Christ in the Wilderness: How Old Testament Failures Point to Our Savior

[00:00:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ.
[00:00:45] But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
[00:00:49] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
[00:00:56] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
[00:01:03] neither let us commit fornication as some of them committed and fell in one day three and twenty thousand neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted and were destroyed of serpents neither murmur ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer now all of these things happened unto them for in samples or examples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come
[00:01:32] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
[00:01:37] There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man.
[00:01:40] But God is faithful, who will not suffer or allow you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
[00:01:54] Wherefore, my dearly beloved,
[00:01:55] Flee from idolatry.
[00:01:58] May God add his blessing and understanding to the reading of this, his holy word.
[00:02:03] So glad to see all of you here.
[00:02:04] There's some new visitors here.
[00:02:06] I know some did not hear the message last week.
[00:02:09] So before I begin with this one, I encourage you to go back and hear last week's message because this is complementary to that one.
[00:02:18] With that in mind, we see that this whole picture of 1 Corinthians 10 is likening the church today to the Israelites who came out of Egypt under Moses.
[00:02:31] And this idea, real briefly, I don't want to go all the way back through it, please do look at the first message if you haven't, but this idea that Egypt is a picture of bondage and slavery, and that's the picture of before we're saved.
[00:02:46] We're in bondage, even though we don't know it, but we're in bondage, we're in chains, we're in slavery to sin.
[00:02:52] And God brings us out through the Passover lamb.
[00:02:57] The Passover lamb, the death of the firstborn was the tenth plague, if you remember.
[00:03:01] Everyone was under that curse unless they sacrificed that Passover lamb and put the blood over their doorposts.
[00:03:10] And we know that the Passover lamb is a symbol, an emblem of Jesus Christ.
[00:03:15] 1 Corinthians 5, verse 7, Paul says, Christ is our Passover lamb sacrificed for us.
[00:03:22] So how did the Israelites get out of Egypt?
[00:03:24] Their deliverance or salvation was through the Passover lamb, which is who?
[00:03:29] Jesus Christ.
[00:03:31] After you're saved, if you're a Baptist especially, after you're saved what happens?
[00:03:37] You get baptized.
[00:03:38] And then you go into the wilderness.
[00:03:43] Then you're on your way to the Promised Land which symbolizes what?
[00:03:48] Well, that's the whole idea.
[00:03:50] So, God ordained the history of Israel to be a type, an example, of the life of being born again and salvation for the New Testament believer on our way to heaven.
[00:04:04] But a lot of the story, and especially the book of Numbers, is that a trip that should have taken about two weeks by foot from Egypt to Israel, there was a slight delay, 40 years.
[00:04:19] Why?
[00:04:19] Because of their sin.
[00:04:21] And Paul says that these things were true, it's historical, it's right, but they weren't just written as a matter of history, folks.
[00:04:29] They were written for us to learn what not to do.
[00:04:34] and be driven to the one who has saved us the Lord Jesus Christ and that's the point of this passage within a greater context of Paul talking to the church at Corinth in Greece where they have a lot of temptations to idolatry to stay away from idolatry and that's why our last verse of our text verse 14 wherefore my dearly beloved
[00:04:57] Flee from idolatry.
[00:04:58] And remember we talked about that's not just bowing down to a totem pole or some elephant with ten arms and whatever.
[00:05:05] No, that also could be an idolatry of your job, an idolatry of your even good things, your family, an idolatry of wealth and money, an idolatry of self is the biggest one.
[00:05:19] You've heard of the satanic trinity, me, myself, and I.
[00:05:23] That's the most dangerous.
[00:05:24] All right, all of that, in this text, it says we are not to
[00:05:28] Lust, verse 6, after evil things.
[00:05:31] Verse 7, we're neither to be idolaters.
[00:05:34] Verse 8, we're not to commit fornication.
[00:05:37] Verse 9, we're neither to, neither let us tempt Christ.
[00:05:42] And it says, as they did.
[00:05:43] And remember we said, how did they tempt Christ?
[00:05:45] He wasn't born from the 1400 years, but he was there.
[00:05:48] The second person of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, all three are eternal.
[00:05:53] One God, Jesus was there.
[00:05:55] Jesus was with them.
[00:05:56] That's why I emphasized in verse 4, it says, Then they did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was...
[00:06:08] He was there.
[00:06:09] He was there.
[00:06:10] And so, neither let us tempt Christ as they did in verse 10, neither let us murmur.
[00:06:15] And then verse 11, Now all of these things happened unto them for examples or types, and they are written for us, for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
[00:06:30] And so, that means we better listen, right?
[00:06:33] People say, ah, we don't need the Old Testament, we just focus on the New.
[00:06:38] God says, through the Paul, by the Holy Spirit, the Old Testament was written for New Testament believers.
[00:06:45] Is that what it says?
[00:06:46] So wherever you go, if you don't come to this church, never go to a church, ever, that says, well, we don't really care about the Old Testament, let's just focus on the New.
[00:06:55] No.
[00:06:56] By the way, when Jesus talked about the Scriptures, was he talking about the Old Testament or the New Testament?
[00:07:01] All they had written in his day was the old.
[00:07:05] He was making the new.
[00:07:07] All right, so the whole Bible is important from cover to cover.
[00:07:12] And that's why we preach and teach the whole Council of God's Word for us.
[00:07:15] Now, all of this is basically recounting stories of this wilderness wandering, the 40 years that they wander in the wilderness because of their disobedience, which we'll see.
[00:07:25] And all of it is recounted in the book of Numbers.
[00:07:28] Now you can find some of it in Exodus, you can find it repeated in Deuteronomy, but Numbers really tells us all of these stories.
[00:07:35] So for our message today, we're going to look at all of these things that they did, or some of them, in Numbers, and see the lessons for us specifically, because the Bible says they were there specifically for us.
[00:07:47] Let's make sure that we don't miss them.
[00:07:49] Amen?
[00:07:50] All right, Numbers, let's start in chapter 11.
[00:07:53] If you turn back to Numbers, where's Numbers?
[00:07:55] Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus...
[00:07:58] Numbers That's the place a lot of people give up reading the Bible in those first several chapters.
[00:08:08] But my encouragement is to read on.
[00:08:11] Numbers chapter 11.
[00:08:12] Let's just look for now at the first six verses.
[00:08:15] So the people have come out.
[00:08:16] God has delivered them with a mighty stretched out arm and a powerful hand.
[00:08:20] He's part of the Red Sea.
