WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.580 Our Father, thank you for your words. Thank you that it makes us wise for salvation through 00:00:06.580 --> 00:00:11.220 ! Faith in Christ Jesus. We just pray that you would speak to each one of us. And as you speak, 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:16.480 would we hear your voice deep in our hearts? Would we hear what you want us to hear? Lord, 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:20.339 thank you that your words are always good and loving. And pray that we would receive them 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:29.800 today. In Jesus' name. Amen. Great. Now, Hong Kong is a very pragmatic city, people say. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.539 Actually, people just care what works, right? That's the thing that matters. Does it bring 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:38.500 results? If it brings results, it's good. Of course, if it doesn't bring results, then 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:44.000 don't bother. Now, that's in a way, what's it called? Utilitarian ethics. In a way, it's 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.760 a good thing, right? You look at the consequences. You look at the benefits, right? You have a 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:51.320 promotion coming up. Okay, is this a good thing? Well, what are the benefits? What are the 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:56.700 dis-benefits? You weigh it up and you make a decision. So in some ways, that's a good thing. 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:03.940 Of course, sometimes, the problem is, what if God says something and the consequences seem 00:01:03.940 --> 00:01:08.340 so different, right? So God says, don't lie. But, you know, what's the harm in this lie, 00:01:08.420 --> 00:01:13.960 right? What's the problem, right? It brings me good and I don't see any harm that it does, 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:19.159 so why would it be a bad thing? Well, of course, the flaw with this kind of thinking is that 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:23.400 we don't always know the consequences, right? We don't always know what will happen in the 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:28.880 future. We don't know what the result might be. Now, you think of David and Befsheba in 00:01:28.880 --> 00:01:33.980 the Bible and David thought it was fine what he did, except, of course, if you know the 00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:39.860 Bible, you know the terrible consequences. Now, we need to sometimes think, okay, well, 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:45.480 what are really the consequences of what I'm doing? And I think sometimes the Bible shows 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:51.000 us that, that God shows us what's going on. And Numbers today, we're in the Book of Numbers. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:55.780 It's a great book about Israel's journey, you know, from Egypt to the Promised Land. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:03.500 But, yeah, we have seen how the people are not really doing what they should and, well, 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.519 we shouldn't be like them. And why not? Well, look at the consequences. Today, we're going to see 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:13.500 some of the consequences of what they do and, yeah, this will be a good warning for us not to go the 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:19.819 same way. Now, today is a larger chunk of the book. So, we're doing this whole book in eight weeks 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:22.959 and today we're going to do six chapters. Okay, so, 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:28.099 don't worry, we're not going to have a 28-minute reading. 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:31.919 We're going to read only parts, but 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:36.699 the reason is that sometimes the point kind of comes from the big picture. 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:40.359 Rather than the detail, we need to step back and see the big picture. So, that's why we're doing 00:02:40.359 --> 00:02:44.560 a big chunk, but it should be good. And it means it's a bit arty, 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:49.719 right? Rather than just the simple verses, let's look at the big picture and think about it. So, 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:55.000 we need to do some thinking today, but I think it will speak powerfully. So, with that, let's, 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:57.539 Iris will come and read while I drink some water. 00:03:01.020 --> 00:03:06.740 Good morning, Watermark. Today's scripture reading is taken from Numbers chapter 16, 00:03:06.740 --> 00:03:09.780 verses 1-7, 25-35, 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:11.480 and 41-50. 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:13.560 Please follow along your Bible. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:15.159 If you don't have a Bible, 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:18.060 please do still grab them from the front of the stage 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:19.480 or at the back near the door. 00:03:20.140 --> 00:03:21.620 Our passage is on page 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:22.820 116. 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:29.060 Now, 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:36.539 Ahchorah, the son of Esau, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan, and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, 00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:40.240 and Ahm, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:44.979 And they rose up before Moses with a number of the people of Israel, 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:51.520 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:56.719 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:02.580 You have gone too far, for all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:04.599 and the Lord is among them. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:08.800 Why then do you exhort yourselves about the assembly of the Lord? 00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:12.319 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:15.120 and he said to Korah and all his company, 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:20.019 In the morning the Lord will show who is his and who is holy, 00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:21.920 and will bring him near to him. 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:25.779 The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. 00:04:25.779 --> 00:04:29.939 Do this, take censers, Korah, and all his company, 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:33.959 put fire in them, and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, 00:04:34.419 --> 00:04:37.479 and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. 00:04:38.059 --> 00:04:40.559 You have gone too far, sons of Levi. 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:45.000 Moving on to verses 25 to 35, we read, 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:50.379 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:52.879 and the elders of the Israel followed him. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:55.699 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, 00:04:56.379 --> 00:04:59.379 Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:01.240 and touch nothing of theirs, 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:04.459 lest you be swept away with all their sins. 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:09.199 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:13.739 and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, 00:05:14.239 --> 00:05:17.319 together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:19.519 And Moses said, 00:05:19.599 --> 00:05:23.939 Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:26.699 and that it has not been of my own accord. 00:05:27.420 --> 00:05:29.819 If these men die as all men die, 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:32.759 or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:35.000 then the Lord has not sent me. 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:37.680 But if the Lord creates something new, 00:05:37.939 --> 00:05:40.620 and the ground opens his mouth and swallows them up 00:05:40.620 --> 00:05:42.360 with all that belongs to them, 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:44.759 and they go down alive into Sheol, 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:48.899 then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord. 00:05:49.719 --> 00:05:52.620 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:54.620 the ground under them split apart, 00:05:55.219 --> 00:05:57.879 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:01.319 with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:02.560 and all their goods. 