Wandering in the Wilderness

Wandering in the Wilderness: Introduction

Sunday, June 28, 2020  

Numbers 14:20-38

Introduction

            Today we begin a new sermon series that deals with the peculiar times we are living through as individuals, families, communities, and as the Church. Solomon said, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) While his words were given as an example of human folly, he reminds us that, without divine purpose, humanity will do the same things over and over again, but each time with newer knowledge (i.e. technology) than the last. Therefore, we can be sure that our times and circumstances are not unlike similar events of the past. The only difference is the lens through which we view them.

            In this series, we will look at our current events through the lens of Israel’s wilderness wanderings. We will see how the people of God routinely gave up their liberty within God’s grace and exchanged it for slavery to popular culture. We will see that God uses calamities to awaken those who can be stirred and to dispose of those who will not. It will be clear that God is sovereign, even using powerful, evil world leaders to accomplish God’s purposes. In Jewish tradition the story of the Exodus, the forty-year wilderness journey, and the entry into the Promised Land represent the struggle between devotion to the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of man.

 

The Exodus

God’s chosen people ended up in Egypt because of a seven-year famine. The people flourished under the leadership of their kinsmen, Joseph. He had become the second in charge of the country after the Pharaoh. However, Scripture informs us, “Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt” (Exodus 1:8), and soon, “the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites” (Exodus 1:12). Consequently, the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites for several centuries. The Egyptians “worked them ruthlessly” (Exodus 1:13). Eventually, God responded to their cries (Exodus 2:23-25) and sent Moses and Aaron to lead them out of Egypt. After suffering God’s wrath through the ten plagues that ended with the death of the firstborn males, Pharaoh agreed to release the Israelites.

After a dramatic departure that included the parting of the Red Sea and unprecedented annihilation of Pharaoh’s army, the people traveled toward the Promised Land where God would be their ruler and they were to live as God’s chosen. Along the way, God met with them on Mount Sanai and gave them the Law. God instructed the people in the ways of their new lives after deliverance and under God’s leadership. Upon their arrival at Kadesh Barnea, which bordered the Promised Land twelve spies were sent to survey the land and its people (Numbers 13:18-25). After forty days of exploration, the spies returned. Ten of them reported that, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are. . . All the people we saw were of great size. . . We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes” (Numbers 13:31-33). Two spies, Joshua and Caleb gave a different report, saying that the God who already proved His power would bring those people down too. (Numbers 14:6-7) Nevertheless, the people lost heart believing the fearful reports of the ten. They rebelled and “raised their voices and wept aloud,” grumbling against Moses and Aaron, saying, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?” (Numbers 14:1-2

 

The Wandering

Read Numbers 14:20-38

            There are some significant points to observe when Moses pleaded with God saying, “Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” First, consider the word, “iniquity,” which is defined as immoral or grossly unfair behavior. The word occurs 262 times in the King James Version of the Bible and it always means the same thing[1]. Iniquity is sometimes used to describe the behavior of Israel’s enemies and sometimes the people of God.

            Second, Moses’ plea subtly suggests that the people had been struggling with their Egyptian ways from the time they left. Certainly, the golden calf incident in Exodus 32 revealed it. But, why was God’s reaction different this time? It appears that God had no intention of populating the theocratic land of promise with faithless, worldly people. Egypt is mentioned frequently throughout the Bible as an expression of vain, flesh-indulging, worldly culture. It should be understood that the nine plagues visited exclusively upon Egypt were witnessed by the Israelites. Each plague proved God’s power and authority over pagan gods, worldly systems, and human vanity. The final plague afflicted all of the people, but the Israelites were saved by the sacrifice and blood of the unblemished lamb. God’s purpose was to establish God’s proper place in the lives of God’s people. The destruction of Egypt’s army represented God’s sovereignty over worldly vanity and power.

