We want to welcome you to our church and wonderful Word of God at People's Valley Baptist Church. For the next few minutes, we'll be taking the Word of God and sharing our blessings with you into your homes. Please come and join us and worship with us at People's Valley Baptist Church, located at 68 Ledford Lane, Cartersville, Georgia. May God bless you as we go in to the precious Word of God. Amen. Thank you, class. Take your Bibles over to Numbers chapter 20, verses 1 through 13. Numbers chapter 20, verses 1 through 13. Father, we want to thank you for giving us this great opportunity to be in your house. Father, give us the strength, the purpose, the discipline, to fulfill our destiny as your disciples, to share the gospel, to provide a positive witness in our daily lives. Father, we pray that you would just continue to give us the courage to go out into the world to witness, and Lord, that we'd not be of the world, and as members of People's Valley Baptist Church, Lord. I pray God, just as the Levites and the tribe of Israel carry their battle standards, let us carry the cross of our Savior, our battle standard. Guide us in all that we do with the Holy Spirit. And Lord, we thank you, Father, for all you do in the name of our Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in Jesus Christ, that we pray, amen. All right, class, let's, as you have your Bibles over to Numbers chapter 20, verses one through 13, and this scripture that coincides with this is Exodus chapter 17, verses one through seven. Now, here, we're talking about In the book of Numbers, preparation for the promise. God is always pointing us somewhere, but sometimes it isn't always clear where he's pointing us. And as we wait for his direction, God will shape us, teach us how to trust him. But the danger of waiting is that during that time, we can grow restless. We can become frustrated and even disobedient. And so 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 his promise. Amen. And so here as we look at numbers chapter 20, we have talked about Jehovah, uh, leads, how God leads his people according to his will and purpose. And we talked about the presence and the practice and the principle in Numbers 9, verses 15 through 23. In our second study, we talked about Jehovah judges refusing to trust God and his promises leads to judgment. And I thank God in Numbers chapter 14, verses 5 through 19, how that we talked about the challenge of Jehovah, the accountability and the grace sought of. And then I thank God here this morning, we look at our third study, Jehovah requires. God requires the leaders of his people to follow him fully. We're going to be talking about the timing, the directions, the frustration, and the fallout. Now, God requires the leaders of his people to follow him fully. Boy, I'm going to tell you, successful leaders We need to hold ourselves accountable and mindful of those who follow, because if we don't want to do anything to disqualify ourselves as leaders, this is true, but also Christian leaders, to be effective spiritual leaders, we act in a way that brings honor to God and benefits people. And even the best leaders can lose their focus and they can make some costly mistakes. I'll have to say, oh me, because I have made my share of mistakes. But you know, as we reflect back on the word of God, Here we see that although God forgave Israel for their lack of faith and rebellion, they still suffered the consequences of their sin. Back in Numbers chapter 14, anyone 20 years and older wouldn't be allowed in the land traveling until the last one died. Upon hearing God's judgment, the people tried forcing their way into Canaan, but they were rerouted by their enemies. And then frustrated Korah and 250 tribal leaders recited a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. And the result that I've said before is God punished them and their families by opening up the earth and swallowing them into the pit of the ground. In Numbers chapter 16, thinking that judgment came from Moses, the entire camp rose up against him. And this time God sent a plague on the children of Israel, killing 14,700 people. in Numbers chapter 16. And because of a growing discontent, the people challenged Aaron, believing that the only reason that he was the chief priest was because he was Moses' brother. Can you believe it? Oh my goodness class, God settled that dispute when he made Aaron's staff bloom and it budded almonds and blossoms signifying that Aaron and his descendants were God's choice to be the high priest of the Levites. In Numbers chapter 17, nearly every one of the Israelites died in the wilderness because They had contact with dead bodies that caused ceremonial uncleanliness. So the Lord established a purification ritual that those who came into contact with corpses could be cleaned, allowing them back into the fellowship quicker. In chapter 19, when we get to Numbers chapter 20, our same four characters, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb, were the only ones over 19 years of age who would enter the promised land with the younger generation. But, sadly, Moses and Aaron, they disobeyed God. And because of that, they forfeited their privilege of entering the promised land. Arriving back at Kaddish with a new generation