Amen, so Deuteronomy chapter 3 normally we're going through the book of Deuteronomy on
The midweek service but being that pastor Anderson is going to be in town
This Thursday, I thought I'd go ahead and just get into it again tonight. So we don't fall behind
It's kind of I'm not sure that we're on anybody's, you know timetable or we got a deadline or anything like that
But I've enjoyed going through the book and I just wanted to get back in it again tonight
So we'll go ahead and just jump in here in verse 1
It says then we turned and went up to Bashan and Og the king of Bashan came out against us
He and all his people to battle Adri I and Lord said unto me fear him not for I will deliver him and all his
people and his land
Into thine hand and thou shalt do unto him as thou did unto Sihon king of the Amorites
Which dwelt at Heshbon? So if you recall last week, that's who the children of Israel will batter battle battling against in chapter. Number two was
Was Sihon king of the Amorites and he goes on to verse three and says so the Lord our God delivered him into our hands
Delivered it into our hands
Og also the king of Bashan and all his people and we smote him
Until none was left to him remaining and we took all his cities at that time
There was not a city which we took not from them three score cities
All the region of Argob and the kingdom of Og in Bashan all these cities were fenced with high walls
Gates and bars besides on walled towns a great many
And we destroyed them utterly as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon
Utterly destroying the men and women and men women and children of every city
so this is just more of what we read in chapter 2 them going in and destroying these wicked people and
Again, we kind of went over it last week
And I don't want to you know
It deserves being mentioned again because it's coming up again that God here is of course we would read
You know destroying men women and children and he's utterly wiping these people out of the land and you know
A lot of people take issue with that a lot of people say well, that's not you know
That's not a nice thing to do
But we have to remember like I said last week that we were dealing with very wicked people people that were into
Child sacrifice these people were doing every abominable thing that they come that under the Sun
You know and that that's why God decided to destroy them
In fact, if you would turn over to Genesis chapter 15 because I kind of alluded this last week
And I kind of threw it out there that God had given these people a space to repent and I did want to
Kind of bring that up again tonight and just show you from Scripture where the Bible does show us that God
It would God didn't just you know on a dime
Turn on these people
That he had been very patient with them that he'd been very long-suffering with them that he put up with them for
For literally hundreds of years and if you're in there in Genesis chapter 15 in verse 12
It says that when the Sun was going down a deep fleet deep sleep fell upon Abram and low and horror of great darkness fell upon
Him and he said unto Abram no of assurity that thy seed shall be a stranger in the land
That is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them
400 years and also that nation whom they shall serve will I judge and afterward they shall come out with great substance
Of course
This is referring to the fact that his descendants Abrams descendants would go into
Bondage in the land of Egypt and that God would lead them out with a mighty hand verse 15
He says and thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace and thou shalt be buried in a gold old age
But in the fourth generation shall they come hither again for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full now that is
Exactly now who he's referring to there at the end the iniquity of the Amorites are these people?
The side on the king of Amor of the of the Amalekites or the Amorites
Excuse me, and you have all the king of Bashan
These are the very people that he's referring to and he said their iniquity is not yet full
Meaning God knew a for time God knew ahead of time that these people were going to
Do wicked things live wicked lives and that it was their iniquity was going to fill up
there is going to reach a point where God said okay now it's time to destroy you for your iniquity and
What it shows us again
We kind of talked about it last week and I don't want to be too redundant here
But God has a limit to what he is willing to put up with when it comes to man's wickedness
You know, God has a limit a point in which he will no longer tolerate the wickedness of man
if you're since they're there in Genesis turn back to Genesis chapter 6 and
We'll see an example of this so when you get to Genesis 6
I want you to keep something there because we're gonna come back here in just a minute and deal with something else
but it says in Genesis 6 chapter chapter 6 verse 1
it came to pass when man began to multiply upon the face of the earth and
daughters were born unto them that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and
Took them wives of all what they chose and the Lord said my spirit shall not always strive with man for that
He is also flesh yet
His days shall be in hundred and twenty years
Jump down verse six and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at the heart
so people mankind can get so wicked and so evil and have there can just be such a
Great amount of iniquity in humanity that God is actually grieved in his heart and that he repents that he even made man
And the Lord said I will destroy man who I have created from off the face of the earth
Both man and beast and creeping thing and follows of the air for a pentith me that I have made them
So again, we already talked about this last week
But before we you know foolishly charged God or you know have a bone to pick with God before the fact
What he did to these these people these Canaanites, you know
Well look here in Genesis chapter 6 where he wiped out even even the bugs got it right the creeping things
because of the iniquity of man, so
Again that should just show us that God is you know has a point that he'll reach and then that'll be it and
rather than criticizing God or pointing a finger at God it should cause us to take heed and to
Do our best to not allow us to allow ourselves to go to that point
You know personally or as a nation and that we should work against it and try to live righteously
But look there keep something in Genesis 6 and go ahead and jump back to Deuteronomy 3 where we were
So he says in verse 6 that they destroyed them all and then verse 7
He says but all the cattle and the spoils of the city
We took for a prey to ourselves and we took them that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites
The land that was on the side of Jordan from the river Arnon unto Mount Hermon, which Herman the Sidonians called
Cyronian and the Amorites called Chenier and all the cities of the plain and all Gilead and all Bashan and all Salak and Edrii
cities of the kingdom of Og of Bashan
For only odd king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Giants behold his bedstead was a bedstead of iron
Is it not in Rabath of the children of Ammon?
