WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.500 when the pressures of work, family commitments, 00:00:03.820 --> 00:00:06.560 the pressure to conform to those around us in society, 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:08.720 when all of that stuff starts to build, 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:10.919 will we trust our God? 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:13.200 Will we still place our faith in God? 00:00:13.280 --> 00:00:16.399 Will we demonstrate that faith by the way we live, 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:18.679 by the decisions that we make day by day? 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.800 I think sometimes the biggest problem that we can face as Christians 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:25.160 is our own unbelief. 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:29.960 That we can, not that we doubt that there is a God, 00:00:30.060 --> 00:00:33.200 not that we doubt intellectually that these things are true, 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:36.460 but in the way we live, we demonstrate unbelief. 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:41.000 We demonstrate unbelief anytime we fail to live as we ought to live, 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:44.500 because we don't really believe that God is there watching 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:46.760 and that God cares about what we are doing. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:51.260 Or we demonstrate our unbelief every time we fail to speak up for Jesus, 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:55.559 because we are concerned that it will affect our friendships 00:00:55.559 --> 00:00:58.759 or we are concerned about what people think about us. 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:00.960 We don't really, in those moments, 00:01:01.060 --> 00:01:03.299 believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation, 00:01:03.879 --> 00:01:08.259 that anyone who doesn't know him can never have an eternity with him 00:01:08.259 --> 00:01:10.019 and instead must face judgment. 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:15.379 What happens is that we tend to fear man rather than fearing God. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:17.620 And this can be a problem for all of us. 00:01:17.620 --> 00:01:22.040 Perhaps even today you're wrestling with a decision in your life, 00:01:22.160 --> 00:01:24.840 something that you know will have lasting consequences, 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:27.660 and you have to decide, are you going to live for God 00:01:27.660 --> 00:01:30.260 or are you going to live for yourself or go your own way? 00:01:30.700 --> 00:01:33.200 Are you going to allow other things in this world 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:37.180 to kind of take your, to make you afraid of them 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:39.100 rather than fearing your God? 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:42.360 Or maybe you're still struggling with the consequences 00:01:42.360 --> 00:01:44.719 of an ongoing decision that you have made. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:47.799 Or maybe today you're not a Christian yet 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:50.000 and the decision that you're wrestling with 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:53.340 is whether or not you will make a decision to follow God at all. 00:01:54.539 --> 00:01:59.959 The people in Numbers 13 and 14 also faced a crucial decision. 00:02:00.539 --> 00:02:02.200 They had to decide if they were going to trust 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:03.980 in the promises and faithfulness of God 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:06.359 or if they were going to go their own way. 00:02:07.019 --> 00:02:09.439 In verse 1 of chapter 13, 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:11.800 they arrived at the promised land. 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:14.980 They're on the border, ready to conquer it. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:18.260 This is what everything else, the promises of God, 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:21.880 have been leading to from when God first started to deal with Abraham. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:24.920 God promised that they would have this land. 00:02:25.260 --> 00:02:28.100 They had to go through the difficult times in Egypt, 00:02:28.260 --> 00:02:31.240 but God promised them that he would bring them back to this land 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:33.920 and that this would be their land for their possession. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:37.639 The promises have started to reach fulfillment 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:40.019 because the nation has grown massively. 00:02:40.679 --> 00:02:42.579 Two people become two million people. 00:02:42.899 --> 00:02:45.439 God has been faithful in his promise that he would grow the nation. 00:02:46.099 --> 00:02:49.579 He's also faithful in the fact that he describes this land 00:02:49.579 --> 00:02:52.279 as a land flowing with milk and honey, 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:54.279 a lush and fertile land. 00:02:54.839 --> 00:02:58.199 The spies who go to the land in verse 23 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:00.479 find that that is true. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:03.479 They go to the valley of Esko 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:05.539 and they cut off a branch there 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:07.780 which bears a single cluster of grapes 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:11.560 that's so heavy that it takes two people to carry it. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:14.879 So the land is a lush land. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:15.959 It's a fertile land. 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:17.959 God is being true to his promises. 00:03:18.739 --> 00:03:21.479 Incidentally, that's actually the image used by Israel's 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:24.959 ministry of tourism today to represent Israel, 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:27.799 the carrying of that massive bunch of grapes 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:29.680 because they still want to give this image 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:32.520 that Israel is this lush and fertile land. 00:03:33.939 --> 00:03:36.100 So the spies come back 00:03:36.100 --> 00:03:39.719 and in verse 27 they begin their reports 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:42.240 and all of the spies agree 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:44.080 that the land flows, 00:03:44.260 --> 00:03:46.280 does indeed flow with milk and honey. 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:47.800 So all of the spies, 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:49.680 even those that will go on to be unfaithful, 00:03:49.820 --> 00:03:51.040 agree with this fact 00:03:51.040 --> 00:03:53.920 that God is being faithful up to this point. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.939 But then there's a but. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:00.959 But the people who live there are powerful 00:04:00.959 --> 00:04:03.819 and the cities are fortified and very large. 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:06.839 We even saw the descendants of Anak there. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:10.459 The mood can change in an instant, can't it? 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:12.039 This should have been the moment 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.479 when the people were ready to conquer the land. 00:04:15.339 --> 00:04:16.819 They should have been excited 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:19.800 that finally they're going to enter this land. 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:23.240 And instead the mood changes in an instant. 00:04:23.960 --> 00:04:26.259 I was recently in a planning meeting for an organisation 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:28.220 and we spent the morning 00:04:28.220 --> 00:04:30.160 coming up with these great ideas 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.160 of what the organisation was going to do to advance. 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:33.560 And then in the afternoon 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:35.580 we invited in the member of staff 00:04:35.580 --> 00:04:38.660 that was going to have to carry out most of these plans. 00:04:39.580 --> 00:04:41.860 And suddenly the mood changed in an instant. 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:44.160 All of the enthusiasm was gone 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:45.900 and he just put a dampener on everything. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:47.400 Well at the end of the, 00:04:47.580 --> 00:04:48.519 at the end of the, 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:51.839 at lunchtime we felt excited about the future. 00:04:52.459 --> 00:04:53.599 By the end of the day 00:04:53.599 --> 00:04:55.159 that was no longer the case 00:04:55.159 --> 00:04:57.459 because the mood can change in an instant. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.699 And that's what the spies do here. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.019 The ten spies come back, 00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:04.120 the people are ready to take the land 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:06.479 and they give the but. 00:05:06.919 --> 00:05:09.779 They change the complete mood of the meeting. 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:13.439 Basically these ten spies who give this report 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:16.000 are overwhelmed by the fear of man. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:20.600 But there is a minority report. 00:05:21.459 --> 00:05:23.439 Caleb silenced the people 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:28.720 and he demonstrates his complete faith in God. 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:30.319 He silences the people 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.600 and tells them that they can. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:35.480 We should go up and take possession of the land 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:37.899 for we can certainly do it. 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:40.079 And he's not alone, Joshua, 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:41.779 as we see later in the passages with him. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:44.220 These two men demonstrate their faith. 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:48.140 They demonstrate that they fear God rather than man. 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:50.780 Now tragically we've read the passage 00:05:50.780 --> 00:05:53.120 and we know that the people followed the majority. 00:05:53.820 --> 00:05:55.560 And one commentator describes this 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:58.180 as snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:02.240 They got so close and yet fell so short. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:04.800 And then afterwards God appears 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.240 and of course he's furious with the people. 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:09.020 And we read then his judgment 00:06:09.020 --> 00:06:10.860 that comes as the consequences 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:12.420 of these people's unbelief. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:15.319 So as we look at this passage this evening 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:17.819 we want to see what lessons can we learn 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:20.860 when we come to face difficult decisions in our lives 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:22.960 where we have to decide if we're going to follow God 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:24.240 or if we're going to go our own way. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:28.240 We need to decide like the people here 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.480 are they going to trust that God is faithful 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.060 and keeps his promises 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:35.139 or are they going to be afraid of people 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:37.300 and the situations around them. 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:40.500 So I want to look at this under three headings this evening. 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:42.819 First of all we'll look at the fear of the people 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:44.939 then the faith of Caleb and Joshua 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:46.620 and then the fury of God. 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:49.180 So let's start with the fear of the people. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:53.220 The people are essentially sent in these ten spies 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:54.459 to do market research 00:06:54.459 --> 00:06:57.220 to prepare the people for the conquest of the land. 00:06:57.800 --> 00:06:59.959 Now from the first verse that we read 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:02.040 this is the land that God is giving to his people. 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:03.819 They're not meant to come back 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:05.759 and say oh I don't think we should do that. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:07.180 They're not meant to come back 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:08.639 and question God's plan. 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:10.180 They were meant to go in 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:13.180 and find samples of the fruits in the land 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:14.459 to find out about the land 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:16.600 in order to really encourage the people 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:18.500 that this is the land you should be going to. 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:20.600 That's why they were to bring back this fruit. 00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:23.660 But of course the ten people 00:07:23.660 --> 00:07:26.439 the ten spies come back 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:30.519 filled with the fear of the people of this land. 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.579 They describe just how powerful and strong 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:34.479 these people are 00:07:34.479 --> 00:07:35.959 and they see these nations 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.740 as an insurmountable obstacle 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:39.240 that they cannot conquer. 00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:41.120 They say they cannot win 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.839 they think they will die if they go to it. 00:07:43.339 --> 00:07:44.659 And then they're so worried 00:07:44.659 --> 00:07:46.079 because Caleb speaks up 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:48.819 and gives a more positive report 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:52.279 that they start to exaggerate the claims 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:54.500 in order to deter the people 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:55.459 from following Caleb. 00:07:56.099 --> 00:07:58.759 So they basically engage in fake news 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:00.199 which is so popular at the moment. 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:03.659 Or what is also always been known as propaganda 00:08:03.659 --> 00:08:05.459 where they take a grain of truth 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:07.459 something that is true about it 00:08:07.459 --> 00:08:09.019 and they exaggerate that 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:11.439 to basically discourage the people. 00:08:12.339 --> 00:08:14.399 So the ten spies come back 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:16.599 and they say in verse 32 00:08:16.599 --> 00:08:19.859 they spread among the Israelites 00:08:19.859 --> 00:08:21.979 a bad report about the land they had explored. 00:08:22.099 --> 00:08:23.299 They said the land we explored 00:08:23.299 --> 00:08:24.639 devours those living in it. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:26.259 All the people we saw there 00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:27.659 are of great size. 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:30.019 And they go on to talk about the Nephilim 00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:31.019 that they saw there. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.399 Now that is true. 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:35.460 The people they saw there 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:37.659 some of them were of great size. 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:39.539 The Nephilim are the ones 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:42.019 who Goliath was one of. 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:44.600 So he was the giant that David would later face. 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:46.740 So there are some people in this land 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:47.779 that are large. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:50.840 That are scary people to engage in conflict. 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.460 But the races that have been described earlier 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:56.240 there's more than just this one race. 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:58.879 So to say that all of the people are very large 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.800 is this way of propaganda. 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:03.700 It's this way of creating this image 00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:04.940 that this is unsurmountable. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:07.960 They then go on to give even more propaganda 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.280 when they say that we felt like grasshoppers. 00:09:11.060 --> 00:09:12.920 A grasshopper was basically 00:09:12.920 --> 00:09:16.740 the smallest edible creature in this time. 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:18.980 So to say they feel like grasshoppers 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:20.639 is a bit like us saying they felt like shrimp. 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:22.180 They felt like utter nothing. 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:23.740 You can see how this is designed 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:25.519 to create fear amongst the people. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:27.259 This is pure propaganda. 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:29.600 So instead of encouraging them, 00:09:29.680 --> 00:09:31.539 instead of doing what their job was meant to be, 00:09:31.940 --> 00:09:32.740 the spies tell them 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:34.539 the land is too difficult to conquer 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:36.820 and that they will die in the attempt. 00:09:37.680 --> 00:09:39.220 So the spies look at the nations 00:09:39.220 --> 00:09:40.740 as an insurmountable obstacle. 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:43.419 But their fundamental problem 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:46.159 is that they have given in to unbelief. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:48.899 They don't believe that God is able 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:50.399 to conquer these people. 00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:52.940 But it should never have been this way 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:54.180 because there's a little detail 00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:55.659 in amongst the account 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:58.019 that just gives a hint of this. 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:01.159 They went to the Negev 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:02.720 and they came to Hebron. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:05.779 Now Hebron is quite an important place 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:07.899 in the history of God's people 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:12.059 because Hebron is where Abraham and Sarah are buried. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:14.100 It's where Isaac and Rebekah are buried. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.899 It's where Jacob and Leah are buried. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:18.419 This is a place that should have reminded 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:20.220 the spies of their history, 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:22.259 of these great people in the past, 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:24.360 the patriarchs that God had been at work with, 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:25.659 had made promises to 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:27.159 and those promises were coming true. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:29.980 And God was faithful to these people in the past. 00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:32.059 So they come to a place like Hebron. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:34.799 They were meant to remember what God had done. 00:10:35.699 --> 00:10:37.039 Instead, what we read about 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:38.620 is that when they came to that place, 00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:40.719 they were more preoccupied 00:10:40.719 --> 00:10:42.480 by the many people that live there now. 00:10:42.939 --> 00:10:44.240 They were focused on the people, 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:46.679 not what God had done in the past. 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:49.379 So the people start to rebel. 