["O Come All Ye Faithful"]
Good evening and welcome to Verity Baptist Church. Let's go ahead and find our seats this evening.
Find a seat, find a hymnal closely turned to page number 166.
["O Come All Ye Faithful"]
Psalm number 166 and we will open the service with I will praise him Psalm
number 166 sing it out on the first when I saw the cleansing fountain open wide
for all my sin
obey the spirits when he said will thou be I will praise him praise the
lamp for sinner
for his buck and wash away each stain summer 166 on the second though the
wasting straight and narrow all I claim was swept away
my ambition plans and wishes at my feet and ashes lay
I will praise him I will praise him praise the lamp for sinner say
for his book and wash away
then guys fire up on the altar of my heart was set aflame I shall never
cease to praise him glory glory to his name
I will praise him I will praise him praise the lamp for sinner say
give him glory all ye people for his book and wash away each say
Psalm number 166 on the fourth blessed be the name of Jesus
I'm so glad he took me in he's forgiven my transgressions he has
cleansed my heart from sin sing it out
I will praise him I will praise him praise the lamp for sinner say
give him glory all ye people for his book and wash away each stain
sing it out on the last glory glory to the father
glory glory to the son
glory glory to the spirit
glory to the three in one
I will praise him I will praise him praise the lamp for sinner say
give him glory all ye people for his book and wash away each stain
amen great singing welcome to the Sunday evening service here at Verity
Baptist Church we are so glad to everyone here this evening let's open
service with a word of prayer the year heavenly father we love you we thank
you for a great day to given us Lord I think for the dear people would come
Lord on a Sunday evening to praise you Lord pray pray that you eat you
would bless the service we pray for the singing the preaching and the
fellowship we ask that everything that be said and then this evening bring
glory and honor to you name we love you in Jesus and I pray amen
all right it's now time for favorites where if you're selected we will
sing a stanza from the song that you picked Josiah go ahead 448 song
number four four eight brethren we have met to worship
number four hundred and forty-eight
on the first
we have met to worship
and adore the Lord our God
will you pray with all your power while we try to reach the world all
this pain and bless the spirit of the Holy One comes down
will be this Ava 190 wonderful wonderful Jesus there is never a day so
dreamy some 190 seat out on the first there is never a day
there is never a night so long
but the soul that is trusting Jesus will some find a song
wonderful wonderful Jesus in a hardy and planted a song
a song of deliverance of courage and strength in a hardy and planted a song
brother George 250 250 215 song number two hundred and fifteen
heaven came down
my soul let's sing that last tag as well alright number two one five on
the first
wonderful wonderful day
after that one
Jesus my savior
it's under compassion
he met
shadows is spelling with joy
I am telling me
heaven came down
feel my soul
across the sea
my sins
came down
see it out
yeah
bro Salvador guide 40 on the last number four zero
no disappointment in heaven
out on the last
there'll never be creep on the door
no funeral train in the sky
no graves on the hillside
for there we shall never
die
the old will be out there forever
transform in a moment of time
immortal will stand in his likeness
the stars in the sun to outshine
I'm bound for that beautiful city
my lord has prepared for his own
where all the redeemed of all ages
sing glory around the white throne
sometimes I grow homesick for heaven
and the glories are there shall be home
what a joy that will be when my savior I see
in that beautiful city of gold
Mr. Marigold
four one five on the second
song number four one five
conquering now and still to conquer
song number four one five sing it out
on the second
conquering now and still to conquer
who is this wonderful king
friends are the armies
which you lead there
while of his glory they sing
he is our lord and redeemer
savior and monarch divine
they are the stars that forever
bright in his kingdom will shine
night to the strong is the battle
night to the swift is a race
yeah to the true and the faithful
victory is promised through grace
we'll sing one more song
Madison Guy
four hundred and nineteen on the second
sound the battle cry this will be the last song for favorites
song number four hundred and nineteen
sing it out
on the second
strong to meet the foe marching on we go
while our cause we know must prevail
shield and banner bright gleaming in the light
battling for the right we neck and fail
cows and soldiers rally round the banner
ready steady pass the word along
onward forward shout aloud hosanna
Christ the scout and of the mighty throng
amen
all right well we welcome you to our Sunday evening service
we're glad that you're here
let's go and take our bulletins
we'll look at some announcements real quickly
if you do not have a bulletin just raise your hand
and one of our ushers can get one for you
if you need a bulletin just put your hand up
and we will get one for you
the verse this week Psalm 118 24
this is the day which the lord hath made
we will rejoice and be glad in it
and of course we like that verse
if you open up your bulletin
you'll see our service time
Sunday morning service 10 30 a.m.
and we had a wonderful service this morning
we're glad you're back out tonight for the evening service
and we do invite you to be with us on Wednesday night
for the midweek service
right in the middle of the week
after you've been back at work or school or whatever
for a couple days
it's good to be refreshed and be back with God's people
we call it the most encouraging service of the week
and we hope you'll join us on Wednesday night
if you look at our soul winning times
our main soul winning times on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m.
then we have additional soul winning times on Thursdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
of course if you are a soul winner please don't forget
to write your salvations on your communication card
on the back of the card
that way we can update that in the bulletin
if you have a map that you did not finish
if you finished it you can discard it
we'll count it as done
but if you did not finish it
clearly mark what was done was not done
put it in the bin in the foyer
and we'll get that situated
and recycled back through
and if you're running late
of course to one of our soul winning times
you can call us or text us there
at the number 916-868-9080
let us know that you're planning on being there
but you're running late
that way we can make sure we have a partner
and a map and everything you need
if you notice the announcements there
if you are a first time guest
if it's your first time here
at Rarity Baptist Church
we're so glad that you are with us
we have a gift we'd like to give you
as you walk out of the church building tonight
if you go out our main foyer
you'll see a little table set up
and on that table you'll see these little gift bags
please grab one on your way out
as a gift from us to you
for being our guest tonight
there are several resources in this bag
that we'd like you to have
but the one I'd like to highlight
is this documentary that our church made
it's called Being Baptist
it's very well made, very interesting
we think you'll like it
and we want to give this to you as a gift
so please make sure you don't leave here tonight
without grabbing one of these gift bags
on your way out
and if you are a guest
we'd ask that you please take a moment
to fill out the communication card
which is inserted in your bulletin
if you need a pen
just raise your hand
and one of our ushers will bring you by
a Rarity Baptist Church pen
and you're welcome to keep the pen
as a gift from us as well
we'd love to have a record of your attendance
and we actually would like to send you a little gift
but we need your information to do that
so please take a moment to fill the card out
when we're done with the announcements
we're gonna sing a song
when we're done singing
we're gonna receive the offering
and as the offering plate goes by
you can drop this card in the offering plate
or you can hand it to me after the service
I'll be standing at the main door
greeting people on the way out
if you need to be baptized
let us know
you can let us know on your communication card
we'll follow up with you in regards to that
and of course we are a family integrated church
what that means is that children and infants
are always welcome in the service
we don't separate children from their parents
if you need a mother baby room or daddy room
just look at the back of the bulletin
you'll see where those rooms are at
they all have comfortable seating
they have monitors or windows set up
so you can watch the service and listen to it
if you look at the announcements and upcoming events
this Saturday June 1st
all the ladies are invited to a baby shower
for Miss Taylor Marin
and she is having a girl
she's registered on Amazon
and it is a potluck
so if you can please bring a dish to share
and if you'd like to sign up to come
make sure you do that on your communication card
and then next Sunday
for this service
the evening service
is our graduation service at 6 p.m.