            The elders of Israel had become so steeped in the culture of Egypt, albeit as Egypt’s slaves, that they could not surrender their will to God. No matter what they saw, they could not give themselves entirely to the Lord. Even after forty years of waiting, Joshua was compelled to remind their descendants, “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

 

Conclusion

            It has been said that it took three days for Israel to get out of Egypt, but it took forty years to Egypt out of Israel. It is true for us today too. It does not take long to realize God’s love and accept God’s grace, but it takes years to give up control and let God be your Lord. God is so adamant that God’s people would have new life under God’s rule that God assures destruction for those who return to Egypt. “Woe to those who run to Egypt for help, trusting their mighty cavalry and chariots instead of looking to the Holy One of Israel and consulting him.  In his wisdom, he will send great evil on his people and will not change his mind. He will rise against them for the evil they have done and crush their allies too.” (Isaiah 31:1-2)

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[1] Russell, J., & Cohn, R. (2012). Strong's concordance. Edinburgh: LENNEX.

To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice

Well you pray to prosper and succeed but your flesh is something I just can't feed ~ Keith Green. “To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice”[1]

 

            I’ve been listening to songs that heavily influenced my spiritual upbringing lately. I became acquainted with Keith Green’s music when I was sixteen and newly transplanted from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Several fine young Christians embraced this lost newcomer and invited me to experience the things they loved. As you can imagine, there were other kinds of teenagers and temptations. Nevertheless, the Lord had a hand in this crucial point in my life – a fact for which I am unspeakably grateful.

 

            The contemporary Christian music industry was in its youth in those days too. As with most youth, there was a wild, reckless side of the new genre. Some entrepreneurial record producers saw a new stream of revenue and pressured Christian music artists to record the Christian equivalent of bubblegum-pop music. There were even non-Christian artists who went into the world of contemporary Christian music so they could leapfrog into secular pop music.

The producers were right about the potential of this fledgling market and millions of records were sold. But some Christian artists pushed back because they felt that God was calling them to use their gifts for his glory and not their own. Keith’s songs frequently called on the Church to resist the urge to satisfy the flesh so mainline record companies didn’t mind rejecting him. Eventually, a new Christian record label emerged so that songs like his could be mass distributed. As God’s hand continued to direct my paths, I began to see how shallow some of the music was and gravitated toward the likes of Keith Green.

 

Now, I’m sure your grateful for the little history lesson but wondering where I’m going with this. Or, maybe you’re already ahead of me. Perhaps you’ve deduced the parallel between the young Christian music industry and general Christian living. The temptation to “feed the flesh” is so powerful, and Christ’s enemy is so industrious that we can easily be duped into consuming bubble-gum Christian faith. We can be convinced to feel that our souls are healthy when our flesh is satisfied. Actually, feeding the flesh robs the soul of vital spiritual nutrition.

 

There are Spirit-filled tellers of truth-in-love calling from the wilderness like John the Baptist. They are like the prophets of old whose message was largely rejected because their hearers felt that prosperity was a sign of God’s favor. They evaluated their righteousness according to human cultural standards rather than according to God’s Word. When someone dares to suggest that our Lord cannot feed the flesh it’s infuriating because it sounds like he is putting limitations upon God as we have come to understand Him. Too often the starving flesh is not satisfied by our Creator according to expectations, so we remake the Lord into one who will. We deny who God is and create an image that meets our needs. Does that sound familiar? It’s what the Israelites did while Moses was upon the mountain and they created a golden calf to represent Yahweh. That my beloved is tantamount to worshiping Satan!

Here’s another line from the song I quoted above. Keith sang, “Well you speak of grace and My love so sweet – how you thrive on milk but reject My meat. And I can't help weeping at how it will be If you keep on ignoring My Word.”

 

Ask yourself this, “Have I been asking the Lord to feed my flesh?” When you pray, do you list a lot of things you wish God would do for you and those whom you love? It seems right to ask our Lord to fix, preserve, and heal, but to what end? What part of you will it feed? How will it serve the Lord? What if our whole religious paradigm is out of sync with God’s Spirit? These are hard questions to ask, aren’t they? What if I told you that you have the rest of eternity to sort it out if you’ve repented of sin and embraced the grace of God through Christ the Son. The Holy Spirit in you and around you is ready to guide you toward the truth. He waits patiently for you to throw out the bubble-gum Christianity and begin to hunger for real, eternal manna.