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:51.079 And in chapter 14, 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:52.459 we start to see this rebellion. 00:10:53.099 --> 00:10:54.299 Shockingly in verse 3, 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:56.639 this rebellion is even against God, 00:10:56.959 --> 00:10:58.459 not just against Moses and Aaron. 00:10:58.959 --> 00:10:59.519 It says, 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:02.259 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:04.379 only to let us fall by the sword? 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:07.379 Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:09.279 Wouldn't it be better for us 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:10.840 to go back to Egypt? 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.080 The people who have been enslaved 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:16.139 for 400 years in Egypt 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:18.220 want to go back to that 00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:19.759 rather than going into this land. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.279 They want to go back to the oppression 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:23.039 and the slavery. 00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:25.039 Now these are the people 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.299 who have seen firsthand 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:29.080 what God did to free the people from Egypt. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.639 They've seen the plagues 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:32.000 that God brought against Egypt. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.799 They saw God part the Red Sea, 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:36.659 which seemed like an insurmountable obstacle. 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:39.659 These people saw these miraculous displays 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:40.399 of God's power 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.899 against Egypt, 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:45.000 which was probably one of the strongest nations 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.120 in the ancient world. 00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:49.179 And now they say that God cannot defeat 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:51.960 these small city-states in Cana. 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.419 They're completely rejecting 00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:56.080 God's plan of salvation, 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.240 of redemption. 00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:58.840 They're completely rejecting 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.200 that God can actually save them, 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:03.480 that God can actually defeat these nations. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.840 They're saying he's not powerful enough. 00:12:06.920 --> 00:12:08.379 This would be like a Christian saying, 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:10.300 basically, I wish Jesus had never died for me 00:12:10.300 --> 00:12:11.940 and that I just remained in my sin. 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:13.780 That's how much they're throwing this back 00:12:13.780 --> 00:12:14.600 in the face of God. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:16.740 So they're demonstrating 00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:18.240 that they don't believe God is sufficient. 00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:20.740 They're denying his power and his presence. 00:12:21.280 --> 00:12:23.480 Essentially, this shows so clearly 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:24.660 their unbelief. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:28.219 And there's this shocking sinful tendency, 00:12:28.339 --> 00:12:28.719 isn't there, 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:30.279 that to always go back 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.600 to the former ways of life. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:33.659 Something actually we experience 00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:35.000 in our own life sometimes as well, 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:35.980 that we always go back 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.620 to the addictive ways of sin and despair, 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:40.159 even after we see God working 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.319 on our behalf. 00:12:42.579 --> 00:12:43.659 Because here's the thing, 00:12:43.959 --> 00:12:45.600 their unbelief is irrational. 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:48.339 We know that God has defeated Egypt, 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.240 that they should know 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:50.559 that he can defeat these nations. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:52.759 But if we're honest, 00:12:53.079 --> 00:12:55.000 so is our unbelief irrational at times. 00:12:55.719 --> 00:12:57.219 We know so much about 00:12:57.219 --> 00:12:58.739 what God has done for us in the past 00:12:58.739 --> 00:13:02.119 and what he has promised to do in the future. 00:13:03.239 --> 00:13:05.339 And yet we still demonstrate 00:13:05.339 --> 00:13:07.879 by our actions our unbelief. 00:13:08.979 --> 00:13:11.579 So we proclaim that God is the one 00:13:11.579 --> 00:13:13.319 who created the universe out of nothing. 00:13:14.119 --> 00:13:15.659 Yet we don't think he has the power 00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:16.959 to help us with our problems. 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:19.419 Or we believe that God directs 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:20.259 the course of history 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.679 and kings and nations. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.139 And yet we find it hard to believe 00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.200 he can help our friends 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:26.299 come to faith in him. 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:28.919 We believe that God entered history 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:30.500 as a baby in Bethlehem. 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:32.720 And yet we find it hard to believe 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.539 that God is active 00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:34.840 in our own personal history. 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:38.819 We believe that God and Jesus 00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:40.539 suffered on the cross for our sins 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:42.100 and rose again triumphantly 00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:43.539 to free us from our sins. 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.980 And yet there are some sins in our life 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.659 that we think maybe God can't forgive that. 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.500 Or maybe he can't help me 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.860 with that besetting sin in my life 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.799 that I can't get rid of. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.600 Our unbelief is just as irrational 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.899 as the people's. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:59.639 We know what God has done in the past. 00:13:59.959 --> 00:14:00.779 We know his promises. 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:03.219 And yet we still sometimes refuse 00:14:03.219 --> 00:14:04.159 to fear our God. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.459 And inevitably when that happens 00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:08.159 we fear people rather than God. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.600 And the circumstances get in our way. 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.659 We start to get anxious. 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:12.679 We get worked up. 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.379 And we get too easily stuck 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.480 inside our own heads. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.719 We're like a drowning man 00:14:17.719 --> 00:14:18.939 clinging to a heavy stone 00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:20.240 and we refuse to give up 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.620 that unbelief. 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:25.299 But there is hope in this passage. 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:27.100 And there is hope for us. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:28.379 Because there are people 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:30.740 who demonstrate a different attitude. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.240 A different spirit as God later says. 00:14:34.199 --> 00:14:35.980 Caleb and Joshua present 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.920 the minority report. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.600 Like so many committees 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:40.480 the committee who is sent 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.320 into this land is not unanimous. 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.659 There are two people 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:45.019 who have a different version 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.600 of the facts. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:49.300 Well, actually not a different version 00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:50.279 of the facts. 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.800 They agree on the facts. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.259 They agree that this is a good land. 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.600 They agree that the people 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.360 are very strong. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.800 But they believe 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:01.139 that God is able to conquer. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:04.919 There is a story that is told 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:06.919 in sales training 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.100 kind of for motivation 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.819 about a shoe salesman. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.539 He basically went 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.740 to a far away country 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:15.580 and he writes back in despair 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:16.899 to his headquarters 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:19.299 saying they don't wear shoes here. 