Well, good evening and welcome to our service. Once again, it's good to be with you. I'm glad to see you all here in good time after I try to persuade you this morning at the close of the service to be here for 6pm.
But I'd forgotten that you were half past 6. At least it wasn't 7pm, which was, of course, the appointed time for the evening service, I believe, in decades past.
So, we are here to worship God and before we sing to the praise of God, let's read from Ephesians chapter 3 as our call to worship the Lord.
Ephesians 3 verse 20, the Apostle Paul writes,
Amen.
Well, let's sing to the glory of God.
Let's raise our voices as we sing Psalm 47.
The Sing Psalms rendering of Psalm 47 on page 62.
The tune is Walton.
All nations, clap your hands and shout.
Let joyful cries to God ring out.
How awesome is the Lord most high, great King who rules the earth throughout.
Let's stand and sing to the praise of God.
All nations, clap your hands and shout.
Let joyful cries to God ring out.
How awesome is the Lord most high, great King who rules the earth throughout.
He has such good beneath our feet.
The nations who are freeing our cause.
When blessings, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who
The trumpet sound
Sing praise, sing praise
To God, most high
To God, our King
Let his abound
For God is King
Of all the earth
Sing sounds of praise
To them alone
For whose the nations
Come on high
He sits upon this holy throne
The leaders of the nations
Come to yield themselves
To the heavens God
To him belong
The shields of earth
Exalted with the is the Lord
Let's draw near to God
Let's unite our hearts
In prayer
Our heavenly Father
Our great God and King
We praise you for your faithfulness
For your goodness and grace
We give thanks that you have
Brought us together
Together
Again
Under your word
And as we
Recognize its supreme authority
So we pray that we
Would live by it
Grant us to immerse ourselves
In it
And to see our need
Of turning the pages
Of scripture day by day
Being led
By the inspired word of God
In every aspect of our lives
We praise you for the blessings
Of the Lord's day
We thank you for this
The first day of the week
The Christian Sabbath
We praise you for the empty tomb
We give thanks for how the words
Of the Lord Jesus
Resonate with us
I am the resurrection
And the life
And so we gather in the name of
Our living exalted savior
The one who lives
And whoever lives
We praise you that he
He abolished death
And brought life
And immortality to light
Through the gospel
We thank you this evening
That in Jesus Christ
We have a great high priest
Like no other
We thank you that we have
In Jesus Christ
An advocate with the Father
A mediator
We have a glorious redeemer
And we praise you
Our Father in heaven
That we can draw near to you
Through the son of your love
Even in this moment
So anew we pray
That you would still our hearts
Take from us any distracting thoughts
So that nothing will hinder us
From worshipping you
The only living and true God
We pray that you would take from us
Any anxious thoughts
We might have
For your word exhorts us
To be anxious over nothing
But in everything by prayer
And supplication
With thanksgiving
To bring our requests
Before your throne of grace
And how we praise you
For the peace of God
Of which we read of
On the pages of Scripture
As it transcends all understanding
Safeguarding
Protecting
The fragility of our hearts and minds
Through Christ Jesus
Our Lord
Take from us anything
That might come between us and you
For we confess our sins
And we pray that you would forgive us
For our many wrongdoings
Even in this very moment
Our thoughts can wander
We drift
Keep us
We pray
Anchored now
To your word
And as we sing your praises
Enable us to
Fully engage
In this act
Of worship
May your spirit
Lead us
As we
Read your word
And engage with it
Anew this evening
Grant your blessing
On the ministry of the gospel
Here
Within
This congregation
We pray that
Your blessing
Would be
Upon
All that is
Undertaken
Said and done
In your name
From week to week
We pray for the
Encouragement
Of
Calamurdo Smith
And for