so make sure you're here for that next Sunday
and we'll have a class of kindergartners that are graduating
and we'll have a class of high schoolers that are graduating
and it'll be a good time
we'll also be recognizing
so we'll have a graduation service
for our homeschoolers and our homeschool group
and then for those that are part of our church
but not part of our homeschool group
if they've graduated from kindergarten, sixth grade, eighth grade, high school, or college
then we'll recognize them as well
and then after the service
we're going to have pizza
in honor of all the graduates
so we'll have a time of fellowship
after the service next Sunday night
so make a point of that
and make sure you're here
and then to all of you participating
you should be getting a text from us
if you don't get a text from us
then maybe you didn't sign up
or something happened there
so make sure you let us know
but if you have a graduate
kindergarten or high school
make sure they are here at 5 p.m.
on Sunday
to do a practice
and there will be no choir practice
next week at 5 p.m.
that will be postponed
due to the graduation service
if you look at the announcements there
Father's Day is coming up June 19th
and in the morning service
we're going to have the
after the morning service
we'll have the t-shirts
for the men and the boys
in attendance that we'll be giving out
and then of course
we'll have the special music
from the VBC men's ensemble
and we have the Red Hot Preaching Conference
if you'd like to sign up
to help volunteer during the conference
there's a communication card
that you can go through
and fill out
in regards to that
there's other things there
for you to look at
please don't forget
to turn your cell phones off
or place them on silent
during the service
they're not a distraction to anybody
if you look at the back of the bulletin
birthdays and anniversaries
for the month of May
today is Jihoo Pompa's birthday
on May 26th
and then tomorrow is
Stephanie Zuniga's birthday
on May 27th
for the surge
and Miss Ajana Goncharov
have an anniversary
on May 27th
for the George McQueen
has a birthday
on May 28th
Daniel Cruz
has a birthday
on May 30th
Miss Abby Santos
has a birthday
on May 30th
and Brother Joel
and Miss Courtney Usher
have an anniversary
on May 31st
praise report
money matters
all of those things
are there for you
to look at
and I think that's it
for all of the announcements
so we're gonna go ahead
and we're gonna sing
the chorus of the week
which is the insert
in your bulletin
and we're gonna sing
I stand amazed
as we prepare
to receive
the offering this evening
so let's go ahead
and sing it out
on the first
when I examine
that old rugged cross
on the first
when I examine
that old rugged cross
the mighty gulf did span
it reaches down
to the brink
of heaven
of hell
to heaven's golden stand
I stand amazed
of the love that has sought me
me and but me
I stand amazed
you're singing well this evening
we're gonna go ahead
and sing it out
on the second
I'm gonna ask the instruments
if we can just slow it down
just a tad
and we're gonna sing it
on the second
I want you to sing it
with purpose
on passion
on the second
I imagine
in glory
that day
when all
of heaven
stood still
as God incarnate
the savior of men
died upon
Calvary's
good singing out
I stand amazed
of the love that has sought me
save me and but me
I stand amazed
Amen. Good singing.
We'll have the guys come up
and help us with the offering
at this time
and let's go ahead
and bow our heads
and have a word of prayer
Heavenly Father, Lord, we do love you
we thank you for allowing us
to gather together tonight
Lord, we pray that you bless the offering
the gift and the giver
Lord, we pray that you meet with us tonight
as we open up your word
as we study the Bible together
in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Amen.
Please open us to Numbers 33.
Numbers chapter 33.
If you do not have a Bible
please raise your hand
and unless you can bring your Bible.
Numbers chapter 33.
We read the entire chapter as our custom.
Numbers 33 beginning in verse number 1.
These are the journeys of the children of Israel
which went forth out of the land of Egypt
with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron
and Moses wrote their goings out
according to their journeys
by the commandment of the Lord
and these are their journeys
according to their goings out
and they departed from Rameses in the first month
on the 15th day of the first month
on the morrow after the Passover
the children of Israel went out
with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians
for the Egyptians buried all their firstborn
which the Lord had smitten among them
upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments
and the children of Israel removed from Rameses
and pitched in Succoth
and they departed from Succoth and pitched in Eitham
which is in the edge of the wilderness
and they removed from Eitham and pitched
and turned again unto Pihahirath
which is before Baal-zephon
and they pitched before Migdol
and they departed from before Pihahirath
and passed through the midst of the sea
into the wilderness
and went three days journey
in the wilderness of Eitham
and pitched in Merah
and they removed from Merah and came unto Elam
and in Elam were twelve fountains of water
and three score and ten palm trees
and they pitched there
and they removed from Elam and encamped by the Red Sea
and they removed from the Red Sea
and encamped in the wilderness of Sin
and they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin
and encamped in Dovka
and they departed from Dovka and encamped in Alush
and they removed from Alush and encamped at Rephidim
where was no water for the people to drink
and they departed from Rephidim and pitched
in the wilderness of Sinan
and they removed from the desert of Sinan
and pitched at Kibothatava
and they departed from Kibothatava
and encamped at Hazeroth
and they departed from Hazeroth
and pitched in Rithma
and they departed from Rithma
and pitched at Rimmon Peres
and they departed from Rimmon Peres
and pitched in Libnam
and they removed from Libnam and pitched at Rissa
and they journeyed from Rissa and pitched in
Kehiletha
and they went from Kehiletha
and pitched in Mount Shafer
and they removed from Mount Shafer
and encamped in Harada
and they removed from Harada and pitched in
T smasha
and they went from Mithka and pitched at Hashmuna
and they departed from Hashmuna
the House.
In the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh, and they were moved from Kadesh and pitched
in Mount Hor in the edge of the land of Edom and Aaron the priest went up to
Mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord and died there in the 40th year
after the children of Israel would come out of the land of Egypt in the first
day of the fifth month and Aaron was in 120 and three years old when he
died in Mount Hor and King Aaron the Canaanite which dwelt in the south
in the land of Canaan heard of the coming of the children of Israel they
departed from Mount Hor and pitched in Zalmana and they departed from
Punan, and they departed from Punan and pitched in Oboth, and they departed from
Oboth and pitched in Aizhirim, in the border of Moab, and they departed from
Eim and pitched in Dibongat, and they are removed from Dibongat and camped
in Almon bith lathim and they removed from Almon bith lathim and
pitched in the mountains of Eberim before Nebo, and he departed from
the mountains of Eberim and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near
Jericho. And they pitched by Jordan from Bethjeshemoth even unto Abel
Shittim in the plains of Moab. And the Lord was speaking to Moses in the plains of
Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying, speak until it's in Israel and say
unto them, when you're passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan then
he shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before
you and destroy all their pictures and destroy all their molten images
and quite pluck down all their high places. He shall dispossess the
inhabitants of the land and dwell therein for I have given you the
land to possess it. He shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among
your families and to the more you shall give the more inheritance and to the
fewer you shall give the less inheritance. Every man's inheritance
shall be in the place where his lot falleth. According to the tribes of your
fathers he shall inherit it. But if you will not drive out the inhabitants
of the land from before you then it shall come to pass that those which
you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your
sides and shall vex you in the land where you dwell. Moreover it shall come to
pass that I shall do unto you as I thought to do unto them. Let's pray.
