom refused – instead threatening them with war – so Israel had to go around…
  • We expect family to be understanding – accepting of us…
    • But the Gospel of Jesus does not always bring people together – it can also divide…
    • Matthew 10:34 – “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”
    • Jesus came to bring peace between God and fallen sinful world – but with a sword…
    • The sword that Jesus brought was the cross – through it he defeated satan and death…
    • But to this day the Gospel message sill comes across as a sword – causing division…
    • The reason is the Gospel leaves no middle ground – it causes you to make a stand…
    • Luke 11:23 – “He who is not with Me is against Me…”
    • The Gospel makes you either stand for Jesus – or against Him – it divides
    • There is no middle ground – no grey – if you are not for Him then you’re against Him
    • Death of Aaron… vs. 22-29 Read Numbers 20:23-24
  • Israel journeyed from Kadesh to Mt. Hor – Aaron the High Priest died there…
    • Aaron went up to the top – to see the Promised Land – but could not enter…
    • His clothes were given over to his son Eleazar – who would be the next High Priest…
    • When he died Israel mourned for him for thirty days…
  • A better high priest…
    • The role of the high Priest – Kohen Gadol – was a bridge between God and men…
    • The flaw of every high priest – no matter how great – was that he eventually died…
    • So God established a better priesthood for us – He gave us a priest who never dies…
    • * Hebrews 7:23-26 – “There were many priests under the old system. When one priest died, another had to take his place. But Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end… He is the kind of high priest we need…”
    • It is dangerous to look to a man/priest/pastor to be our connection to God…
    • They are not perfect – and they is no guarantee they will always be there for us…
    • But Jesus is there for us anytime of day – any day of the week – any week of the year…
    • He is our High Priest – our bridge to God – and He never changes / a priest forever!

Numbers 21…

• Complaining against the Lord… vs. 1-9 Read Numbers 21:4-9
  • Israel set out on the long journey around Edom’s territory – and they began to complain…
    • Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die – no food/water – we HATE manna…
    • So God sent deadly snakes among the people – and many of them died…
    • But they repented and asked God to help – God had Moses make a bronze serpent…
    • The bronze serpent represents the judgment of sin (bronze – judgment / snake – sin)
    • If the people were bitten – and looked to the serpent – they would live…
  • A simple choice – look up and live…
    • If a snake bit you – would you look up – or would you choose to die…
    • * John 3:14 – “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up…”
    • Jesus came to judge sin (lifted up on the cross) – if we look up to Him – we live!
    • Where are we – are we focused on and complaining about all we don’t have in life…
    • Or are we looking to Jesus – rejoicing in all that He has done for us!
  • Worshiping the snake…
    • The bronze serpent is mentioned one other place in the Old Testament…
    • * II Kings 18:4 – “[King Hezekiah] broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had begun to worship it by burning incense to it. The bronze serpent was called [a thing of brass].”
    • Apparently many years later (over 600) – the people had begun to worship the serpent…
    • The people had grown far from the Lord – so they worshiped something God has used!
    • The righteous king Hezekiah – smashed it – calling it – ‘just a thing of brass’…
    • The serpent was just a chunk of metal – the power to save only comes from God!
    • The farther our relationship is from the Lord – greater our tendency to worship things…
    • Someone had a good doctors checkup when they wore a red shirt…
    • From then on they always wear red to a doctors check-up – as if the shirt has power!
    • We fill the void in our lives with superstations / trinkets that remind us of God…
    • There is no power in charms / idols / superstitions – only God has the power to save!
    • Conquering the eastern nations… vs. 10-35 Read Numbers 21:17-18
  • The journey to the eastern border… vs. 10-20
    • Unable to enter in through Edom – the southern entrance into the Promised Land…
    • Israel journeyed around to the east – to the country of the Moab…
    • Along the way – the Lord had the leaders of Israel and Moses dig a well for the people…
    • What a great example – the leaders were not there to be served – but to serve!
    • A number of years ago a man came to a church and asked to be a pastor…
    • He had just graduated from seminary and was ready to ‘serve the Lord’…
    • The pastor of the church agreed and handed him a shovel – start serving…
    • The man argued – no I am here to teach the Word / to stand behind the pulpit…
    • In answer the pastor pointed to all the other men working with shovel…
    • These are our pastors – serving the Lord – the pulpit is only one part of the ministry!
  • The eastern kings… Read Numbers 21:23-24, 33-34
    • When they arrived at the border of the Amorite nation – they asked permission to enter
    • They would not take anything from the Land – they would stay on the main road…
    • But instead the King Sihon of the Amorites mobilized his army and attacked Israel…
    • They were a confident powerful army – they had conquered the people of Moab…
    • But God handed them over Israel – and they were completely wiped out!
    • Israel conquered all the ‘Eastern Land’ from the Dead Sea to ½ way up the Jordan
    • When King Og of Bashan heard about the Amorites he attacked Israel…
    • Bashan covered the ‘Eastern Land’ – from ½ way up the Jordan to Mt. Hermon…
    • God told Israel to not be afraid – they would destroy them like the Amorites…
    • Israel completely wiped them out – conquering the reminder of the ‘Eastern Land’…
    • Possessing the Land east of the Jordan from the Dead Sea – to Mt. Hermon!
    • With God on our side…
    • Israel had tried to enter the Land in their own strength – Numbers 14 – and failed…
    • But now with God on Israel’s side – nothing and no one could stand against them!
    • If God is not with us – if we are not empowered by the Spirit of God – we will fail…
    • We can say all day we want to better our lives – live for God – read our Bibles…
    • But in our own strength – we will find our flesh / sinful nature – prevails…
    • Only when we depend on the Lord – full of the Spirit of the Lord – we have victory!