[00:08:21] They've seen the ten plagues.
[00:08:23] They've seen the miracles.
[00:08:24] They're led by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.
[00:08:28] Their very substance is miraculous in that they're eating bread from heaven, manna.
[00:08:35] And the whole thing's a miracle.
[00:08:37] And what do they do?
[00:08:39] Wow, isn't this wonderful?
[00:08:40] No.
[00:08:40] Chapter 11, verse 1.
[00:08:42] And when the people complained, they complained.
[00:08:46] I just wish the Lord would show up.
[00:08:49] They did, and they complained.
[00:08:51] Wouldn't it be great if he'd give us an all-you-can-eat buffet?
[00:08:54] We wouldn't have to look at the sale papers anymore.
[00:08:56] We wouldn't have to look at the menu prices.
[00:08:58] We'd just get to eat.
[00:08:59] They complained.
[00:09:02] Anything you want, they complained.
[00:09:04] The people complained, it displeased the Lord, and the Lord heard it, and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
[00:09:15] And the people cried unto Moses, and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.
[00:09:23] and he called the name of the place Taberah because the fire of the Lord burnt amongst them and the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting you never get this I mean it's like we're complaining here comes the judgment of the Lord oh Moses pray Moses prays that the judgment goes away and then it's like the sense is right after that here they commit another sin
[00:09:43] When do we figure this thing out, you know?
[00:09:46] And so they fell a-lusting, and the children of Israel also wept again.
[00:09:51] What's wrong?
[00:09:53] You've got everything you want.
[00:09:54] You've got fire to heat you in the cold desert at night.
[00:09:57] You've got a cloud to protect you from the torturous sun in the desert in the day.
[00:10:02] You've got manna from heaven.
[00:10:04] You've got the presence of... What is it that you want?
[00:10:07] Well, here's what they want.
[00:10:11] They wept and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
[00:10:15] They're not vegetarians.
[00:10:17] They want meat.
[00:10:18] Now look at this.
[00:10:19] Look at this memory.
[00:10:20] Sometimes our memories aren't so good.
[00:10:22] We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt.
[00:10:26] Freely.
[00:10:26] The cucumbers and the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic.
[00:10:31] But now our soul is dried away.
[00:10:34] There's nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes.
[00:10:38] You know, to hear them talk about it, they were constantly at sumptuous all-you-can-eat buffets.
[00:10:44] Seafood buffets, prime rib buffets, all that, you know, as slaves in Egypt, they just dined on whatever they wanted, all-you-can-eat, all day long, right?
[00:10:52] That's not the picture that it gives earlier.
[00:10:56] And why was their cry going up to the Lord?
[00:10:58] Because they were in great affliction.
[00:11:00] And the fish and everything else they ate was scraps.
[00:11:03] It wasn't.
[00:11:04] But we wish we could have it back how it was.
[00:11:09] Those of you who claim to be Christian, have you ever thought, you know, I had more fun back when it was the way it was.
[00:11:19] I don't get to do those things anymore.
[00:11:21] Maybe I'd like to do that again.
[00:11:24] Be careful.
[00:11:25] There is one of the lessons for us to learn from.
[00:11:29] Well, they complain again, they complain.
[00:11:32] I mean, God sends manna from heaven and they complain.
[00:11:36] So what is God's... And then they say, we want flesh, we want flesh.
[00:11:39] Well, God gives them what they want.
[00:11:41] Verse 31 of the same chapter, Numbers 11, And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
[00:11:59] There's quail on the ground.
[00:12:01] So much is about this high all around the camp.
[00:12:04] That's a lot of meat.
[00:12:06] That's a lot of meat.
[00:12:08] Because where are you going to get all this food in the desert?
[00:12:10] God says, you know, hey, am I not able?
[00:12:12] Let me show you.
[00:12:13] And that's what he actually tells Moses.
[00:12:15] And he comes through, of course.
[00:12:17] And so the people stood up that day and all that night.
[00:12:22] They're so happy.
[00:12:23] Here's this all-you-can-eat buffet.
[00:12:24] We're going to sit up all night and eat.
[00:12:26] All the next day they gathered the quails.
[00:12:28] He that gathered least gathered ten omers, and they spread them abroad, themselves around about the camp.
[00:12:34] And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.
[00:12:45] And they called the name of that place Kibroth-Hatevah, because there they buried the people that lusted.
[00:12:50] Remember in verse 6 of 1 Corinthians 10, Neither should we lust after evil things as they lusted.
[00:12:58] Is it evil to eat meat?
[00:13:00] No.
[00:13:01] But it's evil to reject what God gives you, to complain about it, and to demand in your mind something better.
[00:13:10] Don't you think manna would have been enough?
[00:13:13] If the USDA was able to go and put their nutrition label on manna?
[00:13:18] Perfect.
[00:13:19] 100% of everything.
[00:13:20] No, it's not good enough.
[00:13:22] This is what we want.
[00:13:23] Have you ever felt that way?
[00:13:25] God is ultimately in control.
[00:13:27] I don't like the way it is.
[00:13:30] I'd like it a different way.
[00:13:31] Why did you do me like this?
[00:13:34] Be careful.
[00:13:35] Don't lust after evil things as they lusted.
[00:13:39] Now, it's interesting.
[00:13:42] They cry out, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
[00:13:46] But the descendants of these same Jews spoke a different tune.
[00:13:50] In the Gospel of John, look at chapter 6 briefly.
[00:13:54] In John chapter 6, Jesus gives them another all-you-can-eat buffet.
[00:14:00] Bread for 5,000 multiplied from just a handful of loaves and fishes, right?
[00:14:06] And they say, oh, this is good, we're going to follow this guy.
[00:14:09] And they come to him and they want some more bread.
[00:14:11] Hey, this all-you-can-eat buffet for free is really good, let's try again.
[00:14:16] And they asked Jesus to do another miracle.
[00:14:19] Jesus says in John chapter 6, concerning this in verse 31, they said, the Jews, Our fathers ate manna in the desert, as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
[00:14:31] So they say, why don't you give us some of that manna?
[00:14:33] Well, your fathers didn't like it, didn't want it.
[00:14:35] And Jesus says, verily, verily, verse 32, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
[00:14:46] For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world.
[00:14:51] Who's that?
[00:14:53] So manna was a symbol for... Notice, they said, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
[00:15:03] Their ancestors, we don't want this anymore.
[00:15:08] Give us something else.
[00:15:09] Now, give us this special bread forever.