The congregation's
Interim moderator
Colin McLeod
May you bless
Pastors
And people
Alike
And may there be
A felt
Sense of
Oneness
And togetherness
During these
Days of
Vacancy
May you
Draw near
And may you
Grant
Much
By way
Of encouragement
To all
Who long
To reach out
With the good news
Of the gospel
Bless
Every
Endeavor
We praise you
For
The
Children
Present
This morning
And for those
Who are present
This evening
And for every
Provision
For
Them
For every
Means
Through which
They have
And are given
An exposure
To the good news
Of the gospel
All of which
Revolves around
Jesus Christ
And him
Crucified
And so now
We pray your
Blessing on every
Home and family
Belonging to
And associated
With the
Congregation
We pray
That you
Would remember
This town
And the
Island
And grant
That as
In times
Past
You would
Come
With
Power
From
The very
Throne room
Of heaven
Itself
As
In decades
Past
As in
Ages
Past
When there
Were
Eras
Of
Spiritual
Awakening
Come
We pray
With
Reviving
Power
Across
Our
Highlands
And
Islands
And so
Now
We look
To you
Our
Great
God
And
Father
You
Are
Infinite
Eternal
You
Are
Unchangeable
In
You
We
Live
We
Move
And
We
Have
Our
Very
Existence
And
It
Is
Your
Presence
We
Crave
And
Long
For
Now
Watch
Over
Us
Forgive
Us
And
You
For
All
Of
Our
Sins
For
All
We
Ask
Is
In
Christ's
Name
And
For
His
Sake
Amen
Now
We're
Going
To
Read
God's
Word
Together
The
First
Of
Two
Scripture
Readings
Our
First
Bible
Reading
Is
From
The
New
Testament
Scriptures
From
The
Gospel
Of
Matthew
Chapter
16
And
At
Verse
24
On
Page
991
Matthew
16
And
At
Verse
24
Then
Jesus
Told
His
Disciples
If
Anyone
Would
Come
After
Me
Let
Him
Deny
Himself
And
Take
Up
His
Cross
And
Follow
Me
For
Whoever
Would
Save
His
Life
Will
Lose
It
But
Whoever
Loses
His
Life
For
My
Sake
Will
Find
It
For
What
Will
It
Profit
A
Man
If
He
Gains
The
Whole
World
And
Forfeits
His
Life
Or
What
Shall
A
Man
Give
In
Return
For
His
Life
For
The
Son
Of
Man
Is
Going
To
Come
With
His
Angels
And
The
Glory
Of
His
Father
And
Then
He
Will
Repay
Each
Person
According
To
What
He
Has
Done
Truly
I
Say
To
You
There
Are
Some
Standing
Here
Who
Will
Not
Taste
Death
Until
They
See
The
Son
Of
Man
Coming
In
His
Kingdom
And
There
Follows
The
Account
Of
The
Transfiguration
Amen
Let's
Sing
To
God's
Praise
Psalm
73
The
Scottish
Psalter
Version
Of
Psalm
73
On
Page
351
We're
Going
To
Sing
On
Page
316
Rather
From
Verse
23
To
26
And
The
Tune
Is
Weatherby
Nevertheless
Continually
O
Lord
I
Am
With
The
Thou
Dost
Me
Hold
By
My
Right
Hand
And
Still
Upholdest
Me
And
So
On
To
The
Praise
Of
God
B
Amen.
That I groan near to groan, in groan I trust, that all my efforts I may be fair unto groan.
Our next scripture reading.
takes us to the very passage we read this morning, Numbers chapter 10.
Now we're going to read from verse 29 to 36, but just by way of context for the benefit of those
of you who were not present this morning, let me just read from verse 11. In the second year,
in the second month, on the 20th day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the
testimony, and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai.
And at verse 29, and Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses's father-in-law,
what we are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you. Come with us,
and we will do good to you. For the Lord has promised good to Israel, but he said to him,
I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred. And he said,
please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness,
and you will serve as eyes for us. And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us,
the same will we do to you. So they set out from the mount of the Lord for three days' journey,
and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for three days' journey
to seek out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day,
whenever they set out from the camp. And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, Arise, O Lord,
and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you. And when it rested,
he said, Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel. Amen.
