The Wanderers Part 5 “The Spies”Welcome back to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers”

We are taking several weeks to unpack the story of God’s Covenant people as they journeyed from an enslaved people in Egypt, to their inheritance in the promised land. Throughout this story the Lord had one primary desire and that was to be with his people. We saw that come clearly into view last week in Chapter 19 as God extended an invitation to Covenant relationship. Even with the invitation of Covenant, there remains the culmination of God’s promise to his people that is yet to be fulfilled in the story- their inheritance of the Promised Land. As we enter our teaching text today in Numbers 13, we pick up the story about a year after the Mt. Sinai experience of Exodus Chapter 19.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:25-30‬‬At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land. They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” At this early report we already get the sense that the old nemesis of the children of Israel is back after them again- Doubt in the face of difficulty. All except Caleb and Joshua are starting to turn back in their hearts because of the challenge they see ahead in the promised land. On the doorstep of their inheritance, we discover a truth that transcends thousands of years of human experience. What we see, can poison what we believe. As we unpack the story of God’s Children on the threshold of their greatest moment, we will see the faith of an entire generation poisoned by unbelief.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:31-33‬‬But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”The faith of the 10 men was so poisoned by what they witnessed in the land that they come back and begin to give an exaggerated report, starting rumors among the people.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭14:1-4‬‬That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” On the threshold of their inheritance, what they saw poisoned their faith in the Lord’s ability to provide. The people return to their classic response of grumbling and complaining against Moses, and ultimately the Lord. They thought it better to die there in the wilderness than to take the step of faith into the promised land. In this final statement, they decide they no longer want God’s plan, they no longer want God’s leaders, and they don’t want His land either. This was the pinnacle of their unbelief. As the story continues, the faithful leaders they wanted to abandon, begin to plead with them to trust the Lord- to turn back from their faithless ways, but they would have no part of it. Finally, the Lord appears at the tent of meeting and speaks to Moses declaring his judgement upon the people. There the Lord tells Moses that he will strike down this unbelieving people in response to their rebellion and contempt against him. God would give them what they desired, death in the desert. But Moses pleads on behalf of the people that the Lord would spare them, appealing to the Lord’s gracious and steadfast love.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭14:20-24‬‬The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. And that’s why they wandered in the wilderness The poison of un-belief would cost an entire generation of people the joy of experiencing the promised land. Scholars estimate that this was around 1.2 million people that would perish in the wilderness over the next 40 years of wandering. I believe verse 24 holds the key for this story, as well as for us. “ 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” If what we see can poison what we believe, then the opposite is also true. What we believe can change what we see. Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

The Wanderers Part 4: “The Commandments”

Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. Where have you seen the Children of Israel in you? Perhaps in us? These are important to consider because if this is just a history lesson, we’ve been wasting our time. If all the grumbling stories and miracles are just data about the past, we are missing it. If we miss the story, they are telling we will miss the whole point of that long journey- God’s invitation to relationship.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:1-3‬‬On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: We are joining the Children of Israel about 2 weeks after the events in Chapter 16 with God’s miraculous provision of food in the wilderness. For about two weeks now the people have been literally eating at God’s faithfulness every day as they eat the Manna from heaven. In the time between chapter 16 with the giving of the manna and their arrival at Mount Sinai in Chapter 19, the people have done some more grumbling against the Lord, they have engaged in battle with the Amalekites where the Lord provided victory. The arrival and subsequent yearlong stay at Sinai mark a distinct turn in the story of God’s people. This is a pivotal moment for God’s people. As these events un-fold, it becomes clear that this is the point the Lord was leading his people too. Despite their grumbling, despite their desire to go back to Egypt, God has been desiring to be with his people. At Sinai, he will extend them an invitation to relationship.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:4‬‬‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. up to this point in our narrative the Children of Israel have been the recipients of God’s grace, his one-sided love for them, but the Lord is about to offer them an opportunity of response considering all he has done for them.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:5-6‬‬Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. ” The Lord offers his people a way of response in light of all he has done in advance for them. A response of obedience. Let’s pause for just a moment- What’s a covenant? First, a covenant is not a contract. The website Upcounsel.com says “A contract exchanges one good for another, while a covenant is giving oneself to the other.” A contract then is a “if-then” type of agreement. A covenant on the other hand is a relational centered agreement. In our context, Marriage is perhaps the most accessible example. Tim Mackie of the Bible project puts it this way “Covenant means entering a formal, relational partnership to accomplish a goal” The Lord is inviting his people into a covenant relationship, where he will give them all of himself and in return, they would give all of themselves to him. The idea of treasured possession is like a crown jewel, a unique and one-of-a-kind work. “A kingdom of Priests” in a very basic sense, a priest is a person who represents God to other people. So, the invitation to covenant for the children of Israel is that they will be a part of God’s plan for redemption of the whole world. “ Holy Nation” They were to be a people representing God to the world, they were also to be a completely different kind of people, set apart from the world on display of God’s amazing love and transformation in his people. What God asked of the people in response, is what we know as the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments were like a “constitution” of sorts for God’s covenant people. The commandments laid out the kind of people they were to be. God’s giving of himself in covenant would display in his people being a treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The peoples giving of themselves would display in their love for God and their love for their neighbors. For thousands of years the people of God would struggle to uphold their part of the covenant, to be a people wholly committed to God. No matter how hard they tried, despite their best intentions, the fallen nature of sin distorted their ability to live as God desired them to live. Somehow, they knew they couldn’t do it, they needed a new way. God would need to fulfill their part too. Friends that’s exactly what Jesus did- He perfectly fulfilled the requirement of the covenant. Through his life, death, and resurrection he offers us a new covenant, a new way to be in relationship with God. This new covenant of Christ invites us to give ourselves completely to Him- That’s our part. When we give ourselves completely to Christ, in return, in covenant, we receive his very life inside of us through the holy spirit. The life of Christ within us will teach us, guide us, empower us to live as God’s faithful covenant people. As Christ has given all of himself to us, and in return we have given all of ourselves to him in covenant relationship- the promises we read God giving to the wanderers are fulfilled in our lives. Perhaps God’s story for your life has led you to this moment of covenant invitation, will you give all of yourself to him as he gives himself to you?Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