Nine cubits was the length thereof and four cubits the breadth thereof after the cubit of a man
And of course recall last week we dealt with what does what does the Bible?
Define as a giant, you know, and it's not a 400 foot
Individual like the book of Enoch would tell us and they actually gives us very specific measurements
It even tells us that the giant of Gath
Goliath
Excuse me that he was nine about nine and a half feet tall and he gives us these measurements calls him a giant
Now one measurement we didn't look at if you remember last week
We pulled out the tape and we looked at how long this guy's bed was and it was quite long, right?
It's not something you're gonna get at the motel six. Okay, but what you know, I was thinking about it
We didn't talk about the breadth of it because when you think about it says there
He was the breadth of his bed. The width was four cubits. So that's about six feet. That's how wide it was
You say well, maybe you know that was for his wife or something like that
Well when your beds that long, I don't think you're you know, and only that wide
I think it's probably a single, you know, this is probably a single size bed, you know, he's probably not he's probably alone
He was sleeping alone, right? I would assume okay, but the point being, you know
Give him a little space on either side say the guy, you know brings it down to four feet
That's about how wide the guy was, you know, think about at the shoulders a person about four feet tall
I mean his bed was this wide because I'm about six feet and hitting the bed is about six feet
So the guy was probably somewhere about this wide at the shoulders
You know, let that sink in, you know
You guys that work in construction next time you pick up a sheet of plywood a four by eight sheet of plywood
You know, that's like picking up that guy this way. So again, I just interesting, you know big guy
And that's what a giant is a giant is someone who's exceptionally tall and you know
We really didn't I want I know we kind of touched on this last week, but I really want to nail this down
I really want to just you know, just destroy this false doctrine
And show you how foolish it is and mainly show you that they don't have any clear scripture
these people that want to teach that that you know that that
Giants are the result of this human demonic hybrid union or something like that that that the sons of God winning the daughters of men
And that's what resulted in the Giants
that's something that's taught that that is foolish that they don't have any clear scripture for that and
That all Giants are in the Bible are exceptionally tall people. They are not the results of
Demotic human breeding. Okay, which resulting in these hybrids of some sort. Okay, and if you're there in Genesis 6, okay
because this is one of their
This is kind of ties in because they'll say
Now you're there in Genesis 6 if you would get something in job 38 as well because job 38 is kind of one of their
Proof texts where they'll say we see, you know, the sons of God are angels, you know
And that's really what this all hinges on. They'll say well the sons of God as it refers to in in
Well, let's look at Genesis 6 I'm getting ahead of myself
Genesis 6 verse 4 it says there were Giants in the earth in those days and
Also that after that and also after that when the sons of God came into the daughters of man
They bear children to them the same became mighty men which were old men men of renown
Now does it say anything about Giants in that verse?
first of all is the word giant used is
the word is the name of anyone that's associated the giant if we see anything about the the the zomims or the you know,
the
Amalekites or the Anakims or anything like that? No, we don't see anything about Giants at all
The people will read that verse and say aha Giants in the Bible
But it doesn't make any sense because look at verse 4 there were Giants in the earth in those days
Okay before the flood right and then it says and also after that
That's when the sons of God came into the daughters of men and all sons of God are in the Bible are believers people that
Have believed on the Lord
This isn't Giants and it first of all the chronology doesn't make any sense and it doesn't make any stakes also because why God destroyed the
Earth because of the fact you know with the flood
Because if he was angry with the wickedness of men and if they'll say well
He was angry because the people will say well there was Giants, you know
They were the sons of God these angels were inbreeding with women and resulting in these demonic
Giants or whatever and that's why God destroyed the earth
Okay. Well the God destroys the earth, but when do we read about the Giants?
