A recently departed brother in the faith once said:
“The Word of God remains eternal. Those who have tried to bury it only find out that the Bible rises up to outlive its pallbearers.”
Today’s reading is one of those passages that shows the timeless heart of man, and therefore, proves the fact that that Bible needs nothing added to it for us to seek out instruction. In yesterday’s reading, we learn of the Israelites' fate for grumbling, testing God, not trusting in Him, and seeking out comfort in idols -- things we still struggle with in this age. Acting apart from God, we seek the things opposite of Jesus Christ, our Master, in whose way we are to follow. There is a ton to unpack in today’s reading but the context is clear...you’ll catch the words “here we are”. What really struck us is that when God calls Jesus in Hebrews 2:13, He says “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” He never grumbled, never tested God, always trusted in Him, and spurned the comfort of idols, patiently awaiting His orders.
Today we see mankind feigning unity and displaying a sort of arrogance in saying “here we are” in order to seek after their own way. They wanted the promised land and were willing to test God to get it. As Josh Young preached in last Sunday’s sermon, may we focus on Jesus that we would avoid the folly of seeking our own way.
Numbers 14:39-45
39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ How did the Isrealites respond to the message Moses had from God? (v 39-40)
+ Did that response show a contrition, or something else?
+ How did Moses try reason with them? (v 41-43)
+ What did they do anyway? How did the Lord respond?
+ Read verses 44-45. What does not go with them?
+ Read Numbers 14:5-8. How does Moses’ response differ then from how he responds in today’s passage?
+ Read Numbers 14:9 -- how have the tables turned against God’s people?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What “Egypts” does your heart want to return to? Are there “new lands” your heart is seeking? Is the climate of today’s world and all the discourse causing you to rush headlong into what the culture is now saying looks like the promised land? Conversely, is your hardness of heart towards the brokenness and the work to be done just causing you to want to return to “the way things were”? We have some “giants” we are facing today as a church. May we still our hearts and move in accordance with God’s word to us.
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?