Hi, I'm Pastor Darrell Bailey of People's Valley Baptist Church. I want to welcome you to come and be with us at 68 Ledford Lane, Cartersville, Georgia. Our hope is that through God's word of truth that we can build up the kingdom of God into all of our lives. Now as we get ready to go into the wonderful word of God. The book of Numbers. The book of Numbers. God as we look at the book of Numbers Numbers chapter 14 Numbers chapter 14 as we look at today this morning Jehovah judges, this is the second in this series as we look at Our series on Preparation for promises. Preparation for promises. I'm glad that every one of us as we look and realize that God is always pointing us in a direction to go and he's getting us ready for the future. The promise that he's made to us that he's got a home built in the heavens. And so I thank God each and every one of us as we look at the word of god and realize that the lord wants to uh... be able to give us uh... an opportunity uh... to get over into the promised land but something happens in this particular scripture that makes god angry and uh... last time we were talking about how the jehovah leads I'm glad that each and every one of us, the Israelites, waited for God to lead them out into the wilderness. And, you know, we've got to learn to fully trust God's promise to lead us, which means that we stay put when he calls us to, and we move along when he prompts us to go. And so the Israelites waited for the cloud of God to move from the tabernacle before they moved in lesson one so that they would remain in God's favor. And I thank God, each and every one of us, the Israelites trusted God's direction and leadership so much that they would not even move one way or the other without clear direction from God. And so the importance of the cloud reminds the reader that God's presence was key to following God's lead. The cloud of God's presence first appeared after the first Passover in Exodus chapter 13. When they were at the Red Sea, that was one of the very first times that the Shekinah glory began to come down in two ways, a pillar of fire and a cloud. And I'm glad that that was the very first time that it took place. And so we've got to remain committed to staying connected to the Lord if we're to truly know when he calls us to go. And so Moses' ability to hear from the Lord had to do with his ongoing connection to the Lord. And so everything is about timing. And while some keep going and try to make the most of a situation as they go, others will wait until just the right time and then move because they know it's better to plan and then move than it is to plan while you move. And so waiting takes a willingness to rest in God's promise and to provide and to give direction. That's what we talked about last time. And I thank God here this morning, we're looking at how God judges, Jehovah judges. And we've got to be able to refuse to, if we refuse to trust God and his promises, then it will lead to judgment. And so every one of us, when we look at the wonderful Word of God in Numbers chapter 14. Here, God called Moses to send out teams to examine the land and to bring back a report of all the good that they saw. And their mission took them from the Zin wilderness in the northeastern corner of the Largin Poran wilderness to the vicinity of Rehob of La Bohamuth. And they would return to make the report to Moses and the Israelites at Kaddish in the northwestern region on the Paran wilderness. And the exact location of this Rehab is unknown, though the region of Lebo Hamath suggests a site in southern Lebanon. But even though the spies bring back fruit to show how prosperous the lands were, they chose to doubt their ability to survive entering the land due to the people who inhabited it. Caleb and Joshua alone bring promises of what God has provided for the travelers. But the others work against them to stir up dissension by presenting a false narrative. And so we look and realize that of all that is being said that God will judge when there are those that don't want to follow the lead that he has for them. And so it's sad that we realize that the many things that God wants to do in our lives We've got to be obedient. Now, many of us have stories about some adventure that we almost went out on and only to back out at the last moment. I remember several years ago when I was at Oakland Heights, we were all going to go on a mission trip into some very bad missionary area. And at the last minute, I wasn't able to go. And when those missionaries got back, every one of them had a dysentery that it would take weeks to clear up. I tell you, I got to thinking, Lord, I'm glad that you got my number because if I would have went my bullheaded self and went on over there with the rest of them missionaries, I'd have come back sickly. But of course, God always has a way when there is no way. And so no matter what, it just wasn't my time and God worked it out. But every one of us, it may have been some kind of a roller coaster, a skiing black diamond slope adventure that all of a sudden we didn't get to go. We couldn't get over the fear. And so the Israelites, looked at the obstacles facing them in the promised land and they decided the obstacles were too great. And as a