Long after the flood we're still reading about Giants. So I guess God didn't succeed in destroying the Giants. It doesn't make any sense
It's a stupid doctrine
But we're just gonna take a minute here to kind of nail this down and really what the way to best go about it is
To prove to them that the sons of God simply means a believer someone who was calling upon the name of Lord
So look there in Genesis chapter 4 let Genesis chapter 4
The sons of God is a reference to believers. It's not a reference to angels
It's a reference to Seth's godly descendants in this passage here
in Genesis chapter 4 verse 26
The Bible says unto Seth and to him also there was born a son and he called his name Enos then began men to call
Upon the name of the Lord
that's what makes you a son of God and we can go to multiple scriptures to show that that we that you and I as
Born-again believers are the children or the sons of God
We are the sons and daughters of God that God is our father and that's what this is referring to in Genesis 6 that
Seth's godly descendants began to call upon the name of the Lord believed on the Lord and they were born again
You know salvation has always been by self through grace by grace through faith
And they had the faith in God to believe and be saved and the Bible says in John 1 12
But as many as received them to give me power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name
So what makes you a son of God when you believe on his name?
And there's just verse after verse, you know first John 3 behold
What manner of love the father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God?
Therefore the world know that's not because it knew him not again referring to believers as the sons of God
Romans 8 for as many as are led by the Spirit of God
They are the sons of God for he have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear
But he have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father
The spirit itself also with bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and have children than heirs heirs of God
And joint heirs with Christ. We are the children of God. We are the sons of God. This is all throughout Scripture
Hebrews 1 being much made so much better than the angels as he hath by an inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they
For unto which of the angels said he at a time thou art my son
So he specifically says right here that God never at any time ever called any angel his son
He specifically says that in Hebrews and he says this day have I begotten again?
I will be a father to him and he shall be to me a son
He said unto which of the angels said he had any time this day thou art my son
But they want to turn us back to Genesis there and say and read the sons of God and say all these are angels
Or everything else we and that's not a clear scripture
but we have all these clear scriptures that we are the sons of God that we are the sons of God and a clear scripture that
Specifically says that God never one time ever called an angel the Son of God
So you can't get that from the Bible now look there in Genesis or job 38 if you're there job 38
And they'll say well, what about job 38 where it calls angels the Son of God?
Well, let's read job 38 and see if it calls angels the Son of God
Job 38 verse 1 the Bible says then the Lord answered job out of the world went and said who is this that dark?
It is counseled by words without knowledge
Gird up now thy loins like a man for I will demand of thee an answer thou me
Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth declare if thou is understanding?
Who hath laid the measures thereof if thou knowest or who hath stretched out the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened or who hath laid the cornerstone thereof when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God?
shouted for joy
So what they do is they'll turn to this and say
See this is talking about the beginning of the creation of the world and it says there that all the sons shouted for joy
Now hang on you got to slow down and read this
Because this is a litany of questions that he's asking one after another and they want to connect
Verse 7 with verse 4, but that's not the order in which we receive it. Okay
He asks, you know
He asked where was thou when I laid the foundation of the earth now that is referring to the creation is it not?
But he goes on and says declare if thou has understanding then he asked another question
Well who hath laid the measures though thereof if thou knowest or who hath stretched out the line upon it?
He's saying who's measure the earth how knows the length and the breadth of it?
Where upon the foundations thereof fastened or who hath laid the cornerstone thereof?
That's the question that that is connected to verse 7
Said when the morning stars sang together, when did the morning stars sing together?
It was when they laid the cornerstone thereof not the first question
Where he as where he laid the foundations of the earth
say they want to take that answer and apply it to that the first question where this answer is or
Verse 7 is connected to that last question. Does that make sense?
He says whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened or who hath laid the cornerstone thereof?
When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy
So he's saying the sons of God shouted for joy when when the cornerstone was laid thereof
Now go through your Bible and look up cornerstone every time in your Bible
and you'll always see that it is always every single time a reference to Jesus Christ and
That specifically it's talking about the time when Jesus when he says thou art my son this day have I they got me
It's referring to the Jesus Christ's resurrection. That's when he became the chief cornerstone
So were there saved believers in heaven when Jesus Christ was resurrected?
