WEBVTT

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 Well, again, I want to say good morning. It's good to have you here.

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 And I want to just remind you, as Tom said earlier, if you are feeling hot and need to get up,

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 move to a different zone so you can feel a fan or go downstairs and continue to engage in our service

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 on the live stream in the air conditioning, please feel free to do that.

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 In great stories, there are always inflection points.

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 And if you are particularly a teen here and you want to read these books,

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 you may want to plug your ears because I'm about to give you spoilers, okay?

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 Obi-Wan falls to the lightsaber of Darth Vader in the Death Star at the end of the original New Hope.

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 Dumbledore, okay, have you plugged your ears?

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 All right, so Dumbledore meets his fate at the top of the Astronomy Tower in Hogwarts.

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 And in the minds of Moria, again, if you haven't read The Lord of the Rings, plug your ears,

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 Gandalf falls into the abyss at the bridge of Khazad-dûm.

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 And in each of these situations, the main characters, Luke, Skywalker, Harry Potter,

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 Frodo Baggins, and the company ask the question, how do we go on?

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 Where do we need to look for help, for leadership, for guidance?

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 During the…in these inflection points, in these turning points,

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 they feel fear, confusion, and uncertainty about how to go forward.

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 In the journey of our life, we may also come to inflection points along the way.

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 It might be starting a new job or having a promotion, a new company.

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 It might be heading off to junior high or high school coming up this fall.

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 Maybe that you're getting married or having a baby or having another baby.

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 All of these are inflection points in our lives.

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 Perhaps you've suffered great loss.

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 Maybe a loved one or even a pet or a job or a hope.

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 They cause the same feelings in us.

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 Confusion, fear, uncertainty.

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 How do we move forward?

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 What would God want us to know about Himself in these moments?

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 This is what brings us to our passage today.

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 We'll be looking at Numbers chapter 20.

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 This summer, we are preaching through the book of Numbers in the Old Testament.

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 If you're looking at the Pew Bible, that's page 119 in the Pew Bibles or around there.

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 We're looking.

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 And as we go through, you will see we're going to focus particularly on the narrative story

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 in verses 2 through 13 this morning.

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 So we're not going to teach through the whole chapter.

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 We're just going to focus on that story.

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 But if you haven't been here or just to remind us of where we are in the whole Bible, right?

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 Numbers is the book about God leading His people on a journey through the wilderness.

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 God had in the book of Exodus delivered His people from Egypt, brought them to Mount Sinai,

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 revealed Himself with great signs and wonders.

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 And they camped there as they received the law and began to learn what it meant to be God's people.

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 The book of Numbers begins as the people set out from the Mount of Sinai,

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 heading towards the promised land that God would promise to take them into.

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 But despite all of God's great signs of faithfulness to them,

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 the people struggled and failed to trust and believe God in this journey through the wilderness.

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 They complained about food and about water.

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 They rebelled against God's leaders.

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 In Numbers 13, they came to the brink of the promised land,

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 and they went in and spied it out.

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 And they came back and they said,

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 There's no way God can help us.

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 We're afraid.

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 We don't want to do this.

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 And so God in His judgment said,

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 If that's how you feel, fine.

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 My judgment is that this generation will not enter in to the promised land.

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 But your faithfulness, faithlessness, will not deter my faithfulness.

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 So the next generation I will take in.

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 So you are now going to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

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 And in that time, He reaffirmed His appointment of the leadership of Moses and Aaron in the priesthood.

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 And He asked them again and again to trust Him.

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 To believe in His saving purposes.

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 That God will deliver us from our enemies.

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 To trust in His provision.

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 That God will give us the things that we need.

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 Manna and water.

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 That God, He calls us to live with hope in His promises.

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 That what God has said He will do.

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 He will bring it to completion.

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 When we come to Numbers 20 then, it's a turning point.

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 Because suddenly, we are 40 years ahead.

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 Right?

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 The generation that was condemned for not believing God and going into the promised land.

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 Had pretty much died out.

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 And the new generation had raised up.

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 And you see this in a number of different ways.

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 You see this new place coming up.

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 You see that there's an inflection point in the leadership.

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 Right?

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 Chapter 20 begins in verse 1 with the death of Miriam.

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 Remember, Miriam was the prophetess.

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 The sister of Aaron and Moses.

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 Who helped lead the people and praise the Lord.

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 Right?

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 And we see at the end of the chapter that Aaron too.

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 His death is recorded in this.

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 And the passing on of the high priesthood to a new generation.

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 To his son, Eleazar.

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 And it's even an inflection point in the travel plans.

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 Because they're still thinking they're going to go to the promised land.

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 And in verses 14 through 21, they try to go through Edom.

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 And Edom says, no thanks.

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 We don't want your people walking through our land.

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 And so God redirects them to go south and around the long way.

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 So that God can show his faithfulness to them.

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 So there's your outline for the whole chapter.

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 If you missed it, you can go back and watch it on the video.

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 So, but the central narrative in this is verses 2 through 13.

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 So we're going to look at that today.

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 We're going to read it.

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 And we're going to explore it.

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 So if you want to read with me, Numbers chapter 20, verses 2 through 13.

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 Numbers 20, verse 2.

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 Now there was no water for the congregation.

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 And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

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 And the people quarreled with Moses and said,

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 Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord.

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 Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness?

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 That we should die here, both we and our cattle.

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 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?

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 It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates.

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 And there is no water to drink.

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 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting

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 and fell on their faces.

