WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.560 Father, thank you that you give us everything we need. Thank you that you are speaking God and you give us your word as we live for you as we trust you as we are here in this world. 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:22.800 You speak to us the words that we need to hear words of life, words of power, words of love. So would we hear you speak to us today no matter how young we are, how old we are in Jesus name. Amen. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:40.219 Great. Now, I don't know if you ever had to wait for something like a really long time, but it was really worth it. I don't know, maybe a certain holiday that you've been planning for ages and finally you can go and you're there and it's just wonderful. 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:49.560 Right. It's so worth it. Or I don't know, maybe there's a Disneyland. They have a new ride and it's maybe building it for ages, but it opens and it's just this fantastic roller coaster. 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:56.780 Right. Maybe as kids, you've had that experience. I don't know how you found frozen land when it opens. Maybe your wedding. Right. 00:00:57.340 --> 00:01:08.759 That is something that you've planned for ages. And what a wonderful day. How do you feel then? Right. It's really you feel so happy, so thankful that you've arrived at this point that God has brought you here. 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:18.880 Well, that's kind of what we should be feeling for today's passage, because, you know, the book of Numbers, it's about God's people traveling through the wilderness. 00:01:19.160 --> 00:01:24.020 If you don't know the background, the people of Israel, well, they were slaves in Egypt. Right. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:31.260 They they come there. They've been there for hundreds of years. Life was tough, but God rescued them. 00:01:31.260 --> 00:01:38.140 That's what he promised. Right. Hundreds of years before he promised to a man named Abraham, your descendants, you're going to be slaves. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:46.000 But I'm going to bring them out. I'm going to bring them to the promised land, to this wonderful land of milk and honey where everything's going to be great. 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:51.159 And he promised that. And so they were in slavery and it was tough. But they waited and waited. 00:01:51.420 --> 00:01:56.640 And God came and he he rescued them. Right. You've maybe you've seen the Prince of Egypt, that movie. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:02.400 Great movie. Great movie. All these plagues. And then they went through the Red Sea. Right. 00:02:02.460 --> 00:02:07.560 With walls of water on each side. Two million people walking through the Red Sea. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:11.920 And then, yeah, so wonderful. They had to travel through the desert, of course. 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:16.180 They you know, the Red Sea wasn't it yet, which was a tough journey. A lot of complaining. 00:02:16.180 --> 00:02:20.580 But today in the passage, they're coming to the promised land. 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:24.819 Finally, after 650 years of waiting for God's promise. 00:02:25.540 --> 00:02:32.480 And maybe, you know, the story, the leader, Moses, sent some spies to go into the land and just, hey, show. 00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:36.319 Tell us how good the land is. So that's hopefully they'll really excited. Right. 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:38.379 When they go in. And it is. 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:43.259 So we're not going to read all of chapter 13 because it's a lot of difficult names. 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:47.740 But the spies, well, what verse 23, 13, verse 23. 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:55.099 And they came to the valley of Ashkel and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes. 00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:59.300 And they carried it on a pole between two of them. Right. 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:02.560 I don't know if any of you have ever been on holiday in Israel. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.139 It's quite difficult. There's often a war there. 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:08.539 But when you can go there, you may see this logo. 00:03:08.779 --> 00:03:11.419 This is the Ministry of Tourism in Israel. 00:03:11.539 --> 00:03:13.559 And that picture, that's from this passage. Right. 00:03:13.579 --> 00:03:23.939 These two guys having to carry one cluster of grapes because this land was so abundant and so prosperous that, you know, here's one cluster of grapes. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:25.379 They had to carry it with two people. 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:28.039 How would they feel? Right. 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:30.599 They made it to the edge of the land. 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:34.299 But, you know, they were slaves and now they are here. 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:34.979 Right. 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:36.039 God brought them out. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:41.299 God brought them through, traveling through the desert with all their stuff, this tough journey. 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:43.840 And now, well, look at this land. 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:44.740 Look at these grapes. 00:03:45.359 --> 00:03:46.819 Look at the land of milk and honey. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:48.639 How generous is God? 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:51.979 So they just need to go in and live happily ever after. 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:56.739 Well, Mark Light and Koppany are going to come and do the reading for us. 00:03:57.119 --> 00:03:58.199 It's a bit of a long reading. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:01.939 We won't read everything, but it's still six, seven minutes or something. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:05.259 But, yeah, looking forward to it. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:06.259 Thank you. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:20.060 Good morning, church. 00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:27.879 Today's scripture reading is taken from the book of Numbers, chapter 13, verse 25, to chapter 14, verse 35. 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:29.660 Please follow along your Bible. 00:04:29.780 --> 00:04:34.740 And if you still do not have one, there should be some in front of the stage and near the entrance door. 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:38.220 And our passage is on page 113. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:45.980 Hear then God's word to us today. 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:50.400 At the end of 40 days, they returned from spying out the land. 00:04:50.580 --> 00:04:58.140 And they came to Moses and Aaron and all to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. 00:04:58.139 --> 00:05:03.939 They brought back the word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:04.959 And they told him, 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.659 We came to the land to which you sent us. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:11.000 It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:17.319 However, the people who dwell in the land are stronger, and the cities are fortified and very large. 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:20.539 And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 00:05:20.979 --> 00:05:22.899 The Amalekites dwell in the land of Negeb. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:27.120 The Hittites, the Jebsites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.240 And the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the Jordan. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:34.000 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:38.579 Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:41.240 Then the man who had gone up with him said, 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:45.300 We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are. 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:50.720 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:55.760 The land through which we have gone to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants, 00:05:56.300 --> 00:05:59.960 and all the people that we saw in the air of great height. 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:04.800 And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak who come from the Nephilim. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:08.820 And we seem to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seem to them. 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:13.320 And all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 00:06:13.700 --> 00:06:16.380 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 00:06:16.379 --> 00:06:18.360 The whole congregation said to them, 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:22.759 Would that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would that we had died in this wilderness? 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:26.219 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.800 Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:31.519 Will it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:35.399 And they said to one another, Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:40.839 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 00:06:41.420 --> 00:06:44.579 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:47.139 who were among those who had spied out the land, 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:50.680 tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:54.620 The land which we passed through to spy it out is an exceedingly good land. 00:06:55.039 --> 00:06:58.159 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, 00:06:58.419 --> 00:06:59.899 a land that flows with milk and honey. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:03.719 Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:05.319 for they are bred for us. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:08.060 Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:09.000 Do not fear them. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:12.879 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:16.660 But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:18.660 And the Lord said to Moses, 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.579 How long will these people despise me, 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:24.019 and how long will they not believe in me, 00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:26.500 in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:30.040 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:34.180 and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they. 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:36.040 But Moses said to the Lord, 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:38.220 Then the Egyptians will hear of it, 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:41.439 for you brought up the people in your might from among them, 00:07:41.740 --> 00:07:43.959 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land, 00:07:44.340 --> 00:07:47.720 They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:50.899 For you, O Lord, are seen face to face, 00:07:51.220 --> 00:07:52.860 and your cloud stands over them, 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.780 and you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day, 00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:57.639 and a pillar of fire by night. 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:00.180 Now if you kill these people as one man, 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:02.540 then the nations who have heard your fame will say, 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:06.420 It is because the Lord was not able to bring these people into the land 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:07.740 that He swore to give to them, 00:08:07.840 --> 00:08:09.720 that He was killed them in the wilderness. 00:08:10.260 --> 00:08:14.120 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you promised, 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:14.720 saying, 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:16.460 The Lord is slow to anger, 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:18.720 and abounding in steadfast love, 00:08:19.080 --> 00:08:21.220 forgiving iniquity and transgression, 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:24.160 but He will by no means clear the guilty, 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:27.300 visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:29.439 to the third and the fourth generation. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:32.840 Please pardon the iniquity of this people, 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:35.679 according to the greatness of your steadfast love, 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:39.720 just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt until now. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:41.879 And the Lord said, 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:44.000 I have pardoned according to your word, 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:45.720 but truly, as I live, 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:48.539 and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:51.360 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:52.940 that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:56.100 and yet have put me to the test these ten times, 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:57.820 and have not obeyed my voice, 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:00.320 shall see the land I swore to give to their fathers. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.840 And none of those who despised me shall see it, 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:05.460 but my servant Caleb, 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:08.480 because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:11.100 I will bring into the land which he went. 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:13.580 And his descendants shall possess it. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.080 Now since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:21.040 turn to Moro and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.959 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.059 How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:29.659 I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.939 which they grumble against me. 00:09:31.339 --> 00:09:31.879 Say to them, 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:33.599 As I live, declares the Lord, 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.599 What you have said in my hearing I will do to you. 00:09:36.939 --> 00:09:38.819 Your dead body shall fall in this wilderness, 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:42.059 and of all your numbers listed in the census, 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:43.919 from twenty years old and upwards, 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:45.819 who have grumbled against me, 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.719 not one shall come into the land where I swore 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:50.200 I would make you dwell, 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:52.000 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:53.320 and Joseph the son of Nun. 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:54.779 But your little ones, 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:56.460 who you said would become a prey, 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:57.220 I will bring in, 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:59.560 and they shall know the land that you have rejected. 00:10:00.040 --> 00:10:00.740 But as for you, 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:02.779 your dead body shall fall in this wilderness, 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:06.040 and your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness 00:10:06.040 --> 00:10:07.220 forty years, 00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:09.300 and shall suffer for your faithlessness, 00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:12.360 until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:15.860 According to the number of days in which you have spied out the land, 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:17.360 forty days, 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.700 a year for each day, 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:21.519 you shall bear your iniquity for forty years, 00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:23.220 and you shall know my displeasure. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:24.759 I, the Lord, have spoken. 00:10:25.340 --> 00:10:27.860 Surely this will I do to all the wicked congregation 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.560 who have gathered together against me. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.320 In this wilderness they shall come to a full end, 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:33.680 and there they shall die. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.899 And the man who Moses sent to spy out the land, 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:39.920 who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him 00:10:39.920 --> 00:10:42.120 by bringing up a bad report about the land, 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:45.039 the man who brought up a bad report of the land, 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:47.200 died by plague before the Lord. 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:49.560 Of those men who went to spy out the land, 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:51.240 only Joshua, the son of Nun, 00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:52.820 and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, 00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:53.919 remained alive. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:57.779 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word. 00:10:59.940 --> 00:11:00.340 Cool. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:02.779 Thanks so much, guys. 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:04.700 Well read. 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:05.480 Such a long reading. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:10.000 But, I mean, maybe you knew the story already. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.200 But, yes, it can be like a movie you've seen before. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:16.340 But, man, this is such a shock, right? 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:19.919 It's such a shock that this is how these people respond. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:22.360 This event is so famous in the Bible. 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:27.440 Psalm, I mean, Psalm 95, quoted in Hebrews 3, right? 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:30.100 Today, therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.539 today, if you hear his voice, 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:34.980 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, right? 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.059 The rebellion. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.899 Like everyone knows, the rebellion. 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:40.639 That is what we are looking at today, 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:43.939 at what these people did, right? 00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:45.159 They were so close. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.620 They came out of Egypt one and a half years ago. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.579 They're on the border of the promised land right there, 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:52.779 and now they walked away. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:54.419 They're leaving God, right? 00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:57.039 They're saying, God, we don't want you. 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:58.799 We're going back to where we came from. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.679 So that's it, the rebellion. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:03.819 I mean, can you imagine? 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:06.479 Like a famous, you know, Christians, right, 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:08.019 who are at the end of their life. 00:12:08.099 --> 00:12:09.059 They're about to die. 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:11.240 Sometimes they say these wonderful things, right? 00:12:11.459 --> 00:12:13.839 I'm a great sinner, but Jesus is a great savior. 00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:17.679 John Newton, or, you know, to live is Christ, to die is gain. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.959 Imagine someone saying, 00:12:20.459 --> 00:12:22.259 I wish I'd never become a Christian. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.620 What a waste. 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:25.639 Let me give it all up now. 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:27.580 That would be a terrible shock, 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.820 but that is what these people are doing. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:33.240 Now, this story, in a way, is not hard to understand, right? 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:36.279 It's very clear what the people do, 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:38.820 and it's also, in a way, not hard to apply, right? 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:41.039 The Bible says, don't be like them. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.419 Don't do what they did. 00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:44.279 Watch out. 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:47.360 But I think God wants us to feel it, right? 00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:49.100 He could say it in a very short passage, 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.320 but he wants us to feel what these people did 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:55.260 and to feel how God responds. 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:58.000 And so that's what I want to do. 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.480 So let's look at those two things, 00:12:59.520 --> 00:13:00.900 and then let's apply it to our lives. 00:13:01.160 --> 00:13:02.100 How did you speak to us? 00:13:02.260 --> 00:13:03.900 Well, one is when we're Christians, 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.220 but also maybe you are here, 00:13:06.280 --> 00:13:07.820 and you wouldn't call yourself a Christian. 00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:09.740 What does this have to say to us? 00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:12.820 Yeah, it's here in the Bible for a reason. 00:13:13.260 --> 00:13:16.020 It's a reason why it often comes up in the Bible, 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:17.840 as in, hey, look at these people. 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.380 Don't be like them. 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:23.019 Now, we call it a rebellion because that's what they're doing, right? 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:26.340 I mean, rebelling is part of what we said in the catechism, 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:28.019 rebelling against God. 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:29.139 That's what sin is. 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:32.519 Of course, they turn around and walk away. 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:35.519 But as you've heard, it's not just the... 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:38.019 Yes, there's an outward action, 00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:42.600 but actually what goes on underneath is what is in their... 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:44.279 There's something in their hearts, isn't it? 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.419 And that's the issue, 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:47.539 something that actually has been there for a long time, 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:49.839 because what God says, 00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:52.079 if you've heard in reading in verse 11, 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:54.399 what does he say is wrong with these people? 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:56.019 And the Lord said to Moses, 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.679 how long will these people despise me? 00:13:58.959 --> 00:14:01.159 How long will they not believe in me, 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:03.779 in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:05.959 How long will they not believe? 00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:09.179 And that word only appears twice in numbers, 00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:11.559 but it's both in very significant places. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.039 This is unbelief. 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:14.740 Yes, they rebel, 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:16.440 and you might think that's such a big thing. 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:19.399 But it starts with unbelief. 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:21.440 It starts with them not believing, right? 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:26.259 And that's what actually is much more closer to home. 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:27.820 Unbelief in our hearts. 