There was all the Saints in the Old Testament that got saved art went directly to heaven
They didn't go to the nice side of hell like the dispensationalists and the wrecking knights want to teach you
That they went to you know, the nice part of hell. There is no nice part of hell, you know
They didn't go to Abraham's bosom. That's a body part not a place. They went to heaven
This is a great proof text of that the fact that the sons of God saw the cornerstone Jesus Christ be laid
They saw Christ raised from the dead and they shouted for joy
Every other instance the sons of God has reference to believers
But now we're supposed to believe because of this text that all of a sudden it's talking about angels in the beginning of the world
It's a misunderstanding of Scripture. It's not a clear scripture. It's not referring to the angels and
it's a clear it's clearly referring to Jesus Christ and
I don't want to spend a lot of time on that and I don't think really need to I think
When you just look at the scripture and what it says you can put that doctrine to bed pretty quick
Because again, they don't have any clear scripture to turn to to show you that giants are the result are 400 feet tall or the results
of
Fallen angels and women copulating. It's it's not there
You know where you find that is on YouTube and if people want to believe that that's fine
Go ahead and leave any foolish thing you want
But don't tell me that's what the Bible teaches because that makes the Bible look stupid
And that's why we got to take a minute and deal with these type of foolish doctrines
And you know, we could go through all the scriptures
About the fact that Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone
I'll just read to you from 1st Peter 2 where it says wherefore also it is contained in the scripture
Behold I lay and sigh on a chief cornerstone elect precious he that believeth on him shall not be confounded unto you
Therefore which believe he is precious but unto them which are just be disobedient
the stone which the builders disallowed the same as made the head of the corner a
Stone of stumbling and a rock of offense even then that study stumble at the word being disobedient
So again, that's just one I have a whole list of scripture here that we could go through
I'm not going to do it for the sake of time
To prove to you that the cornerstone is referring to Jesus Christ and specifically his resurrection
So the other way to kind of come at this another argument counter-argument to this whole Nephilim
Angel being demon giant thing that they come up with is the fact that the fruit of the womb is God's reward
If that happened if the sons of God were supposedly which they're not
Angels and went in to the daughters of men and they bred and had these demonic giant
hybrid angel things, right
You know that happened but they just look like human beings even though, you know, whatever
Well, that would mean that God is responsible for the fruit of that union because the fruit of the room is God's reward
God is the one who opened and shuts the womb
You know, he's the one that knits all of our parts, you know and together in our mother's room
So that would mean that God is responsible for that and it's you know, what it's just a stupid foolish doctrine and
You know, I'm glad we took a minute to deal with it
let's go ahead and move on here the chapter because we got some other things that are
More important to get to you and it says in verse 12 and this land which we possessed at that time
from our or error even unto the river Arnon and
Half mountain Gilead and all the cities thereof gave I unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites and the rest of Gilead
And all Bashan being the kingdom of odd gave I unto the half-tribe of Manasseh
All the region of Argob and all Bashan which was called the land of the giant. So if we call
The Reubenites they're going into this land
They defeated this these kings and they saw this land that it was good for cattle. They had much cattle
And if we call in numbers, they worked out a deal with Moses and said hey if you'll give us this land on this side
Jordan
We'll dwell in it, but we'll still go over it armed and we'll fight with our brethren and well
You know
This will be our inheritance and Moses said as long as you promise to go and continue to fight and help us take over
The land you can have this land and that's what it's referring to there. That's why it says that he gave it to him
so in verse 14
Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob Argob and the coast of
Geshurai and mactith I and the call them after his own name
Beishan have
Havoth Jair put that in your GPS
Unto this day and I gave Gilead unto Makir and unto the Reubenites and unto Gadites
I gave from Gilead even on the river Arnon half the valley and the border even on the river Jabak
Which is the border of the children of Ammon the plain also and Jordan the coast are up from Chinnereth
Even at the sea of the plain in the salt sea under Ashdod Pisgah eastward and I commanded you at that time
Saying the Lord your God hath given you this land to possess it
Ye shall pass over armed before your brethren with the children of Israel all that are meet for the war
But your wives and your little ones and your cattle for I know that you have much cattle shall abide in your cities
Which I have given you so again that's referring to the deal if they worked out in numbers
You can have this land, but you're gonna pass over armed and fight with us
And he says in verse 20
Until the Lord hath given rest unto the brethren as well as unto you and
Until they also possess the land which the Lord your God hath given them
Beyond Jordan and they and then shall ye return every man into his possession
Which I have given you and I commanded Joshua at that time saying
Thy nice have seen all that the Lord your God hath done under these two kings
So shall the Lord do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest
So and he goes on and says verse 22 you shall not fear them for the Lord your God shall fight for you
And I did kind of talk with us a little bit last week as well
but really what we see happening here in in the book of Deuteronomy is the the the
The failure of the previous generation the generation that failed to go in
They are they are actually in a way giving opportunity to the next generation
You know the
generation that's coming up is able to look and to see the failures of the previous generation to
Learn from their mistakes and then they also get to see God do these great works on this side Jordan before they pass over
so that when they becomes their opportunity that they won't have that same mistake and
Really? That's a great principle that we should all have in our lives
You know that if we if we see mistakes in the previous generation
We shouldn't use that as an excuse to quit or to say well
This must not be the real thing or use it as an excuse to quit on God, you know
That's not what you see here. That's not what you see with Joshua
I mean, you don't see that with this next generation that came up after the first their children
they saw the mistakes that their parents made and what what did they do instead of pointing the finger and playing the blame game and
Finding fault and quitting they actually said hey, let's you know, let's improve. Let's get better
Let's not be like our parents
they were wrong here and really that's that's a group a good attitude to have and
That's something that we should all all should have because here's the thing every generation is gonna make mistakes
Every nobody's perfect, you know, we're gonna get things wrong and a lot of times
It's hard to see what you got wrong when you're in the midst of it and you know, you know
Looking back, you know vision is 20 20 when what's that saying?
