WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.780
 Weeks in a row, it's a big lift, and she's been doing a great job, so hopefully she can

00:00:06.780 --> 00:00:11.560
 rest a little bit today and I'll be able to fill the gap.

00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:17.719
 But let me open us in prayer real quick before we get started, if that's all right.

00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:19.440
 Let's pray.

00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:22.960
 Lord, we thank you for your word.

00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:26.179
 We thank you for the truth that it brings to our lives.

00:00:26.179 --> 00:00:32.640
 As we consider this morning the book of Numbers, we ask that you would prepare our hearts and

00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.359
 minds to receive the word that you have for us.

00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:43.679
 I pray that you would guard and guide my words, that they would be only that which you have

00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:47.840
 ordained for us today, and I pray that this discussion would bring you honor and glory

00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:52.659
 even as it instructs and encourages us in our walks with Jesus.

00:00:52.659 --> 00:00:54.600
 And I pray this in the name of Jesus.

00:00:55.420 --> 00:00:55.820
 Amen.

00:00:56.179 --> 00:00:59.000
 All right.

00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:05.819
 So we're picking up this week in our study of the Pentateuch with the book of Numbers.

00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:11.180
 So I'll just get started with a little bit of background and setting the scene.

00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:19.359
 Numbers is the English translation of the Greek title of the book, which is derived from the

00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:21.960
 pronounced focus on numbers in the book.

00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:30.299
 The Hebrew title, though, is translated in the wilderness, which may arguably be the better

00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:36.000
 title as we follow the Israelites through their journey from Mount Sinai.

00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:44.120
 So I'm wondering, when you guys think of the book of Numbers, I'm curious to hear what comes

00:01:44.120 --> 00:01:44.760
 to mind.

00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:48.439
 Complaining.

00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:49.500
 Complaining.

00:01:49.819 --> 00:01:50.980
 It's a great answer.

00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:53.680
 What else?

00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:58.520
 Boring.

00:01:59.960 --> 00:02:00.439
 Boring.

00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.359
 Let's get straight to the point.

00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:04.020
 Yeah, boring.

00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:04.359
 Okay.

00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:11.719
 So a lot of Bible reading plans can struggle when you get to this point in the Leviticus

00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:13.860
 and Numbers arena.

00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:21.660
 But actually, my hope today is that we can infuse a little bit of excitement and enjoyment

00:02:21.660 --> 00:02:22.440
 into the book.

00:02:24.540 --> 00:02:25.380
 What else?

00:02:32.420 --> 00:02:33.420
 Unpronounceable names.

00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:34.720
 Unpronounceable names.

00:02:35.100 --> 00:02:35.960
 Another good one.

00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:40.099
 So there's censuses.

00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:40.659
 Yes.

00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:47.219
 So there's lots of information, descriptive and prescriptive information that we're trying

00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.260
 to get at or that's being reported to us in the book of Numbers.

00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.760
 So there's law giving, counting of the nations.

00:02:55.420 --> 00:02:58.439
 There's dividing up of the promised land.

00:02:59.060 --> 00:03:00.340
 We're setting borders.

00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:03.319
 But there's a few other things.

00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:07.199
 There are fiery serpents.

00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:10.000
 Miraculous healings.

00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:13.500
 People being devoured by the earth.

00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:15.359
 The earth opens up and devours people.

00:03:15.539 --> 00:03:16.919
 Food falling from the sky.

00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:18.599
 Water flowing from rocks.

00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:20.819
 Talking donkeys.

00:03:21.579 --> 00:03:22.139
 Prophecies.

00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:28.120
 It sounds kind of like a fantasy novel to me if you kind of like lay it out that way,

00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:28.340
 right?

00:03:28.340 --> 00:03:36.840
 So in the midst of these stories, and we also, again, have these censuses and laws, and it's

00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:41.400
 kind of, there's a stark contrast.

00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:50.099
 And I think because of a lot of the laws and the information, like I said, like Ivor pointed

00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:54.019
 out, Numbers has a reputation for sort of lacking relevance in our daily lives.

00:03:54.419 --> 00:03:59.819
 Even in the narratives, it does sound a little bit like fantasy, and it's hard to understand

00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:02.500
 how do I make this apply to my life.

00:04:03.859 --> 00:04:07.939
 But I hope that we can uncover some of the flavor of Numbers today and provide a little

00:04:07.939 --> 00:04:09.079
 bit of fresh encouragement.

00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:14.860
 So Numbers picks up after Leviticus, and at this point, God has delivered Israel from Egypt

00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:19.080
 by miraculously leading the entire nation out of Egypt.

00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:25.860
 They've crossed the Red Sea to arrive at Mount Sinai, where God establishes his covenant with

00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:32.080
 the nation of Israel, and he's providing a framework that's necessary for him to dwell

00:04:32.080 --> 00:04:33.379
 with his people.

00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:41.040
 So Numbers begins with Israel encamped at Mount Sinai and taking a census of the warrior-aged

00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:49.339
 men in the nation in preparation for conquest of Canaan, which is the land that God had promised

00:04:49.339 --> 00:04:49.939
 to Abraham.

00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:55.540
 So there's one way of viewing the structure of the book, the structure and content of the

00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:55.719
 book.

00:04:56.279 --> 00:05:00.439
 We're following the movement of the Israelites through the wilderness, so the breakdown can

00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:06.259
 kind of be summarized by these phases of law-giving and journeying.

00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:15.339
 And this is kind of a diagram that's been put forth by a guy named Gordon Wynnum, so if you're

00:05:15.339 --> 00:05:16.899
 interested to see it.

00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:25.879
 But we have law-giving at Mount Sinai that happens roughly in chapters 1 through 10.

00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:28.240
 And then there's a journey.

00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:30.459
 I can't write that way.

00:05:31.219 --> 00:05:31.620
 Journey.

00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:33.540
 Oh, wow.

00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:34.480
 That's not good.

00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:42.759
 Journey from chapters 11 to chapters 10 through 12.

00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:43.139
 Sorry.

00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:47.180
 Then there's more law-giving.

00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.620
 This is a journey from Sinai to Kadesh.

00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:59.160
 Then once they get to Kadesh, there's more law-giving that happens from chapters 13 through 19.

00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:11.720
 And again, another journey from Kadesh to the plains of Moab in chapters 20 through 22.

00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:24.400
 And then finally, more law-giving from 23 to 35, 36.

00:06:26.580 --> 00:06:33.860
 So it breaks down this way, starting in Sinai, then journeying from Sinai to Kadesh, more law-giving

00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:38.700
 in Kadesh, journeying from Kadesh to Moab, and then more law-giving.

00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:43.219
 And there are narratives interspersed throughout the entire thing, but a lot of the narratives

00:06:43.219 --> 00:06:46.659
 happen in these journeying moments.

00:06:47.579 --> 00:06:53.060
 So while law-giving is certainly a significant component of the book, I'll focus a little

00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:54.860
 bit more today on the narrative components.

00:06:55.680 --> 00:07:00.620
 Laura will be covering Leviticus and Deuteronomy together next week, and I'm sure she'll be covering

00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:01.959
 the law in more detail then.

00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:08.139
 So this morning, I'd like to first just take a quick walk through some of these narratives

00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:12.919
 in numbers, and we'll talk about them in their particulars, and specifically what they're

00:07:12.919 --> 00:07:15.599
 revealing about God and about humanity.

00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:21.419
 And then at the end, I'll try to zoom out a bit and talk more about where the book sits

00:07:21.419 --> 00:07:25.959
 in redemptive history, so how it's pointing forward to Jesus and what it can mean for us

00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:26.899
 today.

00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:27.939
 Sound good?

00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:29.660
 All right.

00:07:30.459 --> 00:07:35.819
 So first, as we move through these narratives of the Israelites wandering, I think there's

00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:40.459
 a loose pattern of the events that can be helpful as we think about interpreting the stories.

00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:46.759
 Much of the narratives include some kind of sin that takes the form of a complaint or rebellion,

00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:47.800
 like Matt was saying.

00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:54.279
 These events then have some downstream consequence or result, and importantly, they all have some

00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:56.740
 kind of resolution at the end.

00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:02.920
 And as we examine these events, we'll see our sin contrasted against God's holiness and

00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:03.699
 righteous judgment.

00:08:04.100 --> 00:08:10.980
 But in these, we'll also see God's steadfast love, his grace and his mercy toward his people

00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:13.040
 in the midst of our unfaithfulness.

00:08:14.460 --> 00:08:15.019
 All right.

00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:17.259
 So let's take a walk through a few of these.

00:08:17.400 --> 00:08:17.680
 I won't...

00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:22.660
 There are lots of narratives, so I won't hit all of the narratives, just a few as examples.

00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:33.560
 So first, as the narrative begins around chapter 11, that should be chapter 11, I think, we find

00:08:33.560 --> 00:08:38.779
 the Israelites packing up for their first trip from Mount Sinai on the way to Kadesh.

00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:43.779
 So remember, they've already been camped at Mount Sinai for approximately a year since God

00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:45.060
 rescuing them out of Egypt.

00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:49.339
 And he's been dwelling with them in the tabernacle.

00:08:49.439 --> 00:08:53.139
 And so now they've packed up the tabernacle according to all of the instructions that he's

00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:57.119
 given them, and they're moving through the wilderness to their next destination.

00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:05.119
 So as they're moving on this journey, there are three events which follow that loose pattern

00:09:05.119 --> 00:09:07.239
 I mentioned, a complaint or a sin.

00:09:07.439 --> 00:09:10.779
 There's a consequence, and there's some kind of resolution.

00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:19.419
 So not long after the journey begins, the Israelites descend into, in verse 1, complaining in the

00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:22.059
 hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes.

00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:28.759
 So in other words, circumstances were bad, and they blamed Moses, and by extension, God.

00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:35.120
 And the result is God kindling his anger against them and consuming the outermost parts of the

00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:36.639
 camp by fire.

00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:44.039
 The fires stop after Moses' intercession on behalf of the Israelites, but the grumbling

00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:48.399
 sort of continues and even becomes a little bit more specific.

00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:52.559
 They say, oh, that we had meat to eat.

00:09:53.980 --> 00:10:00.600
 Remember, God had been providing manna up to this point, but now they remember the quote-unquote

00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:08.080
 better days of their enslavement in Egypt when they had fish, had mango, and garlic, and other

00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.159
 satisfying foods.

00:10:09.920 --> 00:10:15.300
 And they say, but now our strength is dried up, and there's nothing at all but this manna

00:10:15.300 --> 00:10:16.279
 to look at.

00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:20.899
 And God's anger blazed hotly.

00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:27.899
 And Moses basically says to God, Lord, if you find favor with me, take me now.

00:10:28.059 --> 00:10:32.799
 I can't take the weight of this anymore, and I don't want to see my wretchedness.

00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:41.559
 I don't know if this is intended to be funny, but if you have even one fussy eater at home,

00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:47.059
 it's hard not to chuckle a little bit at this.

00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:54.759
 But in seriousness, I think Moses is saying, I really cannot take the weight of this.