Heavenly Father thank you for this evening. God I thank you for your word
for our church. I ask that you please give us all tender hearts in the
message tonight and I ask that you be the pastor. Please strengthen him and fill
him with the spirit. We love you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Amen. Alright we're there in Numbers chapter number 33 tonight and of course on
Sunday nights we've been going through the book of Numbers and we have been
calling it the series the sermon series the wilderness wanderings we've
been wandering with the children of Israel through the wilderness in the
book of Numbers and we've been doing a chapter by chapter study in
Numbers and what we've been doing is depending on the chapter depending on
how much information or how much there is to go over we're spending at least
one sermon in each chapter and depending on the chapter maybe two or three
different sermons and what we find tonight here in Numbers chapter 33 is
the nation of Israel's travel log and what's interesting about this chapter
of course you know you've been with us through the book of Numbers that we
are now nearing the end not only of the book of Numbers but chronologically
we are towards the end of the 40 year wilderness wanderings. Aaron has
already died and Moses is going to be ready to die here soon and Joshua of
course will be taking over the children of Israel and crossing over
the Jordan into the promised land and they will begin to conquer the
land but they have spent now 40 years wandering in the wilderness and
what we find in this chapter is the travel log of the children of Israel
over the last 40 years if you look at Numbers 33 and verse 1 notice what the
Bible says these are the journeys of the children of Israel which went forth
out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and
Aaron and Moses notice verse 2 wrote their goings out according to their
journeys so here the Bible tells us that Moses over the last 40 years had
been keeping notes and had been keeping detailed logs of all the different
places they had been and the different places they had gone and the Bible
says here that Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the
commandment of God and these are their journeys according to their
goings out and of course we see here that this is something that God had commanded
Moses. The Bible says they're by the commandment of the Lord so the Lord had told Moses I want you to keep track of this and I want you to write out these goings and what we see here is
Moses reminding the children of Israel where they had been over the last 40
years and again I call this chapter I call this sermon Israel's travel log but
it's this idea of when someone maybe goes on a trip or goes on a vacation
maybe they go overseas to Europe or something like that and then they come
back and they'll tell you first we went here and then we went there and
and then on this day we did this and on that day we did that that's what
Moses is doing in this chapter he's telling reminding everyone where they came
from and you know what we learn in the Bible is this that every once in a
while we ought to look back and see where we came from so that we can
remember what God has done for us along the way and what I'd like to do
tonight is I'd like to walk you through this chapter as quickly as possible and
just highlight for you some of the things that Moses is reminding the
children of Israel as he's reminding them of these different places. Now I realize when you
and I just read this chapter it just seems to us like a list of places and to be
honest with you some of these places are known and we know where they're at
some of these places not only do we not know where they're at I don't know that
anybody knows where they're at obviously these were places that
existed many thousands of years ago and not all of these were like major
cities or anything like that some of these were probably just little towns
maybe even little outposts in the middle of the wilderness where they
would just stop for a night or two or whatever it might be so some of these
places we're not even sure of where they are but Moses kept track of these
places and for us reading this now you've been going through if you've
been with us through the book of Numbers maybe some of these places
jumped out to you and some of the names jumped out to you and we'll see
that tonight but for the children of Israel they would have remembered they
would remember oh yeah I remember when we went there and I remember what
happened when we were there and some of these places would have stood out to
them as different things that they would be reminded of and I'd like to give
you ten tonight that sounds like a lot we're going to move quickly there's 56
verses in this chapter and I intend to cover the entire chapter tonight
alright we're going to do all of chapter 33 tonight and if you'd like to
jot this down then maybe you can go ahead and do that on your back of the
course of the week just place to write down some notes the first thing that I
think they see here that they are reminded of is the power of God the
power of God and I want you to notice it here in verse three the Bible says
this and they departed from Ramses now Ramses is a well-known place we do know
where that is and if you're familiar with geography you know that that's in
Egypt this is where the journey began they were in the city of Ramses
they were in Egypt under bondage the Bible says they departed from Ramses
in the first month on the first day of the first month on the morrow after
the Passover and again you I'm sure are familiar with the fact that you
had these 10 plagues that Moses brought to the Egyptians that brought to
Pharaoh and the last plague is what we know today as the Passover and the
Bible says that they departed on the first month on the 15th day Passover
is on the 14th day so the very next day the 15th day of the first month
on the morrow after the Passover that the children of Israel went out
within a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians for the Egyptians
buried all their firstborn of course if you remember the angel of death came
and every firstborn of every home including animals was killed on that
night if they did not have the blood of the lamb on the door post if they
did have the blood of the lamb then the angel would pass over and they
would be spared and here the Bible is telling us for the Egyptians buried
all their firstborn which the Lord had smitten among them and I do want
to just make note of this little phrase in fact if you don't mind writing in
your Bible or underlining your Bible maybe you can just underline this little
phrase upon their gods notice the lowercase G there plural gods this is
referring to their false gods of Egypt the Bible says which the Lord had
smitten among them upon their gods also the Lord executed judgment and
I'm not going to talk about this tonight but I just want to point out for you
that here in numbers 33 in verse 4 we are told that the 10 plagues that
Moses brought to the children of Egypt to deliver the children of Israel these
were not just random plagues turning the sea into blood and bringing the
frogs and the locusts and all those different things these were not all
just 10 random plagues that God just came up with but actually each one of
those plagues was an attack upon one of the false gods of the Egyptians so
for example the Egyptians had a god of the Sun Ra we know that from history
and God turned the Sun black they had a god of the Nile and God turned the Nile
into blood and each one of those plagues was showing God's supremacy
God's power over each one of their gods and here we're told that he
brought upon their gods also the Lord executed judgment notice verse 5 in the
children of Israel removed from Ramses and pitched in now you may want to do
this you may not want to do this it's going to require a little bit of a
commitment if you want a number these we see here the very first stop on their
journey the first stop on their travel log and if you want to write a number
one there next to the word suck off this is where they where they went
first after they had left the city of Ramses the children of Israel removed
from Ramses and pitched in number one suck off and they departed from
suck off and pitched in number two eat them which is in the edge of the
wilderness and they removed from eat them and turned again on to high high
rough now what I want you to notice is that some of these cities some of
them not the ones that we just read right now some of them only appear in
the book of numbers the only record that we have of the children Israel
going to these places is because numbers tells us that some of these are also
brought up in the book of Exodus for example once we just read if you were
to go back to Exodus and look at the passages you would see that the
cities match as to where they went some of them were not told anything
about these towns other than the fact that they went there they spent time
there and suck off and eat them which is in the edge of the
wilderness but in verse number seven the Bible says and they removed from
eat them and turned again unto high high rock now this is a town that you
might want to underline or circle or put a box around because this is
actually something that is important you say well what happened here in
high rock notice what the Bible says there in verse seven and they removed
from eat them and turned again unto high high rock which is before it