       

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[1] 1978 Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

Birdwing Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Ears to Hear (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI License # 1252648

Don't Let Your Heart be Troubled

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. ~ 1 John 5:13-15

 

            This week’s encouragement message will focus on the fundamentals. Certain truths are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, no matter how complicated our lives may seem. I could write another message the reflects our shared awareness of many unsettling current events and circumstances, but there will be more of them next week. Today, we remember and affirm the following . . .

 

            When you believe in the name of Jesus, the Son of God, you have eternal life. What do you believe? You believe that, in Name of the Son of God, you have eternal life. It is in His Name that you have eternal life. Christ has vouched for you to His Father:

·      He has co-signed your loan;

·      Served as the principal reference on your resume;

·      He has offered Himself as collateral for your debt;

·      He has stepped in front of you and taken the bullet aim at you;

·      Christ has assured the Father that you are worthy of eternal life because Christ settled your overdrawn account with the Father.

 

If we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. When we ask, it must be in keeping with His divine wisdom, purpose, and timeframe. That being said, we can know that He hears us and that we already have what we’ve asked for. This truth in love from Pastor John the Apostle subtly reminds us that Jesus is Lord. That is, He is the boss. We have believed in our salvation through Him and now we must honor Him by submitting our ego, soul, and flesh to His authority. Therefore, His will is the only way.

 

There is peace in these truths for every Believer if he/she will speak and do according to faith in Christ our King. Therefore, do not let your hearts be troubled. Remember, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”

 

Confident in the Call

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ~ Ephesians 1:17-21

In this excerpt from the message from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Ephesus, he used the expression "the eyes of your heart" to represent an inner awareness, provided by the Holy Spirit, that comprehends everything God has made available to them. In the Bible, the "heart" is the center of thought, moral judgment, and feeling.

Listen to Paul’s words to his beloved, Timothy . . . “So don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:8-10 (The Message))

He reminds Timothy and all of us that we can only keep on going by the power of God. We are called to place our hope in God’s power. What are your hopes depending on these days? But, he doesn’t stop with immediate needs and current circumstances, does he? Paul says our calling (to hope) is ongoing (1Th 2:12; 5:24); it looks to the future since it is attached to the "blessed hope" (Tit 2:13) of eternal glory. The Israelites who wandered in the wilderness were promised an inheritance on earth. The Body of Christ, the new Israel, is given an eternal inheritance of heaven – which, is becoming more present as each Christian submits to Christ’s Kingdom authority and will be as much a part of the earth as it is above when Christ returns. Can you recognize the "incomparably great power" of God in the Bible? If so, why not believe that the same incomparable power is with us today?

I am often perplexed and even frightened by current events and their implications. Like many of you, I wonder what kind of life my children and grandchildren will have as I see the things, I often take for granted becoming unreliable. Honestly, I even worry about my family’s security and my own. As our church family struggles with the total disruption of religious activities that were centered around a building I am tempted to wonder if my job will remain secure. I am tempted to worry about my credibility, usefulness, and significance. I too worry about government encroachment, the limiting of Christian’s liberties, and even persecution. I have fears about the spread of COVID-19, street violence, and anarchy sometimes too.

Then, I recall Paul’s words above. Don’t miss the fact that he wrote them from jail as he suffered all of the things I’ve just mentioned. As a pastor, I think I can safely assume that Paul feared the same sort of things that I do. I understand that his mission caused him to write and speak as the Spirit inspired him. Nevertheless, when he was isolated and estranged, he must have given in to human weakness. His story is peppered with hints of his humanity. He did not always make the best leadership decisions, but with the Spirit’s help, the mission was reconciled as God worked all things for His good and holy purposes.