00:10:54.859 --> 00:10:59.959
 You've given me this entire nation that I'm supposed to be leading, and they're asking

00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:04.659
 for meat, and I simply can't provide it, and I don't want to see my failure in this.

00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:11.759
 So ultimately, in God's grace, he sends his spirit to more people to help Moses bear the

00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.419
 burden of caring and interceding for the nation.

00:11:15.079 --> 00:11:20.519
 And God also provides quail in plenty for the Israelites to eat.

00:11:21.219 --> 00:11:29.120
 But in his sovereignty, he also predicts that they will be overcome by their greed and gluttony.

00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:36.659
 So he sends the quail, and in fact, the people end up collecting roughly 480 dry gallons of

00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:37.580
 quail for themselves.

00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:41.820
 I don't know what that would look like exactly.

00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:50.159
 But the abuse here is addressed by God through a very great plague that strikes down many people

00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:54.799
 in the camp, it says, while the meat was yet between their teeth.

00:11:54.799 --> 00:12:04.719
 So already, we're seeing this pattern of sin and consequence, and the resolution we have

00:12:04.719 --> 00:12:08.219
 to look deeply at to understand how God is resolving these things.

00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:12.179
 But again, in this journey, there's a third event unrelated to these.

00:12:12.319 --> 00:12:18.659
 Miriam, Moses' sister, and Aaron grumble against Moses because of the uniqueness of his authority.

00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:22.279
 They say, has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses?

00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:25.240
 Has he not spoken through us also?

00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:32.240
 So God reiterates Moses' unique stance before him, and then he inflicts Miriam with leprosy,

00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:35.079
 and Moses has to plead with God to heal her.

00:12:35.579 --> 00:12:39.779
 And she ultimately has to be shut outside the camp for seven days to be healed.

00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:51.399
 So in just three days, we already have instances of discontent, fear and anxiety that the Lord will not provide for their basic needs,

00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:59.120
 greed and gluttony when he does provide for their requests, and pride mixed with selfish ambition.

00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:04.740
 And already, we see that the consequences of sin are severe.

00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:11.560
 We see destruction by fire, death by plague, and exile by leprosy and uncleanness.

00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:17.959
 So the tendency here, I think, is usually to focus on the severity of the consequences, right?

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:26.959
 Particularly in our modern sensibilities, people tend to read these types of events and kind of wonder if God is just a spiteful and vengeful ruler.

00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:32.639
 And this stems, I think, from the underlying tendency to believe that we're all inherently good.

00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:37.740
 It's a message that we're constantly hearing from the world around us, and because of this perspective,

00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:45.699
 the kinds of consequences we see here might feel extreme to us because of our own assessment of ourselves.

00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:55.740
 But the reality is that God is perfectly pure and perfectly holy in a way that we simply cannot comprehend.

00:13:55.740 --> 00:14:03.519
 And even a slight offense against the eternal and perfect and living God deserves some kind of judgment.

00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:09.860
 But there is good news in the resolutions of these events.

00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:15.200
 God is righteous and holy, and he is also personal and merciful.

00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:23.960
 God does not completely wipe out the nation for its sin, though he would be perfectly justified in doing so.

00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:30.139
 He listens to the prayers of the righteous, and he responds in grace.

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:38.259
 He listens to Moses' intercessions, and he relents in his judgment by ending the fires that are consuming the camp

00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:42.980
 and providing a path to healing and restoration for Miriam.

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:49.240
 Even in the midst of complaining, he still provides meat for the Israelites at their request,

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:56.500
 knowing that their sinful hearts are going to take hold of this as an idol rather than receiving it as a gift.

00:14:56.919 --> 00:15:01.799
 And in this, I think there's an invitation to examine our own hearts and experiences,

00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:07.580
 and to recall God's faithfulness in our own lives despite our sin.

00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:10.420
 Because we do this, don't we?

00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:12.040
 We grumble about our circumstances.

00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:17.400
 We often forget about the gifts that God is giving to us, even in that same moment.

00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:20.940
 We take those good gifts, and we can turn them into idols.

00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:27.080
 We think very highly of ourselves, and we desire glory in the eyes of man.

00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:34.940
 And yet God is still there in our midst, walking with us through the wilderness.

00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:42.960
 And where Moses was interceding for the Israelites, we now have Jesus interceding for us,

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:46.040
 which we'll talk about a little bit more.

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:54.599
 All right, so journeying to Kadesh, we have those instances.

00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:58.599
 And now after a few days, the Israelites reach Kadesh and set up camp.

00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:03.159
 And now we encounter one of the most recognized events, I think, in the book of Numbers,

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.799
 the sending of the spies.

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:11.459
 So God instructs Moses to send out spies to evaluate the land of Canaan,

00:16:11.459 --> 00:16:13.939
 which God had already promised to give Israel.

00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:22.080
 And a representative of each tribe is appointed to go to Canaan to check things out for 40 days.

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:27.400
 And at the end of the 40 days, the spies return to the camp and give their report.

00:16:28.160 --> 00:16:34.260
 They say, there is no way we'll be able to overtake the people residing in Canaan.

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:42.140
 They're so scared of what they saw that they actually deliberately overstate their observations.

00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:47.480
 They cite Canaan as a land that devours its inhabitants with people who are of great height.

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:52.319
 They even reference the legendary Nephilim in Genesis.

00:16:54.360 --> 00:17:01.000
 So in short, the people hear the report of the spies and they rebel against Moses and God

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:05.319
 by seeking to return to Egypt for safety.

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:09.339
 And God sentences the current generation to die in the wilderness.

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:15.599
 He says, only your children will receive the promised land, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.

00:17:17.879 --> 00:17:23.439
 So again, we have another event, failing to trust in the provision and protection of the Lord.

00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:26.819
 And we have a consequence and a resolution.

00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:32.339
 And what's interesting about this passage is that the consequence of wandering and death in the wilderness

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:36.480
 is actually the result of God's mitigated wrath.

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:42.639
 In this result, we're told that God pardons the unfaithful generation.

00:17:43.179 --> 00:17:45.439
 Again, at the behest of Moses.

00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:48.399
 And he does this according to his steadfast love.

00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:53.119
 By pardoning their iniquity, he reduces their sentence,

00:17:53.419 --> 00:17:54.919
 again from utter destruction,

00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:59.019
 to a delayed entrance into the promised land.

00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.700
 This is in chapter 14.

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:02.519
 So now, sorry, we're here.

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.860
 There's some law giving, but there's still a narrative here.

00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:09.860
 So in this narrative, we see the consequence of sin,

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.240
 but the resolution, so to speak,

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:15.000
 is that the faithful few of the nation are preserved according to God's promises,

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:18.440
 and they're raised up to inherit the land.

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.400
 God is keeping his promises,

00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:24.660
 and he's sovereignly maintaining his people in the process.

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:29.140
 So lots more happens in Kadesh,

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:32.299
 much of which mirrors the events that are already described.

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:34.920
 We see Levites paying the price for their arrogance,

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:37.740
 and we see people suffering a plague that's halted

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:40.100
 after some dramatic intercession from Aaron,

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:44.200
 and then Israel picks up to move on to Moab.

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:49.819
 So now we're going to continue our journey onto the plains of Moab.

00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:53.680
 So during this journey, we see that even Moses,

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:56.600
 despite his unique standing with God,

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:59.799
 is not exempt from sin and its devastating consequences.

00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:04.100
 After another episode of grumbling by the Israelites

00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:05.640
 about a lack of water in the wilderness,

00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:11.259
 God instructs Moses to speak to a rock to bring forth water.

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:16.819
 Moses, however, stands at the rock and speaks to the nation.

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.240
 He says,

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.819
 Here now, you rebels,

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:23.599
 shall we bring water for you out of this rock?

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:27.480
 And he strikes the rock twice to bring forth water.

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:34.420
 God ends up sentencing Moses and Aaron to die in the wilderness

00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.839
 with the rest of the nation

00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:37.439
 because they, quote,

00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.980
 Did not believe in him

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:41.399
 and did not uphold him as holy

00:19:41.399 --> 00:19:43.659
 in the eyes of the people of Israel.

00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:48.439
 There are various interpretations

00:19:48.439 --> 00:19:52.279
 around what exactly Moses did wrong here.

00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:54.179
 It's not exactly clear.

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:56.419
 It could just be a simple failure

00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:57.679
 to follow the instructions.

00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:00.840
 I think it's more likely

00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:03.400
 that there's a heart level issue here

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:05.340
 with Moses when he says,

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:08.380
 Shall we bring forth water?

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:10.620
 He may be kind of elevating himself

00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:12.039
 to God's level here.

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:15.519
 It could be the angry outburst

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:17.779
 that did it.

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.220
 It's not exactly clear,

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:23.120
 but I think the summary here,

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:25.839
 again, we see in God's mercy

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:28.039
 in Deuteronomy 34

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:31.140
 that God still allows Moses

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:33.740
 to see the promised land from afar,

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.940
 which is a mercy

00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:38.539
 that the rest of the first Exodus generation

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.880
 didn't have.

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:44.759
 So we also know that God is, again,

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:46.559
 he's keeping his promises to Israel,

00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:50.179
 and we see also that he's raising up Joshua

00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:51.619
 to take Moses' place

00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:53.259
 to lead them into the promised land.

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.839
 So again, the thread here is

00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:58.079
 God dealing with sin

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:59.500
 and keeping his promises

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.960
 to carry his people

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.899
 through the wilderness

00:21:02.899 --> 00:21:04.299
 to the place that he promised

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:05.419
 to deliver them.

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.139
 And again,

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.579
 in yet another instance of grumbling,

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:11.139
 the Israelites complain

00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:13.500
 about a lack of food and water,

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:16.220
 which was, again, abundant

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.100
 in Egypt.

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.380
 So this time,

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:21.980
 God sends fiery serpents

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:23.480
 that bite and kill the people,

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.839
 and the key difference

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:26.120
 in this passage

00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:28.539
 is the reported repentance

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:30.000
 of the people.

00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:32.460
 They go to Moses and they say,

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.600
 we have sinned,

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.259
 for we have spoken

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.880
 against the Lord

00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.779
 and against you.

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.980
 Pray to the Lord

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.220
 that he takes away

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.860
 the serpents from us.

00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:48.559
 after Moses' intercession,

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:51.419
 God doesn't grant

00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:52.399
 the exact nature

00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:53.279
 of their request

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.859
 by taking away the serpents,

00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:56.500
 but rather he makes a way

00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:58.399
 for them to be delivered

00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.419
 from the effects

00:21:59.419 --> 00:22:00.719
 of the bite

00:22:00.719 --> 00:22:02.240
 by having Moses set up

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.679
 a bronze serpent on a pole.

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:05.640
 And this bronze serpent

00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:07.140
 is the object

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.500
 of God's deliverance.

00:22:08.560 --> 00:22:09.420
 If anyone bitten

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.100
 by a snake

00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:10.640
 would look

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:12.240
 to the bronze serpent

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.000
 in repentance

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.539
 and faith,

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:16.120
 they'd be saved

00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.759
 from death.