What is it
Hindsight is 20 20. Thank you
You know the the it's easy for us to look back after we've lived our lives and say I should have done this differently
Oh, I made a mistake here, you know, so we should never just hold people
You know, of course, we want to hold them accountable
we should never just find fault for the sake of finding fault and let it become an excuse for us to quit and
Look there verse 23s and he said and I besought the Lord at that time saying Oh
Lord God thou has begun to show thy servant thy greatness and thy mighty hand
For what God is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to thy works and according to thy might
So it's kind of interesting that you know, Moses starts out by saying that he said Oh Lord
Thou has begun to show thy servant and thy greatness. He's saying this now, you know when they're beginning to feed these Kings on you know
You know Sihon King the Amorites and odd King of Bashan
But is that really the first time that that Moses is seeing God's greatness
I mean he saw it in Egypt and he saw it began the burning bush. That would be a great thing to see
He's seen the greatness of God in Egypt and all the the the miracles that he did there the crossing of the Red Sea
You know the coming down the fire and he saw a lot of great things
I mean he stood and went up into the mountain and talked to God as a man doth his friend
He saw the pillar of fire and smoke by day and by night
He saw you know, we're gonna see in a minute the the rocks come out of the water
I mean, there's so many things that he's seen
It's kind of odd that he would say this now
Oh thou has begun to show thy servant thy greatness and thy mighty hand
And what I think Moses is doing he's kind of buttering God up, you know
You know, and maybe I'm using a little too much liberty here
But I think that's kind of what's going on because we're gonna see him make a request here
He's saying, you know
He's trying to kind of get on God's good side because it goes on and says I pray thee verse 25
I pray thee let me go over and see the good land that is beyond Jordan that goodly mountain and Lebanon now if recall
God had told him you're not going over
Because he had made a mistake and he messed up and we're gonna look at it here in a minute
And he said, you know for that you're not gonna go over into the good land. You're not gonna cross over
Because of what you did and Moses here, you know, some time has passed and he's getting close and you know
And really I'm not trying to pick on Moses because I really feel for Moses
I mean Moses was probably you know
What if not the greatest one of the greatest men to ever live on this earth?
One of the great I mean the meekest of servants one of the greatest prophets that's ever lived one of the people that's been used
mightily by God
Probably more than any other I mean say for maybe Paul or a few others, you know, Moses ranks. He's right up there
So I'm definitely not trying to bring him down or disrespect Moses in any way
Yeah
I really feel like for Moses because of the fact that he really had a heart for God
And he really wanted to see that land and it's unfortunate that he didn't get to go over after all everything
He put up with everything all the hard work that he'd done and and dealing with the people of Israel and all their
how stiff-necked and hard-hearted they were and you know
He doesn't get to go over because of one mistake and yet the people of Israel they get to go over despite their many faults
I mean you think about all the things that they did wrong. I mean they were they were constantly making mistakes
I mean Moses goes up in the mouth received the Ten Commandments come back down there
They're worshiping a golden calf at the base of the mountain. That's on fire
You can't understand it how people could be at you know
and
And I they could see what's taking place and then they're just gonna turn their back and go and worship this golden calf
And yet God said I would he would bring those people over and Moses makes one mistake in speaking to the rock
Instead of or in smiting the rock instead of speaking to it like he was supposed to and now he's not allowed to go over
And it seems like such a minor mistake in comparison to everything else that the children of Israel had done
So Moses here, I think he's just trying to appeal
To the the judgment of God he's trying to get you know a pardon here. He's trying to get a pass
He's trying to get God to forgive him and let him go over
And that's kind of why he starts out by saying that you know Lord. I've seen all thy greatness
You know I've begun to see it in my mighty hand and what God is there in heaven and earth
You know that can do according to thy works and according to thy might now
I believe Moses genuinely meant everything that he said in that he wasn't being insincere
But he is just trying to appeal to God and that should show us something that sometimes if we want something from God
You know it might be good a good idea to have some praise on your lips before you have make a make a request
You know instead of you know
after this their manner therefore pray our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done and
Then give us this day our daily bread right so it's good to start out prayer with praise
You know like by reminding yourself of who God is and I think that's kind of what Moses is doing here
He's giving God praise before he just starts asking for things. He's God is worthy of praise now
Let's look here at Numbers chapter 20 keep something Deuteronomy
Let's look at Numbers chapter 20
And let's look at why it is that Moses wasn't allowed to go over why Moses even had to begin
To appeal to God in the first place. Why is it that Moses wasn't allowed to go over into the Promised Land?