bails the fun and they pitched before McDole verse eight and they
departed from high high rough and pass through the midst of the sea into
the wilderness and went three days journey into the wilderness of Ethan
and pitched in Mara so what does that say what does that mean when it says
that they passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness of course
this is the great crossing of the Red Sea right before they cross the Red
Sea they were in this place called high rock and when they departed
verse eight before high rock and they passed through the midst of the
sea in to the wilderness now let's just look at some of these just
cross-references real quickly if you don't mind keep your place there
numbers 33 obviously that's our text for tonight but go back with me if you
to the book of Exodus Exodus chapter number 14 if you go backwards you can
go past Leviticus into the book of Exodus Exodus chapter 14 and do me a
favor put a ribbon or a bookmark or put your finger there in the book of
Exodus because we're going to primarily be going flipping back and
forth between the book of Exodus will also flip back into some of the
previous chapters of the book of Numbers but will primarily be in
Exodus so I'd like you to be able to get to it quickly Exodus chapter 14
notice what the Bible says in the Lord speaking to Moses saying speaking to
the children of Israel that they turn and can't before does this sound
familiar
pie her high route between make doll and the sea over against bail Z phone
before it shall before it shall you in camp by the sea so we can see here
that the city's the same locations where they're stopping are being
mirrored in Exodus and numbers looks good down to verse 21 say what
happened here and Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord
calls the sea to go back by strong East wind all that night and made the
siege dry land and the waters were divided and the children of Israel went
into the midst of the sea upon dry ground and the waters were all way
wall unto them on their right hand and on their left so what you notice
is Moses is taking the children of Israel through this travel log of all
the different places where they went for the children of Israel when they
would have heard of that place and of course Moses identifies that this is
right before they pass through the sea into the wilderness and of course this
is that great miracle probably one of the greatest miracles in the Bible
not the greatest of course we know that that's the resurrection of the
Lord Jesus Christ but this is one of the greatest miracles in the Bible
where God parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel to cross over on
dry land as they were running from the Egyptians and of course we talked
about this in the past but the crossing of the Red Sea is a picture of
salvation the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt which is a picture
of the world and Moses their deliverer which was a picture of the
Lord Jesus Christ in some ways and other ways he's a picture of the law we
understand that but Moses delivers them from Egypt and then they pass
through the Red Sea which pictures the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and
that is a picture of salvation and could also be a picture of baptism and
of course when they are wandering in the wilderness as we were learning
about Moses that is a picture of the backslid in life the life of someone
that's wandering in the world but they are now getting ready to cross
the Jordan River and they're going to enter the promised land and that'll
picture the victorious Christian life and what they're reminded of here is
the power of God the power of God for deliverance the power of God for
salvation the power of God for them to pass through the Red Sea and for them
to be saved from Egypt and from Pharaoh and I would say to us tonight as we
look at the travel log of the children of Israel and we look back on
the life of the children of Israel as they process through the wilderness
over these last 40 years that you and I should look back on our lives and
maybe identify some of these things I hope that you can look back and see
the Pihah High Roth of your life and see the place and remember the place
maybe you don't remember the name exactly maybe you don't remember the date
exactly but I hope that you can remember the day when you passed
through not the Red Sea but the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and you
were saved
I like the song that says there is a fountain filled with blood drawn from
Emmanuel's veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their
guilty stains and you and I should be able to look back like the children of
Israel on that day when they saw the power of God when they pass through the
Red Sea and you should be able to look back on a day when you pass
through that great Red Sea the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for
salvation we should remember that we should constantly be reminded and
remember the fact that we are saved the fact that Jesus saved us the fact
that we are on this journey with the Lord Jesus Christ so we see the
power of God there in verses 1 through 8 keep your finger there in Exodus
we're going to come back to it
go back to Numbers 33 let me show you a second place that they might recognize and
maybe you'll recognize in verse number eight the Bible says this and they
departed from Pi-ha-Hirath and passed through the midst of the sea into the
wilderness and went three days journey into the wilderness of Etham and
pitched in, notice the fourth location on their stop here if you want to put a four there
they pitched in Mara, Mara and this again may be a place that you find
familiar a word the name of a location that you find familiar the Bible says
that they pitched in Mara and then in verse 9 it tells us and they removed
from Mara and came unto Elam so in verses 1 through 8 we see the power
of God for those of you taking notes and in verses 8 and 9 we see the
providing of God the providing of God you say why well notice what happens
in Mara go back to the book of Exodus if you were if you would we were just
in chapter 14 flipped now to chapter 15 and look at verse number 22 Exodus
chapter 15 and verse 22 the Bible says this Exodus 15 22 and Moses brought
Israel from the Red Sea and they went out into the wilderness of shore and
they went three days into the wilderness notice how that matches
numbers perfectly and you might remember this story found no water verse 23 and
when they came to Mara if you remember the word Mara actually means bitter or
bitterness and when they came to Mara they could not drink of the waters of
Mara for they were bitter therefore the name of it was called Mara verse
24 and the people this is the first time it happens and it won't be the
last this will be a constant thing that the children of Israel struggle
with in the wilderness for 40 years but in verse 24 the Bible tells us
right after they cross the Red Sea and right after I mean they've only
gone three days after crossing the Red Sea the Bible says in verse 24 and the
people murmured against Moses and you would think to yourself you just you
just cross the Red Sea that literally just opened up an ocean you opened up
a sea and the Bible says that the waters were as walls on both sides as
you walk through it and we're not talking three years later we're not
talking three weeks later we're talking about three days later their
murmuring against the man that brought them through the Red Sea but you know
the truth is this if we look at the crossing of the Red Sea as a as a
salvation experience we should also remember this that salvation does not
change who you are salvation changes your destination but it does not change
your character your character will change over a period of time as you
begin to walk with the Lord and follow the Lord but just because you
got saved yesterday or three days ago doesn't mean that anything is going to
change as far as your character behavior or the type of person that you
are and these individuals just three days later found themselves murmuring
against Moses verse 24 the people murmured against Moses saying what shall
we drink and he cried unto the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree which
when he had cast into the waters the waters were made sweet there he made
for them a statute and an ordinance and there he proved them and of course much
could be said about this and we could spend a whole I preached an entire
sermon on this tree and the bitter water I won't do that tonight but I
would just say this that in verses 1 through 8 we see the power of God and
in verses 8 through 9 we see the providing of God and you and I in our
own lives should be able to look back and see on that day when the blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of salvation came to our lives and we
were saved it is the power of Jesus to save us we should be able to look
back and see that in our own lives but we should also be able to look back
and identify throughout our lives that God has provided for us and here we
see that God provided they came to this place where the water was
bitter in the Bible says that the Lord showed him Moses a tree which
when he had cast into the waters the waters were made sweet they were able
to drink of the water but then I want you to notice that tomorrow and then
a little further down the road when they get to Elam look at verse 27 and
they came Exodus 15 27 and they came to Elam where were 12 wells of water
and three score and 10 palm trees and they encamped there by the waters