Therefore, I remain confident in my calling and God’s immeasurable power and authority over all things. I trust that Lord Jesus appointed me to my role and its tasks because of His confidence in my “heart” for Him. I take comfort from the fact that my sufferings in this life are short-lived and utterly insignificant when weighed against the incomparability of eternal life with Christ. When I return to my worries, which occurs regularly, I consciously speak the truth in love to my soul. I counter feelings with facts. The truth of Scripture and its expression of God’s heart and mind is a fact for me. My feelings are temporary interpretations of my times and circumstances. They are apt to change as I acquire more information and self-awareness. I remember with Paul that it is, “in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

Pride or Grace?

But he gives more grace. Therefore, it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ~ James 4:6

            Pride is the essence of sin. Adam’s sin occurred when he succumbed to the temptation to distrust God’s motives. His subtle decision to elevate his judgment above the Lord’s led to even greater sin against God as humanity willfully dismisses God every day. If one can, at will, disregard God’s constant presence and perfect wisdom, then it is only easier for him/her to disregard his/her neighbor. Pride separates us from each other.

            Grace is the essence of love. It is the opposite of pride. Grace forgives without justification because of love. God’s decision to forgive sinful humanity was motivated by the greatest love ever. God’s action caused the Son to be our justification. Through Him alone are we forgiven for sin against God. Having accepted this gift, we are obliged to surrender our pride and to embrace grace. Grace binds us to each other.

            When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” he said, “’ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:35–40 and Mark 12:28–34) There is no room for pride in this equation.

            How are the day-to-day decisions we make effected by pride and grace? During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been asked to endure discomforts like self-quarantines, social distancing, and wearing masks. While some have argued against these restrictions as an overreach by government officials, some have viewed them as necessary for the common good. It is not prudent or especially relevant to debate that here. This is not a message about civil liberties or “rendering unto Caesar.[1]” It is a study of our Lord’s primary expectation of His people.

            The Lord requires us to set aside our pride so that we can see ourselves for what we are, sinners who routinely reject our holy Creator’s leadership. Humility in that instance will lead directly to grace from Heaven that becomes part of our new nature. Have you made this choice yet? Have you accepted God’s grace? If you have, you’ve been forgiven and born again. Why then, would you choose pride over grace in any matter? Granted – we are born again as baby Christians who are gradually maturing in our new life (aka sanctification). Nevertheless, each day offers opportunities to choose grace.

            What can you do today that reflects the Lord’s command to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself?[2] Will you choose discomfort for the sake of others rather than pride-induced self-serving? Jesus said he is the One whose words are a sharp two-edged sword.[3] This means grace for some and judgment for others. Brothers and sisters, we will be accountable to Jesus for our thoughts, words, and deeds.[4]

 

[1] Mark 12:17

[2] Luke 10:27

[3] Revelation 2:12

[4] Hebrews 6:10, 1 Corinthians 3:8, Psalm 62:12, Romans 2:6, Luke 14:14, Matthew 16:27, Revelation 22:12, Jeremiah 32:19, Proverbs 24:12, Hebrews 6:10, Luke 14:14

Rooted in the Word

In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. Isaiah 4:2

            Anxiety and indifference seem to be engaged in a tug-of-war game around our community these days. The extremists in both camps look at each other with disdain and distrust as they freely criticize and mock each other. As usual, the majority of us are drifting somewhere in the middle ground as we seek balance in all things. While some of us may lean toward one extreme or the other, we also endeavor to think critically and to love our neighbors as Christ commands us to.

            Isaiah’s book begins the major and minor works of the Old Testament prophets who will call the nation to humility, repentance, and attentiveness toward the Lord’s priorities. Each prophet received scorn and rejection. The same prophets reminded the faithful and the foolish that the Lord God would prevail. Those courageous men were voices in the wilderness pleading for the people to prepare the way of the Lord. They reminded God’s people and the nation of the true nature of temporary human folly and the eternal holiness of the sovereign Lord.