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:30.580 And so in a way, it's number two. 00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:32.840 Last week, of course, was the start, 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:34.240 but this is the climax. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.840 So let's have a look. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:40.200 And yeah, let's start with this bad report, 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.820 because that's where we can see this, right? 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:43.620 So the spies come back and they say, 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:45.300 yeah, this land is amazing, right? 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:45.940 Look at the fruit. 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:47.300 Look at the milk and honey. 00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:49.520 But, yeah, verse 28, 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:52.840 however, the people who dwell in the land are strong, 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:56.379 and the cities are fortified and very large, right? 00:14:56.660 --> 00:14:58.340 This is a dangerous place. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:01.800 Later, you know, of course, Caleb, 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.580 he has faith. 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.540 He says, yeah, well, come on, let's go in. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.620 But no, no, don't go in. 00:15:06.660 --> 00:15:08.220 These people, they're so strong. 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.139 They're tall. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.540 They're like giants. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.899 We will die. 00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:15.379 Now, one thing you notice when you've heard the reading, 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:19.360 they don't mention God at all, right? 00:15:19.540 --> 00:15:20.980 They just say, oh, look at these people. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.720 They're so strong. 00:15:21.800 --> 00:15:22.480 They're so large. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:25.200 Nothing about God. 00:15:25.920 --> 00:15:27.080 We just, what is sin? 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:29.220 Living without reference to God, right? 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:32.240 That's so different from, 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:34.399 well, there are two of the spies that they're different, 00:15:34.540 --> 00:15:35.420 Caleb and Joshua. 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:38.899 Well, you've especially hear it later when people rebel 00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:40.259 and they tear their clothes. 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:43.679 14 verse 8. 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.779 If the Lord delights in us, 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:48.240 he will bring us into this land and give it to us. 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:50.159 Later in verse 9. 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:52.879 Do not fear the people of the land for their bread for us. 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:55.019 Their protection is removed from them, 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.839 and the Lord is with us. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.159 Do not fear them. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.379 What? 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.559 They have faith. 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.279 They say that the Lord is with us. 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:03.500 The Lord delights in us. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.100 Fine. 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:05.840 No problem. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:10.299 But no, the other spies, they, yeah. 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:13.039 You know, these people are just too big. 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.720 They're just ignoring God. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:17.820 And the thing is, they should know so much better, right? 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:21.379 And sometimes maybe you try to share the gospel, 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.399 and it feels like you're trying to persuade people 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:26.139 that there's this invisible God that no one's ever seen, 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:29.320 but he's there, and you need to believe in him, right? 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:31.100 That can feel like a hard sell. 00:16:33.140 --> 00:16:34.700 But these people are different, right? 00:16:35.040 --> 00:16:38.420 God just, why are they here and no longer in Egypt? 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:41.140 Well, because God just rescued them, right? 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:43.060 They saw the 10 plagues. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.760 They saw God split the Red Sea, 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:48.260 and they walked through the Red Sea on dry land. 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.160 What happened there, right? 00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:52.220 Surely God is real. 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:55.440 And after they went through, the Egyptian army came, 00:16:55.899 --> 00:17:00.240 and God, you know, smashed up back the water and drowned them all. 00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:03.600 Surely they know God is powerful. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:06.259 This was the greatest superpower to date in the world, 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:09.600 and God just smashed them, right? 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:12.860 These people in Canaan should be no problem at all. 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:19.479 But no, and incredibly, the people believed the spies, right? 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.719 They, well, it's terrible, right? 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.799 14 verse 1, 00:17:23.459 --> 00:17:26.559 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:28.240 and the people wept that night, 00:17:28.459 --> 00:17:31.519 and all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.619 The whole congregation said to them, 00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:36.379 Would that we had died in the land of Egypt, 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:38.779 or would that we had died in this wilderness? 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:43.379 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:46.539 I mean, they don't even say that God doesn't exist, 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.379 or that he's powerless. 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:50.440 They're saying God is evil, right? 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:52.359 Why is he trying to kill us? 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.920 I mean, surely, come on, God has, 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.440 you've seen him. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:58.139 You've seen how he protected you, 00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.299 how he looked after you, 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:00.480 how he provided for you, 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:02.539 how he's living with you, right? 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:04.639 How would you say this, right? 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.700 This is not doubt or skepticism. 00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:08.599 This is rebellion. 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:09.480 Right? 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:11.099 This incredible unbelief. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.500 And again, 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:14.639 that's not a sudden change, right? 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:15.799 If you were here last week, 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.980 already for a few chapters, 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.059 they've been complaining, 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:21.399 and why is God doing this to us? 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.160 But of course, 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.460 they act on it. 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.000 Verse 3, 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:29.059 Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:31.579 Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:33.200 And they said to one another, 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:35.839 Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:37.279 They turn around, 00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:39.099 they leave the God who rescued them, 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:41.639 and they prefer Egypt. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.659 They prefer slavery. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:46.819 I hope you feel this is offensive, right? 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.299 You know, 00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:49.199 this is not, 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:49.500 again, 00:18:49.699 --> 00:18:50.819 it's not a lack of evidence. 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.960 God says, 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.099 they're despising me. 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.700 That's what it is, right? 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.039 I mean, 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.460 in a way, 00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:59.099 that's really what sin is. 00:18:59.659 --> 00:18:59.859 I mean, 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:01.359 think back to the Garden of Eden. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.559 I mean, 00:19:02.659 --> 00:19:02.919 that was, 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.919 this is a very big event, 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.139 right? 00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:05.899 But Garden of Eden, 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:07.480 that's like the big one in the Bible. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.119 Isn't that the same thing? 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:09.839 You know, 00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:11.119 they got this bad report, 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:11.980 Adam and Eve, 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.299 in a way, 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.700 they got a bad report from Satan, 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:13.960 right? 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.119 Satan said, 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:15.480 oh, 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:16.440 don't eat, 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.899 you can eat from the tree, 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:18.399 don't worry. 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.619 God doesn't really love you. 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:21.440 God won't actually do anything. 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:21.720 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:22.220 you know, 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:22.799 he's powerless. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.259 And they did it. 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:25.839 Why would they believe the Satan? 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.240 Satan? 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.680 Why would they believe the serpent? 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.779 A few days earlier, 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:31.059 they didn't exist yet. 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.379 Why did, 00:19:32.919 --> 00:19:35.059 how did they come to exist in this garden? 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.419 Surely there is a God of love, 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.119 and power, 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:38.940 and generosity. 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:40.519 And, 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.079 yeah, 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.019 right? 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.980 Or think of, 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.559 I know, 00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.720 what would be a modern example? 