August 17, 2009

Text: Numbers 14:20-45

WHEN GOD ANSWERS

1. God's answer to Moses' prayer
"Then the LORD said..."    Numbers 14:20a

a) Direct response to Moses' prayer

b) Immediate response

2. According to one set of principles- Prayers offered
"I have pardoned, according to your word"    Numbers 14:20b

a) According to your word

    i) Our prayers count with God

    ii) Our word counts with the Lord

b) "I have pardoned"

    i) God's mercy will be extended

    ii) Pardon will be given to the innocent

3. According to another set of principles- God's will

a) "But truly, as I live"    Numbers 14:21b

    i) "But" offers a contrast

    ii) It introduces a different perspective

    iii) Another set of principles is being introduced

b) "Truly, as I live"

    i) God's statement as an oath

    ii) This oath would be kept

4. The principle of the glory of God
"All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD"
<    Numbers 14:21 (Cf. Malachi 1)

WHERE MOSES' PRAYER WAS NOT ANSWERED

1. The Men excluded from God's pardon

a) Who had seen God's glory    Numbers 14:22a

b) Who had seen the signs of God in Egypt    Numbers 14:22b

c) And the signs in the wilderness    Numbers 14:22c

d) Who put God to the test ten times    Numbers 14:22d

e) Who had not heeded God's voice    Numbers 14:22e

f) Those who rejected the Lord    Numbers 14:23b

g) Those who despised the Land    Numbers 14:31c

h) Those who were guilty of faithlessness (infidelity)    Numbers 14:33b, 34

i) Those who are gathered against the Lord    Numbers 14:35

2. Two Judgments pronounced

a) Against the congregation of Israel

    i) They shall not see the Promised Land    Numbers 14:23a

    ii) They are excluded from the blessings of God (in Promised Land)

    iii) The complainers are pronounced "evil"    Numbers 14:27

    iv) The complainers would die in the wilderness    Numbers 14:29a, 32

    v) Age specific: "twenty years and above"    Numbers 14:29b

    vi) Forty years sentence (in the wilderness)    Numbers 14:33

b) Against the Ten Spies
They died by a plague    Numbers 14:37

3. Exceptions

a) Caleb the son of Jephunneh    Numbers 14:30a

b) Joshua the son of Nun    Numbers 14:30b

c) The little ones    Numbers 14:31

THE SIN OF PRESUMPTION

1. Upon hearing the pronouncement of God    Numbers 14:39

2. The Presumptuous party (of the congregation of Israel)

a) They presumed that mourning greatly was sufficient    Numbers 14:39b

b) They presumed that confession of sin was enough    Numbers 14:40d

c) They presumed that they could easily conquer the land    Numbers 14:40c

WARNING CONCERNING THE SIN OF PRESUMPTION

1. That it was transgression against the commandment of the Lord    Numbers 14:41a
2. That this attempt would result in disastrous defeat    Numbers 14:41b

3. The Lord's Presence would not be with them in battle    Numbers 14:43d

SEPARATION FROM THE PRESUMPTUOUS

1. Moses

2. The Ark of the Lord would remain in the Camp    Numbers 14:44

DEFEAT OF THE PRESUMPTUOUS

1. Victory of the Amalekites and the Canaanites    Numbers 14:45a

2. Defeat of the Presumptuous party    Numbers 14:45b