it's always interesting to me how they get tomorrow and they complain
against God but just the very next stop over the very next exit on their
journey they were going to get to Elam and the Bible says there was
12 wells of water and three score and 10 that's 70 palm trees doesn't it sound
like a like a tourist destination I mean 12 wells of water 70 palm trees
the very next town God had already provided for them you know the truth is
that sometimes when you and I complain we just complain a little too soon maybe
we should wait you say I'm at Mara wait till you get to Elam because
here's what I know about the Christian life that God provides for his people
and we see not only the power of God but the providing of God go back to
numbers 33 look at verse 9 again notice how Moses identifies this number 33
verse 9 and they removed from Mara and came on to Elam Elam's the fifth
stop and Elam and in Elam were 12 fountains of water and three score and
10 palm trees and they pitched there aren't you thankful that God has
provided for you aren't you thankful that God is the God that provides
aren't you thankful that God takes care of you I know in my life my wife and I
can look back on our own lives and decisions we've made that at the time
we didn't even know what we were doing or why we were doing it we're honestly
just being kids and and doing things and doing that but now looking back now
that we've spent close to 40 years on this earth on our little
wilderness wandering we can look back and see the hand of God and see how
God has taken care of us and our God has been there that invisible hand
of God oftentimes we don't see it working but God is there providing God
is on the journey with us we see the power of God verses 1 through 8 we see the
providing of God in verses 8 to 9 and I'd like you to notice thirdly tonight
we see the proving of God in verses 10 to 11 notice numbers 33 and verse 10
and they removed from Elam and encamped by the Red Sea there's a stop number
six is not even a town or an outpost or just on the beach by the Red Sea
obviously on the other side of the Red Sea they've already crossed verse 11 and
they removed from the Red Sea and encamped in here stop number seven
the wilderness of sin the wilderness of sin and of course we should be
familiar with this is the wilderness of Sinai or Mount Sinai go back to
Exodus chapter 16 if you would look at verse number one Exodus chapter 16 in
verse 1 the Bible says this and they took their journeys from Elam and all the
congregation of the children of Israel came and to the wilderness of
sin which is between Elam and Sinai on the 15th day of the second month
after their departing out of the land of Egypt I want you to notice that
up to this point we're only two months into this 40-year journey now
don't worry it's not going to go this slow there's gonna be gaps that are
completely ignored in these 40 years but they're two months into this journey
Exodus 16 verse 2 and the whole congregation of the children of Israel
murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness we see this again
it'll be a theme and the children of Israel said unto them what to God we
had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the
flesh pots and we did eat bread to the full for ye have brought us forth
into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger then said the Lord
unto Moses behold I will rain bread from heaven for you and the people
shall go out and gather a certain rate every day and notice these words
here that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law or not I want
you to notice that here on this stop this stop at the wilderness of sin the
seventh stop in Numbers chapter 33 in verse 11 you can go back to numbers 33
keep your place there in Exodus what happens here on the seventh stop in the
wilderness of sin we see that this is where the famous miracle that will
follow them for the next 40 years of God raining man down upon the
children of Israel every day he's gonna rain man down on them every day he's
gonna provide for them we saw that with the water but the Bible says here
prove them because we saw there I know you're back in number 33 we saw an exit
exit 16 that he said I will rain bread from heaven for you and the
people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day that I may prove
them whether they will walk in my law or no God said that the bread coming
down every day was going to be a way for him to test or to prove them
whether they will walk in my law or not what does that mean exactly why is it
that he says that this was going to be a proof and there's there's a
practical application and or a physical application and then there's a
spiritual application the physical application is this that they have been
given specific instructions again we won't take the time to go through the
story you can look at it on your own if you'd like but if you
remember God had told him to go out and he told them he gave him a
measurement he said I want you to get this much bread for each member of
your family every day don't get more bread than what I've allowed for get
enough bread just for that day because the next day you'll go back out and get
bread for that day and the next day and every day they were to go out and
get the bread needed for that day and on the day before the Sabbath
on the Sabbath day which was a day of rest they were to not know go out the
bread would not be there so the day before the Sabbath on the sixth day
they were to get twice as much for that day in the day before and if you
remember the children of Israel because humans tend to be just greedy and
and covetous and wanting more they go out and they get more bread than
they're supposed to and of course what happened it went bad it went
rotten it's spraying worms and this was God saying I was proving them to
see if they would follow directions he said I gave them my word I told them
what to do and then I was testing them to do it but we know from the New
Testament that the bread coming down from heaven has multiple applications
there's multiple examples one example is that the bread represents the Lord
Jesus Christ why because Jesus is the bread that came from heaven he said I
am the bread of life we understand that but the bread also pictures Bible
reading because of course we know from the New Testament we know from
other passages that this story is quoted Jesus quoted saying that man
shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeded out of the
mouth of God and you know I believe that this is still a test for us as
believers today because God expects every believer you know that tomorrow
morning God expects you to go out to get up in the morning and go out
and find the bread that he sent down from heaven the bread of life and to
feast upon the bread tomorrow morning you say what's the bread it's the word
of God he expects you you will feed yourself probably you will feed
yourself at some point tomorrow physically but God expects you to feed
yourself spiritually and you are not get this idea that says well I went to
church on Sunday pastor and you preach for an hour and six minutes
this morning and who knows how long is gonna take you to preach through 59
verses tonight and you know I got a lot of Bible today so I think that
will hold me over for the next few days no no God wants you to go out
every day and get your daily bread every day you're supposed to go out and
get the word of God and read the word of God and God says this is a test he
said that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law or no so we
see the proving of God God wants to see if you're gonna get up tomorrow
morning and he has deposited he has brought bread he has dropped down bread
from heaven for you tomorrow morning in your King James Bible he has it
ready for you he's gonna prove you to see whether you give the Word of God
importance and whether you will walk in his law or no and the sad thing is
that most Christians will spend like we talked about this morning more time
doing this than doing this and that's a proof to God where your heart is that
is a test that God is giving you and so many are failing so we see the power of
God and we see the providing of God and we see the proving of God and I
like you to notice for the tonight numbers 33 in verse 10 we see the 8th
location we see the portrayal of God we see this in verses 12 and 14 and
they took their journey out of the wilderness of sin and in camp in
Dovka and they departed from Dovka that's number 8 and encamped in Eilash
that's number 9 nothing happened in these locations verse 14 and they
removed from Eilash and encamped at here's number 10 Raphidim and this may
sound familiar to you because this is again a place where something similar
happened the Bible here Moses tells us where was no water for the people
to drink and this is different than Mara because in Mara they had water it
was bitter and Moses had to take a tree and put it into the water and it
became sweet here in this location Raphidim there is no water what
happens here well this is the famous story if you remember of the stone
providing water the rock providing water for the children of Israel
Exodus chapter 17 if you would and look at verse number 1 Exodus chapter 17
verse 1 the Bible says this and all the congregation of the children of Israel
journeyed from the wilderness of sin after their journeys according to the
commandments of the Lord and pitched in Raphidim and there was no water