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.820
 And importantly,

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.840
 this looks forward

00:22:19.840 --> 00:22:20.519
 to Jesus

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.240
 as the one

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.259
 who would be lifted up

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.640
 on the cross

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.720
 so that anybody

00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.799
 who would look to him

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:27.340
 in faith and repentance

00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:28.279
 would receive

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.580
 eternal life.

00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:31.100
 That's in John chapter 3.

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:33.179
 So again,

00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:34.819
 there's sin

00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.839
 in grumbling,

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.859
 there's consequence,

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.500
 this time it's fiery serpents,

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:41.159
 and there's

00:22:41.159 --> 00:22:41.899
 a resolution,

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.599
 there's healing

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.379
 and restoration

00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.839
 following repentance.

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.819
 And we see, again,

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.359
 God is keeping

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:47.879
 his promises

00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:49.219
 and now we're also

00:22:49.219 --> 00:22:49.939
 seeing that God

00:22:49.939 --> 00:22:50.639
 desires

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.779
 to forgive

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.539
 his people

00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.419
 and to restore

00:22:53.419 --> 00:22:54.980
 his people.

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:59.039
 Okay, so

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.980
 now

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:01.720
 we've reached

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.220
 the plains

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.019
 of Moab

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.500
 and

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.799
 the Israelites

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.500
 are overlooking

00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.220
 the promised land

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.660
 and we reach

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.700
 the final

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.440
 major set

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.880
 of narratives

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:11.380
 that describe

00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:12.640
 God's faithfulness

00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.319
 to preserve

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:14.019
 the Israelites

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.819
 and he does this

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:16.559
 through a pagan seer

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.500
 named

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.319
 Balaam.

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.099
 So at this point

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.779
 in the story,

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.039
 the king

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.960
 of Moab

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.819
 is scared

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.340
 of Israel

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:25.860
 because

00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:28.579
 of their size

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.420
 and recently

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:29.920
 they've had

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.079
 military success

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:32.079
 against the

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:32.539
 Amorites

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.039
 and so

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.299
 he's feeling

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:34.840
 concerned

00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.960
 that they're

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.860
 going to

00:23:36.860 --> 00:23:37.460
 overtake him

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:37.819
 as well.

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.519
 So he hires

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.079
 Balaam

00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.680
 to come over

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.120
 and curse

00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:41.700
 the nation

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.620
 of Israel.

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.480
 So God

00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.279
 tells Balaam

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.120
 that he shouldn't

00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:46.680
 go to the king

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.460
 but he

00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.039
 eventually

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.819
 allows it

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.759
 after a second

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.200
 petition

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.480
 only on the

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:51.860
 grounds

00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:52.600
 that Balaam

00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.000
 will do

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.480
 what God

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.160
 tells him

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:55.019
 to do.

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:55.620
 So Balaam

00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.019
 hitches up

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.480
 his donkey

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.539
 and he makes

00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:57.819
 his way

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.400
 to the king

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.380
 and the king

00:23:59.380 --> 00:24:00.059
 asks him

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.980
 to curse

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.480
 Israel.

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.240
 This part

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.700
 of the story

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:05.160
 also I think

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:05.420
 is a little

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.640
 funny to me.

00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:07.220
 We see

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.599
 Balaam

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.059
 saying,

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:08.960
 he says,

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.360
 the word

00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:09.680
 that God

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.039
 puts in

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.460
 my mouth

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.120
 that must

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.720
 I speak.

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:12.759
 But he

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.319
 tells the king

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:13.700
 you can go

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:13.940
 ahead and

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.440
 build an altar

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:14.960
 anyway and

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.200
 we'll kind

00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.519
 of see what

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:15.860
 happens.

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.759
 So it

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.920
 feels a little

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.460
 bit like

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.559
 almost biblical

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.700
 sketch comedy

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:22.900
 here.

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.140
 You can

00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:23.480
 see it

00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:23.940
 coming that

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.319
 the king

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.000
 is driving

00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.700
 towards something

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.700
 that's obviously

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:28.160
 not going

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.700
 to happen.

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.059
 And indeed

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.759
 on three

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.759
 separate occasions

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.900
 each at a

00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:34.980
 different location

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.000
 Balaam is

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.860
 pronouncing blessing

00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.740
 on Israel

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.400
 instead of a

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:38.720
 curse.

00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:40.220
 Each blessing

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.840
 gets better

00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:41.259
 and better

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.559
 and makes

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:41.920
 the king

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.360
 more and

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:42.880
 more angry.

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:43.299
 He says,

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.680
 what are you

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.140
 doing to me?

00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:45.500
 And he even

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.039
 gets tired

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.680
 of the antics

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.680
 and he says,

00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:49.000
 stop cursing

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.360
 them,

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.440
 don't even

00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:50.960
 bless them,

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.380
 just stop

00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:51.660
 what you're

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:51.980
 doing.

00:24:53.260 --> 00:24:54.220
 So there's

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.020
 a little bit

00:24:55.020 --> 00:24:55.320
 of humor

00:24:55.320 --> 00:24:55.600
 in this.

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:57.040
 But the

00:24:57.040 --> 00:24:59.000
 humor, I

00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:01.360
 think, is

00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:01.920
 there because

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.540
 it illustrates

00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:03.340
 this kind of

00:25:03.340 --> 00:25:04.380
 nonsensical

00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.720
 human approach

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.280
 to try to

00:25:06.280 --> 00:25:07.740
 control or

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:09.020
 change outcomes

00:25:09.020 --> 00:25:10.500
 that God has

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.640
 already ordained.

00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:13.600
 So God has

00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:14.320
 said, and we

00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:16.160
 know this from

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.660
 the entire

00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:18.160
 Pentateuch, that

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.800
 he's made this

00:25:18.800 --> 00:25:19.800
 promise and he's

00:25:19.800 --> 00:25:20.420
 God and he's

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.039
 going to keep

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.300
 it.

00:25:21.820 --> 00:25:22.600
 And God is

00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.300
 using this

00:25:23.300 --> 00:25:24.759
 pagan seer to

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.380
 announce to

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:27.039
 the world this

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.920
 very fact that

00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:28.720
 he is preserving

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.300
 the nation of

00:25:29.300 --> 00:25:30.060
 Israel and he's

00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:30.720
 doing it despite

00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.800
 the best efforts

00:25:31.800 --> 00:25:33.860
 of the nations

00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:34.580
 in Canaan.

00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:36.900
 We even see

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.660
 statements about

00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.300
 God's character

00:25:38.300 --> 00:25:38.920
 and plan of

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:40.720
 salvation from

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.200
 Balaam's

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.640
 blessings.

00:25:42.300 --> 00:25:42.940
 He says things

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.539
 like, God is

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.279
 not man that he

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.460
 should lie or a

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.039
 son of man that

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.580
 he should change

00:25:46.580 --> 00:25:47.140
 his mind.

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.120
 And he says

00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.039
 later, his king

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.139
 shall be higher

00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:50.899
 than Agag and

00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:51.440
 his kingdom

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.359
 shall be

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.980
 exalted.

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.899
 Again, beginning

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.779
 to point forward

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:59.019
 to Jesus and

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.539
 his forever

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.019
 kingdom.

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.480
 The sadness of

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.180
 the story here

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.639
 is that while

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.119
 Balaam is

00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.779
 delivering his

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.619
 final blessing

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.480
 at Peor,

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:09.299
 Israel is in

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.940
 the plains of

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.779
 Moab, continuing

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:14.039
 to sacrifice to

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.619
 other gods.

00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:16.619
 God is

00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:25.619
 there keeping

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.359
 his promises,

00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.359
 protecting and

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.419
 preserving and

00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:31.439
 purifying his

00:26:31.439 --> 00:26:31.859
 people.

00:26:32.659 --> 00:26:33.059
 And he's

00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:34.019
 carrying forward

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.579
 his gospel

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.219
 narrative through

00:26:35.219 --> 00:26:36.559
 redemptive history

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:36.979
 here in the

00:26:36.979 --> 00:26:37.239
 book of

00:26:37.239 --> 00:26:37.579
 Numbers.

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:42.699
 So, that's a

00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:44.220
 select number of

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:46.399
 the narratives in

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.079
 Numbers.

00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.839
 That takes us to

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.419
 the end of

00:26:48.419 --> 00:26:50.579
 chapter 25, and

00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.619
 the rest of the

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.759
 book is a final

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.679
 census of the

00:26:53.679 --> 00:26:55.539
 new generation and

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.099
 some additional

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.599
 laws and

00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.299
 regulations that

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.699
 are required for

00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.220
 the Israelites

00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.059
 before they enter

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.679
 into Canaan.

00:27:02.679 --> 00:27:05.099
 So, I think as

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.919
 we zoom out from

00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.820
 the particular

00:27:07.820 --> 00:27:08.539
 narratives, there

00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:08.960
 are a few

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.320
 important overarching

00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:11.160
 themes to

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.840
 consider that

00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:13.460
 connect the

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.140
 book of Numbers

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.580
 to the rest of

00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:15.900
 the gospel

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.300
 narrative.

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.140
 Numbers serves

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:18.440
 as a key part

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.300
 of the redemption

00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:20.720
 story by

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.800
 illustrating God's

00:27:21.800 --> 00:27:23.279
 fulfillment of

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.180
 his covenantal

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:25.060
 promises to his

00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.000
 people despite our

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.519
 unfaithfulness.

00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:28.440
 Numbers also

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.779
 points forward to

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.700
 Jesus as the

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.500
 culmination and

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.800
 fulfillment of his

00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:33.620
 ultimate promise.

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.160
 And lastly, I do

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.840
 think Numbers

00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:36.900
 serves as a

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:38.840
 exhortation to

00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:39.440
 the people of

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.300
 God to be on

00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:41.400
 guard against a

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.759
 prideful and

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.640
 rebellious heart.

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.080
 All right, so

00:27:46.080 --> 00:27:48.340
 first, Numbers is

00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.160
 an important part of

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.840
 the Pentateuch in

00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.620
 that it clearly

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:53.000
 connects to the

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.000
 fulfillment of God's

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.440
 specific promises to

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:55.820
 Abraham.

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.220
 So, again, recall

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.320
 from Genesis 12 that

00:27:59.320 --> 00:28:00.120
 God made a covenant

00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:01.840
 with Abraham in

00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:02.700
 which he promised

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.880
 four things.

00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:05.280
 He promised a

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.960
 covenantal

00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.639
 relationship.

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.980
 You will be my

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.819
 people and I

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.779
 will be your

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.119
 God.

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.720
 He promised land

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.539
 to Abraham's

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:13.960
 descendants.

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.339
 He promised that

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.220
 Abraham's descendants

00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.339
 would be numerous

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.740
 and he promised

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.639
 blessing and

00:28:19.639 --> 00:28:21.379
 redemption to

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:22.139
 Abraham's descendants

00:28:22.139 --> 00:28:22.920
 as well as those

00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:23.639
 who blessed his

00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:24.019
 descendants.

00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.980
 So, first, God's

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.579
 covenantal

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:29.500
 relationship with

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.220
 Israel is

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.319
 illustrated, I

00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.119
 think, clearly and

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:33.420
 physically through the

00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:34.039
 tabernacle.