            The prophets guaranteed that human vanity would be put down and God’s rule would prevail. Isaiah used the analogy of the branch as a way of describing how important it is to stay rooted in the Word of God. The Word of God is more than the Bible. It is best to think of the Word as the heart and mind of God. God is the source of the only trustworthy truths. God is the source of the only true love. God is the source of the only reality there is.

            It is tempting to think of our times and our worldly affairs as if they are highly significant. It is equally tempting to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. In either case, it is wrong to assume too much, since we are but a blade of grass, here today and gone tomorrow. Only God is eternal and constantly involved in the work of God’s hands – God’s creation and its creatures.

            Like the prophets, we are called to hear and speak the Word of God in truth and love. We are compelled to join God in all that God is doing in the world. Nevertheless, we must be willing to play small, seemingly insignificant roles. God requires that our implementation of God’s Word to be readily recognized in the small things that are witnessed by our fellow creatures in the little slice of creation that we occupy for a season.

            Through Jesus, Christ we are born again into an eternal life that is based in God’s timeless realm that is the true reality. We are asked to think eternally rather than temporally. We face trouble and ease with the same confidence that whatever happens here will be forgotten there. Therefore, use these times to consider your eternal nature and the promise of resurrection. Pray that the Lord will show you where He is at work around you so that you can join the Lord in it. You can effectively speak the truth in love in His presence and you can be His truth and love guided by His Spirit.

Sober Judgement

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ~ Romans 12:3

 

            “Sober judgment” is hard to find these days, at least when it comes to public discourse. And, there is no shortage of persons who think more highly of their opinions then they ought to. It is also apparent that God-given faith is in short supply. Paul’s admonition, given in grace, is wisdom for all who will hear, but he isn’t talking to CNN, Fox, the president, the senate, the congress, governors, mayors, BLM, cops, protestors, anarchists, angry social media enthusiasts, etc. Paul is talking to the Body of Christ, with truth in love – “by the grace given to me.”

 

            The Body of Christ is made up of those who have repented of sin, accepted God’s grace, and subjected themselves to Christ as ruler of their eternal lives. In the spirit of “truth in love,” I am asking you to consider who you know that seems to match those criteria. Do others consider you a member of the Body of Christ? What signs would you look for? What standards of authenticity would you look for?

 

            Many religious people who keep company with friends and fellow church members who share their lifestyles and tastes will fall short of the standard. Why? Often, it is because meeting with the approval of our peers affirms our opinions about rightness and wrongness, goodness, and badness. Therefore, self, reputation, and society rule our lives more than Christ. How can you tell? Does the Christian in question smoke, drink, curse, etc.? If you say “yes” and then condemn them, you’ve missed the point. The critical question is, do those habits control the Christian more than Christ? Then ask this, does your judgment of them have more to do with your tastes, social circles, etc.? If so, then Christ is not ruling your opinion of others among the Body. Do you hear people talking about Christ but see them serving their flesh as if it were their king? Spirit-led sober judgment is hard to get through when its energy is focused upon ourselves rather than others.

 

            This difficult message is a reminder to us all (myself included) that the voices we listen to, the opinions we embrace, and the words we speak reveal much about the condition of our souls. Christian witness is not so observed so much in what we say about Jesus, but what we do because of Jesus. Repentant sinners forgive more readily and extend mercy and grace more freely. They are not quick to condemn and are not easily angered. Christians are especially compassionate and long-suffering with others in the Body. They are courageous in their commitment to Christ as King. Their fear of rejection from friends and other peers is overcome by love and loyalty to their Lord, Jesus.

 

            As isolation, impatience, resentment, anxiety, and fear steadily pursue the people of God like Pharaoh’s army bearing down upon the Israelites whose backs were against the Red Sea, we must humbly drop to our knees and surrender our fate to the Lord’s rule. We must be willing to wait and watch as God’s power is revealed in God’s perfect time. We must not join the faithless voices of doubt who only wish to be comfortable, even if it means slavery to sin and death. “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” ~ Luke 21:28