Look there at Numbers chapter 20 in verse 1
In Numbers chapter 20 in verse 1 the Bible says then the children Israel even the whole congregation
Excuse me
Then came the children Israel in the whole congregation
Into the desert of zin in the first month and the people abode in Kadesh and Miriam died there and was buried there
And there was no water for the congregation and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron
the people chode with Moses and spake a spake saying would God that we died when our
Brethren died before the Lord and why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord to this wilderness that our cattle should die here
And wherefore have you made us to come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?
It is a place of no seed or a figs or a vines or pomegranates
neither is there any water to drink and
Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly under the door of the tabernacle the congregation
And they fell upon their faces and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them and the Lord spake unto Moses saying take the rod
And gathers the assembly together and Aaron and and thy brother and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes
And it shall give forth his water and shall and and thou shalt bring forth water
Bring forth to them water out of the rock. So shall the thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink
So this isn't the first time this has taken place, you know the same instance has happened before and
And that time and of course that's in Exodus chapter 17
Where Moses is instructed to to smite the rock, you know this time here we see he's telling Moses go speak to the rock
Whereas the time before in Exodus 17 he's saying go and smite the rock different rock
You know same instance he's saying you want to bring water the rock in the first time you're gonna smite it this time
you're gonna speak to it and
The reason why that is because that rock is a picture of Jesus Christ. He is that rock, you know
He is the rock and think about it here the the two different ways that he was gonna get water out that walk
You know the the the the waters of life, you know, the eternal waters of life that Jesus gives, you know
He is the water of life. So this is a great picture of Jesus
It's a beautiful picture of Jesus in the Old Testament and the first time he smites the rock because he was smitten for us
Because of our iniquities, you know
He was he was smitten and beaten and that's a picture of Christ that he was beaten and he was split and and water came
you know and
Through that he gave life through his being
Smitten now this time he tells him to speak under the rock
Which is also another great picture of Christ because how do we get saved? We call upon the name of the Lord, right?
I think that's another great picture. We all know Romans 10, you know for outsole winning
He says but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thine heart
That is the word of faith which we preach that out that shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine
Heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved
He says for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
so these are two great pictures of Jesus one that he was bruised for an hour iniquities that he was smitten and
Also that you know, we have to speak unto him. We have to call upon the name of the Lord
I believe that's what this is picturing here, you know, and there might be other applications, too
There might be other
Pictures of Christ or other things in the Bible that you could get out of this, but I think that's a pretty good
Example, and I think that's what the Bible is trying to show us here
So if we call again previously he was to smite the rock and show us that picture of Christ being spent for our sins
But this time he's told to speak unto it. And what does Moses do?
we'll look there in verse 9 of numbers chapter 20 and
Moses took the rod from before the Lord as he commanded him and Moses and Aaron gathered together
Before before the rock and he said unto them hear now you rebels so you can start to hear
You know the the anger in Moses's voice, you know in Exodus 17, it was still kind of new to him
You know, he's kind of still getting used to dealing with these people
But at this point in the story Moses has put up with a lot from them and he's been disappointed by them
You know, it's not the first time they've falsely accused Moses. It's not the first time they've even thought of stoning Moses
Accusing him of bringing him out of the desert to die, you know in Moses
You know this that's the farthest thing of his mind and these people are just jumping on him
So you can kind of see how he's starting to get a little aggravated with them here you rebels
You know here now you rebels must be fetch water out of this rock
You know, he's not he's not like being gentle here
He's rebuking them and I think he what he does next is out of anger, you know, I don't think he's trying to you know
You know do God dirty or do things his own way
I think he just kind of loses his cool and it shows us that you know when we lose our temper, you know
We kind of breezing can sometimes go out the window
We can kind of stop thinking about how things are supposed to be done
You know God tells him very clearly go speak to the rock
You know Moses goes to do that and he just gets so worked up with emotion that he kind of forgets
What it is exactly supposed to do it and he makes the mistake there in verse 11 and Moses lifted up his hand and with
his rod, he smote the rock twice and
Water came out abundantly in the congregation drink and their beans also
So God, you know does go through with it and say, okay give him the water
But notice he had to hit it twice
You know, I think like God was almost giving Moses a chance to get it right like nose
Moses he hit it the first time was like oh you're supposed to speak to it
You know give him a chance to get it right and Moses hits it and I can't imagine him just like kind of you know
looking at Aaron and being like
Whoops, what's going on? He hits it again and God, you know God
You know say helps Moses save face
I mean Moses had to hit it twice because that's not what God wanted and he kind of but he God did allow it to happen
The second time because he's trying to save help Moses save face before the people I believe and he kind of knew that
Moses had forgotten what he was supposed to do
So rather than just having nothing happen, you know and the people just being who knows would have happened if God just you know
Said well, that's not how I told you to do it and just let Moses sit there with a with no water
Who knows what the people would have done at that point?