00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.800
 This was a place

00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:35.820
 where God desired

00:28:35.820 --> 00:28:37.420
 to dwell with his

00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.820
 people and it

00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:40.700
 required purity,

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:42.060
 which is the basis

00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:43.140
 for many of the

00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.460
 narrative results

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.259
 that we just

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.279
 discussed.

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.080
 And a covenantal

00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:48.120
 relationship here

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:49.720
 means an

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.660
 unbreakable

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.860
 promise.

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.880
 And we see this

00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:53.640
 play out in that

00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:55.180
 God never leaves

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.160
 nor forsakes his

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.660
 people despite their

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.600
 continued rebellion

00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.600
 against him and

00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.519
 despite the need to

00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.779
 continue purifying

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.599
 the camp so that

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:04.180
 he can do as he

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.279
 desires and dwell

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.980
 with his people

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:08.460
 in the wilderness.

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:11.599
 We also see God's

00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.839
 faithfulness in

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.559
 keeping his promise

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:15.299
 to provide land

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.579
 to Abraham's

00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:18.119
 descendants, a land

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:19.039
 that was intended

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.660
 to be a place of

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:22.000
 rest for his

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.779
 chosen people.

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:25.539
 We don't see this

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.299
 promise play out

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.839
 directly in the

00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:28.539
 book of Numbers

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.160
 because of the

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.759
 response of the

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.980
 spies and the

00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.660
 people when they

00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:32.740
 scoped out the

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.079
 land.

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.620
 God is very clear

00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.480
 that he will keep

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.160
 his promise to

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:38.620
 Abraham and that

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.380
 the next generation

00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:41.120
 will still inherit

00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.740
 the land.

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.700
 And this promise

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:46.059
 is so secure

00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:47.779
 that God goes

00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.319
 ahead with

00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.960
 delivering the

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.480
 rest of the

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.539
 relevant sacrificial

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.799
 and civil laws that

00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:53.420
 they need to keep

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.019
 when they enter the

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.299
 land.

00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.420
 The promise also

00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:58.360
 is so specific

00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:59.779
 that God goes

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.299
 ahead with

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.419
 prescribing the

00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:02.219
 division of the

00:30:02.219 --> 00:30:03.539
 land for the

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.500
 individual tribes

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.619
 of Israel.

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:07.779
 So it's not like

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:09.939
 God is saying,

00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:10.719
 I'm going to send

00:30:10.719 --> 00:30:11.699
 you into Canaan

00:30:11.699 --> 00:30:13.039
 and then if you

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.979
 obey and you do

00:30:13.979 --> 00:30:14.479
 all the things that

00:30:14.479 --> 00:30:15.399
 I ask and you

00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:16.059
 accomplish it,

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.759
 then we'll talk

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.519
 about what you do

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.099
 when you get there.

00:30:18.159 --> 00:30:18.539
 He's saying,

00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:20.659
 no, we're going.

00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:22.179
 I'm taking you

00:30:22.179 --> 00:30:23.299
 there and when you

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:24.479
 get there, here are

00:30:24.479 --> 00:30:26.099
 the things that you

00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:26.699
 need to do.

00:30:26.699 --> 00:30:29.579
 So God is

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.039
 keeping his

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:32.939
 promises to

00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:35.619
 provide land

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.539
 and we see that

00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.259
 even in the giving

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.179
 of the law here.

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.740
 We also see

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.619
 God's faithfulness

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:41.279
 in keeping his

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.399
 promise to number

00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:44.079
 Abraham's descendants

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:45.599
 as numerous as the

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.379
 stars in the sky.

00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:48.939
 The very first

00:30:48.939 --> 00:30:49.419
 chapter of

00:30:49.419 --> 00:30:50.679
 Numbers includes

00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:52.519
 a census that

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:55.539
 counts 603,550

00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:57.420
 men aged 20

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.940
 to 60.

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.639
 That's men of

00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.399
 fighting age.

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.139
 Some historians

00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:04.139
 have noted that

00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:05.119
 the estimate of

00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.819
 total Israelites

00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.579
 when you extrapolate

00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.019
 these numbers

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.740
 to include women

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.240
 and children

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.059
 and elderly men,

00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.519
 you arrive at

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.099
 something like

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.940
 2 million people,

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.460
 which is a clear

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.579
 and tangible display

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.839
 of God's faithfulness

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.460
 in this specific

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:16.859
 promise.

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:17.960
 We even hear

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.619
 Balaam affirm

00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:19.200
 this in one of

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:19.700
 his oracles.

00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.139
 He says,

00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:20.799
 who can count

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.619
 the dust of Jacob

00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:22.359
 or number of the

00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:23.420
 fourth part of Israel?

00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.079
 And again,

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:26.819
 even in the midst

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:28.339
 of these displays

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:29.720
 of unfaithfulness,

00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:30.519
 God's promise

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.980
 does not waver.

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.700
 We fast forward

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.599
 to chapter 26

00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.599
 for the second census

00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.519
 after the Exodus

00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:36.599
 generation has died

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.940
 and we see nearly

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.700
 the same number

00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.200
 of men

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.480
 of fighting age,

00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:43.319
 601,730.

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.680
 So despite the fact

00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.500
 that God sentenced

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.480
 the Exodus generation

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.259
 to die in the wilderness,

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.440
 he continues

00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.220
 sustaining the

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.899
 Israelite nation

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.740
 by raising up

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.099
 another generation

00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:54.179
 that would enter

00:31:54.179 --> 00:31:55.319
 Canaan by faith.

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.480
 It's probably,

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.819
 it is worth noting here

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.319
 that there's some

00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:01.259
 scholarly debate

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.619
 around the actual

00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.980
 numbers that are

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.839
 reported here.

00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:06.240
 I won't get into

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.019
 all the details.

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.659
 There are logical,

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:09.439
 archaeological,

00:32:09.699 --> 00:32:10.719
 mathematical concerns

00:32:10.719 --> 00:32:12.199
 that some people

00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:12.740
 raise

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:14.519
 and the solutions

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:16.879
 to these problems

00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:18.359
 are many.

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.799
 I cannot claim

00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:21.439
 to know enough

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.320
 to come to a firm

00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:23.720
 conclusion on the matter

00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.460
 but I think

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:26.240
 the message

00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:26.840
 we're intended

00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:28.120
 to receive here

00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:28.900
 is the same

00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.600
 in any case,

00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:31.279
 specifically that

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.100
 God is faithful

00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:33.160
 to grow and bless

00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:34.080
 the line of Abraham.

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.220
 So it doesn't matter

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:37.440
 if it's 20,000 people

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.279
 that he's sustaining

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.880
 in the wilderness

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:40.400
 or 2 million people

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.120
 that he's sustaining

00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:41.680
 in the wilderness,

00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.120
 he's sustaining them

00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:43.960
 and he's doing it

00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:45.160
 faithfully and miraculously.

00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.259
 All right,

00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:49.120
 so lastly,

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:51.199
 the promise

00:32:51.199 --> 00:32:52.399
 to bless,

00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.379
 we can look

00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:54.139
 to the New Testament

00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:54.839
 to understand

00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.319
 how the book

00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:55.779
 of Numbers

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.379
 fits into

00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:57.539
 the historical picture

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:58.939
 of God's

00:32:58.939 --> 00:33:00.000
 redemptive plan

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:01.279
 for his people.

00:33:02.439 --> 00:33:04.399
 The failings

00:33:04.399 --> 00:33:05.319
 we see here

00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:06.239
 in the Israelite nation

00:33:06.239 --> 00:33:06.979
 are kind of

00:33:06.979 --> 00:33:07.919
 clearly contrasted

00:33:07.919 --> 00:33:08.579
 against the perfect

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:10.019
 life of service,

00:33:10.219 --> 00:33:10.539
 obedience,

00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.459
 and sacrifice

00:33:11.459 --> 00:33:13.000
 of Jesus Christ

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.639
 when we look

00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:15.279
 to other places

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.079
 in the Old Testament

00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.099
 and in the New Testament.

00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:19.099
 So we see

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.759
 Jesus portrayed

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:22.779
 as our great high priest

00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.399
 and being greater

00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.159
 than Moses.

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:26.059
 Moses was the man

00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:27.240
 with such a unique

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:28.159
 standing with God

00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:29.439
 that he was able

00:33:29.439 --> 00:33:30.599
 to behold the form

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.059
 and figure

00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:32.279
 of God himself.

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.799
 And yet,

00:33:34.179 --> 00:33:34.859
 his standing

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:36.099
 before God

00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:37.099
 cannot compare

00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:39.079
 to that of Jesus.

00:33:39.599 --> 00:33:40.759
 Hebrews 3.5

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.059
 says,

00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.720
 Now Moses

00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.539
 was faithful

00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.460
 in all God's

00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.460
 house as a servant

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:45.859
 to testify

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.799
 to the things

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.539
 that were to be

00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.159
 spoken later,

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.960
 but Christ

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.079
 is faithful

00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.099
 over God's house

00:33:51.099 --> 00:33:52.279
 as a son.

00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.619
 So we see

00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:55.619
 over and over

00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:56.059
 in Numbers

00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:56.720
 how Moses

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:58.740
 is interceding

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.619
 with God

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:00.099
 on behalf

00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:00.779
 of the Israelites

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.460
 and where the

00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:02.659
 faithful servant

00:34:02.659 --> 00:34:03.399
 Moses

00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:04.079
 intercedes

00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.700
 on behalf

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.980
 of the Israelites,

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.379
 God's own son

00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:08.719
 and our perfect

00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.199
 Savior,

00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:09.739
 Jesus,

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.519
 intercedes

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.219
 on behalf

00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.439
 of us

00:34:12.439 --> 00:34:13.159
 with God

00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:14.039
 and he does this

00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:15.299
 based on his own

00:34:15.299 --> 00:34:16.439
 righteousness

00:34:16.439 --> 00:34:17.859
 and his own

00:34:17.859 --> 00:34:18.619
 merit.

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.960
 But Moses'

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.739
 responsibility

00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:22.679
 didn't end

00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:23.539
 at a simple

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:25.519
 verbal intercession

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.139
 but rather

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:27.480
 required detailed

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.399
 attention

00:34:28.399 --> 00:34:29.859
 to ritual sacrifices

00:34:29.859 --> 00:34:31.219
 intended to

00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:31.619
 cleanse

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:33.019
 and purify

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:34.519
 the nation

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.539
 before a holy God.

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.839
 We see another

00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:38.759
 parallel and contrast

00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:39.039
 here

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:39.440
 because where

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.420
 Moses and the

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:40.759
 priests

00:34:40.759 --> 00:34:41.800
 offered continual

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.460
 sacrifices

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:43.619
 to atone

00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.099
 for sin,

00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:44.599
 Jesus

00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.679
 fulfills

00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.440
 God's plan

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.500
 by suffering

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.039
 the agony

00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.159
 of the crucifixion

00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.599
 as the perfect

00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.360
 and sufficient

00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:52.219
 and final

00:34:52.219 --> 00:34:53.039
 sacrifice

00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:54.880
 to atone

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.699
 for the sin

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.179
 of all

00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:56.960
 who by faith

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.820
 place their

00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:58.659
 trust in him.