https://my.bible.com/events/48912545

The Wanderers Part 4: “The Commandments”

Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the last few weeks we have traced the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:1-4‬‬And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:7-8‬‬“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:12-21‬‬“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. We are called to be a God-centric community. We are called to be an other-centric community.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:36-40‬‬“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” We are saved by the One who fulfilled the law. Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

http://bible.com/events/48910222
The Wanderers Part 3: “God Provides”

Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. Two important themes present throughout the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness:1. God loves you2. God tests you‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:1-15‬‬The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’ ” While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:31-35‬‬The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’ ” So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.” As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved. The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. One of the biggest questions from this story: Why? If God loves His people, why does He continue to test them in this way? The Lord provides the answer in verse 4:”Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’ ” (Exodus 16:4)So what is God testing? Why is He testing them? He is teaching them what it’s like to trust that He is their Heavenly Father. He is their ultimate provider. The bottom line: Can you think of anything you need God can’t provide?‭‭John‬ ‭6:35‬‬Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

The Wanderers
The Wanderers Part 3: “God Provides” Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. Today in Exodus 16, we are joining the Children of Israel once again in the desert, facing another opportunity to trust God as their Lord and provider. Already it seems like the story is building towards something. In fact, it’s not an overstatement to say that the story of The Wanderers is one of the most important accounts in world history. And we get to re-live it. Even if we didn’t know how it ends, we already see themes of God’s leading, of His provision and grace with his people, his miraculous power. We see God revealed as trustworthy and faithful. But we also sense the people haven’t completely gotten this idea in their heads or their hearts yet.Even after witnessing time and time again God’s faithfulness- at the next challenge- they grumble and complain against the Lord.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:1-3‬‬The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Having traveled for a while now, they were using up their food supplies and they could see that starvation was a very real possibility on the horizon. As they became hangry- they lost sight of the opportunity to call out to the Lord in his faithfulness In these difficult moments, they essentially turn their back on God’s plans for them-“This journey stinks, I want to go back.”“ It’s too hard, I don’t like it, and I’m done.” Those very real feelings were rising to the surface in their hearts and their actions. They were so done with it all in this moment that they even accuse the Lord of bringing them out to the desert just to die.“ If we could have just stayed in Egypt at least we would have had food to eat” From our vantage point, we can recognize the absurdity of these comments in light of the whole story- but they couldn’t. What should we take from that today?‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:4-5‬‬Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” The Lord promises to rain down bread from heaven, the food they need will come to them in a miraculous way .Not only were they getting what they never expected, it was coming in a way they never imagined- directly from heaven. Contained within this provision of bread from heaven is a test, a daily opportunity, if you will, to trust God. The people are only to gather what they need for one day, except for the 6th day in anticipation of the sabbath day. They will need to trust God every day to supply their needs.This testing or training was not entirely all about their ability to follow instructions, but it was as much designed to reveal the leaning of their hearts.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:19-20‬‬Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:27-28‬‬Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?Within our own lives today we can face this same challenge- will we obey even when the rules or requests don’t make sense? Each time the Lord asks something of us that doesn’t seem like “That big of a deal”- our heart posture will reveal itself One of submission or one of selfish rebellion. Let’s conclude by zeroing in on what the Lord DIDN’T do in this story.- The people are disobedient- The people regularly complain – it seems like every time we check in on them they are grumbling about something.- They don’t trust the one most trustworthy. And when they complain about being hungry, God doesn’t give them what they deserve. He doesn’t punish them or scold them or turn His back on them. HE FEEDS THEM Now that same God is here today and He’s listening to you. What do you need? Do you imagine God will turn His back on you because you are so undeserving? Or- will you trust that he is gracious and cares deeply for you? As you would think about your story today, your desert experience, what is it that you are crying out to the Lord for? Is there really anything in your life that he hasn’t already provided? Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E