The example of Israel

• Israel as our example… vs. 11
  • Paul gives a brief history lesson on the Exodus of Israel…
    • He uses them as an example for us – to compare to a believer’s walk in Jesus…
    • Just as Israel was taken out of slavery in Egypt – and led into the Promised Land
    • So also God has saved us from this world – and desires to lead us to Heaven!
  • Paul divides the example of Israel into two categories…
    • 1^st – All God has done for us (2 examples)…
    • 2^nd – Warning to believers to the consequences of sin (3 examples)…
    • They happened long ago – but they have powerful lessons to teach us today…

All God has done for us…

• 1^st – Freedom from Slavery – baptism in the cloud / sea… vs. 1-2
  • Coming out of Egypt – Israel was directed by the Cloud – Exodus 13
    • The Lord led Israel with a cloud by day / fire by night – away from slavery – to freedom!
      • God did not lead Israel by the short road up the coast (Land of the Philistines)…
      • It was only an 11-day walk from Egypt to the Promised Land…
      • But God was not interested in taking them on the fastest path…
      • Because when times got tough (war) they might run back to Egypt…
    • Instead God would take them the long way – so they could learn to depend on the Lord
      • God has a plan for each an every one of our lives – but He is not is a rush
      • Before God can fulfill His plans for our lives – He has to prepare us
      • If God told you were was taking you – you might turn around and run away!
      • Perhaps God is calling you to be a pastor – or a missionary – or a husband/wife…
      • God takes us the long way – so we spend time with Him – learn to depend on Him
  • Israel was Baptized in the Red Sea – Exodus 14
    • Israel was saved from the slavery of Egypt – through the blood of the Passover Lamb…
      • And the first stop on their journey to the Promised Land was – the Red Sea…
      • We were saved from slavery to sin (Egypt) – through the sacrifice of Jesus (Lamb)…
      • Our 1^st stop in our new life in Jesus – is to be baptized (Red Sea)…
    • Israel was no longer a slave to the world – they were now God’s nation!
      • They were baptized into the Red Sea – to show the new life God has given them…
      • It also put an ocean between them and their old lives in Egypt – no going back…
      • Water baptism shows the change that occurred inside us when we believed…
      • 1^st – We are buried with Jesus – taken under the water – a picture of our death…
      • 2^nd – We are raised up with Jesus – taken out of the water – a picture of new life!
      • 3^rd – Separated form our old life – we no longer belong to the world – we are Jesus’!
      • Our old man – our old sinful nature – was crucified & buried with Jesus…
      • We were then ‘raised from the dead’ – no longer the old sinful man we once were…
      • We were given ‘new life’ – freed from sin to live for God! – II Corinthians 5:17
      • We are ‘born again’ – not to live in sin / but to live in godliness – John 3:3
        
• 2^nd – Providing for all our needs – manna from Heaven / water from the Rock… vs. 3-4
  • Manna from Heaven – Exodus 16
    • Shortly after crossing the Red Sea – Israel journeyed into the wilderness of Sin..
      • There was not enough food to eat – and they remembered the ‘plenty’ of Egypt…
      • They wished they had died in Egypt – with pots full of meat and lots of bread to eat…
      • They’d rather be slaves with food – then free and trusting in the Lord to provide…
    • The Children of Israel were only concerned about food – cared nothing about God!
      • * Deuteronomy 8:3 – “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger… that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”
      • When we become consumed only with the physical needs of life – we doubt God…
      • God will let us go through hardships / no food / no money / sickness…
      • So we cry out to the Lord – and watch as He takes care of every need – Luke 12:32
      • Then we learn that life is not about food / money – life is about knowing Jesus!
    • The Lord heard the complaints of Israel – He gave them ‘manna’…
      • When the people saw it they asked – ‘what is it?’ – the word in Hebrew is ‘manna’
      • After the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 – the people came to Jesus…
      • * John 6:35 – “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’”
      • Jesus revealed to them – ‘I am the bread [manna] of life’!
      • If we miss a meal – don’t eat – we feel like we are starving – we become weak…
      • In the same way – if we miss our ‘daily bread’ – the true manna from heaven – Jesus
      • If we do not get to spend time with Jesus in His word – our spirit is starving…
      • If we do not want to become spiritually weak – we need the Bread of Life!
  • Water from THE Rock – Exodus 17
    • God led Israel from – wilderness of Sin to Rephidim – but there was no water…
      • So the children of Israel complained – against the Lord again…
      • Most of us have the idea – if God is leading us – life is going to be simple / perfect…
      • Yet often when God leads us – we are not sure of where we are going…
      • And being led by the Lord is certainly no guarantee that things are going to be easy…
    • Moses was commanded by God to strike the Rock at Horeb…
      • By striking the Rock – life saving water flowed out and rescued Israel from death…
      • This was not just any Rock – it followed Israel – Numbers 20:2-8
      • The Rock n the wilderness and gave them water – was Jesus!
      • Jesus is our Rock – who was beaten (the cross) so that we could have life!
    • Jesus gives us – 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 (fill in the blank) – you are satisfied – for a day or a week…
        • 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 new cars / or wear the latest fashions…
        • We were created by God to know Him – worship Him – John 17:3