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 And the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

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 And the Lord spoke to Moses saying,

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 Take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron, your brother,

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 and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water.

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 So you shall bring water out of the rock for them

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 and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.

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 And Moses took the staff from before the Lord as he commanded him.

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 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock.

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 And he said to them,

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 Hear now, you rebels!

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 Shall we bring water for you out of this rock?

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 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice.

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 And water came out abundantly.

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 And the congregation drank and their livestock.

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 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

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 Because you did not believe in me to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel,

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 therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.

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 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord.

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 And through them he showed himself holy.

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 Let's pray and ask for God's help as we look at his word today.

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 Lord, thank you for this word.

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 Thank you for this morning that we can gather together.

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 And we pray for your help as we look at this.

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 Lord, help us to understand your word.

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 Lord, help us to not only understand it,

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 but Lord, make our hearts ready to receive it and to submit to it.

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 Search our hearts.

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 Lord, show us if there be any wicked way in us,

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 and lead us in the ways of everlasting.

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 Lord, be my help.

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 Help me to speak as I ought to this morning,

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 that your truth may be clear.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So we're going to recount the story

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 so that we can pull out some of the details

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 and see it for all that we can see in it.

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 And then we're going to ask three questions at the end.

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 So if you're making an outline,

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 that's what we're going to do.

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 So the story comes in four movements, right?

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 In verses 2 through 5,

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 the new people, the new generation, complain.

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 Now remember, they are thinking, potentially,

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 the old guard, they got judged,

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 but we're now expecting blessing.

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 And so here they go,

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 and the first thing that happens to them is,

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 there is no water.

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 And this is not merely them overlooking something that was untrue.

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 It's not that they misperceived the situation.

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 The narrator himself says,

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 there was no water.

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 The question was, how would they respond to that?

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 Well, they complained.

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 Just like the earlier generation did,

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 they complained.

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 They were faithless.

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 They were accusatory of Moses and Aaron.

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 Why did you lead us out here to die?

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 It's interesting.

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 They even say, we wish we were like our brothers,

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 the brothers who were the rebels

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 who were swallowed up by the earth.

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 We wish that we would die instantaneously like them

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 rather than dying by starvation in the wilderness.

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 It's a pretty ugly picture of the people of God.

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 The second movement in this story is God's response.

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 In verses 6 through 8,

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 Moses and Aaron receive this.

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 They take it to the Lord,

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 and the Lord gives them instructions.

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 And it's so interesting, is it not?

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 Though in some of the other places,

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 God would have said,

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 these people are worthless and faithless,

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 and I'm going to judge them

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 and wipe them off of the face of the earth.

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 And then Moses and Aaron step in and say,

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 no, God, you have to keep your people to,

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 because you want, you have to keep your promises.

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 And then God relents,

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 and it goes on from here.

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 Here, you don't see any word at all of condemnation.

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 Right?

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 Look with me again at verse 7.

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 What does he say?

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 Where'd it go?

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 The Lord spoke and said,

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 he just said,

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 take the staff and assemble the congregation.

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 His goal is to provide for the people.

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 Right?

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 He gives Moses and Aaron particularly three instructions.

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 He said, go get the staff.

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 And what is the staff?

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 It's particularly here,

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 the staff of Aaron that they had,

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 if you go back and you have to listen to the sermon

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 from a couple weeks ago on Aaron's staff,

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 signifying that the priesthood was meant to be

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 a life-giving blessing to the people of God.

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 It was a signal of God's authority to these leaders,

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 but it was a signal of God's desire

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 to bless his people through their leadership.

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 So go get the staff from the tent of meeting.

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 Get it from its special place in the Holy of Holies.

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 Second thing, assemble the people.

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 And it's really interesting.

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 If you look carefully,

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 there are two different words through this passage.

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 One is assembly and one is congregation.

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 And God uses the word congregation,

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 typically, in a neutral or positive sense

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 to talk about the unified people of God.

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 But he uses the word assembly often

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 with the connotation of,

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 these are the people who are rebelling against me.

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 So when in verse 7,

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 God says,

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 go assemble the congregation,

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 he's saying,

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 pull the people together before me.

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 Right?

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 And then the third thing is,

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 he says,

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 speak to the rock

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 so that it will yield the water.

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 And God's promise is,

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 when you do these things,

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 the water will give rock,

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 sorry,

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 the rock will give water

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 to all the people.

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 Not only to all the people,

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 but all the livestock.

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 It's not just a trickle.

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 It's a gush.

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 It's a torrent.

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 It's a waterfall

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 to feed all these hundreds of thousands of people

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 and their livestock.

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 So God promises.

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 He instructs his leaders to do things

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 with the promise that God is going to provide

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 for the people through them.

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 The third movement,

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 in verses 9 through 11,

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 Moses and Aaron's surprising leadership.

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 This is very interesting.

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 The ESV does not help us

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 by putting a paragraph break

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 between verses 9 and 10

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 and a new title.

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 Okay?

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 So I want you to try to erase that from your brain

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 if you're looking at your Bible.

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 And just because in verse 9,

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 right,

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 it says Moses heard God

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 and he went

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 and he took the staff

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 out of the tent of meeting

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 as the Lord commanded him.

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 Now,

00:14:54.300 --> 00:14:55.720
 as the Lord commanded him

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.220
 feels a little early,

00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:57.860
 doesn't it?

00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:00.580
 God gave him three instructions

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:03.300
 and Moses did one of them.

00:15:03.660 --> 00:15:04.220
 Right?