[00:15:13] I am the bread of life, Jesus said.
[00:15:15] He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
[00:15:19] But I said unto you that ye also have seen me, and believe not.
[00:15:24] Now notice verse 51.
[00:15:25] Jesus says, same chapter, John 6, 51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
[00:15:31] If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever.
[00:15:35] And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
[00:15:40] What were the Jews complaining about?
[00:15:42] We're tired of this manna.
[00:15:43] Give us flesh to eat.
[00:15:45] Then the true manna from heaven comes, Jesus, and what does he offer them to eat?
[00:15:51] His flesh.
[00:15:53] Now that's spiritual, of course.
[00:15:56] And he offers them to eat his flesh, and look, verse 52, The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
[00:16:05] Make up your mind!
[00:16:07] God gives you manna from heaven, we don't want it, give us flesh.
[00:16:10] The true manna from heaven comes, Jesus Christ, and says, I'll give you my flesh, we don't want it, how can we eat it?
[00:16:17] Jesus will do anything, right?
[00:16:19] And everything.
[00:16:20] He's done all that needs to be done for our glorious salvation.
[00:16:23] And yet, there are people who still say, no thank you.
[00:16:28] I have other things to do, other places to go.
[00:16:30] If anything, just a little religion will do, like fire insurance, just in case when that last day comes, hopefully I can turn in my insurance certificate and make it in.
[00:16:45] Folks, this is not the Bible presentation of salvation.
[00:16:51] We have been warned.
[00:16:52] Paul is reminding us.
[00:16:54] Another warning in Numbers chapter 12.
[00:16:56] If you go back to Numbers chapter 12, we find that though God chose to speak through Moses, Moses had a brother and a sister that were also involved in leadership.
[00:17:09] What were their names?
[00:17:12] Aaron and Miriam.
[00:17:14] And, you know, what a great honor to be asked or to be in leadership with Moses, the sister and brother of Moses.
[00:17:25] But for some reason they weren't satisfied.
[00:17:27] And so they get a pretense.
[00:17:29] Moses' wife was a dark skin.
[00:17:31] And look what they say in Numbers 12, verse 1.
[00:17:34] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman which he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
[00:17:41] And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses?
[00:17:47] Hath he not spoken also by us?
[00:17:49] And the Lord heard it.
[00:17:51] In other words, a rejection.
[00:17:53] In the first case, a rejection of God's provision from heaven.
[00:17:57] In the second case, a rejection of God's ordained leadership.
[00:18:01] And how does God look at this?
[00:18:02] Well, the Lord shows up.
[00:18:04] He heard it.
[00:18:04] Verse 3, Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.
[00:18:09] And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation.
[00:18:16] And the three came out.
[00:18:17] The Lord came down in the pillar of cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forth.
[00:18:25] And he saith, Hear now my words, if there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
[00:18:35] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
[00:18:40] With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches.
[00:18:45] And the similitude of the Lord shall he behold.
[00:18:48] Wherefore then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
[00:18:53] And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.
[00:18:57] And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle, and behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow.
[00:19:03] And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.
[00:19:10] so god moses prays for her and after a week god heals her but here again this is a rejection of god whether a rejection of god's provision a rejection of god's leadership you know any christians so-called christians that can never find a church never ever ever
[00:19:30] Now, I understand there's problems, there's reasons, there's excuses, I got that.
[00:19:35] But generally speaking, when there is a person who says they're a Christian, it's just being God, I don't go to church, there is a refusal to submit.
[00:19:43] Well, we can always say, well, Pastor Joseph is not, he's not too smart, and, you know, Pastor Andy's too smart, I don't like either one of them.
[00:19:51] Well, go find someone in between, another church.
[00:19:53] And you go to another church, well, I don't like the way he dresses, you know.
[00:19:57] Who knows what?
[00:19:58] There is a rejection of God's leaders, a rejection of his provision, a rejection of his leaders.
[00:20:04] And what is this?
[00:20:06] It is really, isn't it, ultimately idolatry.
[00:20:09] Because instead of submitting to the Lord and receiving his blessing, his instruction, his salvation, and looking forward to the promised land, it's a rejection and it's the Frank Sinatra syndrome,
[00:20:21] I'll do it my way.
[00:20:25] Perhaps that's the chorus song in hell I did it my way.
[00:20:29] God forbid that be true of any of us.
[00:20:33] Continuing on, Numbers 13 and 14 recounts the reason that the Israelites had a 40-year delay.
[00:20:42] What was the reason?
[00:20:43] Well, remember, they've come out of Egypt, they're going to the Promised Land.
[00:20:48] Very early on, it's only supposed to take two weeks, Moses sends 12 spies into the land of Canaan, the land of Israel, one from each tribe, and two of them, in particular, Joshua and Caleb, and then the others,
[00:21:01] and they go into the land and they come back and they have a report because you know we're getting ready to enter the land and by the way remember the land is the promised land is a symbol an emblem of what heaven for believers doesn't everybody want to go to heaven here's a group of people that don't let's take a look here in numbers chapter 13 verse 25
[00:21:28] And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
[00:21:33] And they went and came to Moses, and Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh, and brought back word unto them, unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
[00:21:46] And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey, and this is the fruit of it.
[00:21:55] Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land.
[00:21:59] The cities are walled and very great.
[00:22:02] Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there.
[00:22:05] The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south, and the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains.
[00:22:10] The Canaanites dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan.
[00:22:14] And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it.
[00:22:22] That's a good man.
[00:22:23] and but they brought up an evil oh I'm sorry verse verse 31 but the men that went up with him the ten spies said we be not able to go up against this people for they are stronger than we
[00:22:39] And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof.
[00:22:50] And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.
[00:22:54] And there we saw the giants, the son of Anak, which come out of the giants.
[00:22:59] And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
[00:23:04] So in other words, the ten spies say, hey, we can't go.
[00:23:07] This is scary.
[00:23:08] These guys are tough.
[00:23:09] They got walled cities.
[00:23:10] They're giants.
[00:23:11] There's no way we can take that.
[00:23:12] Let's just not go.
[00:23:14] But what are they saying?
[00:23:15] Remember, this is all, they're saying, you know, it's tough to get to heaven.
[00:23:19] Let's just skip it.
[00:23:21] But from a biblical perspective, what's the alternative?
[00:23:28] And so the people, what did they do?
[00:23:30] Verse 1 in chapter 14.
[00:23:31] And all the congregation lifted up their voice and cried, and the people wept that night, and the children of Israel murmured.