So God lets it come out, you know, he goes he go ahead and he breaks the rock and it comes out
So, you know unfortunately Moses, you know
Thankfully we have the picture of the story of what was supposed to happen and we could still understand
This great picture of Christ in the Old Testament, but at that time, you know Moses kind of ruined it
I mean he kind of ruined this great picture that God wanted to show these people of Christ in the Old Testament now
We can look back because again hindsight's 20 20 and we can see and understand the full story
No, oh, that's the way he was supposed to do it and that's why God wanted it done that way
But at the time, you know
they didn't have that luxury and
God was pretty upset about it and he says in verse 12 and the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron because he believed me not
Not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel
Therefore ye shall not bring this congregation the land which I have given them
This is the water of Meribah because the children of Israel strove with the Lord and he was sanctified in them
So that's the punishment that comes down
You know when you read that you think man that seems a little harsh
I mean Moses has done so much he's worked so hard, you know, but it what it really goes to show us
Is that you know when God makes up his mind about something you want something done a certain way
That's the way it needs to get done
That's the way he wants it done and you know, it doesn't matter who you are that God is no respecter of persons
look there and in a
Deuteronomy where we were at verse 26 and he says but the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes
So God was upset because what I did there and would not hear me, you know, he went and he poured God
Hey, let me pass over the land
He said no and the Lord said unto me let it suffice thee speak no more unto me of this matter
So God's just showing. Hey, look I made up my mind, you know, I wanted you to do it this way
You didn't do it and now you're gonna have to deal with the consequences
And again, you say well that seems that seems harsh for Moses. Like why why isn't he allowed to go over?
I mean it was it was it that big of a deal? Well, you know to God's eyes it was you know me humanly speaking
might not see it that way but to God that was a very big deal and
Really what it shows us is that you know, nobody is is excused for being accountable to God, you know leadership included
In fact, if you're in leadership, you know, you're you're actually more accountable to God God, you know
You should know even more you should be you're even held to a higher standard, you know
That's why the children visually it seems like they got away with so much
You know, but and Moses didn't well, that's because Moses was much closer to God
Well, you know God was you know, very real to Moses and
You know leadership is not excused, you know, just because they're in leadership
In fact, the Bible is teaching us that they are more accountable. That's what we see here with Moses
He makes one mistake like that and it cost him dearly
So, you know forever in a position of leadership
We should understand that you know, whether it's in the church or you could apply this in any area of life
You know if you're a leaner in your home, you know a mom and a dad, you know
You're you're held accountable for how you raise those children if you're a leader at work, you know
Your boss if you're some kind of supervisor your boss is gonna hold you more accountable than the people that you're managing
You know, you're supposed to be the one that's guiding and leading, you know
This is just a principle that we can apply in our life that God holds leadership or you know
Other the other leaders hold, you know, the leaders under them even more accountable than the people that they're leading
So he says there in verse 27
And get thee up into the Mount of Pisgah and lift up thine eyes eastward and northward and southward and eastward and
Behold it with thine eyes for thou shalt not go over at this Jordan now
Really what I think is taking place here is God is being merciful to Moses
You know Moses wasn't allowed to go over but he left at least he lets him look at it
You didn't have to do that
He said you know what you're not going over and you're not even gonna see it
You know get back down and get back to work and do what I told you and leave these people
He says you know what? I'll tell you what Moses you can't go over
But once you go up into the mount and once you look around and take it take a look at the land at least get
To see that good land. So at least Moses got that I think that's God being merciful to Moses, you know
But he did have to make an example out of him and to show you know others that were coming
You know you think of Joshua who was Moses his servant, you know
He probably learned a great lesson from this and that's probably why if you were to look at the life of Joshua
You know, he's one of the few people in the Bible. You really don't see make any mistakes
He's somebody that really it's hard. I can't even think of one, you know, I'd have to go back and read his story again
But when I've read it last I was kind of looking for it. I still couldn't find one
You really don't see Joshua ever making a mistake. Do you you can't really point to anything in his life?