for the people to drink wherefore the people truth or form did chide with
Moses and said give us water that we may drink and Moses said unto them why
chide ye with me wherefore do you tempt the Lord and the people thirsted
and the people thirsted therefore water and the people murmured against
Moses and said wherefore is this that thou has brought us up out of Egypt
to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst and Moses cried
unto the Lord saying what shall I do unto this people they almost be ready
to stone me and the Lord said unto Moses go on before the people and
take with thee of the elders of Israel and thy rod wherewith thou smotest the
river take in thine hand and go but I will stand before thee there upon the
rock in Horeb and thou shalt smite the rock and there shall come water
out of it that the people may drink and Moses did so in the sight of the
elders of Israel now if you remember this actually happens twice it happens
at the beginning of the 40-year journey when Moses does it right and
then it happens again at the end of the 40-year journey when Moses does it
wrong here he does it correctly God tells him to smite the rock and then
water comes gushing out of the rock so we see in verses 1 through 8 the power
of God verses 8 and 9 the proving of God excuse me the providing of God
verses 10 and 11 the proving of God and here in verses 12 and 14 we see
the portrayal of God the portrayal of God you say why is it the portrayal of
God because this is actually a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ you don't have
to turn here I'll just read this for you if you'd like to jot this down for
your notes you can first Corinthians 10 for in the New Testament says this and
did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual
rock that followed them and that rock was Christ we know that this
rock is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord Jesus Christ is the
rock and Moses was to smite the rock and then water would gush out of the
rock and this all pictures the fact that Jesus is the rock and he would be
beaten he would be smited he would be smitten and as a result of Moses who
represents the law smiting the rock who represents the Lord Jesus Christ
water would come out and it would be the saving water that we need and
this is a picture and a portrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ and we see this
picture we've talked about these things in the past this reminds me not
only does this this chapter reminds me but this specific story the story we saw
earlier of the bread coming down and the story we're looking at right now
of Moses smiting the rock and there shall come water out of it there's a
hymn in our hymn book that is that the lyrics are based off these words
and the hymn is all the way my Savior leads me here's what the words say
they say it says all the way my Savior leads me cheers each winding path I
tread reminds me of the journey of the children of Israel gives me grace for
every trial feeds me with the living bread though my weary steps may falter
and my soul of thirst may be gushing from the rock before me lo a spring of
joy I see gushing from the rock before me lo a spring of joy I see so
we see the power of God in the providing of God in the proving of God
in the portrayal of God and I'd like you to notice in verses 15 and 16 of
numbers 33 and go back to it like you notice that we see the permissiveness of
God the permissiveness of God you might find that on the permissiveness
of God because permissiveness means that there's an allowance for maybe
something that we might think should not be allowed for but we see this
in the nature and character of God I'll explain it to you we've talked about
it in the past look at verse 15 and they departed from Rephidim and pitched
in the wilderness of Sinai and they removed the from the desert of Sinai
Rephidim was stopped number 10 wilderness of Sinai was stopped number 11
and look last part of verse 16 and pitched at Kibroth Hatavah this is
stopped number 12 Kibroth Hatavah and I'm not sure how it's supposed to
be pronounced you don't know either so don't give me your thoughts what is it
happens here will go back in numbers if you would numbers chapter 11 just real
quickly keep your place or numbers 33 go back to chapter number 11 the
permissiveness of God if you remember the children of Israel they
would just not stop complaining in the wilderness in numbers 11 and verse 31
the Bible says this and there went forth a wind from the Lord and brought
quails from the sea God had provided manna all they needed was manna but if
you remember they complained about the water he provided water they
complain about the food he provided manna they complain about the manna now
he's providing quail and the Bible says here they went for the 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 the side as it were a day's journey on the
other side round about the camp as it were two cubits high upon the face of
the earth and the people stood up all that day and all that night and all
the next day and they gathered the quails he that gathered least gathered
ten homers and they spread them all abroad themselves round about the camp
with verse 33 and while the flesh was yet between their teeth there it
was chewed the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people and the
Lord smote the people with a very great plague and he called the name of
the place Kibroth Hatavah because they buried the people notice the words
here that lusted and these people were lusting after food they weren't
satisfied with the bread they wanted flesh and God says you want flesh and
we see the permissiveness of God he brings quail and he allows him to eat
flesh but the Bible says as the flesh was yet between their teeth the
wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people look at verse 35 and
the people journeyed from Kibroth Hatavah unto Hazeroth and abode at
Hazeroth and here we see the permissiveness of God you say what is
the permissiveness of God the permissiveness of God is this that you
and I should not confuse God's allowance of something for God's
approval of something we're not Calvinists God is not a puppeteer up
in heaven pulling strings you're not a robot God has given all of us free
will and just because God allows you to do something people often think well
God's allowing me to make this move and God's allowing me to make this decision
and God's allowing me to to do this and do that listen to me do not
mistake the fact that God allows you to do something for God's approval of
something he may not stop you from marrying that person well God is
allowing me to marry well there's some red flags there that maybe if you
read the Bible he may not stop you from taking that job he may not stop
you from moving to that city he may not stop you from doing whatever it is
that you've convinced yourself and sold yourself on that you're going to do but
do not confuse the allowance of God for the approval of God because sometimes
he'll give you the flesh and send the wrath while it's yet in your teeth
we see the permissiveness of God and then I'd like you to notice and we're
gonna knock out a lot of this here just in this one point I get a notice
in verses 17 to 35 we see the presence of God the presence of God in verses
17 to 35 we just have a list a list of all the different locations and I'm not
going to take the time to read every one of these verses we've already read
all of them before I began to preach this evening but if you look at verse 17
the Bible says this and they departed from Kibreh HaTavah and encamped at
here's number 13 has has arrived and all these verses pretty much go the
same way they departed from this place and they pitched in this phrase they
departed from this place and pitched to this place they're numbered there there's
outlined here or listed here in these verses if you notice in verse 18
they went to a place called Rithma verse 19 Rimon Peres verse 20 Libnah
verse 21 Rezan verse 22 Kahilatah verse 23 Mount Shafer verse 24
Harada verse 25 Makhilov verse 26 Tahev verse 27 Tara verse 28
Micah verse 29 Hashmona verse 30 Masirov verse 31 Beni Joachim verse 32
Horhagida verse 33 Jotbatha verse 34 Ibrona verse 35 Isaiah and Gaber
and here's the interesting thing about this list is the preceding list
that we just went through these verses they aren't mentioned anywhere
other than here in numbers 33 meaning there is no record in Exodus or
Deuteronomy that the children of Israel went to any of these places
Moses here numbers it for us you say why are these places not mentioned
anywhere else they're not mentioned anywhere else because nothing happened
there nothing happened in these locations of note here's what's
interesting even in these places where nothing happened what we do know is
this that the presence of God was with them that God was with them so
well why did they go to these different places we don't even know
anything about Masirov and Horhagida and Ibrona and Azeon Gaber why why would
they go there why why did they what did they do that we don't know what
they did we don't know how long they were there we don't even know
where these places are right they might have spent one night there they
might have spent several weeks there we don't know but here's what we do
know they went there because the cloud led them there they went there
because the cloud the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night
was leading the children of Israel and God led them here here and though we
don't know where these places are we don't know what happened here we don't