[00:23:39] Yes, they murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt.
[00:23:47] What are they doing?
[00:23:48] They're swearing by God.
[00:23:50] They're swearing that we wish we would have died in the land of Egypt.
[00:23:55] And if you take that to the emblems and the symbolism, what are they saying?
[00:23:59] I wish I had died as a sorry old sinner unsaved before getting into this mess.
[00:24:04] That's what they're saying.
[00:24:06] Can you believe it?
[00:24:07] No wonder the Lord was angry with them.
[00:24:11] Continuing on.
[00:24:12] And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land?
[00:24:15] Verse 3.
[00:24:17] Not too smart.
[00:24:18] When you say, Lord, why are you doing this to me?
[00:24:21] Lord, why have you brought me here?
[00:24:22] Lord, why are things this way?
[00:24:24] I don't like it.
[00:24:26] When you start to question the Lord and by that way blame the Lord, you're on a very dangerous precipice.
[00:24:34] Be very, very careful.
[00:24:36] We're supposed to learn from this.
[00:24:39] Wherefore hath the Lord brought us, verse 3, unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should be a prey?
[00:24:45] Were it not better for us to go return unto Egypt?
[00:24:48] You see what's being said?
[00:24:50] Wouldn't it be better just to get rid of this Christian stuff and go, I don't know, ride a motorcycle on Sunday morning?
[00:24:56] or you know or go get drunk god forbid you know or or whatever it is some just just this is a lot of wasted and pastor joseph that nut he expects us here more than sunday morning he's got all of these studies something's wrong with him and wouldn't it be better just just to go on back and just forget this whole thing that's what they're saying but they don't understand it's like saying you know i'm a christian ah the heck with christian i'm done let me go follow the devil lord have mercy
[00:25:26] Lord have mercy.
[00:25:27] And these are things, the Bible says, are written for our instruction, for our admonition.
[00:25:33] It says, Take heed, ye who think you stand.
[00:25:35] You say, well, I'm glad other people are hearing this.
[00:25:37] I'm okay.
[00:25:38] Take heed, he that thinketh he stand, lest he fall.
[00:25:42] Be careful, beware.
[00:25:43] All of us, you, me, each and every one of us.
[00:25:47] And they said one to another, let's make a captain and return to Egypt.
[00:25:51] All those leeks and cucumbers.
[00:25:54] That life of slavery is something else.
[00:25:57] I don't hear many people in America saying, let's go and let's have slavery again and I'll be the first one to volunteer.
[00:26:03] I'll be a slave.
[00:26:05] No, we all say this slavery was a horrible thing.
[00:26:07] We want to take care of it, be finished with it, move on.
[00:26:11] No, these people are saying, hey, that life of slavery was wonderful.
[00:26:14] It's looking good right now.
[00:26:15] Let's go back and be slaves again.
[00:26:17] Can you imagine?
[00:26:18] Can you imagine?
[00:26:19] And so then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
[00:26:25] And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes.
[00:26:32] And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we pass through to search, it is an exceeding good land.
[00:26:39] If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into the land and give it to us.
[00:26:43] a land which floweth with milk and honey only rebel not ye against the Lord neither fear ye the people of the land for they are bred for us their defense is departed from them and the Lord is with us fear them not ah there's a man after the Lord's own heart but all the congregation what was the response to that that's true what Joshua said is true
[00:27:08] Does everyone just embrace the truth?
[00:27:10] Oh, Pastor Joseph, thank you for telling me I'm a rotten sinner and on my way to hell.
[00:27:14] It's a wonderful thing.
[00:27:17] No?
[00:27:17] Because I'm the same way?
[00:27:18] No, very few people do that.
[00:27:21] As a matter of fact, what was the response of the truth here?
[00:27:24] But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.
[00:27:29] Kill them!
[00:27:32] For telling the truth?
[00:27:33] Yeah.
[00:27:34] and the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle and the congregation before all the children of Israel and the Lord said unto Moses how long how long will this people provoke me how long will it be ere they believe me for all the signs which I have showed among them I will smite them with pestilence and disinherit them and I'll make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they wow
[00:27:55] God says, stand back, I'm going to wipe them all out.
[00:27:59] All 600,000 Hebrew men, I'm going to kill them right now, and you get ready with your wife, and let's start a new nation.
[00:28:08] Praise God for Moses who gets on his knees and intercedes for the people.
[00:28:13] Have mercy.
[00:28:14] Have mercy.
[00:28:15] Remember what you promised to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.
[00:28:18] Remember what the people will say that you brought this people out and weren't able to get them into Israel.
[00:28:24] Remember, Lord.
[00:28:25] And so God hears the intercession, not once, but like three times, Moses intercedes for the people in the midst of these sins.
[00:28:33] So what do we see?
[00:28:35] A rejection of God's miraculous provision for life.
[00:28:38] A rejection of God's leaders.
[00:28:41] And here, a rejection of heaven itself.
[00:28:46] You say, well, most people like to go to heaven.
[00:28:47] You say, you know, if you were to die tonight thinking you'd go to heaven, I hope so.
[00:28:52] Why do you hope so?
[00:28:52] Well, sure sounds a lot better than hell to me.
[00:28:55] I'd like to give heaven a try.
[00:28:59] We don't find many people, although there's some say, I want to go to hell, you know, unless they're just rebellious and want to make Christians mad.
[00:29:06] But you don't generally find that.
[00:29:08] But these people are basically saying, I'm not interested in heaven.
[00:29:12] I'm not interested in everlasting life.
[00:29:14] I'm not interested in this promised land.
[00:29:16] I'm not interested in peace and joy and salvation and healing and blessing and love.
[00:29:24] I'm not interested in that.
[00:29:25] The heck with it.
[00:29:26] I don't care if there's fight and everything else as long as I give back to them leeks and onions and fish.
[00:29:29] Isn't this really dangerously similar to a lot of the world?
[00:29:36] You know, every once in a while I show up at church, or Christmas and Easter, CEO Christians, Christmas and Easter only, get a little something, but really it's not for me.
[00:29:47] They reject God's provision, they reject his leadership, they reject his commands, they reject heaven and salvation itself.
[00:29:53] Lord have mercy, these things are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world have come.
[00:30:01] Well, continuing on, we see in Numbers 16 there is another rebellion.
[00:30:09] Remember Korah?
[00:30:10] If you are a little older and watch the Ten Commandments movie with Charlton Heston, that's Edward G. Robinson.