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:21.199 No prospects for sales. 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.240 A few years later 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:24.240 another man went 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.439 and he wrote back 00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:27.559 great prospects for sales here. 00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:29.340 They don't wear shoes. 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:31.399 Two people can look 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.800 at the same facts 00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:34.660 and come to a different conclusion. 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.360 And that's what happens here. 00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:37.780 We have the ten spies 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:39.160 and we have Caleb and Joshua 00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:40.240 and they come 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.180 to a different conclusion. 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.800 Caleb says in verse 30 00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:44.500 as we've seen 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.840 we should go up 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:47.120 and take possession of the land 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.680 for we can certainly do it. 00:15:49.420 --> 00:15:50.639 Now this isn't mere bravado. 00:15:50.780 --> 00:15:52.139 This is confident faith 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.600 that God is with them. 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.400 These are not the words 00:15:55.400 --> 00:15:56.780 of someone who just 00:15:56.780 --> 00:15:58.400 wants to go for a fight. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.379 This is someone 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.579 who really believes 00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:02.120 that God will give them the land. 00:16:03.079 --> 00:16:04.240 And Joshua backs him up 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.399 from verse 7. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.539 The land we pass through 00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:07.899 and explore is exceedingly good. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.679 If the Lord is pleased with us 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:11.120 he will lead us into that land 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.840 a land flowing with milk and honey 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:14.299 and will give it to us. 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:15.740 Only do not rebel 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.500 against the Lord 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.419 and do not be afraid 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.519 of the people of the land 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.019 because we will swallow them up. 00:16:20.439 --> 00:16:21.399 Their protection is gone 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.879 but the Lord is with us. 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.059 Do not be afraid of them. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.179 So how is it 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:27.599 that these two groups of people 00:16:27.599 --> 00:16:29.139 who have both experienced 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.959 similar things 00:16:29.959 --> 00:16:30.699 have both seen 00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:31.539 what God has done 00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:32.459 rescuing the people 00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:32.879 from Egypt. 00:16:33.239 --> 00:16:34.379 How can these two groups 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:34.779 of people 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.500 come to such vastly 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.759 different conclusions? 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:39.759 Well the clue 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.199 is actually in the text. 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.259 In verse 27 00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:45.099 in chapter 13 00:16:45.099 --> 00:16:47.299 the people come 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:48.559 and they give this report 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.279 to Moses 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.579 as we've already read. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:52.220 and the people say 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:54.200 we went into the land 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:56.820 to which you sent us. 00:16:57.540 --> 00:16:58.379 Essentially saying 00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.160 we went to the land 00:16:59.160 --> 00:17:00.360 that you, Moses 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.620 sent us to. 00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:03.460 Whereas 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:05.100 if we went back again 00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:06.380 to the first couple of verses 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.960 in Numbers 13 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.100 this is the land 00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:09.840 that God 00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:11.279 is giving to them. 00:17:12.340 --> 00:17:12.860 Essentially 00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:13.620 the spies 00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:14.900 focused on the size 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:15.559 of their enemies 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:17.200 they focused on the obstacles 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.700 and they left God 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.400 out of the picture. 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.860 They forgot all about him. 00:17:21.580 --> 00:17:22.900 And that was what made 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:23.600 the difference 00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:24.820 between how Joshua 00:17:24.820 --> 00:17:25.759 and Caleb respond 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.280 and how the ten spies respond. 00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:28.840 They look at exactly 00:17:28.840 --> 00:17:30.060 the same facts 00:17:30.060 --> 00:17:31.840 but Caleb and Joshua 00:17:31.840 --> 00:17:33.019 have the perspective 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.680 of faith 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.860 not unbelief. 00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:35.780 They know 00:17:35.780 --> 00:17:37.080 what God is capable of. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.080 They remember 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:39.180 the Lord's faithfulness 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.780 in the past 00:17:39.780 --> 00:17:40.440 they remember 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.360 that God had been with them 00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:41.880 they remember 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:42.500 his promises 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:44.060 and they have faith. 00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:45.880 Interestingly 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.800 Joshua 00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:48.000 has fought 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.980 one of the nations 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.640 mentioned here 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.360 in the past. 00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:51.680 The Amalekites 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.519 are mentioned 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:54.079 as one of the 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.279 nations 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.319 that they are going in 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:58.559 and in Exodus 17 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.460 Joshua 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.180 is involved 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.180 in leading the armies 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.339 against the Amalekites. 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.480 Now this is the incident 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.180 where Moses 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.480 has to keep his arms up 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.480 and they only win the battle 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.099 as long as Moses 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.759 has his arms up 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.440 because God's 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.380 involved in it 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:10.299 and that's the sign 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.140 that's being used. 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.539 But what's very interesting 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.240 is at the end 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.240 of the battle 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.299 when they've been victorious 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.940 God makes a promise 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.779 that he will wipe out 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.319 this nation 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.639 and he says 00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:21.879 make sure 00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:23.740 you tell Joshua 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.919 what happened. 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.319 Make sure 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.500 that Joshua 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.339 knows 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.480 that I was the one 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.440 behind this battle 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.700 that I was the one 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.259 who helped them 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.000 have the victory. 