of people, the Israelites were on the verge of writing a new chapter in their history. And before entering the new land, God would test them and prepare them for their journey into Canaan. However, just as their ancestors before them, they would make some of the same mistakes. Each time the Lord would prove that he was their God. And so I thank God. You know, every one of us, as we look and realize that God or Jehovah has requirements and he requires us as men and women that are leaders of his people to follow him fully. One of the first things that we see when we begin to read our scripture is we see the timing. Because the Bible said, then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zion in the first month, and the people abode in Kaddish. And Miriam died there and was buried there. And there was no water for the congregation. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And so Miriam died just four months before Aaron died in Numbers chapter 33, verse 38. But being Moses' older sister, she held considerable influence in his life. And when Moses was a baby, she watched over him when his mother hid him in a basket on the banks of the Nile. And after Pharaoh's daughter found him, it was because of Miriam's quick thinking that their mother was able to be his nurse in Exodus chapter 2, verses 1 through 8. When the Israelites victoriously crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led the celebration. Micah in 6.4 credits Miriam as being a leader. in the exodus along with Moses and Aaron. Her fault was she opposed Moses on one occasion. Even then Moses interceded on her behalf in Numbers chapter 12 verses 1 through 15. Her death after the people returned to Kadesh reinforced God's judgments that the first generation would not enter the promised land. And before Moses could grieve over the loss of his sister, a problem arose in the camp. What do you think it was? There was no water. And while traveling through the wilderness, water was one of the number one top priorities for survival. When you go to Israel, they will tell you water is life. because it is precious. It is a precious resource. God would use the lack of water as a means of testing his new generation of people, and so he could demonstrate his power. We pick back up in verses three, four, and five about the timing. The Bible says, And the people showed with Moses and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord? And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in under this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates neither. Is there any water to drink? You know, as their forefathers before them, the people they chode with Moses, the sins of the fathers became the sins of the new generation. And so wishing that they had been among those that had died in Korah's rebellion, their difficulties once more brought out the worst in them. Instead of falling down on their faces before God, the people, once again, blame Moses. And there are two questions in verses four and five accuse Moses of incompetence. And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have you made us to come up out of Egypt to bring us under this evil place is what they said. Now with animosity in their hearts, they complained that this was not a place flowing with milk and honey. Now that is what God had said. God brought them there. God gave them the land. There wasn't even water to drink. And so Moses, it's all your fault. All of these accusations weren't new to Moses. He had heard them repetitively from the older generation. You can go back over to Exodus chapter 14, verses 11 and 12, Exodus chapter 16, verse three, and Numbers chapter 14, verse three. And so this was a cycle of facing challenges and blaming Moses. It never ended. Their constant bickering must have pushed Moses to the brink of aspiration. Moses lost a sister. And so the people wavered in their confidence in Moses. These two issues remind all of us this morning that life continues even in the wake of grief and change. Whatever issues we wrestle with throughout our lives, life waits for nobody. Only by taking one day at a time and trusting God for that day can we find peace and grace in any situation. And so we see the timing in verses one through five. But then we see also in Jehovah requires God requires the leaders of his people to follow him fully. We see the directions that are given because here in verses 6 7 and 8 we read and Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and they fell upon their faces and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. Now, you know, As we look and realize this, in verse six, he tells us, Moses and Aaron went to the entrance of the tabernacle, and they fell upon their faces before God, and the unruly mob should have been the ones face down, humbling themselves before God, but it was Moses and Aaron who did so. And in times of trouble, Moses often humbled himself before God. You can go back and read in Numbers chapter 14, verse five. where he did this in Numbers chapter 16 verse 4 and verse 22 you see God responded as he does even today when believers cry out to him meeting personally with his hurts with our leaders his glory filled the tabernacle and the Lord appeared in all of his splendor and majesty and God didn't