[00:30:16] Moses!
[00:30:17] You know?
[00:30:18] And he's always an antagonist.
[00:30:23] And he and Dathan Abiram get 250 elders of Israel and they say, Moses, you're not so hot.
[00:30:30] We're priests too.
[00:30:31] We should be in front of... And so Moses calls upon the Lord.
[00:30:35] The Lord comes.
[00:30:36] And that's when the earth, you know, opens up.
[00:30:39] You know, those of you who watch the old movie, right?
[00:30:44] The earth opens up, swallows them and their families and everything they have, then the earth closes back.
[00:30:50] And Moses said, by the way, if these men are not pleasing to God, then God's going to do a new thing in the earth.
[00:30:56] The earth will open, swallow them up, and close it back.
[00:30:58] That's exactly what happened when he ended saying,
[00:31:02] Well, with this great and horrible sin against God and his leadership again and his word, you would think that the people now have a fear of God.
[00:31:12] But right after this miraculous judgment on these people for Korah's rebellion, look what happens in Numbers chapter 16 verse 41.
[00:31:21] You know, people who don't love the Lord, who don't know the Lord, they always have something to complain about, don't they?
[00:31:29] Just look at Facebook.
[00:31:31] I don't look at it.
[00:31:32] My wife and other people tell me about it.
[00:31:34] Always complaining, always bellyaching.
[00:31:38] And look, you would think after this, because the people were afraid, lest the earth opens and swallows them up too.
[00:31:46] But not very long after, maybe the very next morning, right?
[00:31:50] Look, verse 41 of Numbers 16, But on the morrow, the next morning, all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron.
[00:32:00] Why?
[00:32:01] Saying, You have killed the people of the Lord.
[00:32:05] Well, who killed them?
[00:32:07] Moses and Aaron didn't get to shovel out, let's open up.
[00:32:10] God did it.
[00:32:12] They're speaking against God and His judgments.
[00:32:16] And you think God's like, oh, there's nothing else I can do.
[00:32:20] Actually, well, notice.
[00:32:23] And it came to pass, verse 42, the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, and they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation, and behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.
[00:32:32] That means, look out, folks.
[00:32:34] And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation, and the Lord spake unto Moses, Get ye up from among the congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
[00:32:43] He's ready to destroy all of Israel again.
[00:32:46] And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, a censer, a censer is for incense.
[00:32:54] You ever been in a church or you've seen where they have the censer thing and the smoke coming out, the good smell, incense?
[00:32:59] Take a censer, Aaron, Aaron was the high priest, take a censer and put fire therein from off the altar and put on incense and go quickly into the congregation and make an atonement for them for there is wrath gone out from the Lord, the plague is begun.
[00:33:16] and Aaron took as Moses commanded and ran into the midst of the congregation and behold the plague was begun among the people and he put on incense and made an atonement for the people and he stood between the dead and the living and the plague was stayed or stopped get this picture uh Moses says Aaron get a censer and and fill it with coals from the altar and that altar in the front of the tabernacle was called the brazen altar and what did they do on the brazen altar
[00:33:45] Sacrifice animals.
[00:33:47] And that was typologically pointing forward to or foreshadowing what?
[00:33:52] The sacrifice of the cross.
[00:33:54] Where do you get the coals, the fire for this incense that's going to stop the plague?
[00:33:59] From the place of sacrifice and atonement which foreshadows Christ.
[00:34:03] Now the plague's begun as we speak, real time, no interruptions or buffering.
[00:34:09] Sorry folks, I'm going to use you the wrong way here.
[00:34:12] And so the plague started and all of these people are dead and Aaron's got the censer and he runs in and he stands and here these people are dead and these people are alive as long as he is here with the censer.
[00:34:26] What stands between the dead and the living?
[00:34:30] The sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ.
[00:34:34] And that's the fire that was put to that incense.
[00:34:40] It's only by God's grace and His sacrifice that all of us aren't dead.
[00:34:47] But praise God for His grace.
[00:34:49] Praise God for His mercy.
[00:34:51] Praise God for His love.
[00:34:53] And you know, it's really almost an insanity to try to take away these passages and say, well, you know, God wasn't mean and He didn't do these things.
[00:35:03] Of course, God's not mean in our way because He's perfectly fair.
[00:35:06] Right?
[00:35:07] None of us deserve another breath.
[00:35:08] It's only by grace.
[00:35:10] But we need to understand this is pictures of God's holiness, God's righteousness.
[00:35:15] God is in the camp.
[00:35:16] He can't let sin dwell in the camp.
[00:35:18] And God is judging, and if He gives us what we deserve, we would all die.
[00:35:23] But praise God, He doesn't give us what we deserve.
[00:35:26] But if you've believed in Jesus, He gives you what His precious Son deserves.
[00:35:31] Everlasting life.
[00:35:33] Communion with Him.
[00:35:34] Oh, what a joyous and wonderful thing.
[00:35:37] Salvation and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
[00:35:40] That doesn't just start when we get to the Promised Land, Heaven, but starts when we're born again.
[00:35:46] What a wonderful thing.
[00:35:48] But it's only by the grace of God
[00:35:50] Through the sacrifice of his son Jesus that divides between the living and the dead.
[00:35:56] Both physically in that case and spiritually today.
[00:36:00] Amen?
[00:36:04] In Exodus chapter 32 we have, we've mentioned the golden calf.
[00:36:08] Moses is up on the mount receiving the Ten Commandments and what are they doing down here?
[00:36:12] Let's make a golden calf and let's worship it.
[00:36:16] And they sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.
[00:36:21] What are they doing?
[00:36:21] Exactly what we're told not to do.
[00:36:23] They're committing fornication.
[00:36:25] They're committing idolatry.
[00:36:26] They've murmured against God and his person.
[00:36:29] Where is he?
[00:36:29] We don't know what happened to this guy.
[00:36:31] And they're tempting Christ.
[00:36:33] And Moses comes back and he sees this.
[00:36:38] God tells him to get down.
[00:36:39] Your people have corrupted yourself.
[00:36:41] He breaks the Ten Commandments.
[00:36:43] And then he says something interesting.
[00:36:45] Who is on the Lord's side?
[00:36:47] Let him come unto me.
[00:36:48] That's interesting because later on as we read, who is on the Lord's side?
[00:36:57] He said, I wish God would be on my side.
[00:37:00] How about you make sure that you are on the Lord's side?
[00:37:04] Amen?