know what took place in these locations how long they were there
here's what we do know is that God was with them aren't you thankful as
you look back maybe on the last 40 years of your wilderness wandering you
may not remember all the days and all the specific things that happened
but we can be assured of this that the Lord was with us all the way my
Savior leads me what am I to ask beside can I doubt his tender mercies who
through life has been my guide heavily peace divine is comfort here
by faith in him to dwell for I know what air befalls me Jesus do with all
things well before I know what else befalls me Jesus do with all things
well no matter where I go no matter what I do I know this God is with me
so you see the power of God and the providing of God and the proving of
God and the portrayal of God the permissiveness of God the presence of
God and like you notice verse 36 this is a big one I think you should
recognize this one in verse 36 we see the penalty of God numbers 33 in verse
36 the Bible says this and they removed from ASEAN gay bar and pitched
in the wilderness of sin which is notice it kadish kadish other places
referred to as kadish barnia say what happened here well you know what
happened here but let's look at it you should know what happened here if
not you'll remember here very quickly go back to numbers 13 numbers 13
we're still early in the 40 years in fact if you remember in the book of
Numbers we spent the first 10 chapters just preparing to go into the
wilderness when they've already crossed the Red Sea they pitched at Mount
Sinai for about a year they got things ready to go in the wilderness
kadish or kadish barnia is really the first major location they go to on
their wilderness wanderings numbers 13 25 and they returned from searching
of the land after 40 days what happened at kadish or at kadish
barnia you remember the song 12 men went to spy in Canaan 10 were bad and two
were good that happened in kadish what do you think they saw in Canaan 10
were bad and two were good some saw giants big and strong some saw grapes
of clusters long some saw God was in it all 10 were bad and two were good
remember the 12 spies came back 10 came with an evil report look at verse 25
number 13 25 and they returned from searching of the land after 40 days
and they went and came to Moses and to Aaron and to all the
congregation of the children of Israel and to the wilderness of Perrin to
kadish and brought back word unto them and unto all the congregation and
showed them the fruit of the land verse 32 and they brought up an evil
report of the land which they had searched them to the children of
Israel saying the land though which we have gone to search it is a land
that eateth up the inhabitants thereof and all the people that we saw in it
are men of great stature and what we see is that here in kadish barnia
kadish the people believe the evil report and as a result the penalty the
penalty for their lack of faith was that they would wander in the wilderness
for 40 years so we see the power of God and the providing of God the
proving of God the portrayal of God the permissiveness of God the
presence of God we see the penalty of God and what's the lesson that we
learned from the penalty of God we'll actually learn about this this
Wednesday night in our Hebrew study as well so just keep that in mind but
what we learn in the penalty of God is this that God does not owe us
opportunities God gives us opportunities and if we fail to take
them if we fail to make good on them if we fail to go forward in faith
listen in the Christian life we ought to always remember this when it comes
to God and when it comes to the work of God and when it comes to the
kingdom of God God is always advancing God is always moving forward God is
always taking more land and God will move forward with or without us and when
the children of Israel refused to go refused to believe refused to follow
God the penalty was they were left behind in fact they spent their lives
wasted I wonder how many Christians waste their lives because they're not
willing to go forward with God not willing to go in faith so we see the
penalty the penalty is that they wasted their lives now here's what's
interesting from verse from Kadesh to the next place we're going to go is
there in verse 37 number 3 337 and they pitched from Kadesh and pitched in
I want you to notice this from from this phrase number 3337 and they removed
from Kadesh comma right you got a King James Bible there space and pitched in
Mount Hor between those two phrases 38 years goes by we fast forward now we
spent up to this point up to to verse 36 in this chapter and the first
phrase of verse 37 and they removed from Kadesh actually I shouldn't even say
because this is the end of that we we spent the first part of 40 years and
then when they go to Mount Hor that's towards the end of 40 years so
there's a 40 year period that happens here and it's interesting to me
that though there's all these towns and all these cities that were given
and we're told that they went to all these different places the vast
majority of time about 38 years are actually not mentioned and they're
actually not covered we don't you say what they do during those 38 years we
don't really know I mean we don't know what they did in these places
and for 38 years we're not even mentioned where they went what happened
or whatever during the time in which they were wandering in the wilderness
none of that is mentioned in the account of their journeys you say why is
that well the wilderness wanderings is a picture of being backslidden remember
when they wandered in the wilderness that's a picture of a Christian
wandering in the world when they enter into the promised land that is
a picture of the victorious Christian life and aren't you thankful that one
day in heaven God will not mention your sin to you so I have all these
years that I've wasted into sin they won't be mentioned to you in the
sea of God's forgetfulness he's removed them as far as the East is from
the West and here they're not even mentioned it's like it didn't even
happen the Bible says that they went to cadence cadence was towards the
beginning of the 40 years when they sent in the 10 spies and the 12 spies
and the 10 came back with an evil report and they said not to go God
punished them and said fine they're gonna wander in the wilderness for 40
years and 38 years later number 3 337 and they removed from cadence and
pitched in Mount Hor in the edge of the land of Edom what happens in Mount Hor
verse 38 and Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the
commandments of the Lord and died there this is at the end towards the
end so how do you know it was towards the end in the 40th year after the
children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt in the first day of
the fifth month so we go from Cadence Parnia where they're told you're
gonna wander in the wilderness 40 years nothing is mentioned the next thing we
see is there we're in the 40th year in Mount Hor and we see Aaron dying what
does this remind us of what does this show us it shows us the
progression of God the progression of God that God not only does he keep
moving forward but he won't bring back a memory of your sin a memory of your
wasted time we see him that he just goes forward with the story look verse
39 number 3 339 and Aaron was 120 and three years old when he died in Mount
Hor and we see that the work of God is always advancing the work of God is
always advancing and there's two thoughts here and I want you to
understand them one thought is this the penalty of sin the penalty of God
that when we decide to step off and when we decide to not follow when we
decide to not go forward God is not going to linger with us in the
wilderness God is always advancing and he will go forward you want to waste
40 years in the wilderness God will let you do it but you know the progression
of God is this that the minute you decide I repent I want to get right I
want to get back I want to get back to serving God God says you can get
right back in and he won't even mention the 40 years in the
so we see the power of God in the providing of God the proving of God the
portrayal of God the permissiveness of God the presence of God the penalty of
God the progression of God like your notice in verses 40 through 47 we
see the promotion of God look at verse 40 in the previous verses we saw the
death of Aaron now we'll see the death of Moses it's not the very next
thing verse 40 the Bible says and King Aaron the Canaanite which dwelt in
the south and the land of Canaan heard of the coming of the children of Israel
they departed from out for and pitched in Zalmona and they departed from
Zalmona and pitched in Poonon and they parted from Poonon and pitched in
Oboth and parted from Oboth and pitched in Ijebirim in the border of
Moab and they parted from Iam and pitched in Dibon Gad and they removed
from Dibon Gad and encamped in Almo Blathayim and they removed from
Almodi Blathayim and pitched in the mountains of Abirim and then this
word should sound familiar to you the this location notice what it says
before Nebo before Nebo the mountains of Abirim before Nebo what happens here
numbers 27 just real quickly look at it numbers 27 look at verse 12 and the
Lord said unto Moses get thee up into this Mount Abirim and see the land
which I've given unto the children of Israel and when thou has seen it thou
also shall be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother was gathered