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:06.639
 So there's partial obedience.

00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:09.379
 But then what do you see in the rest of it?

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.220
 Is it further obedience?

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:11.620
 Well,

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:14.200
 he gathers the people,

00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:15.460
 but again,

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:16.500
 verse 10 says,

00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:18.160
 he gathered the assembly,

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:20.440
 which is an indication perhaps

00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:21.100
 in the narrative

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:23.300
 of something slightly off,

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.460
 and his tone.

00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:25.660
 I tried to get it

00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:27.560
 when I was reading it earlier.

00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:29.160
 He says,

00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:30.460
 you rebels.

00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:31.899
 Right?

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:36.759
 which is the word used

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:38.159
 in chapter 16

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.899
 for Korah and his followers

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.980
 when they rose up

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.899
 against the leadership

00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:43.819
 and God brought great judgment

00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:45.159
 on them.

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:47.179
 He treated them

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:49.519
 as worthy of judgment.

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:52.100
 And he didn't say,

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.539
 God has promised

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.919
 to provide for you.

00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:56.259
 He said,

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.939
 should you?

00:15:58.939 --> 00:16:00.340
 Should I bring water

00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:01.620
 out of the rock for you?

00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:03.740
 The implication,

00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:04.340
 I think,

00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:05.139
 is that he,

00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.840
 Moses was thinking,

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:08.899
 these people are not deserving.

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:11.100
 These people don't deserve

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:12.139
 God's grace.

00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.459
 They don't deserve

00:16:13.459 --> 00:16:14.600
 God's provision.

00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:19.579
 And then the third thing he does

00:16:19.579 --> 00:16:21.379
 is he strikes the rock.

00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:23.559
 He lifts up his hand.

00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.039
 He strikes the rock.

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.120
 He strikes it twice.

00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:28.120
 He lifts up his hand.

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.679
 And the water gushes forth.

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.519
 And God is faithful

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.360
 and God provides the water

00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.639
 for the people.

00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.500
 We're going to come back

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.740
 and explore this a little bit

00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:41.120
 because it's the first question.

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:41.899
 Right?

00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:42.779
 So,

00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.000
 the fourth movement

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.360
 in the story is

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.539
 because it feels like,

00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:46.820
 hey,

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.560
 this is great.

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.259
 God has

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:50.179
 totally provided

00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:51.240
 and this is wonderful

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.539
 and let's go on

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.720
 into the promised land.

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:55.580
 Verse 12,

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.680
 God's judgment

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:57.840
 and vindication.

00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:58.379
 Right?

00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.460
 Verses 12 and 13,

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.100
 water does come

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.840
 from the rock,

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.440
 but Moses and Aaron

00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.740
 are condemned.

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.319
 Why?

00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.759
 For two reasons.

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.940
 The text is clear.

00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:11.559
 The first one is,

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.660
 you did not believe in me.

00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:14.839
 That is,

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:16.220
 you did not trust me.

00:17:16.360 --> 00:17:18.420
 You did not trust my words.

00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:19.840
 Secondly,

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.840
 you did not,

00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:22.200
 what's the phrase

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.600
 that he uses particularly?

00:17:24.320 --> 00:17:26.140
 Uphold me as holy

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:27.360
 in the eyes

00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:29.019
 of the people of Israel.

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:35.580
 You did not represent me

00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:37.019
 as I truly am

00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.019
 in my heart

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.940
 for these people

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:41.019
 accurately.

00:17:41.800 --> 00:17:42.860
 You showed that

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:44.140
 through your disobedience

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.060
 and you showed that

00:17:45.060 --> 00:17:46.180
 through your attitude.

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:48.420
 And God gave

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.500
 the people water,

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.560
 but there's a word

00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:52.240
 of rebuke

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.220
 and condemnation

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.200
 and consequence

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.200
 for Moses and Aaron.

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.600
 They would not see

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.620
 the promised land

00:17:58.620 --> 00:18:02.680
 that this generation would.

00:18:04.580 --> 00:18:05.140
 Okay.

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.799
 So that's the story.

00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:08.080
 I've tried to pull out

00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:08.820
 some of the details.

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.600
 Let's talk about

00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:10.740
 the implications of it.

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.900
 Three questions.

00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.620
 The first one is,

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:16.139
 why was Moses and Aaron's

00:18:16.139 --> 00:18:17.239
 sin so significant?

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:19.159
 And I put Moses and Aaron together

00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:20.859
 because as you go

00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.679
 through the story,

00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:23.899
 it's actually a little bit confusing

00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:25.219
 because it moves

00:18:25.219 --> 00:18:26.500
 from singular to plural

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.399
 and back and forth

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.500
 between just talking

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:28.979
 about Moses

00:18:28.979 --> 00:18:29.719
 and talking about

00:18:29.719 --> 00:18:30.559
 Moses and Aaron.

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.839
 And when you look

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.839
 at verse 12,

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.659
 when you see the judgment

00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:35.279
 on them,

00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.419
 it's on both of them.

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.699
 And so I'm going to use

00:18:37.699 --> 00:18:38.959
 plural broadly

00:18:38.959 --> 00:18:39.899
 even though the text

00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.779
 goes back and forth

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:42.259
 between Moses did this

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.200
 and it doesn't specify

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.059
 that Aaron did this.

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.019
 The idea is that

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:46.480
 they were doing this together

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:48.619
 is what we see, right?

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.140
 But why was it

00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:51.660
 such a big deal?