In fact, he ends his life very well when he's old and stricken years
He's the one that's saying, you know as for me in my house, we will serve the Lord
Right up into the day of his death. He's faithful to God
I think that's because you know because he was Moses the servant he saw this
he saw that God holds leaders much more accountable than the average person and those that are being led and
Because of that he was he was much more careful in the way that he led
He was much more careful in his obedience to God
So God here, you know, he's he's being merciful. He's showing in the land, you know, and and Moses, of course
He'd worked very hard to bring Israel to the point that he had brought them and he'd been you know
And by and large a very faithful man a very
Dependable man and God here at least lets him look over and see the land
And he let Moses I think see it, you know
He also I think one of the reasons he let Moses go up and see that good land is
Because think about it if you're Moses at this point, you know, and you're right there. You're seeing God defeat these kings
You know that this next generation is gonna get it right and you're gonna be going over to that promised land
It's been 40 plus years. You've been leading these people
You want nothing more to go and see this land, you know
You made one little mistake and God's not gonna let you go in, you know, put your you put yourself in his shoes
So now you're now you're at this point you go
Well, I'm gonna try it one more time with God and you go God
Hey, you know, can I go over and God says no speak to me no more of this matter
I mean, you know, it would be really easy to get despondent and just kind of throw your arms up and say well
What's the point?
You know my time's up, you know next generations taking over I might as well just whatever doesn't matter to me anymore
And I think that's part of the reason why God maybe took Moses up to the mount and let him see the land
to remind him that
There's still a bigger cause that the story of the children of Israel had only just begun and that you know
Moses shouldn't be despondent or discouraged that he shouldn't be giving up or throw up his hands and quit
but that he should see that, you know, there's a bigger cause than just him that there's something more at stake here and
Moses still had a job to do, you know Moses his time was not he still needed to go and
Encourage Joshua and strengthen him. In fact, that's what God tells him to do there in verse 28
He says but charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him. So God's taking Moses up in this dismount
Because he's still got a job to do doesn't want to quit and saying now that you've seen this
I want you to go to Joshua and strengthen him and encourage him to continue to go on and fight the battles for the Lord
He says encourage him and strengthen him for he shall go over before this people and he shall cause them to inherit the land
Which thou shalt see
So he's showing this land to remind him. Hey, look
Josh was gonna go take this over and you need to go strengthen him. You need to go encourage him
You know don't get discouraged and bring him down and you know, you tell him well, good luck buddy
You know, they're your problem now. Let's see how far you make it and see if they don't stone you
Hopefully you don't mess up, you know
He doesn't say that he goes down and he's to encourage him and strengthen him and you know
That's something that we all should be mindful of is that we should always be mindful of the next generation
You know, even if even if things didn't go our way or exactly our lives don't turn out exactly how we wanted them
You know where we made mistakes or we messed up something, you know
We should be mindful the next generation that they the next generation needs to be encouraged
The next generation needs to be strengthened because you know the next generation they're the ones they're gonna be fighting the Lord's battles
You know those of us that are older that have kids, you know, we're dead and gone
you know our kids are gonna be the next ones that carry on this mantle of
Independent fundamental Baptists, you know
That's why we should be strengthening encouraging the next generation reminding them that God is still good that God is still great
And you know that there's there's battles that are still worth fighting even though we're gone
You know, that's what he was doing there for Joshua, you know, he was going to encourage him and strengthen him
You know
We should be encouraging the next generation of why we should use the King James Bible or why?
Salivations by grace through faith or why soul winning is important all these things that we know and believe for ourselves
Are we teaching them the next generation and not only that but are we strengthening them in these doctrines?
You know, we encouraging them by showing them how important they are
But there's still battles to be fought for the Lord and that you know if it at some point
You know, they're gonna have to take on that battle for themselves
they're gonna have to decide from themselves whether or not that's something they believe for themselves and whether or not something that they're going to
fight for for themselves and
That's what's going on here in the story, you know
God doesn't want Moses giving up being despondent and quitting
He wants him to encourage the next generation and we should be mindful the next generation and he says there of course in verse 29
So we abode in the valley over against Beth Peor. That's where that chapter ends, but it's a great chapter
You know kind of dealt with some of the same things we dealt with in chapter 2
With the Giants and the and God wiping out these wicked nations
But I think that latter half there are some really good lessons that we can learn that you know
When you're gonna appeal to God, you should probably start out with a little bit of praise, you know
It's not a bad idea to try and get on good God's good side when you're you know
Especially if you've made a mistake like Moses did you know, we saw the great picture of Christ
you know with the with the rock the two different rocks being spoken to and being smitten and
you know and and the in the fact that God holds leadership accountable and
That because leadership has a very important job and that's leading the next generation into the battles for God
So let's let's make sure we're doing our part as as this generation, you know
raising up the next generation that we are strengthening and
Encouraging the next generation to go and fight the Lord's battles. Let's go ahead pray