The Story pt. 6: Wanderings: Israel On A Road Trip
Nov/13/11 11:34 Filed in: The Story | Sunday Series
I. Israel’s Three Complaints to Moses. Numbers 11-12
A. Israel complains about general hardships of the trip.
B. Israel complains about the food (every day it’s “manna”).
C.Miriam and Aaron complain about Moses being the driver (leader).
II. Israel Takes a Dangerous Wrong Turn at Kadesh-Barnea: Numbers 13-14 A. Twelve spies (a man from each tribe) are sent to surveil the Promised Land.
1. Ten spies report about the abundance of the land and also the giants who live there and conclude “We cannot take the land.” 2. Two spies report the same thing, but conclude, “Because God is with us, we can take the land.”
B. After Moses urges the people to trust God and take the land, the people rebel and refuse to
obey. 1.This “wrong turn” takes place at Kadesh-Barnea (see map in The Story) which is located on the edge of the Promised Land 2. Moses reports God’s “heavy-duty” judgment on the people’s lack of faith: Numbers 14:28-34 C. Israel’s lack of trust in and disobedience to God creates a 40 year detour.
1. Even the children are punished for their parents‘ disobedience. 2. After 40 years of wandering, they end up where they began—at Kadesh-Barnea.
III. Moses’ Grand Valedictory Speech at Kadesh-Barnea: Deuteronomy 32-33 A. Before the people of Israel, Moses also failed to trust God: Numbers 20 B. As a result of Moses’ disobedience, he is allowed to see the Promised Land, but not allowed to lead the people into it. Deuteronomy 34
GODʼs Faithfulness goes beyond ours!
C. Moses declares his grand valedictory speech: choose life! 1. Moses tells the people that they have a fresh opportunity to trust and obey God Who is divine GPS. 2. Moses tells the people that they are not alone—God is with them
Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (NIV84) 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
II. Israel Takes a Dangerous Wrong Turn at Kadesh-Barnea: Numbers 13-14 A. Twelve spies (a man from each tribe) are sent to surveil the Promised Land.
1. Ten spies report about the abundance of the land and also the giants who live there and conclude “We cannot take the land.” 2. Two spies report the same thing, but conclude, “Because God is with us, we can take the land.”
B. After Moses urges the people to trust God and take the land, the people rebel and refuse to
obey. 1.This “wrong turn” takes place at Kadesh-Barnea (see map in The Story) which is located on the edge of the Promised Land 2. Moses reports God’s “heavy-duty” judgment on the people’s lack of faith: Numbers 14:28-34 C. Israel’s lack of trust in and disobedience to God creates a 40 year detour.
1. Even the children are punished for their parents‘ disobedience. 2. After 40 years of wandering, they end up where they began—at Kadesh-Barnea.
III. Moses’ Grand Valedictory Speech at Kadesh-Barnea: Deuteronomy 32-33 A. Before the people of Israel, Moses also failed to trust God: Numbers 20 B. As a result of Moses’ disobedience, he is allowed to see the Promised Land, but not allowed to lead the people into it. Deuteronomy 34
GODʼs Faithfulness goes beyond ours!
C. Moses declares his grand valedictory speech: choose life! 1. Moses tells the people that they have a fresh opportunity to trust and obey God Who is divine GPS. 2. Moses tells the people that they are not alone—God is with them
Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (NIV84) 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.