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.539
 It kind of seems harsh

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:55.000
 on a first read.

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.799
 Like, seriously God?

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.400
 They just,

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:59.079
 they kind of misstepped

00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:00.779
 on a few of the details

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.180
 and you like,

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:02.680
 nope,

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.379
 you can't see

00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:04.279
 the promised land?

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.900
 That's a terrible,

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:08.339
 that seems really harsh,

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:08.940
 doesn't it?

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:11.380
 Well, it does

00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:13.220
 until you see this

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:13.980
 in the context

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.140
 of the book

00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:15.779
 and understand

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.779
 a few details

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.039
 that are really important.

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.900
 The first thing is

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:22.220
 Moses and Aaron

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:24.160
 were given particular roles.

00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:25.539
 If you go back and read,

00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.360
 if you remember

00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:27.000
 what we've seen

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.680
 in Numbers 11 through 20,

00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:30.559
 God keeps propping them up.

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.259
 Moses is the prophet.

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.539
 He is the anointed one

00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:35.120
 that I have set aside

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.600
 to lead these people

00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:37.680
 into the promised land.

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:39.840
 He is to represent me

00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:41.060
 and He is to represent

00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:42.180
 the people to me.

00:19:42.580 --> 00:19:44.460
 So Moses has this unique role

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.360
 as a mediator

00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:47.440
 and Aaron is held up

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:49.940
 in chapters 16 through 19,

00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:51.920
 particularly in chapters 16 and 17.

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.420
 Aaron is held up

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.539
 as the high priest,

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.320
 the one who goes

00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:56.580
 into the Holy of Holies

00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:58.539
 to make the sacrifices,

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.880
 to atone for the sins

00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.519
 of the people.

00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:03.299
 So these two people

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:05.779
 had a unique role

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.759
 in the people of God

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.779
 at the time.

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.339
 And God gave them staffs.

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.139
 And I'm going to say

00:20:13.139 --> 00:20:13.980
 two of them

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:16.160
 because this is kind of important,

00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.220
 right?

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.740
 Each of them had a staff

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:21.460
 that symbolized

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.680
 their authority.

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.539
 And I went back and looked

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.819
 and I'll tell you,

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.099
 I just want to be clear.

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:31.740
 The writer isn't always clear

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.500
 on which staff

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.240
 is which staff,

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:33.779
 okay?

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.980
 But here we go,

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.019
 right?

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:38.339
 The staff of Moses,

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:40.079
 the staff that he used

00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.959
 as he raised up

00:20:40.959 --> 00:20:42.240
 to part the Red Sea,

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.419
 right?

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.480
 The staff that he used

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.599
 to strike the rock

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.799
 in Exodus 17

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:48.139
 to bring water

00:20:48.139 --> 00:20:49.119
 the first time

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:50.399
 and when the first generation

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.179
 complained,

00:20:51.679 --> 00:20:52.000
 right?

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.799
 This is the staff of Moses.

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.359
 But remember,

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.500
 the staff of Aaron,

00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.839
 now the staff of Aaron

00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.880
 was also used

00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.700
 back in the judgments

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.400
 on Egypt.

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.740
 It was a time

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.859
 when Aaron would raise up

00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:04.380
 his staff

00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:06.140
 to be a part

00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:07.400
 of what God would do.

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.400
 So again,

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.720
 there's a bit of intermingling,

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.500
 but they are two distinct staffs.

00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.460
 And at this point

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.380
 in Numbers 20,

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.460
 as I said,

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.660
 Aaron's staff

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:17.160
 has been put away

00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:19.839
 in the innermost place

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.940
 where God's presence

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.400
 dwells among his people

00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:24.080
 to be a testimony

00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:25.299
 of his faithfulness

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.400
 and his desire to provide.

00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:28.080
 So God tells them,

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.580
 go get that staff

00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:31.420
 so that you can hold it up,

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.059
 not to strike the rock,

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:34.320
 but to hold it up

00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:36.160
 to remind the people

00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.759
 that your leadership

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.100
 is meant to be a blessing.

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.299
 And they do that.

00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:43.519
 But then in verse 11,

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.820
 it says,

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:47.420
 Moses took his staff

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:49.299
 and struck the rock.

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:51.759
 not Aaron's staff.

00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.720
 Now,

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.579
 we could have

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.859
 a really good row

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:57.940
 about the Hebrew particles

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.559
 and whether this is

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.740
 really a distinction or not,

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.539
 but this was helpful for me

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.759
 that it specified

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.440
 it's Moses' staff

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.099
 that he takes

00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:08.279
 to strike the rock

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.500
 because it shows

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.339
 how far he had gone

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:13.759
 in disregarding

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.119
 God's command.

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:17.419
 because the point

00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:18.519
 of getting Aaron's staff

00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.239
 was to hold up

00:22:19.239 --> 00:22:20.079
 this sign of authority.

00:22:20.439 --> 00:22:21.039
 But Moses said,

00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:22.039
 no, I'm going to do this.

00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:22.639
 I'm going to get

00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:23.819
 my own staff

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:25.319
 and struck the rock.

00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:26.639
 Right?

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.219
 And so,

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.619
 and part of this

00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:31.639
 is because it subverted

00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:33.379
 God's plan for this.

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.639
 Because in this inflection point,

00:22:36.219 --> 00:22:36.979
 Moses has been

00:22:36.979 --> 00:22:37.699
 with the people

00:22:37.699 --> 00:22:38.519
 leading them,

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.139
 but he's not going to be

00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:41.659
 with this new generation forever.

