Num14 When We Grumble Against God
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# When We Grumble
Against God ## Numbers 14:1-10 [Silverthorne, CO. Nathan Anderson](https://unsplash.com/photos/mKA3VavSuaI "caption") --- # Have I grown
**resentful** of God? >>> + God **blesses** everyone but me + prayed, done all **supposed** to + Still **stuck**, trapped, + no way out, no **hope** + God doesn't **hear**, exist, able + or worse, doesn't **care** --- ## When We Grumble [(Num 14)](# "ref") 1. The Promised Land [(Ex3)](# "ref") 1. Murmurs [(v2-3)](# "ref") 1. The Severity of God [(v11-23)](# "ref") 1. The Kindness of God [(Rom11, Heb3-4)](# "ref") >>> + Faith **journey**, arc of redemp + Start at **finish** line: first + clarify what **promised land** is + Back in **burning bush**, + God did make a **glorious promise** + to Isr: --- I have surely seen the **affliction**
of my people who are in Egypt and have
heard their **cry** because of their taskmasters. I know their **sufferings**, and I have come down
to **deliver** them [...] and to bring them [...]
to a **good and broad land**,
a land flowing with milk and honey [Exodus 3:7-8 (ESV)](# "ref") [Brandenburg Alps, Austria. Paul Gilmore](https://unsplash.com/photos/qKIaA41lMjM "caption") >>> + Promise of **blessing** and **peace** + Reaffirmation of promise 400yrs prior + to **Abraham** in land of Canaan: --- Know for **certain** that your offspring will be
**sojourners** in a land that is not theirs
and will be **servants** there. [...] And they shall **come back** here
in the fourth generation [...] To your offspring **I give this land** [Genesis 15:13,16,18 (ESV)](# "ref") [Egypt. Mariam Soliman](https://unsplash.com/photos/Ht5XmeuLyDg "caption") >>> + So Isr had a specific **promise**, + Thus their **disbelief** in it + invited God's **judgment**. + But we mustn't think **prom land** + equals **our** goals: + "I've had **setbacks** in life, but + if I just **believe** enough, + God will **bless** me" + Crowds who **delighted** + in Jesus' **miracles** + thought He would + **overthrow** the Romans: --- "This is indeed the **Prophet**
who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come
and take him **by force** to make him **king**,
Jesus **withdrew** again [John 6:14-15 (ESV)](# "ref") [Sarah Penney](https://unsplash.com/photos/-6nDec_KT7U "caption") >>> + bc promised land was not + military **victory** + a human **government** + a patriotic **tribe** to belong + Jesus came to **suffer** + and die for our **sins** + Same crowds shouted **"Crucify!"** + bc the **promised land** + was not what they **expected** + 1st coming to pave the way + for the **future** rest: --- So then, there remains
a **Sabbath rest** for the people of God, for whoever has entered **God's rest**
has also rested from his **works**
as God did from his. [Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV)](# "ref") [Lake of Carezza, Italy. Alessandro Viaro](https://unsplash.com/photos/fwWj5Y1IgQg "caption") >>> + our **journey** thru wilderness + is **preparation** for that rest: + Studying God's **truth** + to **do** + **teach** (Ez7:10) + Exercising **self-discipline** + voluntary pursuit of **holiness** + Habitual works of **mercy** to needy + w/o growing **weary** of good + Showing **love** toward all + esp **household** of God --- # What is our
**promised land**? >>> + Has God promised: + success in school/**work**? + **health** + long life? + happy **marriage**? (one at all?) + happy + success **kids**? + "God hath not promised": + sun w/o rain + joy w/o sorrow + peace w/o pain + Jesus brought not **happy** fam, + but **sword** of division + Vacations not **instagram**-worthy + but stressful, ugly **battles** + bc fight not **person-person** + but life of **faith** in God + vs life of **rebel** against + even w/in own **heart** + True **Sabbath** rest in kingdom + but **not** there yet + Prepare self by cultiv **faith** --- ## When We Grumble [(Num 14)](# "ref") 1. The Promised Land [(Ex3)](# "ref") 1. **Murmurs** [(v2-3)](# "ref") 1. The Severity of God [(v11-23)](# "ref") 1. The Kindness of God [(Rom11, Heb3-4)](# "ref") >>> + **Challenges** to our faith + When God asks + the **impossible** of us + **Bitterness** starts festering: --- All the people of Israel
**grumbled** against Moses and Aaron. ... "I have heard the **grumblings**
of the people of Israel,
which they grumble **against me**." [Numbers 14:2,27 (ESV)](# "ref") [Mario Purisic](https://unsplash.com/photos/jG1z5o7NCq4 "caption") >>> + "grumble": murmur, indistinct vocal + Plausible **deniability** + "I didn't say anything": + passive aggressive + **Kids** grumble when forced to + say **thank you** for ugly gift + Impotent **dissent**: + "I don't **like** it, but + I can't **do** anything about it" + Can't **fight** God, but + His **plan** is terrible + His **intent** is to **harm** + Feel **trapped**, and, like Isr, + maybe even rather **die**: --- Would that we had **died** in the land of **Egypt**!