just offer Moses a solution he gave Moses his very presence that Shekinah glory And so the Lord never changes. His eyes are still on His children today and in every circumstance. God didn't just offer Moses a solution. He gave Moses His presence. And so I thank God in verses 7 and 8, the Bible says, And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou their assembly together, thou and Aaron their brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, and it shall give of forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock, so thou shalt give the congregation and their beast drink." You see, Moses' rod played a significant role in Israel's history. Although it was a normal shepherd's staff, it became God's supernatural tool that demonstrated his presence and demonstrated his power. And the staff became a serpent proven Moses was God's messenger as he demanded the release of God's people in Egypt. In Exodus chapter 4 verses 1 through 5, with that staff the Nile River turned into blood during the plagues on Egypt. And in Exodus chapter 7 verses 19 through 21, leaving Egypt with the Israelites, Moses parted the Red Sea with that staff in Exodus chapter 14, verse 16. And when the people complained about a lack of water the first time, Moses struck the rock with his staff and water came rushing forth in Exodus chapter 17, verses five through seven. Now it was time for another display of God's power. 40 years earlier at Mesa, God told Moses to strike the rock in Exodus chapter 17, verse six. This time, however, God commanded that Moses should speak. that Moses should speak under the rock. God would once again prove that he could supply all the needs if they trusted him and followed their divine chosen leaders because God is bigger than any problem that any of us will ever encounter. No matter the circumstances, his children, every one of us are to seek him. And God always specializes in providing his people with whatever they need to face life's difficulties. Nothing is difficult for the one who created the rock. who created the water, who created the staff, and with the sound of His voice, the world came into being. And the sound of His voice, the battles of life are won. And so we see that Jehovah requires, God requires the leaders of His people to follow Him fully. Because we see the timing in verses 1 through 5. We see the directions in verses 6 through 8. But then it brings us to the frustration. because here we see in verses 9 and 10 the Bible says, And Moses took the rod from before the Lord as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock. And he said unto them, Here now, ye rebels, must we fetch your water out of this rock? Now, I'm going to tell you, Moses started off well, but His emotions got the best of him. He was suffered right along with the people. Tired. He was thirsty. You know, sometimes pastors, they get tired and worn out, but you know what? We're accountable to God, even though that we have people that, uh, you know what? Uh, they think that we're a machine sometimes. They think that we can just do wonders. They think we can perform miracles, but it's God that does it. Boy, pastors get tired and worn out, and, uh, man, it's just sometimes they can have difficult times. But I'm gonna tell you, like the people, Moses, he had buried loved ones, too, reaching his breaking point. He lashed out at the people, and he said, here now, you rebels. venting his frustration, Moses made the most tragic mistake of sounding like he would supply the water when we know that it was God supplying the water. And although no one would blame Moses for his mistake, he never mentioned it was God who supplied the water. Moses' angry speech centered on himself and not on God and his gracious provision. And by letting his temper get the best of him, Moses missed an incredible teaching moment, desperately needed by this younger generation. The staff should have represented God's generous supply, but Moses used it as a whip. And so here we look at verse 11. And the Bible says, And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beast also. Now, we see in verse 11 that Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice, ignoring God's command to speak to the rock in verse 8. You see, Moses took out his frustration by beating that rock. And God, in his benevolent grace, still provided the much-needed water in spite of Moses' disobedience. However, the end didn't justify the means, for Moses sinned at that very moment. Moses made several mistakes. First, he disobeyed God's command. He should have spoken to the rock, but he struck the rock. And this wasn't partial obedience. It was total disregard for God's directive. Secondly, he let his anger get out of control. And in the fit of rage, he struck the rock after calling the people rebels and he confronted disobedience with disobedience. Third, he modeled the same contentious spirit as the people, fighting fire with fire and only makes the fire of discontent grow stronger. And fourth, he didn't acknowledge God. And by his words and action, Moses took credit for what God did, drawing the attention to himself while God still blessed Moses and brought God's judgment on himself because Aaron never said a word. He was consenting of Moses' sinful behavior, making