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.500
 At some point,

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.379
 he's going to die.

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:45.040
 And what is going to continue

00:22:45.040 --> 00:22:46.280
 to lead and instruct

00:22:46.280 --> 00:22:47.300
 the people of God?

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.340
 Interestingly,

00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.660
 not another prophet

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.380
 like Moses,

00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:53.560
 but the words of Moses

00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:55.200
 written down in the law.

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:56.500
 And so,

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.940
 God is using this.

00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:59.520
 The command to speak

00:22:59.520 --> 00:23:01.500
 is trying to signify

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.440
 a transition

00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:04.140
 that God wants to happen

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.400
 among his people,

00:23:05.540 --> 00:23:06.460
 that it will not be

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.580
 the person of Moses,

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:09.140
 but the words of Moses

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:10.780
 that will be their instruction.

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:13.180
 And so,

00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:15.680
 when Moses subverts this

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:17.539
 by striking the rock

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:19.819
 and putting himself back in,

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.119
 again,

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.160
 the implications of it

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.359
 are much greater.

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:27.039
 And in all of this,

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.539
 they misrepresented

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.660
 the heart of God.

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:33.240
 God came to this

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.379
 undeserving people

00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:35.240
 who were complaining

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.680
 just like the old generation

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.319
 complained,

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:39.919
 and was clear

00:23:39.919 --> 00:23:40.899
 that his purpose

00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:42.379
 was to bless them,

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.240
 not because they deserved it,

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.139
 but because he was

00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:46.019
 a gracious God

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.619
 who would provide

00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.279
 for his people.

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.899
 And they subverted that.

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:53.819
 And they didn't represent God

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:55.480
 as he truly was,

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.460
 but instead thought,

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:57.960
 God,

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.960
 these people are people

00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.019
 you should judge

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.919
 just like you judge

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.759
 those other people,

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.240
 and treated them

00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.779
 as in that way.

00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:08.279
 And because of this,

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:08.859
 then,

00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:10.420
 this is the reason

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.160
 why there was

00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:11.960
 a great judgment

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.779
 upon them,

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.000
 why they would not

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.599
 enter into the promised land

00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.859
 with this new generation,

00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:19.319
 because they failed

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:21.000
 in this unique role

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.220
 that God had given them

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.079
 to represent him.

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:26.160
 And that is a great loss,

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:30.500
 because this whole story

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:32.259
 in this inflection point

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.420
 is for God

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:35.200
 to show the new generation

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.000
 more about who he is,

00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.580
 and they distorted that.

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.860
 Now,

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.880
 before we move on,

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.620
 I want to just think briefly.

00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:44.220
 Application for us.

00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.920
 The church is called

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.580
 the New Testament

00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.800
 people of God,

00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:49.120
 a kingdom of priests

00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.080
 and a holy nation,

00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:51.540
 that we are meant

00:24:51.540 --> 00:24:52.920
 to represent Christ

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:54.140
 in the world.

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.759
 That's why we're called Christians,

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.599
 because we represent Christ.

00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.400
 If we claim

00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.779
 to be the people of God,

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:03.119
 do we take it seriously

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:04.720
 that all of our actions,

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.019
 all of our words,

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:09.920
 all of our stewardship

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.779
 of life

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:13.000
 are meant to represent

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.579
 the character of God?

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:17.140
 More specifically,

00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:19.440
 do we obey God

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.480
 in the specifics

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.019
 of what he has commanded us

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.859
 in the New Testament,

00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:26.179
 not just do the ones

00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:27.179
 that we agree with

00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:27.740
 or like?

00:25:29.219 --> 00:25:30.679
 When we do obey,

00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:32.240
 do we believe

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:34.179
 that God will show

00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:35.039
 his glory

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.339
 through our obedience?

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:40.059
 Or do we obey

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.339
 with doubt

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.719
 and fear

00:25:42.719 --> 00:25:44.339
 of consequences?

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:47.439
 Do we believe

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.299
 believe that God

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:51.059
 will provide for us?

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:55.440
 Or do we grumble

00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.180
 and complain?

00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.759
 Do we,

00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.340
 like Moses and Aaron,

00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:03.259
 take up a part of God

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:06.360
 and represent that

00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:07.220
 to the people

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:08.559
 without representing

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.140
 the fullness

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:10.160
 of who he is?

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:13.759
 some reflections

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.340
 for us

00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:15.100
 as God's people.

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.160
 The story goes on

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.140
 because the purpose

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.000
 of this story

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.400
 is not to focus

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.220
 on their sin,

00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:22.300
 but it's so that

00:26:22.300 --> 00:26:23.440
 we can see God.

00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:24.480
 Did you notice

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.360
 in verse 6,

00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:26.860
 Aaron and Moses

00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:28.080
 turned to the tent

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:28.480
 of meeting

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.120
 and went there

00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:30.100
 and the glory

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.680
 of the Lord

00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.160
 appeared,

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:31.980
 right?

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:32.720
 Now,

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.820
 this happens

00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.620
 because that's

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.400
 where he dwells

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.920
 and when he shows up

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.380
 to speak,

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.300
 his glory…

00:26:38.300 --> 00:26:38.680
 So,

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.420
 at some point,

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:40.300
 it's very…

00:26:40.300 --> 00:26:40.940
 But it's also

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:42.380
 right in the central…

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.039
 center part

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.660
 of the story

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.460
 that the glory

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.120
 of the Lord

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.700
 appears.