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:34.639 So Joshua 00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:36.500 was being prepared 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.440 in many ways 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.379 for this day 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.279 when he would go 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.019 into the land 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.259 he would see the nations 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.960 of the Amalekites 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.879 and he would remember 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:44.039 that they had defeated 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.819 them in the past 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.599 with God's help 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.960 and that these things 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.500 would be possible 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.500 in the future. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:51.559 Essentially 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.819 what happens here 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.879 is that the majority 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:54.799 of the spies 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.619 compared 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.799 the nations 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.960 to Israel 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.079 and therefore 00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.519 they thought 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.740 Israel will lose. 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.279 Caleb and Joshua 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.619 compared the nations 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.839 to the Lord Almighty 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.940 and that made 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.839 all the difference 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.879 because of course 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.599 the Lord Almighty 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.279 would defeat them. 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:11.420 This was the God 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.059 who had parted 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.000 the Red Sea before them. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.539 This was the God 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:13.960 who had already 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.720 defeated Egypt. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.579 Why would he 00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.440 abandon them now? 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:18.759 So the question 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.039 becomes for all of us 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.859 who are we 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.819 going to fear? 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.220 Are we going to fear 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.740 people, 00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:24.440 man 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.159 or are we going 00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:26.279 to fear God? 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.879 That was the situation 00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:30.399 for Joshua 00:19:30.399 --> 00:19:31.359 and Caleb 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.099 and it's the situation 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.940 for each of us. 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.579 If you forget God 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:35.279 ultimately 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.480 you will fear men 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.480 because you'll not believe 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.359 that God is able 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:38.940 to help you 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.720 in the situation. 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:42.000 So if we simply 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.819 look at the obstacles 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.740 that we face 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.980 whether as individuals 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.019 or as churches 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:47.619 we know 00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:49.539 that we will be 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.179 outmatched. 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:51.500 We will inevitably 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.359 fall short 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:53.339 if we're looking at it 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.279 purely from a human 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.000 perspective. 00:19:55.439 --> 00:19:56.500 Purely looking at it 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:58.480 from what strength 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:58.839 and might 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.700 we have. 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.740 I'm sure there are times 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.299 when all of us 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.500 have felt like grasshoppers. 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.579 We've felt surrounded 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:06.179 by insurmountable challenges 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:07.980 and humanly speaking 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.379 that possibly was true. 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:11.800 You or I 00:20:11.800 --> 00:20:12.860 do not have the power 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.960 to bring someone 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.840 to faith in Jesus 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:16.080 and you or I 00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:16.880 do not have the power 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.580 to deal with sin 00:20:17.580 --> 00:20:18.200 in our life 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.120 otherwise why would 00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:19.800 we need Jesus? 00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:22.620 But faith recognizes 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.840 that the world 00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:24.680 is not viewed 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.280 correctly 00:20:25.280 --> 00:20:26.620 purely from a human 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.200 perspective. 00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.660 Faith recognizes 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:30.140 that God is at work 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:31.340 that he is in control 00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:32.360 that this is his world 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:33.600 and no matter 00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:34.640 how great the opposition 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.940 if the Lord 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.820 is pleased with us 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.740 our future 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.660 is assured. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.380 If God's calling 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:41.400 someone to become 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:41.799 a Christian 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.740 they will become 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.279 a Christian. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.940 Even if it's only 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.960 our weak words 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:47.240 that they have 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.519 to listen to 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.660 God can use 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.380 even the weakest 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.099 of words 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.200 even the poorest 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.039 of presentations 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.059 of who he is 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.079 in order to bring 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.940 people to faith 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.440 in him. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.220 And if God's at work 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:58.779 in our hearts 00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.759 then we can be assured 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.859 that one day 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.819 our sins 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.440 the problems 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.240 we wrestle with 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.380 will be fixed 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:05.339 that one day 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.359 we will be glorified 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:06.920 with God. 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.120 This knowledge 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:11.140 that God is able 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.819 to do this thing 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.640 is the only thing 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.079 that has helped 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:13.579 God's people 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.319 throughout the ages. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.440 It's the only thing 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:15.980 that has allowed 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.019 people to stand up 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.759 in faith 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.279 for God 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.180 in the midst 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:21.039 of horrendous 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.599 situations 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.480 even worse 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:22.880 than the world 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.700 that we face now. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.819 Humanly speaking 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.000 Joshua and Caleb 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.500 looked utterly foolish 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:30.180 but God was pleased 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:30.519 with them 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.279 and so Joshua 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:31.920 and Caleb 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.400 entered the land 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:33.799 later. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.940 They inherited the land. 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:35.700 Later 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.700 there will be tales 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.380 of how Joshua 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:37.920 and Caleb 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.460 defeat all of these 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.019 nations 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.019 that are mentioned 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.420 here. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.900 They feared God 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.799 and so they were 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.819 freed from the fear 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.259 of man 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.420 and we have to 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:48.259 follow their example. 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.680 So there's a sharp 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:51.900 contrast in this passage 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:53.000 between the fear 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.519 of God 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.039 and the fear 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.480 of man 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.180 depending on 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:55.960 who you listen to. 00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:57.700 And the question 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.220 for us then 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:58.799 is which 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.500 when we face 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.140 a hard choice 00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:00.880 this coming week 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:02.240 or these coming months 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.220 which side 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.019 will we fall on? 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.319 But before we get 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:05.779 to that 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.940 it's worth spending 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.599 a bit of time 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.259 thinking about 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.259 the consequences 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.519 of unbelief 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.480 because that's 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.160 the final point 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.539 that we see 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.279 in this passage 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.660 and the final point 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.079 this evening 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.099 the fury 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.940 of God 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.420 because the assembly 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.859 are furious 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.640 with Joshua 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.120 and Caleb 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:23.099 and they are ready 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.920 to stone them 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:25.299 and then God 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.019 steps in. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.460 In the midst 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.059 of the rebellion 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.079 he steps in 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.319 and declares 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.139 his fury 00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.299 at the people's 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:32.699 rebellion. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.759 He pronounces 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.559 the judgment 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.659 against the people. 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:37.399 Now 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:38.779 in our modern world 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.299 we don't like 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.960 to talk about 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.439 the fury 00:22:40.439 --> 00:22:41.299 or wrath of God 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.819 the judgment 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.359 of God. 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.379 We find these 00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.439 things uncomfortable 00:22:44.439 --> 00:22:46.139 but the Bible 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:47.539 is absolutely clear. 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.299 God is a holy God 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.740 and God will judge 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.279 the wicked. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:51.939 He'll judge 00:22:51.939 --> 00:22:52.839 those who don't 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.740 and not his people 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.460 who are rebelling 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.299 against him. 00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:57.319 And actually 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.759 without that 00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.539 there is never 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.160 any justice. 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.079 We need the fact 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.859 that God is a God 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.500 of justice 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.900 that he will judge 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:06.059 in order for us 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.700 to be assured 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.220 that justice 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.779 will operate 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.299 in the world 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.720 and the end of time 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.740 God will judge 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.359 the world. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.259 But the question 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:13.680 becomes 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.460 do we believe 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.400 in this God 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:16.279 of judgment? 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.359 Do we believe 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.059 that in the end 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:20.019 God will judge people 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.599 and therefore 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.879 we have to tell people 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.940 about Jesus 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.619 in order to show them 00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:25.500 there's a better way? 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.579 These words 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.180 in this passage 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.380 are extreme 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:31.039 and we have to realize 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.420 that these words 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:34.080 are the fury of God 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:35.660 against not the 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:36.620 surrounding nations 00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:38.539 but against his own people. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.160 That's how serious 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:42.860 he takes this rebellion 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:44.140 and how much 00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:45.180 this must have hurt God 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.160 that these people 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.500 who he had rescued 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.480 who he'd been with 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.200 were rebelling 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.880 against him 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.460 again. 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.160 He's forced 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.060 by his own majesty 00:23:53.060 --> 00:23:53.620 and holiness 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.799 to rise up in judgment 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.900 even against his people 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.940 so we see 00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.440 what that anger 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.180 means to God. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.280 He's ready 00:23:59.280 --> 00:24:00.280 to wipe them out 00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:02.259 and yet Moses 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.040 intercedes 00:24:03.040 --> 00:24:03.700 on behalf 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.220 of the people. 00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.060 Now 00:24:05.060 --> 00:24:06.940 we could spend 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.759 an entire evening 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.340 looking at 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.440 Moses' intercession 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:11.080 and how he prays 00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.540 for the people. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.300 Essentially 00:24:12.300 --> 00:24:13.080 he goes to 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:13.780 two truths. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:14.640 He says 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.060 on the basis 00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:16.840 of God's glory 00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.680 and on the basis 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:19.019 of God's merciful nature 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.280 he prays 00:24:20.280 --> 00:24:20.940 that the people 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:22.360 would be forgiven. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.719 He acknowledges 00:24:23.719 --> 00:24:24.219 that the Lord 00:24:24.219 --> 00:24:25.079 is a God of justice 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:26.159 and that the Lord 00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.199 is a God of mercy 00:24:27.199 --> 00:24:28.579 and he asks God 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.240 in accordance 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.099 with his promised 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.699 faithfulness 00:24:30.699 --> 00:24:31.179 to the people 00:24:31.179 --> 00:24:32.479 his covenant mercy 00:24:32.479 --> 00:24:33.539 to forgive them 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:35.179 despite the fact 00:24:35.179 --> 00:24:35.979 that they are in rebellion 00:24:35.979 --> 00:24:36.899 against him. 00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.659 And God answers 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.919 and does forgive them 00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:41.639 but their sin 00:24:41.639 --> 00:24:43.419 still has consequences 00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:45.059 just as we know 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.819 that our sin 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.000 has consequences 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.339 that we can be forgiven 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.419 and yet there can still 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.039 be negative 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:51.079 bad consequences 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.559 in our life 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.539 from decisions we make 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.059 that are not 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.700 the way God 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.579 would have us live. 00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:56.539 The people don't get 00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.519 the total annihilation 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.139 they deserve 00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:59.339 but they're still 00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.099 going to be punished 00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:02.339 and ironically 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:04.599 what God does 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.519 as a punishment 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.799 is he gives the people 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.480 what they want. 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.759 The people said 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.379 it would be better 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.299 for us to have died 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.899 in the desert. 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.480 God says you'll die 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:12.960 in the desert. 00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:15.440 He actually gives them 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:17.000 exactly what they asked for. 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.679 He grants their request 00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:20.079 and so the long term 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:21.359 program of entering 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.639 Cana will be delayed 00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:24.379 until this whole generation 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:25.519 of rebels have died out 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.039 in the wilderness 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.939 and a future generation 00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:29.419 will inherit the land. 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.000 It's often said 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.799 that the Old Testament 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:33.099 is full of wrath 00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:33.779 and the New Testament 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.579 is full of mercy 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.359 but that's nonsense. 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.559 We see here the truth 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:38.779 that mercy and justice 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.139 work side by side. 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:42.399 God doesn't completely 00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:43.539 wipe out the people 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:45.219 but he does punish 00:25:45.219 --> 00:25:45.719 their sin 00:25:45.719 --> 00:25:47.719 and this is an illustration 00:25:47.719 --> 00:25:49.119 actually of something 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.339 that C.S. Lewis wrote 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:51.519 in The Great Divorce. 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.859 He said this 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.519 there are only two kinds 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.519 of people in the end. 00:25:56.239 --> 00:25:57.379 Those who say to God 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.639 thy will be done 00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.899 and those to whom 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:01.000 God says in the end 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.959 thy will be done. 00:26:02.699 --> 00:26:04.059 All that are in hell 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.759 choose it. 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.339 Without that self-choice 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:07.599 there could be no hell. 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.299 No soul that seriously 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.199 and consequently 00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:11.299 desires joy 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:12.419 will ever miss it. 00:26:12.939 --> 00:26:14.079 Those who seek find. 00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:15.099 Those who knock. 00:26:15.199 --> 00:26:15.819 It is opened. 00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:18.099 The people choose 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.960 to die in the wilderness 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.259 and God answers 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.939 their request. 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.619 And as we draw 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.419 to a conclusion 00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.500 this evening 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:26.059 that raises the question 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:26.980 will we decide 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.319 to follow God 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.759 or follow our own desires? 00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.899 Will we be people 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.839 who say to God 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:33.339 thy will be done? 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.639 Or will we be people 00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.399 that demand 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.119 that our will 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:37.419 is done by God? 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.379 The good news 00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:40.240 for all of us 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.359 is that just like 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:42.159 Moses stood 00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:42.980 and interceded 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.000 on behalf of the people 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.819 we have someone 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.859 who intercedes 00:26:46.859 --> 00:26:47.700 for us. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.660 Jesus, God's own son. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.339 And what's interesting 00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:52.019 is that Moses 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:53.079 had to rely 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.559 on the character of God. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.480 He didn't have 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.240 anything to bring. 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:57.319 He merely asked 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:57.859 on the basis 00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.700 of God's character 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.980 that he would forgive 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.900 the people's rebellion. 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:02.819 Whereas Jesus 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:04.200 did so much more 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.759 than that. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.480 Jesus went to the cross 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.980 and paid the penalty 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.980 that we deserved 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.700 for our sin. 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.839 He took the punishment. 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.319 So that while the people 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:12.880 had to face 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.740 the punishment here, 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:15.400 the consequences here, 00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:17.460 Jesus took the punishment 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.440 on himself. 00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:20.880 And following his resurrection, 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.880 Jesus stands 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:23.280 interceding for each of us, 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:26.100 making sure that God knows 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:27.100 that we are his people. 