referring to the death of Moses he would be allowed to look into the land
but he would not be allowed to go of course we know why because the
second time that the rock came God said that he was to speak to the
rock and Moses and his anger smote the rock and for that reason was not
allowed to enter into the land God allowed him to see the land and then
died there look at the instructions given verse 18 and the Lord said unto
Moses take thee Joshua the son of none a man in whom is the spirit and lay
thy hand upon him and set him before Eliezer the priest and before all the
congregation and give him a charge in their sight by the way Eliezer is
the son of Aaron who took the place of Aaron Joshua will be taking the
place of Moses verse 20 and thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him that
all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient and what we
see is the promotion of God because God is always advancing and look there
has to be a generation that comes behind us that continues what we're
doing here every Moses needs a Joshua every Aaron needs an Eliezer every
Paul needs a Timothy and we see that God is constantly looking for that next
generation that'll step up and say I'll do it I'll preach I'll go I'll
start a church I'll lean we see that Joshua steps up a man the Bible says
in whom is the spirit and we see the promotion of God so you see the
power of God in verses 1 through 8 and the proof providing of God in
verses 8 through 9 and the proving of God in verses 10 to 11 the portrayal of
God in verses 12 and 14 the permissiveness of God in verses 15 to
16 the presence of God in verses 17 to 35 the penalty of God in verse 36
the progression of God in verses 37 through 39 the promotion of God in
verses 40 through 47 and then lastly tonight I'd like you to notice in verses
48 through 56 we see the precaution of God the precaution of God the way
this whole thing ends is with God through Moses giving the children of
Israel a warning before they enter into the Promised Land here's what he
says verse 48 and he departed from Mount Abarim and pitched in the plains
of Moab by Jordan near Jericho of course we know that's where the
matter of Baal Peor and Balaam and that whole story took place and they
pitched by Jordan and Beth-Jeshimoth even unto Abel-Shittim in the
plains of Moab and the Lord is speaking to Moses in the plains of Moab by
Jordan near Jericho saying speak unto the children of Israel and say unto
them when you are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan because they
have not yet crossed the Jordan River but they're getting ready to then ye
shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy
all their pictures and destroy all their molten images and quite plucked
down all their high places and ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land
and dwell therein for I have given you the land to possess it here's what
God is telling God is saying when you get over to that land there's
going to be people there that you're going to remove they need to be
dispossessed and those people are going to have pictures and they're
gonna have molten images this is of course their idols and and their
idolatry he says I want you to destroy their pictures destroy their
molten images and quite pluck down all their high places what is it that
God is telling the children of Israel and what is it God is telling Moses and
what is it you and I can learn and what we can learn is this that the
Christian life should not be a life in which we compromise look I understand
that most people don't live their lives this way but what to God there'd
be a number of people at Verity Baptist Church that would just say I'm
gonna get sold out to the things of God and I'm not just going to be
half in and half out lukewarm I'm gonna get in this whole thing and maybe
that means there's some pictures in some molten images and some high places
that need to be removed and they need to be cast out but I'm going to
give my soul wholly and fully to God because you can't do the Christian
life properly with one foot in the world it just doesn't work and knows
what he says verse 54 and you shall divide the land by lot for an
inheritance among your families and the more shall give the more
inheritance into the few you shall give less inheritance every man's
inheritance shall be in the place where his lot follows according to the
father shall you inherit verse 55 but if he will not drive out the inhabitants
of the land from before you then it shall come to pass so why can't I
live half in half out why can't I live half worldly half half not
worldly here's why then it shall come to pass that those which he let
remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your side and shall
vex you in the land wherein you dwell and if that's not bad enough look at
verse 56 moreover it shall come to pass that I shall do unto you as I
thought to do unto them and God says you want to get out of the
wilderness make sure you get completely out of the wilderness don't leave one
foot in the world one foot in Christianity one from the world one foot
trying to be spiritual he said why don't you get all in why don't you
just get in why don't you just get sold out why don't you just decide I'm
going to live the Christian life so you see the power of God the
providing of God the proving of God the portrayal the permissiveness the
presence the penalty the progression the promotion and the precaution what is
it that we see we see the journey of the children of Israel as they
journeyed through the world through the wilderness and I think in some ways we
can probably see ourselves in this we can see at times hopefully the power
of God moving in our lives we can see how God has provided but we can
also see how God has proved us we can see as some ways and sometimes the
permissiveness of God where he allowed something because God's
allowance does not necessarily mean approval we can always be confident of
the presence of God and sometimes we've dealt with the penalty of God we can
see our own lives through this chapter and what this chapter really
highlights for us is this that Jesus led us all the way the song says
this all the way my Savior leads me oh the fullness of his love perfect
rest to me is promised in my father's house above when my spirit clothed
immortal wings its flights to realms of day this my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way this my song through endless ages Jesus led me
all the way let's bow our heads in our word of prayer Heavenly Father Lord we do
love you and we thank you for the presence of God we thank you though
there are times that maybe we don't understand it and we don't
comprehend it we know that you are with us and sometimes we see the power
and sometimes we deal with the penalty but we can always be assured of
the presence and that we can come to the end of our lives one day and say
Jesus led me all the way we thank you for that we love you we thank you
for chapters like these that remind us that maybe sometimes we need to stop and
look back and see the road in which we've been and remember the great
things that you've done for us along the ways we love you in Jesus name we
pray amen when I brother RJ come up and lead us in a final song just want
to remind you of a couple of things first of all don't forget that if you
like to sign up to help with the Red Hot Preaching Conference specifically
if you're serving in one of these ministries orchestra safety team or
ushers we'd love to know your availability for the conference so that
we can make plans for that and of course want to remind you that this
coming week next Sunday night is going to be a very special Sunday night we'll
have our graduation service and we've got several kindergartners that are
graduating and three high schoolers that are graduating we'll have pizza
after the service and we want to encourage you to be with us next Sunday
night as we have that special service there's anything we can do for you
please let us know please don't forget to maybe look around your area there
and pick up any mess your kids might have made or put your him book back or
things like that it helps in the morning for the cleaners if there's
anything we can do for you please let us know why brother RJ come up and
lead us in a final song
emails grab a song looks to turn to page number 110
number 110 all the way my Savior leads me saw number 110 what have I to ask
beside sing it out on the first all the way my Savior leads me what have I
to ask beside can I tell you send a mercy
has been my guy
Jesus do with all things well
Jesus
on a second all the way my Savior leads me cheers each winding path I
gives me grace for every trial
no my steps may falter and my soul a thirst maybe gushing from the rock
before me low a swing of joy I see gushing from the rock before me
low a spring of joy I see you're gonna sing it out on the third but we're gonna
slow it down all right brother you don't mind we're gonna slow it down
and we're gonna sing it out with some passion all right
saw number 110 sing it out with some passion sing it out on the last all
the way my Savior leads me
perfect rest to me it's promised in my father's house above when my
wings is by this my son Jesus let me oh this my son
Jesus
amen great singing before we leave here if anyone has questions about
salvation baptism or church membership the pastor will be at the door who would
love to talk to you directly to someone who is trained to do that as
well brother Matt would you dismiss us with a word of prayer
amen
you