Consequences for sin…

• 1^st – Lack of faith – aimless wandering… vs. 5-6
  • God was displeased with most of Israel – Numbers 13-14
    • God brought Israel out of slavery (Egypt) – to the Promised Land…
    • But when the Children of Israel arrived – they sent out 12 spies – for 40 days…
    • 10 of the spies came back with a bad report – there are giants in the Land…
    • Only Joshua & Caleb came back with a good report – ‘God has given us the victory!’
    • But the people refused to go in – lacked faith in God – He would give them victory
  • So God swore none over the age of 20 (adults) would enter the Land…
    • They would wander the wilderness for 40 years till they all died…
    • Of the 603,550 men who came out of Egypt – only 2 made it into the Promised Land…
    • Only Joshua and Caleb – because they were the only ones to have faith…
    • 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 don’t – 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…
    • Romans 1:17 / Galatians 3:11 / Hebrews 10:28 – “The just shall live by faith!”

The bottom line in God we have a choice – so choose to live for God!

2^nd – Living for pleasure – living for the moment… vs. 7-8

The Golden Calf rebellion – Exodus 32

While Moses was still on Mt. Sinai – receiving the Law of God…

Israel made a golden calf/offered sacrifices – sat down to eat / rose up to play…

At the foot of the mountain of God – with the fire still burning on top…

Only days after God had spoken to them – having received the 10 commandments…

The people walked away from God – because they only wanted to please themselves…

We cannot serve ourselves and serve the Lord – we have to choose…

Luke 9:23 – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

We say we believe in Jesus – but do we really understand what that means…

We might understand – and like – that Jesus is our Messiah/Savior…

But then we tend to miss the fact that we have to DAILY take up our cross…

Many of us look for a way to have salvation – but still live our lives our way…

Believing in Jesus means following Him – dying us – DAILY choosing to life for Him!

Living for pleasure – 23,000 dead… Numbers 25

Just before Israel came to the Promised Land for the 2^nd time – after the 40 years…

The King of Moab hired a prophet called Balaam to curse Israel for him…

But Balaam could not – they were God’s people – and God protected them…

Instead he told the king to send their women to seduce the men of Israel…

If they could get the men to worship ‘another god’ – God would turn against Israel!

Many of the men of Israel committed harlotry with the women of Moab…

One even took a woman into his tent in from of Moses and the Tabernacle…

Phinehas (grandson of Aaron) ran after – speared both man & woman to the ground…

God’s anger was stopped – but a plague had already killed 23,000 Israelites!

If we only live for momentary pleasure – we are dead – we miss out on real life…

I Timothy 5:6 – “She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.”

God created for an incredible purpose – we were created to know Him…

If we settle for just food / sleep / pleasure – we miss out on life’s true purpose!

3^rd – Murmuring and complaining… vs. 9-10

Complaining during the 40 years – destroyed by serpents – Numbers 21

Israel complained about the manna – not content – they wanted more…

So God sent deadly snakes among the people – and many of them died…

So 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…

I wish I had a better house – nicer clothes – I wish I had a nicer vehicle…

Or are we looking to Jesus – rejoicing in all that He has done for us!

We are saved – children of the King of Kings – co-heirs with Jesus to His Kingdom!

Murmuring – destroyed by the Destroyer – Numbers 16

Korah – one of the sons of Kohath (a Levite) – challenged Moses…

He felt he could lead Israel better then Moses could – so Moses offered a test…

Korah – all who followed him – should come and stand before the Tabernacle…

If God has not chosen Moses as the leader of Israel – then nothing would happen…

If he were chosen – the earth would open and swallow Korah (and company) alive…

Before Moses finished speaking – the earth opened and swallowed them up!

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!

Its easy to complain about those who are in charge – blame life’s hardships on them

Yet it is God who places all leaders in their positions – Romans 13:1

When we complain against those leaders – we are really complaining against God…

The reality – more often than not we are to blame – our choices – for our hardships…

Therefore be careful… vs. 12-13

If you think you stand – lest you fall…

God has called us out of our bondage to sin – guides us by His Spirit…

We have been baptized into Jesus – so that we can have a new life – live for God…

Be careful not to get caught up in seeking the pleasures of this world…

Be careful not to get your eyes of Jesus – start complaining about life…

Be careful because we are all susceptible – anyone of us could fall like Israel…

But along with every temptation – which is common – God is faithful to give a way out…

James 1:14 – “Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires.”

God always gives us a way out – we will never be tempted beyond what we can handle…

In other words – we can never say we did not have a choice – we had to sin…

That way out might be to run away (from temptation/lust) – to pray (for strength)…

To be strong in the Lord – be growing in His Word…

But more often the way out – is not to put ourselves in a place to be tempted…

If you are tempted to drink – don’t hand out with those who are drinking…