00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:28.500 And at the end of time, 00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:29.140 he's the one 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.100 who will stand up 00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:30.920 at the judgment day 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.440 and say, 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:33.300 that person I died for. 00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:34.660 I have already bared 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:36.400 and borne the punishment 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.820 that they deserved. 00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:40.220 If you're not a Christian 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.880 here tonight, 00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:42.300 you have to make a decision. 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.460 Will you bear 00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.440 the punishment yourself 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:46.059 for all the wrongs 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.539 that you've committed 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.220 in your life? 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.519 Or will you place 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.899 your faith in Jesus 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:51.559 and his faithfulness 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.220 and the fact that he 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.899 has already done 00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:53.659 all the work? 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.419 Will you demand 00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:56.039 to God 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:57.319 that your will is done? 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.659 Or will you humbly 00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.319 come to him 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.680 and rest in him 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.519 knowing that he has 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.359 already done it all 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:02.819 for you? 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.639 You don't need to strive 00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:05.359 in your own power 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.359 or strength any longer 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.139 because Jesus 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:08.500 has done all the work. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.659 And if you are a Christian 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:11.320 here this evening, 00:28:11.580 --> 00:28:13.019 do you recognize yourself, 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:14.480 your own persistent 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.720 unbelief at times? 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.940 Do you recognize 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.880 the times when you 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:19.420 don't obey God, 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.440 you don't put him first 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.279 as you ought to? 00:28:23.040 --> 00:28:24.680 We all need to wrestle 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.380 with this problem 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.460 of unbelief in our lives 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.480 because we are not perfect. 00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:28.920 We need to follow 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:30.320 the example of Jacob 00:28:30.320 --> 00:28:31.320 and Caleb, 00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:32.300 Jacob, 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.820 Joshua and Caleb, 00:28:33.820 --> 00:28:35.000 who remembered 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.380 the promises of God, 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.680 remembered God's 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.600 past faithfulness. 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:40.139 That was what allowed them 00:28:40.139 --> 00:28:41.459 to face the trials 00:28:41.459 --> 00:28:42.199 that came their way. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.079 We also need to remember 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.079 the promises of God 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.339 and his past faithfulness 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.740 to us. 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.079 We need to know 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.079 that God is with us 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.299 and God promises 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.159 to be with us 00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:51.919 to the end of the age. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.480 We need to know 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.000 the promises 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.939 that he has in store 00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:55.559 for us in the new heavens 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.379 and the new earth. 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.639 We need to know 00:28:57.639 --> 00:28:59.119 that Jesus rescued us 00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.879 on the cross 00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:01.219 as the ultimate demonstration 00:29:01.219 --> 00:29:02.179 of who God is, 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.379 of his love for us. 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.539 And we also 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.859 have to recognize 00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:08.179 that the challenges 00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:09.659 that Joshua and Caleb 00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:11.219 and the people faced 00:29:11.219 --> 00:29:11.919 were real. 00:29:12.479 --> 00:29:13.139 This would not be 00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:13.959 an easy nation 00:29:13.959 --> 00:29:15.000 to conquer. 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.679 There would be difficulties 00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:17.359 in going in 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.240 and conquering the nation. 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:20.539 So we will also 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:22.279 face challenges 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:24.159 that are obstacles 00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.079 that we will encounter 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.859 as a church 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.879 and as individuals 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:28.939 that will seem 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:30.359 insurmountable to us 00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:31.939 and will be hard 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:32.719 to get through. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:35.259 But the promise 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.740 of God 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.839 is to get us through it, 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:38.120 to be there with us 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:39.019 and ultimately 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.940 that he will restore 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.799 all things. 00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.860 So when we come 00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:43.980 to face challenges 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:45.200 and tough decisions 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.019 this coming week 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:47.319 and these coming months 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:47.860 and years, 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.920 we have to look 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:50.480 to our God. 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.559 Remember that he 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.360 is involved. 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.319 Remember his promises 00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:53.799 to us, 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:55.140 his faithfulness to us. 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.940 And we also have to look 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.519 to one another 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.519 to support one another 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.600 because that's one of the things 00:29:59.600 --> 00:30:00.660 the church is there for. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.000 Joshua and Caleb 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.759 supported one another. 00:30:04.800 --> 00:30:06.900 And that's what you see 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.600 throughout scripture 00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:08.840 is this need for people 00:30:08.840 --> 00:30:09.920 to have support 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:11.480 from one another. 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.340 So as a church, 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.000 that's one of the things 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.259 we have to be able to do. 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:16.560 So whenever we face challenges, 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:18.160 we need to remember 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:18.960 to cling on 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.180 to the promises of Jesus 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:21.100 and his faithfulness 00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:21.660 in the past. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.120 And we do need to pray 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:23.779 like the man 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.779 who said to Jesus, 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.680 Lord, I believe, 00:30:26.040 --> 00:30:26.800 help my unbelief. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.720 Let's pray. 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:30.940 Father God, 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.220 we do confess 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.380 there are many times 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:35.299 when we don't demonstrate 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.220 our belief in you. 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.059 we pray.