Or would that we had died in this **wilderness**!
Why is the Lord bringing us into this land,
to fall by the **sword**? Our wives and our little ones will
become a **prey**. Would it not be better
for us to **go back** to Egypt?” [Numbers 14:2-3 (ESV)](# "ref") [Dallol, Ethiopia. Trevor Cole](https://unsplash.com/photos/UQJP4eEqRV0 "caption") >>> + See no **hope** + Going to **die** anyway, + rather die in **familiar** place + God wants to **destroy** me + In **Deut 1**, 40yrs later, + preparing to enter Canaan, + Moses reviews this event: --- Yet you [...] **rebelled** against
the command of the Lord your God.
And you **murmured** in your tents and said, "Because the Lord **hated** us he has
brought us out of the land of Egypt,
to give us into the hand of the Amorites,
to **destroy** us." [Deuteronomy 1:26-27 (ESV)](# "ref") [Breno Machado](https://unsplash.com/photos/in9-n0JwgZ0 "caption") >>> + Resentment bubbles up in each **heart** + Vents outward as **grumbling** in private + Culminates in **org** rebellion + (select leader to return to Egypt) + Root **assumption**: + that God **hates** us + and wants to **destroy** us + Doubting God's **love**: + not just that God **is** love + but that He loves **me** --- # Have I ever felt
like God **hates** me? >>> + Far away from **love** of God + or it applies to **others**? + **Trials** in journey of faith + mean God wants to **destroy**? + Every line in Ps 136: + His steadfast **love** + endures forever + It's **important**! + bc **doubting** God's love --- ## When We Grumble [(Num 14)](# "ref") 1. The Promised Land [(Ex3)](# "ref") 1. Murmurs [(v2-3)](# "ref") 1. **The Severity of God** [(v11-23)](# "ref") 1. The Kindness of God [(Rom11, Heb3-4)](# "ref") >>> + leads to to **resentment** + to **grumbling** + to **rebellion** + to **judgment** + Out of His glory, God **speaks**: --- How long will this people **despise** me? And how long will they not **believe** in me,
in spite of all the **signs**
that I have done among them? [Numbers 4:11 (ESV)](# "ref") [Luis Quintero](https://unsplash.com/photos/ibWxfQOePt4 "caption") >>> + "despise": contempt (NIV) + as **lesser**, or as **evil** + doubt God's **pwr** or **goodness** + "believe": not intellect **assent** + self-ID as Chr, or + **checklist** of Chr deeds + God desires **mercy**, not sacrif + Heart **attitude**: + **obey** God or **rebel** + Never really about **Canaan**: + end **ch14**, go up to take Canaan + Mo: you turned **back** from God + now trying to avoid **punish** + Yes, there is **forgiveness**, + but do not mistake God's + **kindness** for **blindness**, or + **meekness** for **weakness** + See how Moses **prays** for mercy: --- Please **pardon** the iniquity of this people,
according to the greatness
of your **steadfast love** [Numbers 4:19 (ESV)](# "ref") [Chris Lawton](https://unsplash.com/photos/6tfO1M8_gas "caption") >>> + Not bc we **made up** for it + **balancing** bad deeds w/good + Not bc rebellion was no **big deal** + Solely bc **God's** love + not our worthiness + And not without **consequences** + prev vs: --- The Lord is **slow** to anger
and abounding in steadfast **love**,
**forgiving** iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means **clear** the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the **fathers**
on the **children**,
to the third and the fourth generation. [Numbers 4:18 (ESV)](# "ref") [Steven Van Loy, Biarritz, France](https://unsplash.com/photos/oUhSla4L_98 "caption") >>> + **Generational** curse: + Our **sin** affects those around us + Our kids are **watching** us + how we treat those **weaker** + Though I may **say** I'm not my parents + when **stressed**, tired + I do what I **know**: + repeat **mistakes** of prev gen + Takes 3-4 gen of **conscious** effort + and **power** of HS + to **undo** bad habits + And God **answers** Moses' prayer: --- I have **pardoned**, according to your word. But **truly**, as I live, and as