result, the blessing that awaited them would be left for another generation to enjoy. Instead, they faced God's judgment. And so here we begin to realize that of all the things, what activities that takes place, here we begin to realize that God wants to do some great things in our life if we'll just trust Him. Numbers chapter 10 all the way down to Numbers chapter 17, while the Israelites followed God's cloud, they didn't necessarily trust Him. They complained loudly and often. If only we had died in Egypt was their favorite lament. Moses often took the full power of their complaints and he grew so frustrated with the people that he wanted to die. Even his brother and sister turned against him in Numbers chapter 12. The display of God's presence and glory through the cloud and the tabernacle wasn't enough for the people. They wanted a life without the hardships. And arriving at Kaddish, Moses sent 12 spies into the promised land. Their report was unanimous. The land was, as God promised, flowing with milk and honey and abundance. However, 10 of the spies brought back a negative report and the Canaanites were stronger and they were unbeatable. Hearing the assessment, the hearts of the people melted. But Joshua and Caleb, they saw things from a different perspective, hallelujah. Yes, the people of the land were strong, but they were no match for God and his people. Joshua and Caleb believed the Hebrews should immediately invade the land following God's banner of protection and guidance, but all of the others wouldn't have it. They continue to warn that everyone would be doomed if they crossed over in the Canaan and the people wept in fear through the night and the next morning instead of trusting God, they devised their own plan. They would overthrow Moses. They would overthrow Aaron and elect their own trusted leaders and head back to Egypt, believing the Egyptians would gladly take them back. And although they were now free by God's gracious act, they believed going back to bondage was a better choice. And the Israelites had forgotten the incredible things God had done for them. The Israelites had forgotten all of these things. And the act of rebellion didn't start at Kadesh Barnea. It was the culmination of a series of missteps, complaining, not trusting God by the people. And that's sad, because as I said, you know what? refusing to trust God and his promises leads to judgment. And so here we begin to realize that of all this that's transpiring and it's taking place, Joseph and Caleb's reaction and Moses's, all of them that came together, they wouldn't have anything. And so we pick up in Numbers chapter 14, verses five through nine, the Bible says, then Moses, and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation, of the children of Israel, and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, just Jeff and I, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes, and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying the land which we pass through to search it is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it us a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us." Listen, their defense is departed from them and the Lord is with us. Fear them not. Man, I'm going to tell you, Caleb and Joshua, buddy, they were telling it like it was. Man, they was saying, you ain't gotta fear nothing. But you know, feeling the wrath of a disobedient people, all of a sudden we begin to realize of what is transpiring, what's taking place. And so here, we look at Jehovah Judges, and the second of this series. And let's have a time of prayer. Father, I wanna thank you for the reading of the word of God. And we ask you God to touch us as we pick up the word of God. And trust you at your word, Father, that whenever you tell us to go somewhere is that we can trust you because you have a plan, you have a promise for us. And God, we don't need to be afraid. We don't need to run back to old ground that we've already got on new ground. We don't need to lose ground. Lord, we just need to trust you in these areas of our life. And so, Father, I ask you, Father, help us to trust And Lord, I want to thank you that whatever adventure that we embark on, we know, Father, that you will give us the victory. Thank you so much, Father, because you have pointed us in the right direction, and we wait for you to shape us and to teach us as you trust us on a daily timeframe. The danger of waiting is that during that time that we can grow restless and frustrated and even disobedient. But I thank God, Lord, that as the book of Numbers is a great reminder to keep our eyes focused on God while we wait in the wilderness for God to fulfill the promises that he has for us. And so Lord, as we center around what you have in store for us, Lord, I pray God this morning that you'll touch our class and touch the mighty word of God as we step out on faith and take you at your word because there's a land flowing with milk and honey. And even though the enemies, they say, are giants, oh Lord, we don't need to be afraid. You will deliver us. You will give us the victory no matter what. Thank you, Father, for saving us by your marvelous grace. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Now, as we look at the lesson this morning, and we realize that in Numbers 13 and 14, it tells the full account of the Israelite rebellion at Kadesh Barnea. and how the 12 scouts, one from each tribe, came back with a bad report. And only the two scouts of Caleb and Joshua agreed that Cana would fall before them. Now, chapter 15 contains a lot about the law and about offerings. Excuse me. And every one of us, when we look and realize that chapter 14 is divided into four parts, Israel's rebellion in verses one through nine, God's anger and Moses' intercession in verses 10 through 19, Jehovah's judgment and the people's punishment in verses 20 through 38, and the abortive attempt to conquer Canaan in verses 39 through 45. Now, as we look and realize that God establishes the tabernacle at the center of the camp, establishing worship as the center for all of us as men and women of God. and one of the very first things that we begin to see is that we see that uh... that joshua and caleb they come back with the joshua and caleb report can you see the news thing going on uh... this is the joshua and uh... and uh... uh... caleb news report and we want to tell you that what we saw over there was magnificent Why, man, they got grapes so big it takes two men to carry them. Why, man, God will defeat these enemies, these canines, no matter what it is they got over there, God will defeat them. It's a land that is flowing with milk and honey. Signing off, this is the Joshua and the Caleb Report. But all of a sudden it didn't go over well. No. They grumbled, they doubted, they feared, they failed to believe God, they rebelled against Him. The negative, unbelieving, defeatist report of the ten spies spread among the people like a wildfire on a rampage, consuming everything in its path. What happened then was the fatal climax to a whole generation of people. because Joshua and Caleb focused on God's presence and protection going with them into that land. But in contrast, the Israelites focused on the powerful people who inhabited the land. You know what? Every one of us, we've got to make time for faith every day. We've got to put in a little bit of effort on a regular basis that can help us stay connected to God at all times. And so that's how we keep ourselves reminded of how God works. We block out all the distractions and we commit our full attention to the spiritual practice. We go somewhere that you won't be distracted and we pray and we read and reflect the word of God. Listen, every one of us, we connect with God by reading and thinking about our sacred scripture. We mark the passages that resonate with us and we spend extra time reflecting on them. We pray daily as one of the most effective things that we can do to get closer to God. Prayer is the most personal thing that we can pray about everything this morning class. Reflect on God as you observe the world every day. We let the things that we see guide our thoughts, and toward God, praise God. You know what? To remember God's promises, you know what? Every one of us, there are some key points to remember that will help us grow in our faith. Number one, remember the importance of love. Number two, remember to follow God's commands. And number three, remember the salvation's price because salvation wasn't cheap. It cost God's son everything, hallelujah. And so every one of us, when we realize that, how blessed that we truly are. And so one of the first things that we see in preparation for the promise, in the book of Numbers is the challenge is issued. That it tells us here the rebellion and the disgrace of an Exodus generation. Because here then when we look and realize that a majority can be wrong. The narrow road of the righteousness is the least traveled path. And so what did he tell us in Numbers chapter 14 verse 5? then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. You see the defiant rebellion of the Israelites. And so it's sad because here in verse five, how Moses and Aaron and Joshua and Caleb report to the people's rebellion against God. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. It's quite shocking because we would not be surprised if they had prostrated themselves before God, but they in fact abased themselves before the sinful and rebellious congregation. And had they fallen on their faces before God, the implied message might be, don't blame us. God's not our fault, or perhaps the Lord, please be patient with these people for their sake. But what does it mean that they humble themselves before the people? I think that it implies, first of all, they were telling the people, you have broken our hearts. Moses and Aaron were like two slain men on the ground before the Israelites. What the people had done had so mortified the two men that they could no longer stand or even look up. They were struck down with shame. And then it was an appeal for the nation to recognize the gravity of what they had done. because the mob had taken all authority to itself and decided that it, not the men of God, had said over them would decide what they would do. By humbling themselves so deeply, Moses and Aaron were saying, you know what, you can indeed make this decision if you choose and you will bear the full responsibility of it. And you know what? That's exactly