00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:00.820
 So God

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:01.360
 delivered the

00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:01.719
 Israelites

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.639
 from the

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.179
 bondage of

00:35:03.179 --> 00:35:03.619
 slavery

00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:05.039
 in Egypt

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.840
 but in

00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.199
 numbers

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:07.340
 we see

00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:07.739
 clearly

00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.079
 that they

00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:08.579
 were still

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.440
 in bondage

00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.360
 to sin

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.099
 and to

00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:11.440
 death

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:11.800
 and that

00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.460
 no mere

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.659
 ritual sacrifice

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.159
 could free

00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.820
 them from

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.159
 that.

00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:17.279
 And Jesus

00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:18.800
 willingly offered

00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:19.579
 himself up

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.239
 as the once

00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:20.820
 and for all

00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.599
 sacrifice

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.960
 so that we

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.380
 could be

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:23.860
 permanently

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.599
 cleansed

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.699
 of our sin

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:27.019
 and saved

00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.519
 from death

00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:27.980
 and restored

00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.460
 to life

00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:29.019
 with our

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.659
 creator.

00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:31.759
 So in

00:35:31.759 --> 00:35:32.359
 this Jesus

00:35:32.359 --> 00:35:32.799
 was the

00:35:32.799 --> 00:35:33.159
 ultimate

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:33.739
 fulfillment

00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.379
 of God's

00:35:34.379 --> 00:35:34.920
 promise

00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:36.059
 of blessing

00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:37.299
 to all

00:35:37.299 --> 00:35:37.859
 the nations.

00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.619
 So

00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:42.299
 lastly

00:35:42.299 --> 00:35:44.460
 we see

00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.440
 God

00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.460
 keeping

00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.000
 and fulfilling

00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.679
 his promises

00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.899
 through the

00:35:48.899 --> 00:35:49.179
 book of

00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.539
 Numbers

00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.259
 and I

00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:50.659
 think it

00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.799
 also serves

00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:52.599
 as an

00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.000
 important

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:53.899
 exhortation

00:35:53.899 --> 00:35:54.420
 against

00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.759
 sin

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.259
 that's

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:56.799
 picked up

00:35:56.799 --> 00:35:57.159
 in the

00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:57.839
 rest of

00:35:57.839 --> 00:35:58.460
 scripture.

00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.539
 Throughout

00:35:59.539 --> 00:35:59.960
 the book

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:01.159
 what we

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.679
 see is a

00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.220
 God who

00:36:02.220 --> 00:36:02.740
 of his

00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:03.079
 own

00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:03.679
 volition

00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:05.119
 commits

00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:05.579
 himself

00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.440
 to his

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:06.820
 people

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.519
 and desires

00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:08.159
 to fulfill

00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:08.780
 his promises

00:36:08.780 --> 00:36:09.380
 to them

00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:10.619
 but he's

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.320
 continuously

00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:12.240
 sort of

00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:12.699
 confronted

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:13.099
 with the

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:13.440
 lack of

00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:13.940
 faithfulness

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:14.220
 of his

00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:14.519
 covenant

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.059
 community.

00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:15.820
 So Psalm

00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:16.820
 95 says

00:36:16.820 --> 00:36:18.019
 do not

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.360
 harden

00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:19.000
 your hearts

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.940
 as at

00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:20.460
 Meribah

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:20.960
 as on

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.280
 the day

00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:21.840
 at Massa

00:36:21.840 --> 00:36:22.119
 in the

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.420
 wilderness

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.480
 when your

00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.039
 fathers put

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.300
 me to

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:24.780
 the test

00:36:24.780 --> 00:36:25.240
 and put

00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:25.500
 me to

00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:25.940
 the proof

00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:26.940
 though they

00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.420
 had seen

00:36:27.420 --> 00:36:28.000
 my work.

00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:29.840
 For 40

00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:30.420
 years I

00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:31.260
 loathed that

00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:31.800
 generation

00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:32.340
 and said

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.840
 they are

00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.179
 a people

00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:33.480
 who go

00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.000
 astray in

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.380
 their heart

00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:34.639
 and they

00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:35.079
 have not

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:35.440
 known

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.500
 my ways

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.220
 therefore I

00:36:37.220 --> 00:36:37.659
 swore in

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.199
 my wrath

00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:38.920
 they shall

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:39.500
 not enter

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.099
 my rest.

00:36:41.900 --> 00:36:42.539
 This

00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.840
 passage is

00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:44.659
 quoted and

00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:45.039
 discussed

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.940
 extensively in

00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.699
 chapters 3

00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:46.960
 and 4

00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:47.380
 of Hebrews

00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.260
 which clearly

00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:50.199
 illustrates the

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.920
 relevance of

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.360
 the passage

00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:51.659
 for us

00:36:51.659 --> 00:36:52.079
 today I

00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:52.500
 think.

00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.539
 Hebrews 3

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.199
 12 says

00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:54.860
 take care

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:55.280
 brothers

00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:55.820
 lest there

00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:56.320
 be in

00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:56.820
 any of

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.179
 you an

00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:57.639
 evil

00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:58.719
 unbelieving

00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.199
 heart

00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:00.159
 leading you

00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:00.699
 to fall

00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:01.879
 away from

00:37:01.879 --> 00:37:02.199
 the living

00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:02.539
 God.

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.279
 And the

00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:05.079
 implication here

00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:05.559
 is that we

00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:06.599
 just like

00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:07.379
 the Israelites

00:37:07.379 --> 00:37:08.139
 are bent

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:08.900
 towards sin

00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:09.980
 and need

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:11.059
 constant

00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:11.960
 reminding

00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.099
 that God

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:13.500
 is where

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.099
 we find

00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:15.159
 our rest.

00:37:15.159 --> 00:37:18.839
 there are

00:37:18.839 --> 00:37:19.480
 many things

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:19.719
 that we

00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:20.359
 could say

00:37:20.359 --> 00:37:21.179
 about this

00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:22.440
 but there's

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:23.259
 one particular

00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:24.079
 exhortation

00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:24.519
 from the

00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:24.819
 book of

00:37:24.819 --> 00:37:25.079
 Hebrews

00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:25.420
 that I

00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:25.899
 think is

00:37:25.899 --> 00:37:26.239
 relevant

00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:26.679
 as we

00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:27.079
 sort of

00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:28.000
 pull

00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:28.500
 everything

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:29.000
 together

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.500
 here.

00:37:29.719 --> 00:37:30.500
 It says

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.199
 let us

00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:32.199
 hold fast

00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:33.319
 the confession

00:37:33.319 --> 00:37:33.699
 of our

00:37:33.699 --> 00:37:34.079
 hope

00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:34.899
 without

00:37:34.899 --> 00:37:35.659
 wavering

00:37:35.659 --> 00:37:36.559
 for he

00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.259
 who promised

00:37:37.259 --> 00:37:38.319
 is faithful

00:37:38.319 --> 00:37:39.819
 and let us

00:37:39.819 --> 00:37:40.539
 consider how

00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.139
 to stir up

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:41.679
 one another

00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:42.299
 to love

00:37:42.299 --> 00:37:42.699
 and good

00:37:42.699 --> 00:37:43.099
 works

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:44.019
 not

00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:44.619
 neglecting

00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:45.019
 to meet

00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:45.440
 together

00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:45.859
 as is

00:37:45.859 --> 00:37:46.239
 the habit

00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:46.599
 of some

00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:47.399
 but encouraging

00:37:47.399 --> 00:37:48.139
 one another

00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:49.440
 and all

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:49.919
 the more

00:37:49.919 --> 00:37:50.339
 as you

00:37:50.339 --> 00:37:50.779
 see the

00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:51.159
 day

00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:52.119
 drawing

00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:52.440
 near.

00:37:54.919 --> 00:37:55.139
 So

00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:55.599
 Numbers

00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.039
 tells us

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:56.519
 that God

00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:57.460
 is faithful

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.419
 to forgive

00:37:58.419 --> 00:37:59.539
 the repentant

00:37:59.539 --> 00:37:59.919
 heart

00:37:59.919 --> 00:38:00.659
 like those

00:38:00.659 --> 00:38:01.179
 who looked

00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:01.659
 upon the

00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:02.359
 bronze serpent

00:38:02.359 --> 00:38:03.279
 and now

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:03.759
 those

00:38:03.759 --> 00:38:04.699
 who fixed

00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:05.339
 their eyes

00:38:05.339 --> 00:38:06.139
 upon Jesus

00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:07.119
 and it

00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:07.899
 also points

00:38:07.899 --> 00:38:08.559
 to the fact

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:09.579
 that he's

00:38:09.579 --> 00:38:09.940
 sovereign

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.619
 over his

00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.119
 creation

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:11.980
 and faithful

00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.900
 to complete

00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:13.659
 the good

00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:13.960
 work

00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:14.679
 that he

00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:15.279
 has begun

00:38:15.279 --> 00:38:15.719
 in us.

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:17.279
 This is a

00:38:17.279 --> 00:38:17.739
 promise that

00:38:17.739 --> 00:38:18.339
 we can only

00:38:18.339 --> 00:38:19.039
 claim because

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.319
 of the

00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:20.079
 faithfulness

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:20.759
 and obedience

00:38:20.759 --> 00:38:21.599
 of Jesus

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:24.119
 and in

00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:24.579
 this God

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.179
 has committed

00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:25.799
 himself to

00:38:25.799 --> 00:38:26.119
 us and

00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:26.679
 he's made

00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:27.099
 us his

00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:27.539
 people

00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.759
 and he

00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.859
 sustains us

00:38:29.859 --> 00:38:30.239
 in our

00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:31.000
 spiritual life

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:31.460
 by his

00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:31.799
 spirit

00:38:31.799 --> 00:38:33.279
 and in

00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.299
 part also

00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:35.380
 through his

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:35.819
 people

00:38:35.819 --> 00:38:36.619
 hence the

00:38:36.619 --> 00:38:37.079
 encouragement

00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:37.940
 to continue

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.940
 meeting

00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.460
 together.

00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:42.179
 So

00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:43.259
 John

00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:43.699
 Hinkson

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:44.279
 shared with

00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:44.539
 me a

00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:44.719
 really

00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.159
 wonderful

00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:45.679
 illustration

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.039
 of what

00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:46.500
 it means

00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.599
 to wander

00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.579
 in the

00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:48.900
 wilderness

00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.779
 together.

00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.440
 A Puritan

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.159
 writer named

00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:52.819
 William Bridge

00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.099
 you know

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.539
 John is

00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:54.219
 always good

00:38:54.219 --> 00:38:54.859
 for a

00:38:54.859 --> 00:38:55.279
 quote from

00:38:55.279 --> 00:38:55.980
 a Puritan

00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:56.299
 writer.