00:06:03.039 --> 00:06:06.800 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, 00:06:07.039 --> 00:06:09.060 and the earth closed over them, 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:12.599 and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:16.740 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, 00:06:17.140 --> 00:06:17.780 for they said, 00:06:18.040 --> 00:06:19.660 Let the earth swallow us up. 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:22.140 And fire came out from the Lord 00:06:22.140 --> 00:06:25.820 and consumed the 250 men offering the incense. 00:06:26.400 --> 00:06:28.700 Moving on to verses 41, we read, 00:06:29.460 --> 00:06:30.520 But on the next day, 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:32.800 all the congregation of the people of Israel 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.240 grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:35.700 saying, 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:38.200 You have killed the people of the Lord. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:43.139 And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:45.279 they turned toward the tent of meeting. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:48.279 And behold, the cloud covered it, 00:06:48.539 --> 00:06:50.079 and the glory of the Lord appeared. 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:54.439 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting. 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:56.899 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 00:06:57.379 --> 00:06:59.699 Get away from the midst of this congregation, 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.480 that I may consume them in a moment. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.060 And they fell on their faces. 00:07:05.700 --> 00:07:06.680 And Moses said to Aaron, 00:07:06.900 --> 00:07:10.020 Take your censer and put fire on it from off the altar 00:07:10.020 --> 00:07:13.640 and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation 00:07:13.640 --> 00:07:15.620 and make atonement for them. 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:17.939 For wrath has gone out from the Lord, 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:19.379 and the plague has begun. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:21.819 So Aaron took it, as Moses said, 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:23.560 and ran into the midst of the assembly. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:27.560 And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. 00:07:28.020 --> 00:07:31.040 And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:33.640 And he stood between the dead and the living. 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:35.900 And the plague was stopped. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:41.160 Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, 00:07:41.780 --> 00:07:44.140 besides those who died in the affair of Korah. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:48.180 And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, 00:07:48.580 --> 00:07:50.000 when the plague was stopped. 00:07:51.020 --> 00:07:54.000 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word. 00:07:58.640 --> 00:08:00.160 Great. Thank you so much, Iris. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:06.160 For reading this part of this chapter. 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:06.680 Okay. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:08.680 So we'll start in chapter 16. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:12.360 And if you've been with us for the past few weeks, 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:13.420 you know that, yeah, 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:16.740 well, this looks like just another rebellion, right? 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:18.720 We've had quite a lot of grumbling, 00:08:18.960 --> 00:08:20.040 quite a lot of rebellion. 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:21.080 And here's another one. 00:08:21.140 --> 00:08:22.680 This is actually a huge one, right? 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:23.939 It's three chapters long. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:26.400 And what is going on? 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:30.399 Well, the people of Israel, they're rejecting the priesthood. 00:08:31.219 --> 00:08:33.899 I think if you just look at it on the surface, 00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:35.259 it's rejecting the priesthood. 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.299 So there's these three guys, Korah, David, and Byram. 00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:39.319 They're kind of the ringleaders. 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:42.399 And they get 250 chiefs of the people. 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:47.500 And basically, they are complaining about, you know, Aaron being the priest. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:50.500 Because, hey, everyone is holy, right? 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:51.860 Everyone can come near to God. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:54.539 What makes you special that you can go near to God? 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:55.179 And we can't. 00:08:55.839 --> 00:08:57.919 Of course, Moses is horrified, right? 00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:59.379 Hey, this is God's choice. 00:08:59.599 --> 00:09:00.739 It's not what we've done. 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:03.139 So let's have a test, okay? 00:09:03.239 --> 00:09:05.620 Tomorrow, maybe all of us go to the tent of meeting. 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:07.719 All of us go with censors. 00:09:08.059 --> 00:09:09.059 You know, that's what priests do. 00:09:09.099 --> 00:09:10.379 They have a censor with incense. 00:09:10.859 --> 00:09:11.799 Go before the tent. 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:14.019 And God will show who he has chosen, right? 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:16.500 And that's what they do. 00:09:17.079 --> 00:09:18.359 Well, actually, not all of them. 00:09:18.439 --> 00:09:19.799 Because Moses proposes that. 00:09:19.899 --> 00:09:21.199 Some of them don't even come up. 00:09:21.439 --> 00:09:23.019 These guys, David and then and Byram. 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:25.319 16, verse 12. 00:09:25.539 --> 00:09:26.919 Look here at what they say. 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:27.639 Right? 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:31.240 Moses sent to call Dave and then Abiram, the sons of Elias. 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:33.319 And they said, we will not come up. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:38.559 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:43.000 to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:48.399 I mean, if you've been here for a few weeks, these guys have lost completely touch with reality, right? 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:51.079 They were slaves in Egypt. 00:09:51.079 --> 00:09:52.799 And, oh, that was the land of milk and honey. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.459 Why did you bring us out to kill us here? 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:55.059 Right? 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:56.620 They are terrible. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:59.379 And so the results are predictable, right? 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:00.599 We just had a catechism. 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:03.759 Will God let our disobedience go unpunished? 00:10:04.479 --> 00:10:05.120 Well, no. 00:10:05.459 --> 00:10:06.079 It's not, right? 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:09.379 At least the ringleaders, their tents are swallowed up. 00:10:09.479 --> 00:10:11.859 And they go alive down to hell. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.979 Then there's 250 men. 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:17.500 Fire comes out and consumes them. 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:18.719 They get burned up. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:20.439 The people, of course, they were afraid. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:22.660 But then the next day they're complaining, right? 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:23.340 Verse 41. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:25.920 Hey, you've killed the people. 00:10:26.060 --> 00:10:31.360 Well, on the next day, all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, 00:10:31.520 --> 00:10:34.000 saying, you have killed the people of the Lord. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.419 And so, yeah, God shows up. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:38.580 And, again, there's a plague. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:40.059 And people start to die. 00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:42.299 And, well, Moses acts quickly. 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.259 He tells Aaron, verse 46, 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:47.759 take your censer and put fire on it from the altar. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:49.340 And lay incense on it. 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:51.659 And carry it quickly to the congregation. 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:52.899 And make atonement for them. 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:54.799 For wrath has gone out from the Lord. 00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:55.899 The plague has begun. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.459 And so, Aaron does that. 00:10:57.579 --> 00:11:00.240 He puts stuff on his censer. 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:01.000 And he runs. 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:02.579 And he stops the plague. 00:11:03.579 --> 00:11:04.120 Okay, right. 00:11:04.199 --> 00:11:05.240 It's stopped now. 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:06.959 And yet there was a massive cost, right? 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.059 If you add it up, it's like 15,000 deaths. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:13.840 Now, of course, it's three chapters long. 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:17.600 Most of the chapter, actually, is God just putting lots of reminders. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:20.519 Lots of danger, keep out signs. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:21.139 Right? 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:23.500 Because that's what the people need, right? 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:27.539 And so, you know, those censers on those 250 men, okay, 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:30.559 they make it into a cover of the altar to remind people 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.360 that only priests can come near and otherwise you'll die. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.960 And Aaron's staff is dead stick. 00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:37.360 It sprouts flowers. 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:40.259 Well, so that people know that Aaron is chosen. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:41.379 And he can come near. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:42.100 And you can't. 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:43.340 Unless you die. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:44.840 And more laws. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:45.080 Right? 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:45.779 That's the idea. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:48.879 God is, you know, I don't know if you're reading numbers. 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:51.379 Actually, these are loving things, right? 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.939 I think a danger, keep out, is a loving thing. 00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:55.879 So that is what God is doing. 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:58.820 But it's clearly yet another rebellion. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:01.299 It feels similar to the previous ones. 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:04.779 I mean, it's amazing how these people haven't changed, right? 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:10.840 If you were here two weeks ago and you saw how they were at the border of the promised land 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:13.600 and God brought them all the way there and they refused to go in 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.399 and they were punished to stay in the wilderness, 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:21.620 you'd think that they would change, that they would show some humility, some contrition. 00:12:22.280 --> 00:12:24.720 But no, there's nothing of that, right? 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:28.700 But at the same time, it feels very familiar. 00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:31.660 What is the significance of this huge rebellion? 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:38.459 Well, I hope you see in this passage, actually, the priesthood is a seriously important thing. 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.860 Why is it so important? 00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:44.699 Well, look at this plague. 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:47.559 The plague is coming and who stops it? 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:49.339 Well, it's the priest. 00:12:49.459 --> 00:12:51.219 It's Aaron the high priest with his censer. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.079 I love verse 48. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:56.779 And he stood between the dead and the living. 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.600 And the plague was stopped. 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:02.580 The difference between life and death, the difference between the dead and the living, 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:05.500 is this priest who makes atonement for you. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:10.000 Because we think of priests as like difficult rituals. 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:14.040 Actually, they offer sacrifices that forgive your sins. 00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:16.060 They're so important. 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.820 In a way, Moses as well. 00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:20.519 Moses, they rebel against Moses and Aaron. 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:23.980 Moses is the guy who prays and stops God destroying the people. 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:26.560 The priests are so important. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:32.000 And I think if we zoom out, that is the significance. 00:13:32.979 --> 00:13:37.079 This is about the person who brings you forgiveness. 00:13:37.819 --> 00:13:42.959 Because if you were here last week, actually, we saw that God is offering these people grace. 00:13:44.739 --> 00:13:47.659 We saw that they had this terrible rebellion. 00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:50.919 And yet God says, hey, I'm not done with you. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.299 I want to continue with you. 00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:54.379 I'm offering you grace. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:58.139 If you offer sacrifices, you'll be forgiven. 00:13:58.939 --> 00:14:00.279 Sins can be forgiven. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.360 He offers grace and forgiveness. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.720 But what are they doing? 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:09.399 Well, they are rejecting forgiveness. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.659 They're rejecting the guy who can forgive their sins. 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.179 That's the problem, right? 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:17.500 But they're rejecting the guy who is their only hope. 00:14:18.239 --> 00:14:22.019 So in context, I think what they're doing, they are rejecting grace. 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:24.099 It's not just rejecting the priesthood. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.479 They're rejecting grace. 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:28.479 And I hope you can see how serious that is, right? 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:30.899 Their only hope is grace, right? 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.539 The only hope for sinners is grace. 00:14:33.099 --> 00:14:34.500 And yet they are rejecting that. 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:37.419 They don't want forgiveness. 00:14:37.599 --> 00:14:39.539 They don't want the only thing that can save them. 00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:46.479 And so even though maybe it doesn't feel as big as chapter 14, and yet this is huge, right? 00:14:46.479 --> 00:14:49.799 Because they're rejecting the forgiveness that God offers. 00:14:51.099 --> 00:14:52.860 And of course, don't do that. 00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:56.460 Of course, it's not just the same, not just for Israel. 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.379 For us, it's exactly the same, right? 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:00.019 I mean, what does the New Testament say? 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.680 Well, that all of us are sinners. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.759 We've all, you know, rejected God. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.899 We've all lived our own way. 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:09.340 But again, God has a great high priest, Jesus, right? 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:13.320 And he offered the perfect sacrifice on the cross so we can be forgiven. 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.120 That's wonderful. 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:20.279 I hope this passage actually shows you more what that does, right? 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:22.860 I mean, the cross, yes, Jesus shows his love. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:23.899 That's wonderful. 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.740 But it's more than that, right? 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:27.819 He stops God's judgment. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:29.500 God's judgment needs to come. 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:32.779 And Jesus on the cross, well, he pays for that, right? 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:35.059 And he stops the plague coming to us in a way. 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:39.059 But, yeah, if you then reject. 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.459 But what if you don't come to Jesus? 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.759 What if you reject Jesus? 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:45.079 I mean, here are some verses from Hebrews 10. 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:52.620 And, again, we quote a lot of Hebrews this series because it often talks about, don't, about, yeah. 00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:56.460 In this verse, it says sinning in the context that he's rejecting Jesus. 00:15:56.560 --> 00:15:57.340 But what does it say? 00:15:57.920 --> 00:16:02.000 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.660 there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:10.740 but a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.020 That's kind of true, right? 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:16.439 I mean, Jesus is the one perfect sacrifice. 00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:21.960 And if you, well, if you walk away from him, no sacrifice for sins is left. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:24.659 Just a fearful expectation of judgment. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:28.000 I mean, there's two possible responses to sin, right? 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:29.480 There's judgment or forgiveness. 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:30.319 It's one of the two. 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:33.240 And if you reject forgiveness, you're going to get judgment. 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:35.579 Yeah? 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.600 And that's, yeah. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:38.860 I mean, Kevin alluded to that last week. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.879 Last week, Kevin talked about the unforgivable sin. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.639 It's exactly the same thing. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:47.340 Maybe, yeah, here in Mark 3, for example. 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:52.100 Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of men. 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.700 And whatever blasphemies they utter. 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:55.220 What a wonderful promise, right? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.720 Every possible sin can be forgiven. 00:16:57.720 --> 00:17:03.460 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:07.720 You can ask me later, why is it called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.779 You look at the context. 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:12.819 It's rejecting Jesus and his ministry of forgiveness. 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.779 And, yeah. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:18.900 If you reject the person bringing you forgiveness, then you don't have forgiveness. 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:24.200 That's why this is so incredibly serious, right? 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:27.900 Rejecting grace is the worst thing you can do. 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.440 Forgiveness is wonderful. 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:31.519 But if you reject it, yeah. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.700 So if you have forgiveness, don't let it go. 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:35.940 Let's stick close to Jesus. 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.039 But why? 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:45.819 Well, I think the second part of this section, the second part of this sermon, well, it's why? 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.279 Well, because of the consequences. 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:50.759 What are the consequences if you reject grace? 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.639 Because that's the next few chapters. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:57.640 And, yeah, if you reject grace, it means there's nothing left but death. 00:17:58.580 --> 00:17:59.980 Nothing left but death. 00:18:00.280 --> 00:18:02.380 I think that's the next few chapters. 00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:04.520 I mean, we know the wages of sin is death. 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.240 We've seen the priest. 00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:07.960 He stands between the dead and the living. 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:11.180 And otherwise, there's nothing left but death. 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:14.480 Again, now these two chapters, they're pretty difficult. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.680 They're pretty, we need to think about them. 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.660 But I think this is the big point. 00:18:18.800 --> 00:18:20.740 And Numbers really wants us to feel it. 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:27.720 Now, chapter 19, first it seems a bit weird because we get another chapter of laws. 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:31.079 I don't know if you found last week a bit weird, right, all these laws that we read. 00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:37.559 And what lies behind these laws is the things about clean and unclean. 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:43.319 So in Israel, people had to be clean because, you know, God was living with you in the camp. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:46.799 And so, you know, things had to be proper and clean. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.640 And, you know, if someone was unclean, they couldn't be there. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:53.599 And so you had to make a sacrifice so you could be clean again. 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.779 It's like, you know, God is the God of life. 00:18:57.620 --> 00:19:00.140 And things that, yeah, are contrary to that. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.400 They contaminate the camp. 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:03.120 And so they need to be cleansed. 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:07.380 So, you know, some diseases or blood or death. 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:09.500 That seems weird to us. 00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:12.720 Although, actually, here we have all kinds of rituals about death, right? 00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:16.560 You know, ghost apartments or not having a fourth floor. 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:21.300 There's various things that people do here in the culture that kind of stay away from death. 00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.000 That kind of idea. 00:19:23.280 --> 00:19:26.500 But, yeah, you have to offer a sacrifice to become clean. 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:29.720 And chapter 19, God has something really exciting. 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.600 He has instant sacrifice. 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.220 Instant sacrifice. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.640 I don't know if you know instant coffee, right? 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.799 It's really great. 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:38.579 You have some powder and some water. 00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:41.039 And you don't need to go to Starbucks. 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.059 You don't need a barista. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.559 Just, you know, some powder, some water. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.460 And voila, you've got your caffeine boost. 00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.539 Isn't that wonderful? 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:52.000 Well, basically, this chapter is about instant sacrifice. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.660 Because sacrifices are annoying, right? 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:57.059 You have to go all the way to the tabernacle with an animal to the priest. 00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:58.360 And he has to make a sacrifice. 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:58.940 What a hassle. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.900 Well, here's an idea. 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:05.380 We have a red heifer, some animal, and we let it completely burn to ash. 00:20:05.540 --> 00:20:06.660 And we save the ashes. 00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:10.800 And then whenever something needs cleansing, yeah, you take some ashes and some water. 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.780 You mix it. 00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:12.960 And you sprinkle it. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.500 And it's clean. 00:20:14.280 --> 00:20:15.060 That's the idea. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:16.380 Instant sacrifice. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:16.880 Right? 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.200 It makes it so easy. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:22.780 There's all these talk about, you know, 19 verse 11. 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:27.380 Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean for seven days. 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:31.640 He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day and so be clean. 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:33.320 And no sacrifice. 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.560 Just the water. 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:36.280 Or verse 14. 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:46.140 If someone, this is the law when someone dies in a tent, everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean for seven days. 00:20:46.560 --> 00:20:49.840 Every open vessel that has no cover fastened on it is unclean. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:51.119 Verse 18. 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:57.459 Then a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent and all the furnishings and on the person who was there. 00:20:57.879 --> 00:21:00.339 And whoever touched the bow, and they will clean. 00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:01.279 Right? 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:01.939 Yeah. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:08.399 Basically, laws to, you know, an easy way to make people clean after death. 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:12.500 And so it's basically a chapter to efficiently deal with dead bodies. 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:14.639 That's basically what we have here. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:19.139 A chapter about dealing with dead bodies in a convenient and efficient way. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:25.720 In a way, that makes sense because we just had 15,000 dead bodies that we need to deal with. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:25.919 What? 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:29.399 Well, let's come back to this chapter in a moment. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:32.639 Because death is also the theme of the next chapter. 00:21:32.939 --> 00:21:33.659 Chapter 20. 00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:34.859 Very similar. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:39.740 Because if you are in your Bibles, what does it say above 20 verse 1? 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.519 The death of Miriam. 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:43.379 Miriam was Moses' sister. 00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:43.720 Right? 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:46.240 Her older sister who, you know, brought him to the river. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:50.700 And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of sin. 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:54.319 In the first month, the people stayed in Kadesh and Miriam died there. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:57.839 And if you look down, verse 22. 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.220 The death of Aaron. 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:01.799 So this is surrounded by death. 00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:05.860 And in the middle, Moses gets condemned to death for what he did. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:09.500 And actually, what's interesting is that there's a lot of... 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.960 Chapter 20 is like a copy of chapter 14. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:16.620 Chapter 14 was the big rebellion. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:19.059 And actually, this chapter has lots of echoes. 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.980 So for example, this is in Kadesh. 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:25.360 Well, Kadesh was exactly the place where chapter 14 happened. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.359 Right? 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.419 Because they came to Kadesh. 00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:28.459 Second thing. 00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.259 Moses. 00:22:30.659 --> 00:22:31.479 He sins. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:31.959 Right? 00:22:31.979 --> 00:22:32.779 The people grumble. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.659 And Moses gets angry. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.179 And he strikes the rock. 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:38.719 And God says... 00:22:38.719 --> 00:22:41.179 He says, you did not believe in me. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.439 Right? 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.279 21st 12. 00:22:42.639 --> 00:22:44.159 Because you did not believe in me. 00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:46.279 And in chapter 14, what was the problem? 00:22:46.419 --> 00:22:47.979 The people did not believe in me. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.959 And it's only two times that it appears in this book. 00:22:51.659 --> 00:22:53.039 What's the result of the sin? 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.679 Well, you can't enter the land. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:57.679 And then later they try to enter the land. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.599 But an army stops them. 00:22:58.639 --> 00:23:01.759 It's like, hey, we have a copy of chapter 14 here. 00:23:02.719 --> 00:23:04.379 We have exactly the same story. 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:04.799 It's like... 00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:07.679 Well... 00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:11.099 It's like, okay, these are the deaths coming out of chapter 14. 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:13.759 The only thing here is the leaders who sin. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:13.959 Right? 00:23:13.979 --> 00:23:14.519 It's not the people. 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.119 It's the leaders. 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:17.079 Because leaders are also sinful. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.619 We see that so clearly. 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:25.559 But as we see chapter 20, I don't know if you found verse 1 interesting. 00:23:26.199 --> 00:23:30.159 Because it says, they came to Kadesh in the first month. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:34.599 Now, if you've read your Bible, usually it says the month and the year. 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.379 Where's the year? 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:37.559 Right? 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.299 Okay. 00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:39.079 In March. 00:23:39.459 --> 00:23:40.399 When is this? 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:42.519 It's a bit weird. 00:23:42.580 --> 00:23:43.540 It should make you think. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:49.900 But actually, later in chapter 33, we find out this is the 40th year. 00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:52.320 So 33 verse 38. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:57.319 It says that... 