all the **earth** shall be filled
with the **glory** of the Lord, [Numbers 4:20-21 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref") [Los Angeles. Edwin Andrade](https://unsplash.com/photos/6liebVeAfrY "caption") --- none of the men who have seen my **glory**
and my **signs** that I did in Egypt
and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the **test** these
ten times and have not **obeyed** my voice, shall see the **land**
that I swore to give to their fathers. [Numbers 4:22-23 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref") >>> + Yes, there is **forgiveness**: + was going to **wipe** out + by **plague** + But still **judgment** on + the **rebellious**: + Not the **ignorant**, but those who + saw **glory**, **signs** + and yet **disbelieved**, + disobeyed, and **despised** --- # Am I in **rebellion**
against God? >>> + I've **heard** the sermons + **read** the Bible + **know** the path to walk + "I tried it **God's** way, didn't work, + now we do it my way" + What God **asks** of me + is **impossible**: + setting me up for **failure** + Is that **you**, today? + Doubting God's **love** + **auth**: + to resent, grumble, + rebel + disbelief + Joshua + Caleb **tore** clothes: + **Please** turn bf too late! --- ## When We Grumble [(Num 14)](# "ref") 1. The Promised Land [(Ex3)](# "ref") 1. Murmurs [(v2-3)](# "ref") 1. The Severity of God [(v11-23)](# "ref") 1. **The Kindness of God** [(Rom11, Heb3-4)](# "ref") >>> + **Yield** to God's auth, + not only bc **fear** of judgment + but bc **hope** of kindness + **Rom 11**: take note of --- The **kindness** and the **severity** of God:
severity toward those who have **fallen**, but God's kindness to you,
provided you **continue** in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be **cut off**. [Romans 11:22 (ESV)](# "ref") [Flor Saurina](https://unsplash.com/photos/mHLHSn4gtno "caption") >>> + Those who were part of orig **vine** + saw **glory** + signs + self-ID as **followers** + knew His **law** + But **hardened** their hearts + and were **cut off** + bc of **unbelief** + Heb 3, quoting Ps 95: --- "**Today**, if you hear his voice, do not
**harden** your hearts as in the rebellion." [...] To whom did he swear that
they would not enter his **rest**,
but to those who were **disobedient**? So we see that they were
unable to enter because of **unbelief**. [Hebrews 3:15,18-19 (ESV)](# "ref") [Alex Jones](https://unsplash.com/photos/p0W9Q9gei4g "caption") >>> + **Warning** to those of us + who grew up in **church**! + Don't take it for **granted** + that **connect** to vine + **Blessed** by God != **obeying** God + Conversely, **hope** for those + formerly **far** away from God: --- And even they, if they do not **continue**
in their unbelief, will be **grafted** in,
for God has the power to graft them in again. [Romans 11:22-23 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + "But you don't know + the **life** I've lived + how I've **blasphemed** God + in my actions + priorities" + God always extends **invitation**: + **Turn**, turn from evil ways + We do not do this on our **own** + Heb reminds us: --- For we do not have a **high priest** who is
unable to **sympathize** with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect has been
**tempted** as we are, yet **without sin**. Let us then with **confidence**
draw near to the **throne of grace**,
that we may receive **mercy** and
find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV)](# "ref") [pxhere](https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1094065 "caption") >>> + --- # What should I **do**
when my faith is **weak**? >>> + ---