00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.599
 He describes

00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.179
 a concept

00:38:59.179 --> 00:38:59.739
 of digging

00:38:59.739 --> 00:39:00.500
 pits in

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:01.019
 an arid

00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:01.539
 climate

00:39:01.539 --> 00:39:03.480
 such that

00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:03.839
 in the

00:39:03.839 --> 00:39:04.539
 rare moments

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:04.920
 that it

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:05.380
 rained

00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:07.460
 the pits

00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:07.820
 would be

00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:08.240
 filled with

00:39:08.240 --> 00:39:08.740
 water

00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:09.559
 and provide

00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:10.140
 the nourishment

00:39:10.140 --> 00:39:10.980
 and refreshment

00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:11.320
 that the

00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:12.039
 wanderers so

00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:12.440
 desperately

00:39:12.440 --> 00:39:12.880
 needed.

00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:15.940
 So if

00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:16.860
 indeed we

00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:17.760
 continue in

00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:18.619
 faithfulness

00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:20.519
 digging these

00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:21.420
 pits together

00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.440
 in our

00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:22.980
 modern day

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.380
 wilderness

00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:25.059
 through prayer

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.860
 and reading

00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:27.460
 through service

00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:32.880
 and through

00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:33.119
 meeting

00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:33.559
 together

00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:36.820
 we may

00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:37.440
 not feel

00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:38.179
 the refreshment

00:39:38.179 --> 00:39:39.019
 right away

00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:41.320
 but when

00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:41.860
 the rains

00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:42.480
 of God's

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:42.760
 grace

00:39:42.760 --> 00:39:43.320
 inevitably

00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:43.860
 come

00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:45.000
 we'll be

00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:45.500
 all the

00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:45.860
 more

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.639
 refreshed.

00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:50.900
 So as

00:39:50.900 --> 00:39:51.659
 Hebrews says

00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:52.280
 let's not

00:39:52.280 --> 00:39:52.579
 neglect

00:39:52.579 --> 00:39:52.960
 meeting

00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:53.320
 together

00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:54.099
 but continue

00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:54.840
 encouraging

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:55.480
 one another

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.639
 and spurring

00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:57.000
 each other

00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:57.360
 on.

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:58.559
 In our

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:59.059
 walks with

00:39:59.059 --> 00:39:59.400
 Christ.

00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:03.179
 Alright so

00:40:03.179 --> 00:40:03.900
 to summarize

00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:06.940
 numbers is

00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:07.220
 good.

00:40:08.820 --> 00:40:09.340
 It's

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:10.099
 sometimes

00:40:10.099 --> 00:40:10.500
 funny.

00:40:12.199 --> 00:40:12.860
 There are

00:40:12.860 --> 00:40:13.119
 lots of

00:40:13.119 --> 00:40:13.260
 other

00:40:13.260 --> 00:40:14.340
 themes that

00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:14.599
 we could

00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:14.900
 have drawn

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:16.179
 out from

00:40:16.179 --> 00:40:16.659
 numbers but

00:40:16.659 --> 00:40:17.099
 hopefully

00:40:17.099 --> 00:40:18.599
 this helps

00:40:18.599 --> 00:40:19.019
 us

00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:20.619
 appreciate

00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:22.360
 numbers a

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:22.820
 little bit

00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:24.639
 more, a

00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:24.920
 little bit

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:25.460
 differently and

00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:25.760
 so I'd

00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:26.480
 encourage you

00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:27.519
 if you

00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:27.980
 have time

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.460
 read through

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.940
 the whole

00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:29.280
 book.

00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:30.079
 I hope

00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:30.500
 that you'll

00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.840
 find great

00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:32.420
 joy in

00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:32.699
 God's

00:40:32.699 --> 00:40:33.400
 faithfulness

00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:34.340
 to his

00:40:34.340 --> 00:40:34.880
 people and

00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.539
 his sovereignty

00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:36.820
 over his

00:40:36.820 --> 00:40:37.280
 creation.

00:40:37.280 --> 00:40:40.360
 so that's

00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:41.380
 all I have.

00:40:41.880 --> 00:40:42.560
 We're good

00:40:42.560 --> 00:40:43.220
 on time if

00:40:43.220 --> 00:40:43.500
 there are

00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:44.220
 questions or

00:40:44.220 --> 00:40:44.800
 comments.

00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:44.900
 things.

00:40:45.900 --> 00:40:59.160
 So when God

00:40:59.160 --> 00:40:59.920
 talks about this

00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:01.080
 new generation

00:41:01.080 --> 00:41:02.080
 that is going

00:41:02.080 --> 00:41:02.519
 to enter the

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.260
 promised land,

00:41:03.620 --> 00:41:04.019
 so are these

00:41:04.019 --> 00:41:04.900
 kids born in

00:41:04.900 --> 00:41:05.840
 the desert or

00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:07.600
 people who

00:41:07.600 --> 00:41:08.300
 thought they

00:41:08.300 --> 00:41:09.140
 were born in

00:41:09.140 --> 00:41:09.700
 Egypt?

00:41:10.700 --> 00:41:12.880
 Yeah, that's

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.780
 a good question.

00:41:14.200 --> 00:41:15.320
 So the new

00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:16.039
 generation that's

00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:16.440
 entering the

00:41:16.440 --> 00:41:17.240
 promised land,

00:41:18.600 --> 00:41:19.440
 the original

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.460
 census in the

00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:21.059
 beginning of the

00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:22.900
 book is taking

00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:24.079
 the census of

00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:25.220
 men aged 20

00:41:25.220 --> 00:41:26.280
 to 60 and

00:41:26.280 --> 00:41:27.400
 they've been at

00:41:27.400 --> 00:41:28.220
 Mount Sinai for

00:41:28.220 --> 00:41:28.880
 about a year,

00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:29.820
 so in theory

00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:31.220
 there's lots of

00:41:31.220 --> 00:41:32.780
 kids who were

00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:34.480
 probably, I

00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:35.140
 don't know

00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:35.640
 this, this is

00:41:35.640 --> 00:41:36.140
 my guess, but

00:41:36.140 --> 00:41:36.880
 probably some

00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:37.400
 kids who were

00:41:37.400 --> 00:41:37.860
 born in

00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:38.420
 Egypt and

00:41:38.420 --> 00:41:38.820
 made their

00:41:38.820 --> 00:41:39.540
 way along

00:41:39.540 --> 00:41:40.380
 the journey

00:41:40.380 --> 00:41:41.440
 to Sinai and

00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:44.040
 those that

00:41:44.040 --> 00:41:44.920
 are below 20

00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:45.460
 I think are

00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:46.720
 part of the

00:41:46.720 --> 00:41:47.519
 next generation

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.740
 that's raised

00:41:48.740 --> 00:41:50.460
 up to enter

00:41:50.460 --> 00:41:52.340
 into Canaan.

00:41:52.340 --> 00:42:02.500
 Hey.

00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:03.380
 Maybe you

00:42:03.380 --> 00:42:03.960
 guys all know

00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:04.519
 this already.

00:42:04.760 --> 00:42:05.140
 I always

00:42:05.140 --> 00:42:06.120
 wondered why

00:42:06.120 --> 00:42:06.640
 it was a

00:42:06.640 --> 00:42:07.620
 bronze serpent?

00:42:09.280 --> 00:42:09.620
 Hmm.

00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:11.019
 Why a bronze

00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.519
 serpent?

00:42:14.160 --> 00:42:14.920
 Because I'm

00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:15.800
 like, bronze,

00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:16.860
 why bronze?

00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:17.720
 Why serpent?

00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:18.280
 Cool.

00:42:18.600 --> 00:42:19.019
 But why

00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:19.860
 serpent?

00:42:20.160 --> 00:42:20.800
 Because that

00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:21.660
 would remind me

00:42:21.660 --> 00:42:22.320
 of the serpent

00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:22.860
 in the body

00:42:22.860 --> 00:42:23.100
 of the

00:42:23.100 --> 00:42:23.280
 movement.

00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:26.360
 So those

00:42:26.360 --> 00:42:26.720
 are great

00:42:26.720 --> 00:42:27.380
 questions.

00:42:27.680 --> 00:42:28.720
 I'll preface

00:42:28.720 --> 00:42:30.300
 with I don't

00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:30.720
 know the

00:42:30.720 --> 00:42:31.100
 answer.

00:42:31.840 --> 00:42:32.360
 I could,

00:42:32.460 --> 00:42:33.039
 you know,

00:42:33.080 --> 00:42:33.860
 venture some

00:42:33.860 --> 00:42:34.900
 guesses, at

00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:35.539
 least with the

00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:36.519
 serpent, because

00:42:36.519 --> 00:42:37.460
 in that

00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:38.300
 narrative it's

00:42:38.300 --> 00:42:39.080
 serpents that

00:42:39.080 --> 00:42:39.700
 are coming

00:42:39.700 --> 00:42:42.480
 to bite the

00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:42.960
 Israelites.

00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:43.860
 It's kind

00:42:43.860 --> 00:42:44.340
 of a,

00:42:45.720 --> 00:42:46.559
 makes sense

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:48.980
 that you

00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:49.640
 would choose,

00:42:49.720 --> 00:42:50.320
 it's just the

00:42:50.320 --> 00:42:50.920
 focus of the

00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:51.220
 story.

00:42:51.320 --> 00:42:51.580
 You might

00:42:51.579 --> 00:42:52.079
 choose a

00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:52.739
 serpent to

00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:53.420
 be lifted

00:42:53.420 --> 00:42:54.159
 up in the

00:42:54.159 --> 00:42:54.559
 midst of

00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:55.219
 this event

00:42:55.219 --> 00:42:55.599
 where there

00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:56.219
 are serpents

00:42:56.219 --> 00:42:57.420
 crawling around

00:42:57.420 --> 00:42:57.739
 and biting

00:42:57.739 --> 00:42:58.219
 everybody.

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.880
 There's probably

00:42:59.880 --> 00:43:00.440
 lots of

00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:01.279
 significance there

00:43:01.279 --> 00:43:03.000
 that I don't

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:04.940
 understand or

00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:05.380
 know how to

00:43:05.380 --> 00:43:05.940
 tap into.

00:43:06.259 --> 00:43:06.599
 Certainly,

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:10.139
 I would expect

00:43:10.139 --> 00:43:10.739
 that there's some

00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:11.920
 significance to it

00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:12.819
 being bronze as

00:43:12.819 --> 00:43:13.500
 well, and I

00:43:13.500 --> 00:43:14.360
 just don't know

00:43:14.360 --> 00:43:14.460
 it.

00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:15.400
 Somebody else

00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:15.940
 might know.

00:43:15.940 --> 00:43:16.900
 I've got an

00:43:16.900 --> 00:43:17.240
 idea.

00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:18.160
 Okay.

00:43:18.559 --> 00:43:20.180
 So, if this

00:43:20.180 --> 00:43:20.639
 is pointing

00:43:20.639 --> 00:43:21.300
 forward to

00:43:21.300 --> 00:43:22.900
 Christ, and

00:43:22.900 --> 00:43:24.280
 our sins are

00:43:24.280 --> 00:43:25.240
 nailed on the

00:43:25.240 --> 00:43:26.320
 cross, therefore

00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:27.400
 the serpents

00:43:27.400 --> 00:43:28.579
 would be that

00:43:28.579 --> 00:43:29.280
 piece, could

00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:30.480
 be that piece

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:31.300
 of symbolism.