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.359 Think of a, 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.379 think of an orphan, 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:50.980 living in this dirty orphanage, 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.180 no food, 00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.779 or terrible food, 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.940 abuse, 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.000 you know, 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.240 it's, 00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:58.099 life is terrible. 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:00.359 And then this loving family, 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.919 adopts him, 00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:04.299 gives him everything he wants, 00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:04.559 right? 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:05.319 A home, 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.359 a family, 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.419 love, 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:09.559 abundant food, 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.419 and toys, 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.639 and, 00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.940 an education, 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.360 a chance at a new life. 00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.820 And then this child says, 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.320 why do you hate me so much? 00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:19.980 I was better off in this orphanage, 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:21.280 and goes back. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.400 Now, 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:22.740 that's, 00:20:22.800 --> 00:20:23.660 that's not logical, 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.500 rational action. 00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:24.820 That's, 00:20:24.820 --> 00:20:25.640 that's despising. 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:28.140 I hope we feel what a, 00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:29.060 you know, 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.960 God says some strong words here, 00:20:31.020 --> 00:20:32.259 but I hope you feel that they, 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.460 you know, 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.060 these people, 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:34.920 this is not right, 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.100 right? 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:36.420 This is not how people should live. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:37.860 Well, 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.640 how do you think, 00:20:39.020 --> 00:20:40.620 and so how do you think God responds? 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.800 How do you think he should respond? 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:44.940 I think we feel what would be right, 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.139 right? 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:45.539 To be, 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.700 how should God respond? 00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:48.000 Well, 00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:49.200 the rebellion, 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:50.419 and then comes the judgment, 00:20:51.419 --> 00:20:51.619 right? 00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:52.079 This is, 00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:52.819 this is judgment. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.960 Say that you can feel the tension in the story, 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.240 right? 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.659 Because, 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.220 you know, 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.519 the people are turning around, 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.940 and Moses and Aaron fall on the, 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.019 on their faces, 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:02.399 and Caleb and Joshua tear their clothes, 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:04.399 and the people try to stone them. 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.100 But then, 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.060 end of verse 10, 00:21:06.540 --> 00:21:11.100 but the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel, 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:11.980 right? 00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:13.140 God shows up, 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:14.140 and yeah, 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:14.820 like he said, 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.800 how long will these people despise me? 00:21:17.040 --> 00:21:18.900 How long will they not believe in me, 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:21.460 in spite of all the signs that I've done among them, 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:21.660 right? 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.240 Everything I've done for them, 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.300 and now they do this. 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.420 And so he, 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:27.160 he threatens to destroy the whole nation. 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.720 And Moses, 00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:29.440 of course, 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.440 just like last week, 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.360 Moses intercedes, 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.580 right? 00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:31.800 He, 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.140 he starts praying, 00:21:33.300 --> 00:21:33.500 please, 00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:33.759 Lord, 00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.380 spare them, 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.180 I mean, 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.420 I, 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.400 I love this prayer. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:36.740 Maybe, 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.220 you know, 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.800 I can't spend that much time on it. 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:39.720 It's a great prayer. 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:42.460 What I love is that he doesn't excuse the people, 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:42.740 right? 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:43.880 He doesn't say, 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.380 hey, 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:44.660 you know, 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:46.200 they've been under a lot of stress at work, 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.400 right? 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:46.800 Recently. 00:21:47.280 --> 00:21:48.320 And that's why they're like this. 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.240 You know, 00:21:49.280 --> 00:21:49.540 they're, 00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:50.580 they're generally pretty good. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.240 You know, 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.280 this is not that bad. 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:52.700 Hey, 00:21:52.800 --> 00:21:53.120 uh, 00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:53.680 no, 00:21:53.840 --> 00:21:54.980 there's no excuse, 00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:56.040 but you know, 00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:57.320 he appeals to God's glory. 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:57.700 God, 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:59.800 if you wipe them out, 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:01.820 then you are not fulfilling your promise, 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.080 right? 00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:03.820 It looks like you haven't fulfilled your promise. 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.939 So don't do it. 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.220 Uh, 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.519 Lord, 00:22:05.919 --> 00:22:06.259 uh, 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.559 scripture, 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.259 you know, 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:09.859 you said you are merciful and just, 00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:11.079 so please show your mercy, 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.919 right? 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.419 He, 00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:14.319 he appeals to God's glory. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.679 He appeals to scripture, 00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:17.259 wonderful ways to pray, 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.599 but I mean, 00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:20.240 we don't have much time for it. 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:20.639 Uh, 00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:22.039 it's a great lessons on prayer, 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:25.379 but I think it's here mainly to show how close, 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:27.200 you know, 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.779 how close they got to being wiped out, 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.039 right? 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.519 What a terrible event this was, 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.720 but wonderfully. 00:22:32.919 --> 00:22:33.179 Well, 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:33.720 yeah, 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.439 the prayer works, 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.639 right? 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:35.319 Verse 20. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.000 Uh, 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.779 the Lord said, 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:39.579 I have pardoned according to your words. 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:39.899 Yes, 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:41.039 he forgives them, 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:43.859 but that doesn't mean there's no judgment. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.339 Verse 21. 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:51.159 But truly as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:55.959 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, 00:22:56.500 --> 00:23:00.379 and yet have put me to the test these 10 times and have not obeyed my voice, 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:03.059 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers, 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.299 right? 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.559 God says, 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.240 I can't overlook this, 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.240 right? 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:11.439 God is the king of the universe and people treat him like this. 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:14.279 You just can't do that without consequences. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:17.160 They can't just despise him and say these things, 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.460 right? 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.420 And so none of the congregation, 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:22.639 none of these people who despise me will come into the land. 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.559 And he says, 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:23.799 okay, 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:25.019 I'm going to give you what you want. 00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:26.000 You said, 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:26.639 oh, 00:23:26.639 --> 00:23:28.079 it's better for us to die in the wilderness. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:28.680 Well, 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.839 there you go. 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:30.720 Let me, 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:33.059 you will all die in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:36.099 You're going to wander around until all of you have died. 