what happened from 20 years old and up because God let not a one of them go over into the land of milk and honey. Every one of them perished. Only that of Moses, only that of Aaron and Caleb and Joshua were able to go over into the Canaan land. And so it's sad. that what took place. But in Numbers chapter 14 verse 6, And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes. You see, they were so embarrassed by what they saw. It goes on in verse seven, and they speak unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, the land which we pass through to search it is an exceedingly good land. He goes on in verse eight, if the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it us a land which floweth with milk and honey. It goes on in verse nine, only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bred for us, their defense, Is departed from them and the lord is with us fear them not Now caleb and joshua attempted to calm the people's fears and to rally the people to their side You know, we look and realize they gave some reasons that um for not rebelling against God's plan for us. They said, first of all, that we shall be victorious and our enemy, Pagan's God, cannot protect them and we have Yahweh Jehovah on our side. And so they had all the things that they needed, amen. God had not misled Israel about the nature of the land. He was leading them toward one of the most wonderful lands that flowed with milk and honey, but for them to reject what God had brought them was a slap in the face and they were going to receive the judgment for it. It was going to be upon the heads of every one of them. The land flowed with milk and honey. And so it's sad that as we look and realize that they only rebelled, not ye against the Lord. And so it's sad of what they did. Here we begin to realize that Joshua and Caleb said, the Lord is with us. And so we see from all of this that the challenge was being issued. But secondly, we see the accountability that comes because in Numbers chapter 14, verses 10, 11, and 12, as that rebellion and disgrace of that Exodus generation goes forward, we see in verse 10, but all the congregation, they'd stone them with stones. Did you hear that? In verse 10 of Numbers 14, But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. You see, Jehovah's anger and Moses' intercession was there. Because when you refuse to trust God and His promises, that leads to judgment. God, Jehovah judges. And that's exactly what this is about. Refusing to trust God and His promises leads to judgment. And so here, we begin to realize that from this, how did Yahweh, how did Jehovah intervene to save the lives of his four faithful servants, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb, before the people carried out their desire to kill them? God revealed his glory to the entire assembly and within the confines of that holy sanctuary. He used the Shekinah glory to stop the revolt. Woo! Man, if that ain't powerful. Man, that's powerful. And I'm going to tell you, as he began to shine with a bright radiance of what he is, of the accountability that we see, because of all of this, not every effort to bring people around, even when seasoned with grace and reasonableness, that works. Sometimes sinners will respond to Our appeals with hatred and violence, and here the words of Moses, Aaron, and Caleb, and Joshua only prompted the people to take up stones and threaten to murder them. The mob would have carried out the deed had the glory, the Shekinah glory of the Lord had not suddenly become manifested. And for some people, any suggest that their behavior is sinful, no matter how they were, it prompts only a bitter attack. because of all the things, just the reality of seeking to minister in God's name in a sinful world today. And so we see that he goes on in verse 11, in Numbers chapter 14, of Jehovah's anger and Moses' intercession. And the Lord said unto Moses, how long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me? For all the signs which I have shewed among them. Here refusing to trust God is rebellion against God. You see in Numbers chapter 14 verse 11, the Lord cries out, how long? And the children of Israel defiled Jehovah by threatening and made plans to return to Egypt and appoint their own leaders to take them back. And it's a rebellion against God's plan and for their destiny. And it is a rejection of God's covenant mediator, Moses. Oh my Lord, man, if this ain't terrible. Boy, I tell you, of all the things that we realize that they had done this stuff a while back when it come to the golden calf. But it said in verse 12, I will smite thee with the pestilence and disinherit them and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. Boy, Jehovah, God was mad. His anger with the Israelites recalls what other time that God threatened to destroy the ungrateful and rebellious Israelites, and he wanted to build a nation just for Moses' descendants. And while God is full of love and mercy, his character demands that he must also be a God of justice and judgment. And so during the golden calf rebellion, God made the same threats and the same offer to Moses. But listen, you know what? Moses wasn't big on himself nor his family. He could have promoted his entire family