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:46.660
 So,

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.380
 the second question

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:47.880
 I want to ask is,

00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:49.060
 what does this story

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:50.000
 tell us about God?

00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:51.100
 And you've probably…

00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:52.200
 You've heard this already.

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.539
 God wanted to show

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:55.900
 himself faithful again

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.460
 to this new generation,

00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.360
 right?

00:26:59.300 --> 00:27:00.900
 Just like to the old generation

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:02.060
 who he gave manna

00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:02.600
 in the wilderness

00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:04.060
 and he gave water

00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:04.700
 from the rock.

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:06.100
 He wants to say…

00:27:06.100 --> 00:27:07.340
 show the same thing

00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.000
 to this.

00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.579
 He wants to show himself

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:11.660
 to be the Lord

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:14.240
 who announced himself

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.059
 on Mount Sinai

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.559
 to Moses

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.539
 when Moses said,

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.799
 tell me who you are,

00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:19.099
 let me see your glory.

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.160
 And the Lord

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.220
 passed by him

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.559
 and said,

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.000
 the Lord,

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.559
 the Lord,

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:24.039
 a God merciful

00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.779
 and gracious,

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.839
 slow to anger

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.940
 and abounding

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:28.160
 in steadfast love

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.099
 and faithfulness,

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.700
 keeping steadfast love

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.579
 for thousands,

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.859
 forgiving iniquity

00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:34.039
 and transgression

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.960
 and sin.

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:38.299
 this is what the Lord

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.380
 wants us to know

00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:39.960
 about him.

00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:41.539
 Yes, he is holy.

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.940
 Yes, he will judge sin.

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.559
 But at the end of the day,

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:46.240
 he will do that

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.900
 as a God

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:49.360
 who is merciful

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.100
 and gracious

00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:53.039
 and whose redemptive plan

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:54.420
 is to rescue people

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.779
 from that right judgment

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:58.180
 by his own work.

00:27:58.180 --> 00:28:01.460
 He showed this

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.220
 to the people

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.759
 through providing them water

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:05.160
 even though their leaders

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:06.920
 sinned against him.

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.240
 Right?

00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:10.320
 God didn't blink.

00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:11.620
 God didn't stop

00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:12.340
 Aaron and Moses

00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:12.820
 in the middle

00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.080
 and say,

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.620
 whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.660
 you guys got it wrong,

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.440
 so sorry,

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:15.960
 no water.

00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:19.019
 He said,

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.420
 the water came out

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.740
 and it was so abundant

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.160
 it gushed out.

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.480
 And this water

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.259
 is a reminder

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.200
 that he would provide

00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:27.660
 for them

00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.819
 in all things

00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.559
 along the way.

00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:30.559
 And we'll see this

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.360
 as we go along.

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.380
 He will provide

00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:33.580
 military victories

00:28:33.580 --> 00:28:34.900
 that they shouldn't be winning.

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.420
 He will provide food

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.640
 and allies

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:39.680
 when they don't deserve it.

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:42.140
 But all of this

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.279
 is a down payment

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.840
 of the promises

00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:47.960
 that he will ultimately fulfill,

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.259
 meeting not just

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.279
 our physical needs

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.779
 but our spiritual needs.

00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:55.700
 Look at me at verse 13.

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.940
 It's so striking here.

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.860
 It says,

00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.660
 these are the waters

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.279
 of Meribah

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.400
 where the people of Israel

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.460
 quarreled with the Lord.

00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:03.740
 Right?

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.700
 This is the second Meribah.

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.340
 The first one

00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.259
 is mentioned

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.240
 in Exodus 17.

00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.380
 Right?

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.279
 But in that context,

00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.299
 what did God do?

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:14.819
 Through them,

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.799
 through the very people

00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.840
 who quarreled

00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:19.539
 against him,

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:22.920
 he showed himself holy.

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:24.980
 He showed himself

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.940
 as a God

00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:27.759
 like no other.

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.700
 He showed himself

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:31.039
 to be the Lord,

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.600
 merciful and gracious,

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.140
 slow to anger

00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:35.060
 and abounding

00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:36.440
 in steadfast love.

00:29:36.800 --> 00:29:37.960
 That's exactly

00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.640
 what he did

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.759
 in this story.

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:42.160
 He displayed his glory.

00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:42.460
 And this,

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.340
 it's exactly

00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:44.039
 what he wanted

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.900
 Moses and Aaron

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.380
 to do

00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:46.340
 when they failed

00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:46.779
 to do it.

00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:47.320
 And God said,

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.200
 I don't care

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.259
 if you fail,

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.759
 I'm going to do it anyway

00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:53.039
 so that this new generation

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:54.879
 in this inflection point

00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:55.339
 will know

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.940
 that this is the kind of God

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.180
 that I am.

00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:00.220
 I am the God

00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:02.359
 who graciously provides.

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.599
 I am the one

00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.640
 who brings water

00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:06.140
 out of rocks.

00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.920
 I am the one

00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.539
 who will provide

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.480
 for you new leaders

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.599
 in the new generation

00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:12.339
 when Aaron and Moses

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:14.900
 and Miriam are gone.

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.379
 I will take you

00:30:16.379 --> 00:30:17.299
 into the land

00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:18.240
 that I have given

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.099
 to you.

00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:24.519
 I am your God.

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:27.920
 Friends,

00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.859
 when we're facing

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:30.079
 inflection points

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.960
 in our lives,

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:33.099
 we need to gaze

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.000
 upon this God.