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.680 All the adults and the kids, 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.339 the kids, 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.539 they're so worried about that. 00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:40.799 Ah, 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.220 they'll, 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.139 they'll kill our kids. 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.299 Well, 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.660 the kids, 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.579 they are going to come in. 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.740 When they grow up, 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.799 they will inherit the land that you have rejected. 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.199 I think, 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:49.659 you know, 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:52.799 you may wonder how does God forgive them if they still have to die? 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:53.019 Well, 00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:53.720 I mean, 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.879 they would have been wiped out, 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.119 right? 00:23:55.379 --> 00:23:58.819 At least now they can have kids and raise them. 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:00.740 And those children will inherit. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.439 There is a future for the nation, 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:03.740 a future for their families, 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:06.179 but sin has consequences, 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.500 right? 00:24:06.639 --> 00:24:07.039 Sometimes, 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:07.859 you know, 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.779 we, 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:11.099 we think of forgiveness means there's no consequences, 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.779 but there is. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:16.079 Imagine if you found out that I've been stealing money from the church. 00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:17.819 Now, 00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:18.839 my guess is, 00:24:18.919 --> 00:24:19.119 uh, 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:22.519 I hope I will repent and that you will forgive me, 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.519 but can I, 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.479 can I stay as pastor? 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.559 Probably not. 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.019 Right? 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:27.759 Sin has consequences. 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:28.900 I think we, 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.019 we, 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:29.579 we know that. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.960 And these sins, 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:31.599 yeah, 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.299 terrible consequences. 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.680 And it's not an empty threat. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:37.139 You heard those 10 spies who gave the bad report. 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.799 They die immediately. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.720 And the next day when they, 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.859 they say, 00:24:41.919 --> 00:24:42.019 Oh, 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:42.579 we're so sorry. 00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:43.680 We'll go into the land. 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.539 No, 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.059 they can't. 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:45.759 Uh, 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.460 this is definite. 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:49.859 And so this is a very severe judgment. 00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:52.619 One of the darkest moments in the old Testament, 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.000 right? 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:53.940 Uh, 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:56.259 sorry that it's not an encouraging passage. 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:58.839 If you come here today and you were hoping a wonderful, 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.819 nice Kumbaya. 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:01.659 No, 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.000 that's not this message. 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:03.480 God is, 00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:05.599 but I hope you feel that this is, 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.399 it's right. 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:08.579 God is not flying off the handle. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.559 He's not losing his temper. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.099 And Dave, 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.440 these people, 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.659 they've been despising him. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:19.019 They've been complaining and grumbling ever since they came out of Egypt. 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.440 Again, 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.859 it's not like God deals with this, 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.579 with every sin, 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:22.799 right? 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:25.000 It's not that again, 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:27.399 that they were not just good people who had a bad day. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:31.339 It's not that they really tried their best, 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.240 but you know, 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.539 they're, 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.139 they're struggling. 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.240 Maybe you're, 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.299 you're here as a Christian and you, 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.200 you hear this and you're, 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:38.599 some of us are very sensitive about our sin. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:40.639 And these are not people who are, 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.000 yeah, 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:42.019 who are struggling. 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.960 It's not that, 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.659 you know, 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:49.079 there's just all these rules in Exodus and Leviticus and they got an A minus, 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:51.659 but God won't accept anything but an A plus, 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:51.940 right? 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.059 It's not like that. 00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:54.700 No, 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.099 they, 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.220 yeah, 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:58.960 they despise the Lord and there's consequences. 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.500 So I, 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:02.620 I think that the application I hope is, 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.240 is obvious, 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:03.500 right? 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:03.660 We, 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.259 we see this, 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.759 we see what they did. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:08.380 We see how God reacts. 00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:10.140 don't be like them. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.579 Don't be like them, 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:11.720 right? 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:11.880 That, 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:13.600 that's what the Bible says today. 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.579 If you hear his voice, 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.779 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:19.839 Don't be like this people or the positive. 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.140 Well, 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.180 basically keep trusting, 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.860 keep holding onto Christ, 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.880 keep saying with God, 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.700 don't give up, 00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:25.560 don't walk away. 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:28.240 And yet when you hear that, 00:26:28.280 --> 00:26:30.580 you think that's so extreme, 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:30.900 right? 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.360 How could we ever be like them? 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.100 What? 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:36.680 Although we have to admit there are Christians who give up, 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:36.900 right? 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:38.720 Most of us will know people, 00:26:39.100 --> 00:26:39.300 maybe, 00:26:39.760 --> 00:26:44.380 maybe you're a bit older and you were at university with some Christians and they were, 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:45.160 uh, 00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:45.940 uh, 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:48.040 wonderful people in this Christian union. 00:26:48.540 --> 00:26:50.140 And now they've still believing. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.200 What happened? 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.320 Yeah. 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.559 This does happen, 00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:54.819 right? 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.339 I mean, 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.939 Hebrews that quotes this, 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.119 that, 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:57.759 you know, 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:01.740 that was written to people about to give up people. 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:05.539 They found it very tough to be a Christian because people were against them. 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.159 And I thought, 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.980 if I can just go back to my old life, 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:10.359 then I wouldn't get persecuted. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:12.119 I wouldn't have all these people against me. 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:13.839 And the writer says, 00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.439 don't do it. 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.439 But like I said, 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:18.200 the issue was their hearts, 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.220 right? 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:21.419 It's something that started much earlier. 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:23.259 I was reminded of this, 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.279 this verse in James, 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.660 James talks about sin. 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:27.740 And he says about sinful desires, 00:27:27.840 --> 00:27:29.120 then desire, 00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:30.320 when it has conceived, 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:32.720 gives birth to sin and sin. 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:33.860 When it is fully grown, 00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:35.000 brings forth death. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:37.140 And it's kind of how sinful desires, 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:39.140 it takes shapes in our hearts and it's, 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:39.640 you know, 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:41.019 it grows and it grows. 