[00:37:08] Continuing on, in Numbers 17, there's an interesting thing God does to show that he has chosen the tribe of Levi for the priesthood.
[00:37:20] He chose the tribe of Judah for the Messiah, but he chose the tribe of Levi, from whence we get Levi genes, right?
[00:37:28] Levi, they were Jews, I think, who started the...
[00:37:34] Levi for the priesthood.
[00:37:38] Every tribe of the twelve gets a stick or a rod.
[00:37:42] And write your name of your tribe.
[00:37:44] Judah, Simeon, Reuben, Levi.
[00:37:47] Put them before the Lord and God's going to show which one he's selected.
[00:37:51] Put them before the tabernacle.
[00:37:52] The next day, every other rod is exactly the same.
[00:37:55] But Levi's rod has flowers, leaves, and even almonds.
[00:38:02] This is the one I've chosen.
[00:38:05] And so that was to stay in the tabernacle as a testimony of God choosing that priestly tribe.
[00:38:13] And so God is affirming that he's chosen Moses as the prophet.
[00:38:17] He's affirming that he's chosen Aaron as the high priest.
[00:38:20] And remember, they're constantly fighting and rejecting God's leaders.
[00:38:24] But God takes this miraculous step to assure that.
[00:38:28] And before we end our message in not too long, we'll come back to that in Numbers chapter 20.
[00:38:35] Now, it's very interesting because that's Numbers 17, we'll come back to it in 20.
[00:38:46] Let's take a look now at
[00:38:49] Numbers chapter 21 we mentioned this but we didn't go through with it we didn't follow through with the reference numbers chapter 21 you would think by now the israelites have had enough okay lord just tell us what to do we'll do it not until 40 years later and the second generation came numbers chapter 21 verse 1 through 9 let's take a quick look and when the king arad the canaanite uh which dwelt uh in the land
[00:39:18] Let's see.
[00:39:19] Yes, this is right.
[00:39:20] Which dwelt in the land in the south, heard tell that the Israelites came by the way of the spies.
[00:39:26] He fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners.
[00:39:29] Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, Numbers 21, 2, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, I will utterly destroy their cities.
[00:39:36] And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities, and he called the name of the place Hormah.
[00:39:46] And they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea to compass the land of Edom.
[00:39:52] And notice the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
[00:39:58] What does that make you think of?
[00:40:00] Jesus said, I am the...
[00:40:03] But the people were discouraged because of the way.
[00:40:07] Jesus is great in anything, but I need a raise.
[00:40:11] Jesus is great in everything, but I sure would like a bigger house.
[00:40:14] Jesus is great in everything, but you know, once I get to this point in my life, I'll be happy.
[00:40:19] Once I accomplish this, then I'll be satisfied.
[00:40:22] So then Jesus really isn't enough.
[00:40:24] They were discouraged because of the way.
[00:40:27] Beware lest we be discouraged because of the way.
[00:40:30] For there's only one, Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.
[00:40:33] Notice, they're discouraged, and look what they do.
[00:40:36] And verse 5, the people spake against God.
[00:40:39] That's not smart.
[00:40:41] and against Moses.
[00:40:43] Well, we'll throw Moses in there too.
[00:40:45] Wherefore have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
[00:40:49] Have you ever said, God, why are you doing this to me?
[00:40:52] Why have you brought me to this place?
[00:40:55] Be careful.
[00:40:56] Be careful, we're questioning God's wisdom.
[00:40:58] Notice, it says, And wherefore have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
[00:41:03] For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and our soul loatheth this light bread.
[00:41:09] And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Israel died.
[00:41:16] Wow, God seems pretty quick to judge.
[00:41:19] I mean, all they said was, you know,
[00:41:21] We're discouraged by the way, and there's no bread, there's no water, and you know, we don't like this bread anyways.
[00:41:29] And he starts to kill them with fiery serpents.
[00:41:31] Why?
[00:41:33] Because, what did they say?
[00:41:35] We loathe this light bread, this manna.
[00:41:40] What does it mean to loathe?
[00:41:42] Hate.
[00:41:43] We hate the manna.
[00:41:45] But what's the manna symbolic of?
[00:41:50] Why did he respond so powerfully?
[00:41:53] They said, we hate Jesus.
[00:41:57] They didn't know Jesus, but this is what they're saying.
[00:42:00] They're fighting against God's supply from heaven.
[00:42:03] And in Jesus' day, it was the very same thing.
[00:42:07] Jesus came to his own, his own received him not.
[00:42:10] He made them, but they would not follow him.
[00:42:13] In fact, they ended up killing him.
[00:42:16] Lord have mercy.
[00:42:18] Now notice what happens.
[00:42:19] So the fiery serpents are among the people, and much of the people, verse 6 of Israel, died.
[00:42:25] Therefore the people came to Moses and said, Oh, we've sinned.
[00:42:28] What a quick transition.
[00:42:29] For we have spoken against the Lord and against thee.
[00:42:33] Pray unto the Lord that he take away the serpents from us and Moses prayed for the people and the Lord said unto Moses make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole and it shall come to pass that everyone that is bitten when he look upon it shall live and Moses made a serpent out of brass and put it upon a pole and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived now turn to John chapter 3 you know John chapter 3
[00:43:03] A Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night, a Pharisee, and he says, hey, nobody can do what you've done.
[00:43:09] We know you're a teacher from God.
[00:43:11] And Jesus tells him in John chapter 3, verse 3, Verily, verily, I say unto you, now remember, this is a Pharisee, this is a preacher, this is a pastor, this is supposed to be a holy man in Israel.
[00:43:22] Jesus says what?
[00:43:24] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
[00:43:28] In other words, Nicodemus, you might be pretty good in your Bible, but you're not going to make it.
[00:43:33] What do you mean I'm not going to make it?
[00:43:36] Because unless you're born again, you'll never see the kingdom of God.
[00:43:41] Nicodemus is amazed.
[00:43:43] How can a man, verse 4, be born again when he's old?
[00:43:45] Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?
[00:43:48] And Jesus explains this, even he kind of rebukes him softly in verse 10, says, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
[00:43:58] And he's saying, you should know this.
[00:44:00] Well, how should I know this?
[00:44:01] It doesn't say this in the Old Testament.
[00:44:03] It does.
[00:44:03] Look what he says.
[00:44:05] You should know this.
[00:44:06] And then he quotes the passage that we were just in.
[00:44:08] Look at verse 14.
[00:44:09] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.