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.919 If we can have a slide, please. 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.399 Yeah. 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:07.119 And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the Lord and died there in the 40th year. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:11.099 After the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:13.939 So this is in the 40th year. 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:18.179 So, you know, remember we had the people of Israel and they were condemned. 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:21.079 And now, suddenly, we are already in the 40th year. 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:25.579 By the way, so 14 and 20 is almost like, okay, bracketed. 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.460 This is it. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.179 This is the old generation. 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.659 By the way, poor Moses, right? 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:35.019 This was the 40th year. 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:39.079 So for 40 years, he walked through the desert hoping that he would go into the land. 00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:42.740 And now, in the 40th year, he sinned and he couldn't go in. 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.899 Poor Moses, right? 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:48.519 Maybe you're here in your 50s or 60s or 70s and you think you're there. 00:24:48.939 --> 00:24:50.960 There's still time for you to reject Christ. 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:53.339 That's just a warning for the elderly among us. 00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:57.879 But the thing is, what happens in between? 00:24:58.919 --> 00:24:59.119 Right? 00:24:59.179 --> 00:25:02.779 We read about this rebellion in chapter 14 and they reject grace. 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:05.379 And now, suddenly, we are in the 40th year. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.779 And what do they do? 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:11.799 Where is those 40 years? 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:14.000 What happens in these 40 years? 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.839 We don't have anything about it. 00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:17.279 We seem to have jumped. 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:21.160 The only thing is this chapter of laws about dead bodies. 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:26.279 Well, actually, that is the 40 years. 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:32.559 If you think about those 40 years, what happened on dealing with dead bodies? 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.200 Actually, that's the only thing that happened. 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.980 The only thing worth mentioning. 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.099 Right? 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:41.180 Just this list of instructions. 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:44.720 1.2 million people died in the wilderness. 00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:50.759 And it doesn't really show how they died, whether they were in a tent or on the way. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:53.680 It doesn't show all the burials, all the funerals. 00:25:53.860 --> 00:25:56.779 It's just 40 years of people dying. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.560 Right? 00:25:58.600 --> 00:26:01.400 It's a little bit like, you know, sometimes you have a war movie. 00:26:02.060 --> 00:26:04.240 And in a war, there was a terrible battle. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.680 And you know a lot of people died. 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.779 But it doesn't show the battle. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:08.839 It just shows you a picture like this. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.680 And you know what happened. 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:13.259 It just doesn't show it. 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.480 And that's kind of here. 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:20.980 But the author wants to say, in a way, this is the reality of death. 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:24.059 So here is 40 years of your life. 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:27.000 Basically, your whole adulthood. 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:31.359 And the only thing that is left at the end is a dead body. 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:33.859 And there's nothing else worth mentioning. 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:35.259 Right? 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:37.120 I mean, these people lived for 40 years. 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:37.960 They got married. 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.299 And they had kids. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.900 And they raised their family. 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.620 And they took care of their animals. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.380 And they built tents. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.980 And they sent around a campfire. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:49.380 And they played games and all those things for 40 years. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:52.339 And none of that matters. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.740 Because in the end, all of that is gone. 00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:56.059 All of that in the end. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.839 Well, there's only your dead body left. 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:01.220 That is, I think, what the writer wants to say. 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:03.640 That's a dead body that needs disposing. 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:06.259 Your whole life was just a waste. 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:08.980 Their whole life was just a waste. 00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:11.780 Pointless, staying in the desert. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:14.140 In the end, they just died. 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.620 Such a waste, right? 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:21.819 I mean, when I was a student, I wasn't a Christian yet. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:26.279 And, yeah, so I got drunk a few times a week. 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:29.119 That was the most exciting thing that I could do. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:34.579 Two times I remember I woke up the next day. 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.919 And I didn't even remember. 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:38.139 I woke up. 00:27:38.219 --> 00:27:40.779 And the last thing I remembered, I was in this bar with my friends. 00:27:41.479 --> 00:27:42.439 And now I was home. 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.299 I didn't remember. 00:27:44.219 --> 00:27:44.719 I mean, I don't know. 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.799 Did I have a terrible night? 00:27:46.419 --> 00:27:48.079 Or did I meet the girl of my dreams? 00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:49.619 I have no idea. 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:52.239 The thing is, it's gone, right? 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.480 I just, I've forgotten. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.839 I don't remember a word. 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.779 A single thing. 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.980 Because I was so drunk. 00:27:58.779 --> 00:28:00.279 And I thought, what a waste of evening. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.640 What about it? 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.120 Just a waste. 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:04.839 Right? 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.759 And not just the money. 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.500 But just, you know. 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:12.180 Because if you don't remember, if there's nothing, if it's all gone, then what's the point? 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:15.299 Well, I think that's exactly the thing here. 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.559 Right? 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:18.539 This is the Bible's perspective on death. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:20.779 When you die, this life is just gone. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.819 It's forgotten. 