and took over, but Moses wasn't like that. He stood up for the entire nation of the Israelite man. And so I thank God as we look and realize that Moses wasn't trying to blow his own trumpet for his own family. God always holds his people accountable for the rejection of him. And here we begin to realize that God does that. He holds us accountable for our bad choices that we make a lot of times. And so here we begin to realize of all the things that are transpiring, that are taking place, we see the third thing that takes place. Not only did we see from the challenge of Jehovah, the accountability of Jehovah, but also that he was going to hold them accountable because he was going to judge them for their bad choice that they were making. But then we see the grace sought uh... by jehovah because moses stood up for the people and he says lord listen you you brought my name out of the book if you're not going to go uh... with uh... and forgive them lord just brought my name out of the book well boy I thank god we realize that in verses thirteen down to verse thirteen that uh... we see the grace that is sought out by Moses on behalf for Jehovah to give them because thank God he does the right thing. What argument did Moses present this time to save the Israelites from destruction? First of all, Moses' first argument in verses 13, 14, 15, and 16 is he posed a theological problem. How can God destroy the Israelites and still maintain his reputation to the Gentile nations who have now heard of his goodness and power and his sworn oath to the patriarchs? And secondly, Moses' argument was that such an action of unrestrained violence against the entire community, the children of Israel, was contrary to God's just and merciful nature. And so here we begin to realize that he tells us in verse 13 of Numbers chapter 14, And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it. For thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them. Moses didn't want God's name belittled. He wanted it strengthened in the eyes of their enemies. Hallelujah. Praise the mighty name of Jesus. We go on reading in Numbers, chapter 14, verse 14. And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land, for they have heard that thou, Lord, art among this people, that thou, Lord, art seen face to face, and that thy cloud, there it is again, the Shekinah glory, standeth over them, and that thou goest before them by daytime in a pillar of a cloud, thou ye go again and in a pillar of fire by night, the Shekinah glory. Praise the mighty name of Jesus. Moses didn't want God's name belittled. He wanted it strengthened in the eyes of their enemies. Hallelujah. Boy, if this ain't good. Hallelujah. Man, if you ain't enjoying this, praise God. Hallelujah. But Numbers chapter 14, verse 15, the Bible says, now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying..." Now listen, can you imagine? Oh my goodness, as he goes on into verse 16, he says, "...because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness." Oh, as we go on reading into verse 17 of Numbers chapter 14. And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken, saying. Boy, Moses is doing some preaching, hallelujah. Man, he's standing up to God for the people that had already rebelled and God was ready to do them in. And you know what? They were done in. But still he stood up for them. The sinful actions of one generation influence the spirituality and the morality of a succeeding generations. Oh, America, this is what I see today in America. Oh, God help us. God help us out there. The sinful actions of one generation that influence the spirituality and the morality of succeeding generations. That is the gospel, hallelujah. Lord, oh, I tell you, man, step on out, Flint Wilson. Hallelujah, when we begin to realize of all the things, here come the judge, here come the judge, God's gonna judge him. Boy, I thank God his old Flip Wilson used to come out with a comedy act. Here come the judge, here come the judge, God's gonna judge him. But Moses is standing up for him. Hallelujah. And we continue reading in the mighty Word of God of Numbers chapter 14 verse 18. The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy, forgiving, iniquity, and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and the fourth generation. Woo! Boy, if that ain't mighty. Man, if God ain't good, man, of all the things that God is doing for every one of us, amen, that he's telling us these things, what is he saying? He's saying, and see the land, what it is, and the people that dwell up there, whether they be strong or weak, few or many. I think God, he goes on, he tells us in verse 19, find out whether the land is good or bad, whether the people live in open towns, I'll tell you what, let me go back over and as we look and realize he tells us, let me go back over into verse 19, excuse me. And he says, pardon, as I pick back up, let me say that correctly in verse 18, read it again. And the Lord has long suffered of great mercy, forgiven iniquity and transgression, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children under the third and fourth generation. Now let me pick back up in verse 19, he says, Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this people accorded