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:41.940 But, 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.299 you know, 00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:44.200 conception to birth, 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.319 to fully grown. 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:46.680 Well, 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.940 we know with humans, 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.819 that's a long process, 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:49.039 right? 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.400 That's 18 months, 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.839 18 years and nine months, 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.059 right? 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.379 That's, 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.619 that's a long thing. 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:55.399 And that's the idea. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.339 Sinful desires, 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:56.679 they, 00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:58.440 they take a long time, 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.779 but there is an end point. 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.779 There is death. 00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:02.679 If you don't deal with it, 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.559 right? 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.179 And so that's the, 00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:05.119 that's the thing. 00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:06.659 Yeah. 00:28:06.659 --> 00:28:07.299 And so, 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.419 yeah, 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.299 no one here, 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.159 I hope is saying, 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.299 yeah, 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.899 tomorrow I'm going to stop being a Christian. 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:13.419 If you call yourself a Christian, 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:20.539 but do we have some of these things in our hearts that will one day lead us away? 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.379 Right? 00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:23.220 And the good question, 00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:25.819 do you ever long to go back to Egypt? 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:28.319 But that's what you hear here, 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:28.559 right? 00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.500 These people, 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:30.359 they, 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.379 well, 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.460 here in this chapter, 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.039 they're saying, 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:34.180 let's go back to Egypt. 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.639 But it, 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.519 last week, 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.079 if you were here, 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:38.659 that's what they were saying in a way as well, 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:38.899 right? 00:28:39.159 --> 00:28:39.659 They were saying, 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:39.839 oh, 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.240 it was so much better in Egypt. 00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.259 In Egypt, 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.119 we had it so good. 00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:45.019 And now they're saying, 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.039 let's go back to Egypt. 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:48.200 So that's a good question, 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:48.480 right? 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.200 Do we, 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.379 what do we, 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:52.680 do we ever long to go back? 00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:56.400 I think I love this verse because it's just so ridiculous, 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.160 right? 00:28:57.180 --> 00:29:00.520 We saw that last week and the people of Israel also wept again. 00:29:00.580 --> 00:29:00.820 I said, 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.420 oh, 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.620 that we had meat to eat. 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.820 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt. 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.620 That costs nothing. 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.600 The cucumbers, 00:29:06.800 --> 00:29:07.400 the melons, 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:07.960 the leeks, 00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:08.580 the onions, 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.340 and the garlic. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.120 Well, 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.600 I thought, 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:13.500 so this is a cucumber, 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:14.100 right? 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:18.319 It's so juicy and tasty. 00:29:18.939 --> 00:29:20.119 I'm not going to join the lunch. 00:29:20.159 --> 00:29:21.019 I'm just going to eat this. 00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:21.980 No, 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.399 seriously, 00:29:22.719 --> 00:29:22.859 right? 00:29:22.919 --> 00:29:23.159 I mean, 00:29:23.219 --> 00:29:24.119 cucumbers are nice. 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:28.480 Would you give up the promised land for a cucumber? 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:31.179 Would you turn back? 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:31.379 Okay, 00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:33.139 I'm going to go back to slavery in Egypt, 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:34.640 but at least I'll have my cucumber, 00:29:37.040 --> 00:29:37.240 right? 00:29:38.040 --> 00:29:38.520 I mean, 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.200 that's ridiculous, 00:29:39.320 --> 00:29:40.140 but basically that's, 00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:43.259 so it's something really, 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:43.860 actually, 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.400 if you think about, 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:44.800 it's nice, 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:46.380 but actually it's a very small thing, 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.740 but isn't that what we, 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.259 some, 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:49.840 what we do? 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:53.280 There were things in our old life that we idolize, 00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:53.600 that we, 00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.300 that we want. 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.480 Let me, 00:29:56.520 --> 00:29:57.640 let me ask two questions. 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.120 If you were, 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.620 whether maybe, 00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.540 maybe you're, 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.020 yeah, 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:00.300 for, 00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:01.500 first for us as Christians, 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:03.000 and then maybe for those of us who are, 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.580 not, 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:05.620 not yet Christians who wouldn't call ourselves, 00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:06.500 you know, 00:30:06.840 --> 00:30:09.860 are there times maybe that you resent being a Christian? 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.060 Here's a good question. 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:14.100 Are there times that you resent being a Christian? 00:30:15.040 --> 00:30:15.820 That you think, 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:17.060 I wish I wasn't a Christian. 00:30:18.300 --> 00:30:19.920 Maybe it's Sundays, 00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:20.320 right? 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:26.120 You're on a couple of teams and every Sunday morning you come here and every morning you have to do stuff and you, 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:27.920 your heart isn't really in it and you, 00:30:28.040 --> 00:30:31.560 you feel this is this obligation and you think, 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.100 oh man, 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.019 if I wasn't a Christian, 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.959 I could just stay in bed. 00:30:35.439 --> 00:30:35.919 I mean, 00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.419 it's, 00:30:36.419 --> 00:30:37.419 it's nice to stay in bed, 00:30:37.419 --> 00:30:43.419 but can you imagine that that will slowly eat away until the day that you decide, 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:43.579 yeah, 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:43.819 I've, 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.259 I've had it. 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.519 I mean, 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.519 I am going to stay in bed. 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:45.759 I'm, 00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:47.039 I've had it with Christianity. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.379 I mean, 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.280 you don't want that to happen. 00:30:49.280 --> 00:30:50.380 Or I don't know, 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.220 maybe if you're younger, 00:30:51.300 --> 00:30:54.880 you're in school and you have friends there who are, 00:30:55.280 --> 00:30:55.400 well, 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:55.600 they, 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.160 they wouldn't call you, 00:30:56.260 --> 00:30:56.420 they, 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:56.600 they, 00:30:56.600 --> 00:31:02.480 they don't call themselves Christians and they get to do things that you can't because you're a Christian. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:06.059 And do you sometimes feel jealous that I wish I could do those things? 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.460 That's a dangerous feeling, 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:08.720 right? 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:09.839 Because that's, 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.120 you know, 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.240 that's, 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.680 that's what I mean with like a cucumber, 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:12.980 right? 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.920 Or maybe you're older. 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:14.519 I don't know. 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:19.640 Maybe you're in a marriage and the marriage is kind of boring and the love is gone. 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.640 And, 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.759 you know, 00:31:21.780 --> 00:31:23.360 you wish you could be with someone else. 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.360 Except of course, 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.300 Christians don't do that, 00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:26.480 right? 00:31:26.540 --> 00:31:27.480 Christians don't do that. 00:31:29.280 --> 00:31:30.740 And yet that eats away, 00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:31.020 right? 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:35.140 It eats away until the point where maybe you decide to leave. 00:31:36.060 --> 00:31:36.360 I mean, 00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:38.020 I hope you can see the unbelief there, 00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:38.300 right? 00:31:39.020 --> 00:31:40.960 This is living without reference to God. 00:31:41.580 --> 00:31:42.820 Then you're not thinking, 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.200 okay, 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:45.660 God can help me with this. 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.160 You're thinking, 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.800 you're basically thinking, 00:31:48.100 --> 00:31:49.520 God won't help me with this marriage. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.140 God can't change his marriage. 00:31:51.280 --> 00:31:52.180 God can't do anything. 00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:53.980 God just wants me to suffer, 00:31:54.300 --> 00:31:54.820 right? 00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:56.400 That's the unbelief behind it. 00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.920 But it leads one day to, 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:58.620 well, 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.280 some people, 00:31:59.380 --> 00:31:59.480 yeah, 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:01.400 they have an affair or they leave. 00:32:02.320 --> 00:32:02.700 And again, 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.640 you wouldn't choose that, 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:03.860 right? 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:04.820 Again, 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:07.640 would you give up eternity with Jesus? 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:08.660 Well, 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:10.720 for your mornings in bed, 00:32:11.320 --> 00:32:13.180 for an affair, 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.060 for whatever. 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.560 That's, 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.540 that's the problem, 00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:15.800 right? 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:18.220 I hope you can see that, 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:18.360 right? 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:19.799 That this is going on in our hearts. 00:32:20.719 --> 00:32:22.559 And I guess if you wouldn't call yourself a Christian, 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:22.859 you, 00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:23.139 you'd, 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:23.699 well, 00:32:23.699 --> 00:32:24.919 your situation is different. 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:26.279 You're still in Egypt, 00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:26.539 right? 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.599 You're in, 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:28.740 in terms of the picture here, 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:28.939 right? 00:32:28.979 --> 00:32:31.399 You have Egypt and then the journey and the promised lands. 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.880 you're still in Egypt. 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:36.400 Is there something that keeps you in Egypt? 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.380 Now, 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:39.040 maybe you don't want to become a Christian because, 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:39.740 and yet, 00:32:39.820 --> 00:32:40.400 because it's, 00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:42.259 it's all new to you and you're still thinking, 00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:42.540 you know, 00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:43.440 is this God real? 00:32:43.540 --> 00:32:44.519 Is this gospel true? 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.140 Hey, 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.420 I'm not talking about that, 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:47.759 but maybe you understand it. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.759 But here's a question. 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:51.980 Is there something you don't want to give up? 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.460 Is there something in your life that, 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:54.720 okay, 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:59.039 becoming a Christian means giving this up and I don't want to give that up. 00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:00.700 Maybe that's a, 00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.720 that's what I'd call a cucumber, 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.000 right? 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.559 Uh, 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:04.539 there's something in my life that, 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:04.720 Hey, 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:04.940 I, 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.279 I want to hold onto this, 00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:08.380 but would you do that? 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:08.740 Right? 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:09.740 Would you really, 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:10.740 you know, 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:12.579 if I, 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.220 I mean, 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:15.740 certainly this was the case for me before I was a Christian. 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:18.799 I looked into it and Christianity is probably true, 00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:22.279 but I didn't want to become a Christian because I didn't want to stop lying. 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.519 I didn't want to stop drinking. 00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:26.900 I just wanted to be in control of my own life. 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:30.039 And so until God showed me where this was all heading, 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.740 I think about eternity. 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:36.079 Think about a perfect world where you can be with Jesus forever. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.440 What we've sung about. 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:39.079 Would you really say no? 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:39.460 Thanks. 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.079 I don't want that. 00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:43.460 I'd rather just go to hell with this. 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:44.339 What I can have now. 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:46.299 I don't think any of us would, 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:48.240 would do that in our right minds. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.839 And yet so many of us do this, 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:50.019 right? 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.839 And this is a real danger. 00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:53.720 This is something, 00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.740 you know, 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:57.559 we want to watch out for. 00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.140 Now, 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:00.640 what are ways we can do that? 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.240 Uh, 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:01.680 again, 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:03.380 Kevin gave us a few ideas last week. 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.100 Uh, 00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:04.660 want to give, 00:34:04.900 --> 00:34:05.000 well, 00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:06.580 one of them I want to double click on. 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.380 Well, 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:09.460 Kevin mentioned last week community. 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.360 Actually, 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:12.340 that is what's Hebrew says, 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:12.539 right? 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.940 When Hebrews warns people, 00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.860 uh, 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.200 here, 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:16.539 take care of brothers, 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:16.539 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.839 lest there be an, 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.079 any of you and on evil, 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.939 unbelieving heart, 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.639 leading you to fall away from the living God, 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:24.079 but exhort one another every day, 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:25.719 as long as it is called today, 00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:28.579 that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.399 Now, 00:34:29.399 --> 00:34:31.359 you can't see the bold letters for some reason, 00:34:31.359 --> 00:34:31.659 but, 00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:32.460 uh, 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.699 take care of brothers, 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:34.840 uh, 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.780 any of you, 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.079 one another, 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.260 none of you. 00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.260 And we, 00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:39.900 we always think, 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.099 okay, 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.559 I need to watch my heart. 00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.599 Hebrew says, 00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:42.820 no, 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.900 you as a group, 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:47.639 watch each other's hearts and look after each other. 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:49.739 Make sure that none of you here, 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:51.679 that no one here is walking away. 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:53.139 Keep each other together, 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:53.879 right? 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.539 It's a, 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.460 it's a group thing, 00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:56.699 yeah? 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:59.299 Because often I don't see my heart very well, 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:03.339 but you can see what's going on in my heart because you see me going off the track. 00:35:04.379 --> 00:35:06.119 And so that's why, 00:35:06.339 --> 00:35:06.859 you know, 00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:07.579 uh, 00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:09.099 do something, 00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:09.440 uh, 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:09.619 yeah, 00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:10.519 look after each other. 00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:12.319 Maybe someone in your community group, 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:14.159 maybe someone in the youth group, 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:17.420 and you see them and you see the decisions. 00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.099 They're making, 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:19.599 maybe the person they're dating, 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:21.599 maybe their career decisions, 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.220 the way they spend money. 00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:26.599 And you kind of wonder what is in their hearts. 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:27.980 Why did I, 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:29.420 did this seems to be a wrong path? 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:31.240 This is not something that a Christian should do. 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:34.579 This is not something that you'd expect of a Christian. 00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:37.680 I guess you want to warn them, 00:35:37.720 --> 00:35:37.880 right? 00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.880 Like Caleb and Joshua here, 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:41.280 don't do this, 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:41.900 right? 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.820 Don't rebel. 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:43.639 Now, 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.539 of course, 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:45.740 there's many things we don't know. 00:35:45.739 --> 00:35:46.679 We need to be humble, 00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:47.559 gentle, 00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:47.859 you know, 00:35:47.899 --> 00:35:48.559 ask questions. 