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.259
 We need to remember

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.180
 what He is like.

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.599
 We need to recognize

00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.559
 how prone we are

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.079
 to grumble

00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:39.700
 and complain,

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:41.339
 to see difficult circumstances

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.279
 and think that God

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.539
 has abandoned us

00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:43.980
 in them

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.619
 when in fact

00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:46.140
 He was always there

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.960
 and He is ready

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.759
 to show Himself

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.279
 faithful in the midst of it.

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:51.740
 and in transition,

00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:54.160
 how easily it is

00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.059
 for us to forget

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.420
 what God has done

00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:58.180
 and look ahead

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:59.619
 with fear and anxiety

00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.779
 rather than

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.960
 with hopeful faith.

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.960
 So that's the second question.

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.839
 What do we see

00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.799
 about God in this?

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.359
 And then the third one is,

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.839
 what does this mean

00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:14.619
 for us today?

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.599
 How are we to live

00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:16.680
 in light of this passage?

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:20.180
 Remember what we read earlier,

00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.180
 what Carolyn read

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:22.600
 from 1 Corinthians 10.

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.400
 These stories are given

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:26.600
 to us for our good.

00:31:27.580 --> 00:31:28.100
 Specifically,

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.200
 did you hear

00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:30.660
 how it was mentioned?

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.120
 I'm just going to re-read

00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:32.900
 the first beginning,

00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.580
 the first few verses again.

00:31:35.320 --> 00:31:36.259
 Paul writes this,

00:31:36.360 --> 00:31:37.259
 1 Corinthians 10,

00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:38.160
 1 through 4.

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.039
 I do not want you

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.960
 to be unaware,

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.720
 brothers and sisters,

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.759
 that our fathers

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.640
 were all buried,

00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:45.340
 were all under the cloud

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.980
 and all passed through the sea

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.919
 and all were baptized

00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:48.679
 into Moses,

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.039
 into the cloud

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.759
 and in the sea

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.720
 and all ate

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.159
 the same spiritual food

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:55.439
 and all drank

00:31:55.439 --> 00:31:57.740
 the same spiritual drink.

00:31:58.159 --> 00:31:59.099
 For they drank

00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.859
 from the spiritual rock

00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:02.079
 that followed them

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.299
 and the rock

00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:04.699
 was Christ.

00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:08.099
 Do you see how

00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:09.199
 the New Testament,

00:32:09.199 --> 00:32:10.679
 I'm not just making it up

00:32:10.679 --> 00:32:11.659
 that this story

00:32:11.659 --> 00:32:12.579
 about some water

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.179
 in the desert,

00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:14.379
 is pointing to

00:32:14.379 --> 00:32:15.659
 our salvation.

00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:16.659
 The New Testament

00:32:16.659 --> 00:32:17.779
 tells us that.

00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:19.079
 It tells us that

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:20.619
 this rock is a picture.

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.359
 It is an image

00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:23.720
 to help us understand

00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.919
 what God has done

00:32:24.919 --> 00:32:26.220
 in Jesus Christ.

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.399
 That in Jesus,

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.259
 in His life

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.960
 and His death

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.359
 and His resurrection,

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.159
 He has achieved

00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:33.939
 victory over sin and death

00:32:33.939 --> 00:32:35.439
 so that He might be

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:35.980
 the one

00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:37.679
 who comes to be

00:32:37.679 --> 00:32:38.980
 the bringer of life.

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:41.619
 We who are in our sins

00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:43.559
 spiritually a wasteland

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.399
 and a desert

00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:45.559
 without hope

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.699
 and without any ability

00:32:46.699 --> 00:32:48.299
 to bring spiritual life

00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:49.379
 to ourselves,

00:32:49.479 --> 00:32:50.339
 God comes

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:51.699
 and brings it to us

00:32:51.699 --> 00:32:52.479
 from the outside

00:32:52.479 --> 00:32:54.479
 making us born again,

00:32:54.979 --> 00:32:56.599
 having a new spiritual life

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.579
 that wells up

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:59.099
 like the water from a rock

00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:00.619
 wells up in us

00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:02.099
 when we place our faith

00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:02.679
 in Jesus.

00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:05.739
 Christ is the rock for us

00:33:05.739 --> 00:33:06.839
 and this is what

00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:08.579
 this passage tells us.

00:33:09.679 --> 00:33:10.679
 And if we wonder

00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:12.060
 if God is going to be faithful

00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:13.140
 in the circumstances

00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:13.900
 of our lives

00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:15.320
 and the inflection points

00:33:15.320 --> 00:33:16.019
 of our lives,

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.660
 the New Testament reminds us

00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.940
 to look at the cross,

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:21.600
 look at the empty tomb,

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:23.759
 remember who Jesus is

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.320
 and know this is where

00:33:25.320 --> 00:33:26.400
 we find life

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.620
 and this is where

00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.460
 we find hope

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.560
 and this is where

00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:30.799
 we know that God

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:32.880
 will be faithful to us.

00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:34.480
 And even in the most

00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:36.039
 difficult circumstances,

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.840
 He is ready to show Himself

00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:41.279
 faithful when we despair

00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.659
 and when we feel like

00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:43.500
 we're in the wilderness

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:45.139
 and when we're tempted

00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:47.119
 to complain or give up.

00:33:49.939 --> 00:33:51.159
 Jesus invites us

00:33:51.159 --> 00:33:51.799
 in this passage

00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:53.819
 to come to Him

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:56.079
 and find a spiritual life

00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:56.480
 in Him.