him as liable as Moses was. And so Moses' actions dishonored God. Along with that, not only did Moses bring himself down, he brought his own brother down, Aaron. And God expects all of his people to honor him with obedience, to behave as the world behaves might bring some temporary satisfaction, but it doesn't glorify the almighty God. He expects more of every one of us as leaders and as his followers, amen. And so we're talking about Jehovah requires. God requires the leaders of his people to follow him fully. We've talked about the timing in verses 1 through 5. We've talked about the directions in verses 6 through 8. But then, now, we see also the frustration in verses 9 through 11. But finally, we come to the fallout. In verses 12 and 13, the Bible says, and the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, because ye believe me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel. Therefore, ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah. And because of the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them." You see, God responded very quickly right here. Moses and Aaron would not enter that promised land, even though they were the ones that were older than the 20 that God said everyone older would not make it, but they were exceptions, but because they were disobedient leaders. they wouldn't enter the promised land. The Lord gave two reasons for his judgment. Number one, they believe me not. And in that fashion, God had appeared personally to Moses and Aaron in verse six. And when this wasn't enough, Moses took matters into his own hands and Moses's lack of faith brought God's chastisement just as he had been often chastised the unfaithful people. Secondly, Moses' disobedience hindered God's demonstration of His holiness in the eyes of the children of Israel, and God had a reason for His command. He wanted this new generation to witness His grace in the midst of a crisis. Moses wasted this divine, orchestrated opportunity. And so Aaron lived about four months before Eleazar became Israel's new high priest in Numbers chapter 20, verses 22 through 29. And I thank God, Numbers chapter 33, verse 38, Moses was permitted to see the promised land from a distance with his own eyes before his death in Numbers chapter 27, verses 12 through 14. But God's judgment might seem harsh. His holiness demands that he punish all that sin, including the sin of his leaders, pastors, deacons, be very careful, be very careful because you as in a position of leadership is even accountable, even more accountable than those of the followers. Don't forget this. I remind you, Don't forget this and on the previous occasion when God provided water for Israel Moses called the name of the place Masa or Meribah in Exodus chapter 17 verse 7 and it means testing it means quarreling respectively Recalling that previous experience Moses called this place Meribah because it was a place where the people Strove with the Lord and it was also a place God was sanctified in them, but in a different way Because in the judgment of the sins of Israel's leaders, both these places served as reminders of God's grace and justice, and his life-giving water, and his punishment of sin. You know the tassels that they would put on their clothes, on their prayer shawls? Those tassels represented, and they tied knots in their prayer shawls. Those tassels reminded them of the wrongs that they had done in times past, that the commandments that they had faltered at, that they were to keep. And that's why later on, when they had the prayer shawl, they've got these fringes on the corners in places, and they have knots that they tie in those fringes. Those were reminders of past commandments that they had faltered at, that they were to remember. God holds us all accountable for our actions. And regardless if we are provoked, emotionally drained, or physically exhausted, there's no excuse that exists for a lack of faithfulness among leaders and followers alike. because we are to represent our Lord well in this old world. And so each and every one of us, I hope and pray that you got something because life continues even in the wake of grief and change. God provides his people solutions for life difficulties and God expects his people, especially his leaders, to honor him with obedience because God holds his followers accountable for their actions. Father, We thank you for our service, and Lord, we vow, Lord, our lifetimes, may we be bound by our confirmations and vows that we serve you as the lives of the disciples served Jesus. May we continue to be your disciples and serve you. And Lord, unlike a Nazarite, we don't fear the ritual defilement, but we're purified by your precious blood, freed from the bonds of defilement, from sin and death. And Lord, because of your consecration, Lord, that you have given us, you've given us, Lord, a participation in the sacrifice and receiving the body and the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Guide us in our study, in our purity, and in our covenant with you, to have courage and conviction, to fulfill our vows that we've made to you for a lifetime of service, that we pray every bit of this in the name of the Father, we pray it in the name of the Son, and we pray it in the name of the Holy Spirit.