00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:49.879 Maybe there's things we don't know, 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:51.099 things that are going on. 00:35:51.839 --> 00:35:53.259 You want to be like that. 00:35:53.279 --> 00:35:54.179 But at the same time, 00:35:54.259 --> 00:35:56.939 if it's a clear path to danger, 00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:58.359 you don't want to ignore that, 00:35:58.419 --> 00:35:58.599 right? 00:35:59.159 --> 00:36:01.359 Love would mean talking to them. 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:03.359 Love would mean warning them, 00:36:03.419 --> 00:36:03.659 saying, 00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.000 Hey, 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:04.959 uh, 00:36:04.959 --> 00:36:05.559 are you sure? 00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:06.519 Right? 00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:07.659 Don't do this. 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:09.899 Love is willing to do tough things. 00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:14.459 Love is putting someone else's goods before my own comfort. 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.000 Even though, 00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:16.139 even if they don't like it, 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.880 I've struggled with that. 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:21.240 I've tried to tell people and they don't like being told. 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:22.960 What can you do? 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.619 I think the loving thing is still to say it. 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:26.420 So take care of each other. 00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:29.019 But that's very remedial, 00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:29.240 right? 00:36:29.240 --> 00:36:30.539 That's when there's already a problem. 00:36:31.460 --> 00:36:33.199 I think the bigger thing, 00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:33.940 uh, 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.220 well, 00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:36.500 the better thing is look forward. 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:37.820 Right? 00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:39.300 These people were looking back. 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:40.760 All right. 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:42.100 They thought, 00:36:42.180 --> 00:36:42.300 Oh, 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:43.920 the cucumbers we had in Egypt. 00:36:44.160 --> 00:36:46.320 That's why their hearts were set on Egypt because they, 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.920 they thought of the cucumbers in Egypt. 00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:49.940 Why didn't they just look forward? 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.660 Why didn't they just think, 00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.039 Oh, 00:36:52.060 --> 00:36:53.000 the promised land. 00:36:53.080 --> 00:36:55.160 We're going to have such massive cucumbers there. 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:55.620 Right? 00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:56.680 That'd be so one. 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.940 Right? 00:36:58.140 --> 00:36:59.720 But isn't that how we think? 00:37:00.640 --> 00:37:01.039 Right? 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:08.659 What makes you spend days packing your suitcase and getting on a plane and being squashed for hours on a plane? 00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:09.599 No one enjoys that. 00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:10.320 Why do we do it? 00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:12.699 Because we look forward to the destination, 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:13.159 right? 00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:15.860 We want to go on that holiday to that amazing place. 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:17.639 And that's why we enjoy the travel. 00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:20.940 Isn't that the same thing for the Christian life? 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.820 How can we live as a Christian? 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.079 Well, 00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:24.759 we need to look forward to the destination. 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:25.559 Right? 00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:25.860 We, 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:26.400 you know, 00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:28.679 are you looking forward to an eternity with Jesus? 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.199 Right? 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:33.039 This new creation of eternal love and joy and peace that we, 00:37:33.379 --> 00:37:33.500 you know, 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.960 every brokenness heals, 00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:36.439 every wrong we made right. 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:38.000 That is where we're going to be. 00:37:38.379 --> 00:37:38.659 You know, 00:37:38.759 --> 00:37:39.879 if you look forward to that, 00:37:39.939 --> 00:37:40.039 yeah, 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:40.759 you want to go. 00:37:41.279 --> 00:37:41.480 Right? 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.239 Just like these people, 00:37:42.319 --> 00:37:43.539 if they were looking forward to it, 00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:44.819 they would have raced in, 00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:47.119 into the promised land because they wanted it. 00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:48.259 Yeah? 00:37:48.299 --> 00:37:49.359 Are we looking forward? 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.719 It's going to be so wonderful. 00:37:50.879 --> 00:37:53.460 We're going to think more about it later in the series. 00:37:53.899 --> 00:37:55.359 It's how the book series is going to end. 00:37:55.939 --> 00:37:56.279 But yeah, 00:37:56.279 --> 00:37:57.259 are we looking forward? 00:37:58.339 --> 00:37:58.480 Yeah? 00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:58.960 After all, 00:37:59.019 --> 00:38:01.019 God is so generous and wonderful. 00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:02.000 Again, 00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:03.500 the way I started the series, 00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:04.619 I started this sermon. 00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:04.820 Yeah, 00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:06.000 I set it up a little bit, 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:09.400 but later the people were there, 00:38:09.579 --> 00:38:10.079 their children, 00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:14.079 they came to the edge and they knew about God's love and generosity. 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.599 And they went in. 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.119 Right? 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:18.519 We know God is so generous and wonderful. 00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:19.920 We know how much he loves us. 00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:20.139 I mean, 00:38:20.179 --> 00:38:22.940 he gave up his son to bring us there. 00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:24.559 Surely we can trust him. 00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:24.780 Right? 00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:26.840 And the work is already done. 00:38:26.840 --> 00:38:28.460 They were still afraid of those giants. 00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:30.700 And they should have looked to God. 00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:30.960 Okay. 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.760 What God had done. 00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:34.220 Shouldn't we look at, 00:38:35.220 --> 00:38:35.480 I mean, 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.500 who are the real giants? 00:38:36.620 --> 00:38:36.740 Right? 00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:37.220 It's sin, 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:37.700 Satan, 00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:38.120 death. 00:38:38.640 --> 00:38:40.500 And Jesus defeated all of those already. 00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:41.300 Right? 00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:42.200 He died on the cross. 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:43.140 He defeated sin. 00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:44.480 He defeated Satan. 00:38:44.640 --> 00:38:45.600 He defeated death. 00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:46.880 Of course, 00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:47.519 they're still around, 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:50.560 but basically the Bible says they are defeated, 00:38:50.900 --> 00:38:51.680 right? 00:38:51.700 --> 00:38:53.200 They can't stop you getting there. 00:38:53.260 --> 00:38:54.660 They can't stop God's plan. 00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:55.720 They're defeated. 00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:57.539 And so it's going to happen. 00:38:57.680 --> 00:38:58.840 When you get to heaven, 00:38:58.840 --> 00:38:59.880 you can just walk in. 00:39:00.140 --> 00:39:01.440 There's nothing more you need to do. 00:39:02.600 --> 00:39:04.039 And doesn't that help us? 00:39:04.220 --> 00:39:05.300 Doesn't it give us faith? 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:06.360 Doesn't it give us hope? 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:08.700 And that's what we need. 00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:10.839 Some of us are very close to the edge. 00:39:11.439 --> 00:39:13.599 Some of us are still a long way away, 00:39:13.779 --> 00:39:14.460 80 years. 00:39:15.779 --> 00:39:16.000 But, 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:16.899 you know, 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.259 Jesus, 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:17.899 he didn't, 00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:19.619 doesn't just give us everything for the journey. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:21.259 He gives us everything. 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:23.619 He already gave everything for the destination. 00:39:24.319 --> 00:39:25.339 We can go in. 00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:27.339 So let's keep going. 00:39:28.059 --> 00:39:29.599 Let's forget about our cucumbers. 00:39:30.779 --> 00:39:31.179 Right? 00:39:31.899 --> 00:39:33.000 In our old life. 00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:34.599 Let's look forward. 00:39:34.819 --> 00:39:35.819 We know it will be wonderful. 00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:37.119 There's nothing more we need to do. 00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:39.019 Let's keep going. 00:39:39.319 --> 00:39:39.980 Let's keep trusting. 00:39:40.659 --> 00:39:41.460 Why don't we pray? 00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:49.659 Our father, 00:39:49.799 --> 00:39:49.920 we, 00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:53.659 we thank you for your love and your generosity for everything. 00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:56.279 We know there's a wonderful future ahead. 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:59.519 And yet our hearts can be so deceitful. 00:39:59.639 --> 00:39:59.839 Please, 00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:01.219 we help each other keep going. 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:05.380 Would each of us hold our original confidence firm to the end? 00:40:05.380 --> 00:40:08.740 Would we do that with you and with each other? 00:40:09.200 --> 00:40:10.360 As together we journey. 00:40:11.160 --> 00:40:11.320 Lord, 00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:11.539 we, 00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:11.980 yeah, 00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:15.720 we pray that if there's anyone here who really is going in the wrong direction, 00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:17.900 you would use today to turn them around. 00:40:18.640 --> 00:40:19.720 But for each of us, 00:40:19.780 --> 00:40:19.960 Lord, 00:40:20.099 --> 00:40:21.079 give us faith. 00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:24.079 Drive out the unbelief in our hearts. 00:40:24.780 --> 00:40:26.820 Give us a great view of Jesus so that we will, 00:40:27.280 --> 00:40:27.579 yeah, 00:40:27.640 --> 00:40:28.920 we will want to be with him. 00:40:29.140 --> 00:40:30.640 And we want to travel with him. 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:32.799 That we will be with you forever. 00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.319 In Jesus name. 00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:34.859 Amen.