00:43:32.660 --> 00:43:34.599
 Bronze is a,

00:43:34.740 --> 00:43:36.360
 like, why bronze,

00:43:36.440 --> 00:43:37.059
 why not gold?

00:43:37.139 --> 00:43:38.039
 They had a bunch

00:43:38.039 --> 00:43:38.720
 of gold there.

00:43:38.719 --> 00:43:41.759
 However, bronze

00:43:41.759 --> 00:43:42.480
 is a combination

00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:43.899
 of copper and

00:43:43.899 --> 00:43:44.259
 tin.

00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:46.679
 And thinking

00:43:46.679 --> 00:43:47.639
 maybe would

00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:48.359
 that possibly

00:43:48.359 --> 00:43:49.919
 refer to Christ's

00:43:49.919 --> 00:43:51.119
 dual nature of

00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:52.079
 humanity and

00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:52.419
 deity?

00:43:53.939 --> 00:43:55.019
 I don't know.

00:43:55.179 --> 00:43:55.699
 That's a maybe.

00:43:55.839 --> 00:43:56.719
 I just

00:43:56.719 --> 00:43:57.539
 worked up

00:43:57.539 --> 00:44:00.139
 bronze to

00:44:00.139 --> 00:44:01.000
 see what it

00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:02.879
 was made

00:44:02.879 --> 00:44:03.119
 of.

00:44:04.919 --> 00:44:05.679
 That's what

00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:06.399
 impressed me.

00:44:06.619 --> 00:44:07.659
 I couldn't

00:44:07.659 --> 00:44:08.339
 tell you, you

00:44:08.339 --> 00:44:08.699
 know, where

00:44:08.699 --> 00:44:10.319
 there's good

00:44:10.319 --> 00:44:13.519
 reason for

00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:14.299
 believing that

00:44:14.299 --> 00:44:15.059
 that makes

00:44:15.059 --> 00:44:15.639
 sense to me.

00:44:15.819 --> 00:44:16.099
 Yeah.

00:44:16.279 --> 00:44:16.559
 Yeah.

00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:18.019
 It makes

00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.519
 sense to me,

00:44:18.599 --> 00:44:18.639
 too.

00:44:18.719 --> 00:44:19.639
 That's really

00:44:19.639 --> 00:44:20.539
 interesting to

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:20.679
 know.

00:44:20.739 --> 00:44:21.319
 I wouldn't have

00:44:21.319 --> 00:44:22.199
 thought of that.

00:44:22.399 --> 00:44:23.279
 So, what were

00:44:23.279 --> 00:44:23.639
 the, it was

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.279
 tin and

00:44:24.279 --> 00:44:25.059
 copper?

00:44:25.439 --> 00:44:25.939
 It's bronze.

00:44:26.059 --> 00:44:26.339
 Okay.

00:44:26.659 --> 00:44:26.960
 Yeah.

00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:27.599
 Interesting.

00:44:29.779 --> 00:44:30.259
 Yeah.

00:44:30.500 --> 00:44:31.199
 Something to

00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:32.519
 go look up.

00:44:32.579 --> 00:44:33.059
 I'm sure

00:44:33.059 --> 00:44:34.259
 somebody somewhere

00:44:34.259 --> 00:44:34.859
 has written a

00:44:34.859 --> 00:44:36.439
 thesis on that.

00:44:37.859 --> 00:44:38.319
 I think

00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:38.860
 having reason

00:44:38.860 --> 00:44:39.220
 to do that.

00:44:39.220 --> 00:44:39.380
 Yeah.

00:44:45.880 --> 00:44:46.820
 Any other

00:44:46.820 --> 00:44:47.500
 questions or

00:44:47.500 --> 00:44:47.980
 comments?

00:44:47.980 --> 00:44:53.460
 things like

00:44:53.460 --> 00:44:56.659
 in Exodus

00:44:56.659 --> 00:44:57.340
 prior to that

00:44:57.340 --> 00:44:57.920
 sets up a

00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:59.019
 pattern of

00:44:59.019 --> 00:44:59.840
 overly,

00:45:00.199 --> 00:45:00.980
 orderly

00:45:00.980 --> 00:45:04.380
 tyrannies that

00:45:04.380 --> 00:45:05.880
 require

00:45:05.880 --> 00:45:07.920
 liberation into

00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:08.519
 a kind of

00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:08.980
 chaotic

00:45:08.980 --> 00:45:09.519
 wilderness.

00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:09.599
 wilderness.

00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:11.960
 And then

00:45:11.960 --> 00:45:13.199
 later on,

00:45:13.259 --> 00:45:13.960
 they, you

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:13.960


00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:14.320
 that Israel

00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:14.699
 has kind of

00:45:14.699 --> 00:45:15.179
 established

00:45:15.179 --> 00:45:15.739
 imperfect

00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:16.780
 settlements and

00:45:16.780 --> 00:45:17.259
 cities.

00:45:17.860 --> 00:45:18.360
 There seems to

00:45:18.360 --> 00:45:18.940
 be a pattern

00:45:18.940 --> 00:45:20.019
 of kind of

00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:20.699
 overly,

00:45:20.940 --> 00:45:21.699
 orderly,

00:45:22.099 --> 00:45:22.780
 tyrannical

00:45:22.780 --> 00:45:23.860
 cities and

00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:26.199
 wildernesses

00:45:26.199 --> 00:45:27.579
 and exiles.

00:45:27.579 --> 00:45:29.319
 there needs

00:45:29.319 --> 00:45:29.659
 to be some

00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:29.980
 kind of

00:45:29.980 --> 00:45:30.960
 resolution to

00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:31.340
 that,

00:45:31.739 --> 00:45:32.259
 kind of a

00:45:32.259 --> 00:45:32.860
 third option

00:45:32.860 --> 00:45:33.599
 to the

00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:34.799
 order of

00:45:34.799 --> 00:45:35.460
 tyranny and

00:45:35.460 --> 00:45:36.779
 the chaos of

00:45:36.779 --> 00:45:37.779
 the wilderness.

00:45:38.719 --> 00:45:38.920
 That's a

00:45:38.920 --> 00:45:40.119
 comment.

00:45:40.119 --> 00:45:40.519
 Yeah.

00:45:43.219 --> 00:45:44.179
 No, that's

00:45:44.179 --> 00:45:44.860
 really interesting.

00:45:45.079 --> 00:45:45.659
 So this, this

00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:46.579
 idea, I think if

00:45:46.579 --> 00:45:47.159
 I'm understanding

00:45:47.159 --> 00:45:48.039
 you correctly, so

00:45:48.039 --> 00:45:49.279
 Egypt would be

00:45:49.279 --> 00:45:50.239
 the example of

00:45:50.239 --> 00:45:51.259
 this, what you're

00:45:51.259 --> 00:45:52.119
 calling an overly

00:45:52.119 --> 00:45:54.059
 orderly, tyrannical

00:45:54.059 --> 00:45:55.239
 system under which

00:45:55.239 --> 00:45:56.979
 the Israelites

00:45:56.979 --> 00:45:57.719
 were enslaved

00:45:57.719 --> 00:45:59.719
 and then

00:45:59.719 --> 00:46:00.359
 they're released

00:46:00.359 --> 00:46:01.339
 into the

00:46:01.339 --> 00:46:02.599
 wilderness that

00:46:02.599 --> 00:46:03.359
 you're saying is

00:46:03.359 --> 00:46:04.439
 chaotic.

00:46:04.679 --> 00:46:05.359
 And I think

00:46:05.359 --> 00:46:08.699
 what that makes

00:46:08.699 --> 00:46:09.579
 me think of

00:46:09.579 --> 00:46:10.559
 is that the

00:46:10.559 --> 00:46:13.619
 chaos is

00:46:13.619 --> 00:46:16.459
 there when

00:46:16.459 --> 00:46:18.000
 there's

00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:19.579
 demonstrated

00:46:19.579 --> 00:46:20.639
 lack of faith

00:46:20.639 --> 00:46:21.359
 in God,

00:46:21.439 --> 00:46:21.599
 right?

00:46:21.639 --> 00:46:22.259
 Like God,

00:46:22.359 --> 00:46:23.059
 God is a

00:46:23.059 --> 00:46:24.599
 king who,

00:46:24.599 --> 00:46:25.299
 he is the

00:46:25.299 --> 00:46:26.339
 king who

00:46:26.339 --> 00:46:27.380
 has a

00:46:27.380 --> 00:46:28.519
 perfect and

00:46:28.519 --> 00:46:29.039
 righteous

00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:30.819
 kingdom in

00:46:30.819 --> 00:46:31.599
 stark contrast

00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:32.480
 to the kingdoms

00:46:32.480 --> 00:46:33.819
 like Egypt

00:46:33.819 --> 00:46:34.259
 that are

00:46:34.259 --> 00:46:34.860
 enslaving its

00:46:34.860 --> 00:46:35.179
 people.

00:46:35.279 --> 00:46:35.559
 And we

00:46:35.559 --> 00:46:36.920
 are called

00:46:36.920 --> 00:46:37.559
 to be

00:46:37.559 --> 00:46:38.920
 slaves to

00:46:38.920 --> 00:46:39.539
 Christ, but

00:46:39.539 --> 00:46:40.839
 in being a

00:46:40.839 --> 00:46:42.579
 slave to

00:46:42.579 --> 00:46:43.360
 Christ and a

00:46:43.360 --> 00:46:43.920
 slave to

00:46:43.920 --> 00:46:44.639
 God's kingdom,

00:46:45.420 --> 00:46:46.679
 there is much

00:46:46.679 --> 00:46:48.099
 greater freedom

00:46:48.099 --> 00:46:50.119
 in the order

00:46:50.119 --> 00:46:50.719
 that God

00:46:50.719 --> 00:46:53.599
 has ordained

00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:54.000
 for our

00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:54.679
 lives rather

00:46:54.679 --> 00:46:55.900
 than, as

00:46:55.900 --> 00:46:56.299
 you say,

00:46:56.380 --> 00:46:56.920
 the chaos

00:46:56.920 --> 00:46:57.299
 of the

00:46:57.299 --> 00:46:57.599
 wilderness

00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:58.139
 and sort

00:46:58.139 --> 00:46:59.599
 of doing

00:46:59.599 --> 00:47:00.159
 things our

00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:00.759
 own way,

00:47:00.759 --> 00:47:01.779
 which certainly

00:47:01.779 --> 00:47:03.579
 is chaotic.

00:47:04.539 --> 00:47:05.360
 So that's a

00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:05.819
 great thought.

00:47:05.940 --> 00:47:06.420
 Yeah, thank

00:47:06.420 --> 00:47:06.639
 you.