unto the greatness of thy mercy as thou Has forgiven this people from Egypt even unto now man forgiven the iniquity and transgression and by no means Clearing the guilty it seems to say that in the same breath that God both will and will not forgive sin because the verse is paraphrased as, the Lord is slow to anger, rich in kindness. He's a God who forgives iniquity and rebellion, but he will by no means grant a blanket amnesty. He will bring the consequences of the father's iniquity on the children to the third and the fourth generation. And the main point of the verse is that mercy is a deep and abiding characteristic of God. But then as a qualification, it has that God is not indulgent of sin. No one should ever presume that they can do evil and that God will be indifferent. Mercy and kindness are not the same as amnesty. The main point of this verse is not God's wrath, that is secondary. It is that God is merciful. And what Moses pointed to in this intercession, he called on God to be slow to exercise judgment and to preserve Israel because he's merciful. Patient with sinners is part of what God's character is all about. Divine mercy, human intercession, as they're essential to our relationship with God the Father. And while the cross and its atonement are the foundation for every one of our forgiveness of what Christ did when he went and shed his life blood on that cross for every one of us, we can sometimes treat that as a legal transaction that eliminated guilt and make mercy superfluous. But in fact, we continue to rely upon God's mercy. I'll tell you, God is already compassionate. Why do we need to intercede for sinners? How, as we look at this and begin to realize of all the things that God does for us, boy, I'm gonna tell you, what was Moses' response to God's offer to make his descendants into a great nation instead of the Israelite? Moses had absolutely no ambition for himself or for his own children. As in Exodus chapter 32 verse 10, he did not accept God's offer to make a great nation of his descendants in his defense of the people. In verses 13 through 19, Moses brought to God's attention his divine attributes of power, compassion, and justice in God's divine plan for mankind that extended beyond the Israelites to the Gentile nations of the earth. Man. If God ain't good. And so I thank God we saw all of these things about judgment, that we saw that God judges, Jehovah judges, because when you refuse to trust God and His promises, it leads to judgment. But we saw the challenge of Jehovah, the accountability of Jehovah, because when you do wrong, when you don't have faith in God and His plan, there's gonna be an accountability for it. And thank God for the great source uh... the the grace that was sought uh... out by moses and was given by jehovah through his mercies because here we begin to realize that jehovah will judge and every one of us as we look and realize that moses' point that god was heavily invested in showing his power to save it israel and if god were to make good on his three and destroy israel all of that would be for nothing even if god were to create A new nation from the offspring of Moses, the whole account of the Exodus and its miracles and of God's covenant with Israel at Sinai would be all for nothing. Israel may as well have never existed and Moses was calling on God not to abandon his task of showing his glory through the nation of Israel. Moses had faith And I thank God, patience with sinners is part of what God's character is all about. Every one of us, when we begin to realize how God is, that every one of us should have died. Not a one of us should have the grace and the mercy that we have right now, but because of God. Because of his wonderful love that he has for each and every one of us, we have been given the most wonderful blessing that can ever be given to anyone. Hallelujah. And so I thank God for what the Lord does for each and every one of us in this walks of life. Amen. Boy, As we go through and get ready to leave here, I want you to remember the morning service and worship time that we're fixing to get into. And I thank God, as all of us, we realize that God judges. God judges, and I thank God for all that he does, that for the challenge, for the accountability, and for the grace that is sought of by him. Let's get ready and let's go out and give everything over to the Lord. Almighty God, you described Moses as the humblest of men. And as your faithful servant, Moses submitted himself completely in obedience to your divine will. And even when his human will made him shudder at the burden of his mission, Lord, give each and every one of us this morning courage, Lord, to be like your servant Moses, to yield our lives into your hands, to faithfully travel the path that you have set before us, and to submit in humility. to your will for our lives no matter how difficult and uncomfortable the journey is and walking that narrow straight path of our journey of faith through our wilderness adventure until we make it to the land that flows with milk and honey, heaven. We pray as your faithful servants in the name of our Lord and Savior and our mighty Holy Spirit that goes with us each and every day. Lord, we pray in Jesus's marvelous, my name.