[00:44:21] For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[00:44:27] Did you see that?
[00:44:28] He says, you should know this.
[00:44:29] Why?
[00:44:30] Because you're a Jew and you know the Old Testament.
[00:44:31] The Old Testament has this brass on this pole, this serpent made of brass on a pole, and it was lifted up in the wilderness.
[00:44:37] And don't you know that that is a picture of me?
[00:44:39] Really?
[00:44:40] When you think of serpent or snake in the Bible, what do you usually think of?
[00:44:46] The devil, Satan, right?
[00:44:50] A serpent on the pole?
[00:44:52] That somehow Jesus?
[00:44:54] Doesn't sound right.
[00:44:56] But it does, if you consider, notice, everyone was being bitten of the serpent.
[00:45:03] So too we.
[00:45:04] Satan has taken a bite, infected us with sin.
[00:45:09] We're all born spiritually dead and we follow after his leadership, if you will, according to Ephesians 2 and 2 Corinthians 4.
[00:45:16] And yet, the cost of our sin was that sin has to be placed upon Jesus.
[00:45:25] so that he who knew no sin would become sin and pay that's what the price is Jesus beaten tortured bleeding pierced sorrowful my God my God why hast thou forsaken me on the cross that's the price of your sin and mine that Jesus paid for all who would believe and that was the emblem
[00:45:50] of how to be saved.
[00:45:52] Whoever would look upon the serpent would be healed.
[00:45:55] And we are called to look upon Jesus in faith and receive his salvation.
[00:46:01] You see?
[00:46:03] Remember we talked about Aaron's rod that budded?
[00:46:06] If you would, turn with me to Numbers 20.
[00:46:09] We don't have time to read extended passages, so we'll just pick up the main thought.
[00:46:15] But if you have time, go back and read all of Numbers chapter 20, or at least verses 1 through 13.
[00:46:21] In Numbers chapter 20, there is another issue in the people of Israel.
[00:46:33] They find that, notice, they begin to complain again.
[00:46:37] Numbers chapter 20 verse 2, And there was no water for the congregation.
[00:46:40] They gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron.
[00:46:43] How many times?
[00:46:44] I mean, same story, right?
[00:46:46] And the people chode or chided with Moses and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
[00:46:55] They're swearing, asking God to kill them.
[00:46:58] And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into the wilderness that we and our cattle should die here or there?
[00:47:06] And wherefore have you made us to come up out of Egypt to bring us into this evil place?
[00:47:11] There's no place of seed or figs or vines or pomegranates.
[00:47:14] Neither is there any water to drink.
[00:47:17] And what we find is Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly of the door of the tabernacle.
[00:47:24] And God speaks unto Moses, verse 7, Take the rod, gather thou the assembly together, and Aaron thy brother, and speak unto the rock.
[00:47:32] You ever talked to a rock before?
[00:47:34] Some of you folks had pet rocks, I guess.
[00:47:37] But speak to the rock before their eyes, and it shall give forth his water.
[00:47:42] And thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock.
[00:47:46] So thou shalt give the congregation their beasts drink.
[00:47:49] So Moses took the rod from before the Lord.
[00:47:52] Now remember, Moses had a rod of curses, remember, in Egypt?
[00:47:55] This is not that rod.
[00:47:57] He took the rod that was before the Lord in the tabernacle.
[00:48:00] What rod was that?
[00:48:02] Aaron's rod that budded.
[00:48:04] Seems kind of cumbersome to take all these almonds and everything, but anyways, he did.
[00:48:08] So he takes Aaron's rod that budded, which is a symbol of the line of the priests being through Levi, and Moses and Aaron, verse 10, gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Here now, ye rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?
[00:48:24] And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice, and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
[00:48:37] Did Moses do right?
[00:48:39] Verse 12, And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation to the land which was given unto them.
[00:48:53] Moses and Aaron can't go to the Promised Land now because of this.
[00:48:56] What did they do?
[00:48:57] What did God tell them to do?
[00:49:00] Speak to the rock.
[00:49:01] What did He do?
[00:49:02] He hid it twice.
[00:49:04] And then the water came.
[00:49:06] Why is God so upset?
[00:49:07] I mean, it's a slight nuance, right?
[00:49:09] First of all, he says, must we get this out for you?
[00:49:12] Pastor Andy and I are going to save you.
[00:49:15] No, no, only the Lord.
[00:49:16] They didn't give God the glory.
[00:49:18] God's the one that brings forth water.
[00:49:20] Moses and Aaron could never bring water out of the rock.
[00:49:22] It's God who did it.
[00:49:23] Must we get it?
[00:49:24] And then instead of speaking to the rock, in other words, rock, please give us water, which is what we need to do for salvation.
[00:49:32] Lord Jesus, please give us salvation.
[00:49:36] They go to the rock, Jesus, and smite him, and then the water flows.
[00:49:44] When does salvation come?
[00:49:47] When our Lord Jesus was smitten on the tree.
[00:49:51] How?
[00:49:53] Who was it who put him to death?
[00:49:55] Say, the Romans.
[00:49:56] But who was it who got the Romans to put him to death?
[00:49:59] The chief priests.
[00:50:03] What was the rod that smote Jesus?
[00:50:06] The rod that showed who the chief priests were.
[00:50:12] And they smote him according to what?
[00:50:16] They said, and they claimed, according to the law and the prophets.
[00:50:20] And who represents the law and the prophets?
[00:50:23] Moses and Aaron smiting the rod.
[00:50:30] And here is where life-giving water flows.
[00:50:38] Before we end, let's look at an insight from the book of Acts chapter 7.
[00:50:42] Hang in there, we're almost finished.
[00:50:46] Acts chapter 7, Stephen, the deacon,
[00:50:52] In the new church after Pentecost is being before these very chief priests, these very priests who killed Jesus.
[00:51:00] And he's now given a defense for his faith in the Lord and he recounts the history of Israel and he mentions many things that we've just studied.
[00:51:09] And notice what he says specifically about the real, he zeroes in on the real problem of the, why do these people keep tempting the Lord?
[00:51:17] After he does all this destruction, they tempt him again.
[00:51:20] What's the real problem?
[00:51:22] He gives it to us in Acts chapter 7, just a few verses, verse 35 and following.
[00:51:27] This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge?
[00:51:31] The same did God send to be a ruler and deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
[00:51:37] By the way, that's Jesus.
[00:51:39] Notice, the Lord sent an angel who appeared to him in the bush to lead Moses.