00:47:06.639 --> 00:47:09.859
 I've been

00:47:09.859 --> 00:47:10.420
 thinking a lot

00:47:10.420 --> 00:47:11.119
 recently about

00:47:11.119 --> 00:47:12.539
 the nature of

00:47:12.539 --> 00:47:13.900
 faithfulness and

00:47:13.900 --> 00:47:15.460
 human flourishing

00:47:15.460 --> 00:47:16.279
 that was just

00:47:16.279 --> 00:47:17.239
 like completely

00:47:17.239 --> 00:47:18.460
 designed and

00:47:18.460 --> 00:47:19.819
 built in from

00:47:19.819 --> 00:47:20.420
 the beginning,

00:47:20.739 --> 00:47:22.400
 that like even

00:47:22.400 --> 00:47:24.500
 as a person in

00:47:24.500 --> 00:47:25.279
 their 40,

00:47:25.599 --> 00:47:26.219
 just like

00:47:26.219 --> 00:47:27.599
 consistency,

00:47:28.219 --> 00:47:30.099
 which is in

00:47:30.099 --> 00:47:30.619
 my mind,

00:47:30.679 --> 00:47:31.219
 I'm like starting

00:47:31.219 --> 00:47:31.539
 to see the

00:47:31.539 --> 00:47:32.179
 relationship between

00:47:32.179 --> 00:47:33.259
 consistency and

00:47:33.260 --> 00:47:34.260
 faithfulness that

00:47:34.260 --> 00:47:36.040
 like I physically

00:47:36.040 --> 00:47:36.940
 flourished, I

00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:38.380
 spiritually flourished

00:47:38.380 --> 00:47:39.280
 through like

00:47:39.280 --> 00:47:41.400
 consistency towards

00:47:41.400 --> 00:47:42.720
 God and towards

00:47:42.720 --> 00:47:43.620
 his way and how

00:47:43.620 --> 00:47:44.180
 he made me,

00:47:44.280 --> 00:47:45.020
 even in the

00:47:45.020 --> 00:47:47.300
 like exercising

00:47:47.300 --> 00:47:47.700
 and eating

00:47:47.700 --> 00:47:48.620
 vegetables sort

00:47:48.620 --> 00:47:49.040
 of consistency,

00:47:49.040 --> 00:47:50.660
 like there is

00:47:50.660 --> 00:47:51.820
 just a showing

00:47:51.820 --> 00:47:53.020
 up and being

00:47:53.020 --> 00:47:54.260
 future leaning,

00:47:55.100 --> 00:47:57.300
 like that verse

00:47:57.300 --> 00:47:58.000
 you picked up,

00:47:58.360 --> 00:47:59.000
 it was a

00:47:59.000 --> 00:47:59.640
 Hebrew verse,

00:47:59.639 --> 00:48:03.119
 it just really

00:48:03.119 --> 00:48:04.099
 speaks to that,

00:48:04.179 --> 00:48:04.500
 I think,

00:48:04.619 --> 00:48:05.179
 for us to live

00:48:05.179 --> 00:48:05.960
 our life in a

00:48:05.960 --> 00:48:07.659
 forward God

00:48:07.659 --> 00:48:09.059
 consistency.

00:48:11.239 --> 00:48:12.079
 Yeah, that's

00:48:12.079 --> 00:48:14.059
 a great word,

00:48:14.139 --> 00:48:14.539
 I think,

00:48:14.839 --> 00:48:16.719
 I totally agree,

00:48:17.059 --> 00:48:17.460
 you know,

00:48:17.579 --> 00:48:18.299
 the spiritual

00:48:18.299 --> 00:48:18.799
 disciplines,

00:48:19.000 --> 00:48:19.659
 it makes me

00:48:19.659 --> 00:48:20.659
 think too of

00:48:20.659 --> 00:48:23.119
 John's example

00:48:23.119 --> 00:48:24.159
 that a lot of

00:48:24.159 --> 00:48:25.659
 those rhythms

00:48:25.659 --> 00:48:26.339
 and those

00:48:26.339 --> 00:48:27.219
 patterns and

00:48:27.219 --> 00:48:28.379
 investing in the

00:48:28.379 --> 00:48:28.879
 future,

00:48:29.639 --> 00:48:30.339
 feel like

00:48:30.339 --> 00:48:31.039
 digging those

00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:31.639
 pits in the

00:48:31.639 --> 00:48:31.920
 wilderness

00:48:31.920 --> 00:48:32.519
 sometimes,

00:48:32.659 --> 00:48:32.819
 right,

00:48:32.839 --> 00:48:33.279
 like I don't

00:48:33.279 --> 00:48:33.679
 want to eat

00:48:33.679 --> 00:48:34.259
 my vegetables

00:48:34.259 --> 00:48:34.839
 every day,

00:48:34.960 --> 00:48:36.219
 I'd rather have

00:48:36.219 --> 00:48:36.879
 the mac and

00:48:36.879 --> 00:48:37.239
 cheese or

00:48:37.239 --> 00:48:37.460
 whatever,

00:48:37.539 --> 00:48:37.879
 I don't want

00:48:37.879 --> 00:48:38.799
 to exercise,

00:48:39.079 --> 00:48:39.519
 sometimes I

00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:40.279
 don't feel like

00:48:40.279 --> 00:48:41.279
 reading my

00:48:41.279 --> 00:48:41.920
 Bible or

00:48:41.920 --> 00:48:42.539
 praying or

00:48:42.539 --> 00:48:43.079
 doing all of

00:48:43.079 --> 00:48:43.719
 those things,

00:48:44.099 --> 00:48:44.779
 but God is

00:48:44.779 --> 00:48:45.719
 faithful in

00:48:45.719 --> 00:48:46.759
 those moments

00:48:46.759 --> 00:48:47.440
 where we

00:48:47.440 --> 00:48:49.379
 engage in

00:48:49.379 --> 00:48:49.920
 those spiritual

00:48:49.920 --> 00:48:51.159
 disciplines and

00:48:51.159 --> 00:48:52.819
 when we have

00:48:52.819 --> 00:48:53.319
 that, as

00:48:53.319 --> 00:48:53.940
 Beth is saying,

00:48:54.039 --> 00:48:54.739
 kind of forward

00:48:54.739 --> 00:48:55.379
 facing or

00:48:55.379 --> 00:48:56.139
 future facing

00:48:56.139 --> 00:48:56.759
 perspective,

00:48:57.379 --> 00:48:57.759
 where we're

00:48:57.759 --> 00:48:59.139
 looking toward

00:48:59.139 --> 00:48:59.920
 God and

00:48:59.920 --> 00:49:00.879
 toward his

00:49:00.879 --> 00:49:01.659
 ultimate

00:49:01.659 --> 00:49:02.759
 fulfillment of

00:49:02.759 --> 00:49:03.559
 redeeming and

00:49:03.559 --> 00:49:04.460
 restoring creation,

00:49:05.139 --> 00:49:06.779
 there's blessing

00:49:06.779 --> 00:49:07.779
 in that,

00:49:08.659 --> 00:49:11.440
 even in those

00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:12.379
 exact moments,

00:49:12.699 --> 00:49:14.460
 sometimes he's

00:49:14.460 --> 00:49:15.500
 gracious and

00:49:15.500 --> 00:49:16.420
 doesn't make us

00:49:16.420 --> 00:49:17.059
 wait for the

00:49:17.059 --> 00:49:19.039
 joy that comes

00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:19.440
 with those

00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:20.139
 spiritual disciplines,

00:49:20.339 --> 00:49:20.719
 so that's a

00:49:20.719 --> 00:49:21.139
 great word,

00:49:21.339 --> 00:49:21.779
 thanks Beth.

00:49:21.780 --> 00:49:28.460
 all right,

00:49:28.540 --> 00:49:29.620
 well we're at

00:49:29.620 --> 00:49:30.980
 about 10 till,

00:49:31.180 --> 00:49:32.500
 so why don't I

00:49:32.500 --> 00:49:33.100
 close us in

00:49:33.100 --> 00:49:33.600
 prayer so we

00:49:33.600 --> 00:49:33.880
 have a little

00:49:33.880 --> 00:49:34.700
 time to get

00:49:34.700 --> 00:49:35.280
 down to the

00:49:35.280 --> 00:49:35.640
 service,

00:49:35.940 --> 00:49:37.060
 thanks everybody

00:49:37.060 --> 00:49:37.840
 for joining

00:49:37.840 --> 00:49:38.200
 today,

00:49:38.560 --> 00:49:39.380
 let's pray,

00:49:40.019 --> 00:49:40.720
 Father we

00:49:40.720 --> 00:49:42.440
 thank you again

00:49:42.440 --> 00:49:43.240
 for your word

00:49:43.240 --> 00:49:44.720
 today and the

00:49:44.720 --> 00:49:45.200
 truth that it

00:49:45.200 --> 00:49:45.680
 brings to our

00:49:45.680 --> 00:49:45.920
 lives,

00:49:45.980 --> 00:49:46.780
 we thank you

00:49:46.780 --> 00:49:49.000
 Lord that you

00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:49.980
 are pure and

00:49:49.980 --> 00:49:50.400
 holy,

00:49:50.760 --> 00:49:51.740
 God that you're

00:49:51.740 --> 00:49:52.280
 faithful,

00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:55.060
 that you're

00:49:55.060 --> 00:49:56.000
 merciful and

00:49:56.000 --> 00:49:57.240
 gracious and

00:49:57.240 --> 00:49:57.900
 abounding in

00:49:57.900 --> 00:49:58.660
 steadfast love,

00:49:58.760 --> 00:49:59.340
 God we thank

00:49:59.340 --> 00:49:59.820
 you for

00:49:59.820 --> 00:50:02.060
 everything that

00:50:02.060 --> 00:50:02.600
 you've revealed

00:50:02.600 --> 00:50:03.260
 to us in the

00:50:03.260 --> 00:50:03.560
 book of

00:50:03.560 --> 00:50:03.880
 numbers,

00:50:04.040 --> 00:50:04.760
 God we pray

00:50:04.760 --> 00:50:06.600
 that you would

00:50:06.600 --> 00:50:07.180
 bring a fresh

00:50:07.180 --> 00:50:08.040
 joy to our

00:50:08.040 --> 00:50:08.740
 hearts in your

00:50:08.740 --> 00:50:09.120
 word,

00:50:09.640 --> 00:50:10.500
 Lord that

00:50:10.500 --> 00:50:12.560
 this discussion

00:50:12.560 --> 00:50:13.740
 today would

00:50:13.740 --> 00:50:14.600
 rest on our

00:50:14.600 --> 00:50:15.000
 hearts and

00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:15.519
 minds and

00:50:15.519 --> 00:50:15.800
 that you

00:50:15.800 --> 00:50:17.000
 would be

00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:17.759
 encouraging us

00:50:17.759 --> 00:50:18.280
 in our walks

00:50:18.280 --> 00:50:19.159
 as we move

00:50:19.159 --> 00:50:19.980
 forward together

00:50:19.980 --> 00:50:21.340
 in the rest of

00:50:21.340 --> 00:50:21.679
 the week,

00:50:21.900 --> 00:50:23.019
 we thank you

00:50:23.019 --> 00:50:25.380
 for Jesus and

00:50:25.380 --> 00:50:25.940
 it's in his name

00:50:25.940 --> 00:50:26.340
 we pray,

00:50:26.699 --> 00:50:27.000
 amen.

00:50:28.840 --> 00:50:29.420
 All right,

00:50:29.519 --> 00:50:30.039
 thanks everyone.