00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:58.619
 And for those of us

00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.559
 who have known Him,

00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:02.099
 we are reminded again

00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:03.279
 in Hebrews 12

00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.819
 of how to follow Him.

00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:08.179
 Hebrews 12, 1-3 says this,

00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.199
 since we are surrounded

00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:10.639
 by so great a cloud

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.279
 of witnesses,

00:34:12.339 --> 00:34:13.599
 let us also lay aside

00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.940
 every weight and sin

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.259
 which clings so closely

00:34:16.259 --> 00:34:18.039
 and let us run with endurance

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.759
 the race that is set before us,

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.219
 looking to Jesus,

00:34:21.919 --> 00:34:23.960
 the founder and perfecter

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:25.059
 of our faith,

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:26.339
 who for the joy

00:34:26.339 --> 00:34:27.539
 that was set before Him

00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.679
 endured the cross,

00:34:28.859 --> 00:34:30.099
 despising the shame,

00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.079
 and is seated

00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:31.859
 at the right hand

00:34:31.859 --> 00:34:32.879
 of the throne of God.

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.199
 Consider Him

00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:36.179
 who endured from sinners

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:37.500
 such hostility

00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.519
 against Himself

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:40.279
 so that you may not

00:34:40.279 --> 00:34:40.980
 grow weary

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.559
 or faint-hearted.

00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:45.639
 Friends, as God's people,

00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.819
 we are to lay aside

00:34:46.819 --> 00:34:47.419
 our sin.

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.719
 We are to lay aside

00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.199
 the things

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:50.779
 that so easily distract us

00:34:50.779 --> 00:34:53.279
 from seeing Christ alone

00:34:53.279 --> 00:34:54.259
 as the place

00:34:54.259 --> 00:34:55.219
 where we find

00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:57.559
 real, true life,

00:34:57.699 --> 00:34:59.239
 eternal life with God.

00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:03.339
 And the writer of the Hebrews

00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:04.259
 exhorts us,

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.919
 fix our eyes on Him.

00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.099
 People often ask me,

00:35:08.219 --> 00:35:08.859
 how do I live

00:35:08.859 --> 00:35:09.599
 the Christian life?

00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.599
 How do I do this?

00:35:10.819 --> 00:35:11.679
 How do I grow

00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:12.339
 in godliness?

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.299
 How do I…

00:35:13.299 --> 00:35:14.099
 And I…

00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:14.979
 And there are lots

00:35:14.979 --> 00:35:15.619
 of techniques,

00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:16.579
 there are lots of things

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.439
 for us to learn,

00:35:17.799 --> 00:35:18.399
 but friends,

00:35:18.479 --> 00:35:19.199
 at some level,

00:35:19.259 --> 00:35:20.399
 it's this hard

00:35:20.399 --> 00:35:21.459
 and this simple.

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:23.039
 Fix your eyes

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.619
 on Jesus.

00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:25.199
 That means reading

00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:26.139
 God's Word.

00:35:26.439 --> 00:35:28.000
 That means attending church.

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.119
 That means finding

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:31.739
 fellow brothers and sisters

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:33.519
 who you can have fellowship with

00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:35.659
 to talk about Christ together,

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:37.559
 to remember His goodness

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.599
 and His faithfulness

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.300
 and His character

00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:40.780
 as He's shown it to you

00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:41.340
 in your life

00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.320
 and as He's shown it

00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:43.860
 revealed in His Word

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:46.739
 so that we can look to Jesus

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:49.079
 because He is both the founder,

00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:50.699
 the beginning of our faith

00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:52.639
 and the one who will bring us

00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:53.639
 through this journey

00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:54.219
 in the wilderness

00:35:54.219 --> 00:35:56.000
 to the promised land.

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:57.079
 He is the one

00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.819
 who ultimately

00:35:57.819 --> 00:35:58.900
 will take us home

00:35:58.900 --> 00:36:00.039
 and one day

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:01.279
 we will be resurrected

00:36:01.279 --> 00:36:01.920
 with Him

00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:03.259
 and we will be taken

00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:05.239
 to the new heavens

00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:06.239
 and the new earth

00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:06.960
 which will be

00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:08.659
 the best promised land

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:10.199
 that we could ever imagine.

00:36:12.199 --> 00:36:13.779
 And now He says,

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.960
 it will be hard.

00:36:16.259 --> 00:36:17.679
 There will be a race to run.

00:36:17.799 --> 00:36:19.019
 It is through a wilderness.

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:21.579
 But fix your eyes on Him

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:26.500
 and let Him be the author

00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:29.699
 and perfecter of your faith.

00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:33.940
 So consider Him

00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:35.159
 and don't grow weary

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:37.380
 as you face inflection points

00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:38.539
 or even if you're not

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.860
 in the middle of inflection point,

00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.980
 maybe you're in a point

00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:42.059
 of the most stability

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:43.360
 you've ever had in your life.

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:46.059
 Fix your eyes on Him.

00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.420
 Let's pray together.

00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:49.420
 Lord, thank You for this Word.

00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:52.760
 Thank You for the way

00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:55.200
 that it points us to Christ,

00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:57.260
 the rock from which

00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:59.460
 we drink spiritual life.

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.340
 Lord, be with us

00:37:01.340 --> 00:37:03.000
 as we continue to worship You

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:05.240
 through the celebration of baptism.

00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:07.220
 In Jesus' name, amen.

00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:07.340
 Amen.

00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:07.500


00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:07.500


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