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.579 And the only thing left is your dead body. 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.500 It's so sad, right? 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.200 So tragic. 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:28.259 These people were rescued from Egypt. 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:31.839 They were meant to go into the promised land and live with God forever. 00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:34.440 And now their life was just a waste. 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:36.759 They rejected his grace and forgiveness. 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:39.200 And now none of that came to pass. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:41.200 And the only thing they had was death. 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.220 Such a waste. 00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:46.539 And the New Testament is no different, of course. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:49.240 It talks about the fact that we will all die. 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:49.500 Right? 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.680 We're all sinners. 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.460 We will all die. 00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:53.480 And that's a waste. 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:54.799 Right? 00:28:54.840 --> 00:28:56.019 And after that comes, yeah. 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.299 What's even worse? 00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:58.740 Because after that comes the second death. 00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:00.759 Where we will suffer forever. 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:03.080 And nothing is left. 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.299 Right? 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.339 All the things you did. 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:11.279 Your job and your promotions and all your achievements and your family and all the countries you visited. 00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:14.419 And all of that didn't matter in the end because you're dead. 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:19.419 That is the reality that the Bible talks about. 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:19.659 Right? 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:21.139 That's the consequences of sin. 00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:23.819 The consequences of rejecting forgiveness. 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:27.559 So if you're here, you're not a Christian. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.679 Certainly. 00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:31.939 If you don't have Jesus, let me implore you. 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.079 Don't let this be you. 00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:34.559 Right? 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.480 Here is. 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:37.720 You may have all kinds of questions about Jesus. 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.220 But I hope you see the importance. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:41.480 You see the big picture. 00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.460 That's... 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:45.679 The Bible says we're all sinners and we're all facing judgment. 00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:47.339 We heard how that's necessary. 00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:51.039 And you see here a little bit how horrifying that is. 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:52.119 How tragic that is. 00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:54.639 And Jesus wants to forgive you. 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:56.319 He wants you to come back to him. 00:29:56.399 --> 00:29:57.759 He's willing to show all this grace. 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.279 But you need to come. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.459 You need to accept it. 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:03.359 And if you don't, I hope you see here that this is terrible. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:06.039 Because then at the end of your life, there's nothing left. 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.459 Just a dead body. 00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:09.400 Don't let this be you. 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.980 Please come and talk to me afterwards. 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:12.039 I'd love to help you. 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.519 But you need this. 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:18.000 And of course, if you are a Christian, don't let go of Jesus. 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:21.079 I don't know what your Christian life is like. 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:23.720 I'm sure life is full of disappointments. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.200 And frustrations. 00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:25.920 And struggles. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:28.140 And it can be hard to be a Christian. 00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:30.779 And it's very tempting sometimes to give up. 00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:34.039 I hope from today, you really don't want to give up. 00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:37.259 You really want to stay as close to Jesus as you can. 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:39.079 Because he's the only one who can save you. 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:43.599 And if you walk away from Jesus, if you lose him, then you've got nothing left. 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.460 You really don't want it. 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:48.400 I think that's the message here. 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.740 Let it be a wake-up call. 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.740 Let's share this hope with others. 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:58.740 I mean, if you're a mother, I hope this message will tell you, you know, invest in your kids, right? 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.460 Pray for them. 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.500 Teach them about Jesus. 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:02.200 Disciple them. 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:06.019 Because if they don't have Jesus, then whatever school they got into 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:08.019 and whatever uni they got into, it doesn't matter. 00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:08.259 Right? 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:10.200 A hundred years from now, all a waste. 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:13.180 That is what this passage is saying. 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.240 So, yeah. 00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:18.440 It has been really depressing. 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:20.400 I think this is the lowest point of numbers. 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:22.720 I'm sorry if I've ruined your Mother's Day. 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.539 That's just what it is. 00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:30.279 And you may wonder, is there any hope? 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.100 Right? 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.319 Is there anything left? 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.500 Well, yes, there is. 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:38.500 We're going to have three more sermons the next three weeks, and they're all going to be very positive. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:41.000 Do come back for that. 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:45.480 But that's why I wanted to finish a little bit with chapter 21. 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:48.579 Because actually, there's going to be changes. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:50.539 And the change starts in the last chapter. 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:53.299 In 21, the tide is turning. 00:31:53.880 --> 00:32:00.259 We're not going to look at it in detail, but as you go on in chapter 21, after chapter 20, it's very different. 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.099 It's like a breath of fresh air. 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:05.339 I mean, what happens to the people? 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.240 They get attacked. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:08.579 And then in verse 2, they suddenly pray. 00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:11.579 I mean, these people have never prayed before, but they pray. 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.900 And then they grumble. 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:16.200 And what happens after they grumble? 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:23.359 Verse 7, and the people came to Moses and said, we have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.559 They repent. 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.339 Right? 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:27.019 Again, they haven't done that before. 00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.660 They're praying. 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.680 They're repenting. 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:32.299 They start, and after that, no more grumbling. 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:33.140 They start singing. 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.039 Right? 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:36.659 You see all those indented paragraphs in your Bible. 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.180 They're singing. 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:37.460 Right? 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.319 They're going through the desert. 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:38.899 Hi-ho. 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.799 Hi-ho. 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.420 Right? 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.960 It's a different group of people. 00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:49.480 And even when they get attacked again, they defeat the army, and they possess some land. 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:49.859 Right? 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.680 That was their hope. 00:32:51.139 --> 00:32:53.659 You know, they were going to go to the promised land and possess it. 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:54.740 They're possessing land. 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:56.440 They even beat a giant. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.079 Right? 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:59.159 That they thought they could in chapter 13. 00:32:59.799 --> 00:32:59.980 No. 00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:02.180 It's like, but it's so different. 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.659 It's like they seem a different people. 00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:06.139 Well, they are with different people. 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:06.960 Right? 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.039 It's 40 years later. 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:10.639 Most of the old generation has died. 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:14.220 Their children are now grown up, and we have a new generation. 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:16.720 They're going to be the focus in the next few weeks. 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:20.319 But we get a kind of a little glimpse here of hope. 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:28.039 But for now, in keeping with the theme here, I mean, look at these people, what they do when they sin. 00:33:28.919 --> 00:33:29.159 Right? 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:31.500 Because we saw that they repent. 00:33:31.659 --> 00:33:32.379 They admit their sin. 00:33:32.439 --> 00:33:33.419 They turn away from it. 00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:35.440 But they accept grace. 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.800 Yeah? 00:33:36.800 --> 00:33:40.440 Because God, of course, when they sin, when they grumble, God sends serpents. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:43.380 And they pray, please would God take it away. 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:45.160 Well, God doesn't take it away. 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.400 Instead, what does he do? 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.000 Verse 8. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:58.279 And the Lord said to Moses, make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. 00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:02.180 So Moses needs to make a serpent on a pole. 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:05.519 It's a bit, yeah, it's like a copy of the judgment. 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:05.799 Right? 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:09.340 They're facing punishment, and this is like a copy of the punishment. 00:34:10.259 --> 00:34:16.420 And if they look to it, right, if they just see it and trust it, then they will live. 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:16.860 Right? 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:18.199 The word here is not death. 00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.239 It is they will live. 00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:21.800 And they do it in verse 9, right? 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:26.360 And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. 00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:28.559 They trusted God's grace and lived. 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:35.840 And, of course, if you have read the Bible, maybe you know in John 3, Jesus takes the same story, right? 00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:38.260 He says about the cross, about what he's going to do. 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:47.000 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 00:34:47.640 --> 00:34:53.320 Again, we deserve punishment, but on the cross, well, it matches our punishment, right? 00:34:53.320 --> 00:35:03.039 And Jesus was lifted up, and if we just look to him, if we just see him, trust God's gracious provision, then we will live. 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:07.039 And so, yeah, again, don't be like this old generation. 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.140 Come to Jesus. 00:35:08.680 --> 00:35:15.240 Whatever your sin, whatever you've done, whatever your life has been like so far, you can come to Jesus. 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:18.580 And he will forgive you, and you'll be with him forever. 00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:19.779 Father, right? 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:21.460 That is what we all need. 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.840 And if you have him, don't let go. 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:25.619 Don't choose death like they did. 00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.059 Choose life. 00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:29.340 Why don't we pray? 00:35:29.340 --> 00:35:29.340 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:41.239 Our Father, thank you that you do speak to us. 00:35:41.299 --> 00:35:42.279 And sometimes you warn us. 00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:43.940 You warn us strongly. 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:46.360 But they are words of love. 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:50.639 Good words that tell us where to go and where not to go. 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:54.340 Lord, we pray that each of us would hold on to Jesus. 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:57.159 If we haven't yet come to him, would we do that? 00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:59.039 Would we see our need? 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:01.900 And thank you that whoever we are, we are welcome. 00:36:02.700 --> 00:36:03.659 And we can be forgiven. 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:05.920 And if we have Jesus, would we not let go? 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:09.260 Whatever life throws at us, whatever it's like to walk through the desert, 00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:13.100 whatever Christian life throws at us, we need Jesus. 00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:14.160 Would we hold on to him? 00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:14.900 Thank you for him. 00:36:15.540 --> 00:36:17.060 Because we know we didn't deserve it. 00:36:17.780 --> 00:36:19.000 We just deserve death. 00:36:19.160 --> 00:36:20.680 And yet Jesus took that for us. 00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:21.720 He died in our place. 00:36:22.200 --> 00:36:22.960 It's so wonderful. 00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:27.220 Lord, would that be the great news, the good news that we can celebrate today? 00:36:28.120 --> 00:36:29.160 In Jesus' name. 00:36:29.620 --> 00:36:29.880 Amen. 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:29.980 Amen.