[00:51:46] That's the angel of the Lord, that's Jesus Christ.
[00:51:49] Verse 36, He brought them out, after that he showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, in the Red Sea, in the wilderness forty years.
[00:51:55] This is that Moses which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you and your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear.
[00:52:04] That's Deuteronomy 18.
[00:52:06] Moses was prophesying Jesus coming.
[00:52:08] This is he that was in the church of the wilderness with the angel, which spake to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers who received the lively oracles to give unto us.
[00:52:18] But notice, here it is, verse 39, don't miss this, to whom our fathers, the Israelites that we've been talking about, would not obey.
[00:52:25] Who were they not obeying?
[00:52:26] Go back and read that, ultimately Jesus.
[00:52:29] But they thrust him from them, and here it is, here's the problem, here's the reason.
[00:52:34] In their hearts they turned back to Egypt.
[00:52:40] In their hearts they turned back to Egypt.
[00:52:43] And what does Egypt symbolize?
[00:52:45] Oh, that fun I had before I became a Christian.
[00:52:49] Oh, that life I had.
[00:52:50] I did all kind of wonderful things.
[00:52:52] Now I miss all that.
[00:52:54] Wasn't that fun?
[00:52:55] In their hearts.
[00:52:57] but look at the sharp contrast they they want to go back what for the fish for the leeks for the onions for the garlic they want to go back what did they get scraps of slaves and they want to leave christ they want to leave god and his miraculous appearance his miraculous provision his miraculous leadership and heaven itself to go back to the dung hill and to
[00:53:19] To feast on scraps of bread and meat and everything as slaves and to get to work again for the Egyptian taskmasters which symbolize Satan himself.
[00:53:29] Can you imagine?
[00:53:30] But look at the sharp contrast.
[00:53:32] God forbid that be any of us.
[00:53:34] No, here is our example.
[00:53:36] It's Moses himself and you'll find it in Hebrews chapter 11.
[00:53:40] In Hebrews chapter 11, how did Moses look at this?
[00:53:43] Well, in Hebrews chapter 11, just five verses, verse 24.
[00:53:47] By faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
[00:53:54] Do you understand?
[00:53:54] He grew up in the palace, in the royal court.
[00:53:57] He might even possibly have been the next Pharaoh.
[00:54:00] He refused to be called the son-in-law of Pharaoh.
[00:54:04] My, oh my.
[00:54:06] Why?
[00:54:07] Look, verse 25.
[00:54:09] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
[00:54:18] Why?
[00:54:18] He became a slave willingly.
[00:54:23] He said, well, you know, he had a hard life.
[00:54:27] He had the best life in the world from a material standpoint.
[00:54:31] Egypt was the leader of the world.
[00:54:33] He had everything, all of the riches, everything he could want, everything a young person could desire was at his beck and call.
[00:54:39] Just like that, he gave it all away.
[00:54:41] Why?
[00:54:43] Esteeming the reproach of Christ.
[00:54:47] greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt for he had recompense respect under the recompense of the reward he would rather receive the reproach of Christ the rebuke of Christ yes the judgment or the discipline of Christ but the reproach that others would put upon him for following Christ than all the treasures and everything the world would offer how about you
[00:55:14] Isn't that what the devil tempted Jesus with?
[00:55:17] Look, in a moment, all these kingdoms, all this power, all this wealth, all of this has been delivered unto me.
[00:55:23] I can give it to whoever I want.
[00:55:24] Just bow down right now.
[00:55:25] It'll be yours.
[00:55:28] Get thou behind me, Satan.
[00:55:30] Worship the Lord, and him only shalt thou serve.
[00:55:36] Look at the contrast between the scraps of slaves or
[00:55:43] The richest man in the world.
[00:55:45] Not Elon Musk, but the son-in-law of Pharaoh, Moses.
[00:55:50] What did Moses have to go back to?
[00:55:52] Everything from a worldly standpoint.
[00:55:54] He said, I don't want any of it.
[00:55:56] I'm following Jesus.
[00:55:57] What did the slaves have?
[00:55:59] Nothing but scraps of slaves.
[00:56:01] And they desperately wanted to go back and get it.
[00:56:04] The dog, as it says in the Bible, returning to his own vomit.
[00:56:07] God forbid.
[00:56:09] Which one are you?
[00:56:11] Where are you in this?
[00:56:13] God forbid that we follow after that example.
[00:56:17] Folks, if you have been called by the Lord Jesus, He has a wonderful plan, yes.
[00:56:25] He has a path, the pathway of holiness.
[00:56:27] He has heaven reserved for you.
[00:56:29] There is a place there and a throne, I think, with your name upon it, even a crown.
[00:56:34] He is there waiting for us, for He is the author and the finisher of our faith.
[00:56:39] and we're not to wander around aimlessly but resolutely every step of the way going to heaven itself knowing that Christ is with us he is our bread from heaven he is the one that supplies all of his needs he says he whoever is thirsty let him come unto me and drink and out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water just like out of the rock that supply not only us but everyone around us
[00:57:08] What a beautiful picture.
[00:57:10] Same picture in the Garden of Eden.
[00:57:12] Four rivers went out.
[00:57:13] Same picture in the temple, in Ezekiel, in the latter part, underneath the temple comes out a river.
[00:57:19] Wherever it goes, it brings life and healing.
[00:57:22] Same picture in the book of Zechariah, in the last days out of Jerusalem, a river flows and brings healing and life.
[00:57:27] Same picture in the book of Revelation, in the new heavens and the new earth, a river flowing out from under the very throne of God.
[00:57:35] If you've been born again, He's now enthroned.
[00:57:39] On your heart and out from under the river of life comes for you, more than enough for you, and for everyone around you who will receive it.
[00:57:52] I close with reading these few verses.
[00:57:55] Our text, 1 Corinthians 10.
[00:58:03] Look at verse 11 through 14.
[00:58:05] This is where we close.
[00:58:07] Now all of these things happen to them for examples.
[00:58:14] They are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.
[00:58:22] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
[00:58:27] There is no temptation taking you, but such as is common to man.
[00:58:32] But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
[00:58:42] Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
[00:58:50] Amen?
[00:58:51] To God be the glory, honor, and praise, in Jesus' name.
[00:58:58] Who is on the Lord's side?
[00:59:01] Moses said it, we're going to sing it.
[00:59:04] And hopefully we can answer, we are on the Lord's side.
[00:59:07] Let's stand and sing number 409 in our hymnal.