And we know God will add his blessing to the reading of his own holy word.
We'll now sing to the praise of God the words of Psalm 51 from St. Sam's verses 1 to 12.
This great psalm of confession.
Oh, my God, have mercy on me. In your steadfast love, I pray. In your infinite compassion,
my transgressions wipe away. Cleanse me from iniquity. Wash my sin away from me.
Let's sing these words prayerfully to God's praise.
Amen.
Oh, my God, have mercy on me. In your steadfast love, I pray.
For you, my God, have mercy on you. In your infinite compassion, my transgressions wipe away.
Cleanse me from iniquity. Wash my sin away from me.
For I know my own transgressions, I can see my sinful life.
You, you, only I've all been lived, and an evil in your sight.
So your words are verified, and your word is justified.
From my birth I have been sinful, such an angel I receive.
Sinful from my first beginning, in my mother's womb conceived.
Truth, dear, and fall in my heart, wisdom to me you impart.
Men's witness of purifying me, I'll be whiter than the snow.
Let the bones you crush be joyful, may I joy and gladness know.
From my failure I endure face, out of my wickedness.
Lord, create a pure heart in me, and a steadfast mind for you.
Do not take your spirit from me, cast me not away from you.
Carry back the joy I have, keep my willing spirit glad.
And the melody there, incidentally, was Ottawa, which I omitted to mention.
Well, turn with me, if you will, for a short time this evening to the passage we read together from the book of Numbers, chapter 10.
Numbers 10, the words of Moses to Hobab in verse 29,
Come with us, and we will do good to you.
For the Lord has promised good to Israel.
But he said to him, I will not go.
I will depart to my own land and to my kindred, and so on.
A man named Hobab.
Now, this morning we considered verse 29 under two headings.
Hobab asked, Hobab assured.
So just to recap, the Israelites, in verse 12 of this chapter, they set out in order to begin the conquest of Canaan.
We see them here, assembled, mobilized into orderly ranks with standards and banners lifted up.
It is destination Canaan.
They are good to go, and they are now looking forward to the first leg of their journey towards the promised land.
But our interest, as we highlighted this morning, is in the very personal element to this narrative.
It revolves around Hobab, Moses' Midianite brother-in-law.
He is asked here to join the people of Israel, to enroll, to sign up, to subscribe, to accompany them through the wilderness,
and play a crucial part, a meaningful part, in assisting Israel in navigating their way to Canaan.
But as we noted this morning, Hobab is not merely being called upon as a navigator, as a route finder, as a tracker.
There is so much more to this.
Moses' invitation goes much deeper.
This is a personal invitation with a powerful gospel dynamic to it.
Walk with us, Moses says.
Journey with us.
We will treat you well, should you do so.
In fact, you will share in our inheritance, in the inheritance of God's goodness.
And this is his assurance, should he come along.
It's compelling.
Multiple blessings await Hobab, a promised land flowing with milk and honey, a better country, better by far.
So the question we're going to address tonight is, how will Hobab respond?
Similar to this morning, two headings, we're going to look at Hobab's answer, and we conclude by looking at Moses' appeal.
So what are we to make of Hobab's answer to the invitation of Moses?
When I ministered in Barvis, I would sometimes watch very experienced surfers surf very large Atlantic waves just beyond the Barvis Macher.
It was not for the faint-hearted.
I was once invited by a local surfer to give it a go.
Come with us, he said.
I can't recall if he said, we will do you good.
But my response was, no.
I'm not doing it.
Go on, he said.
And I simply borrowed Hobab's reply to Moses, and I said firmly, no.
I will not go.
You see, Hobab declines Moses' invitation to associate himself with Israel here.
And it's a firm no.
In no uncertain terms, he makes it very clear to Moses that he is not prepared to sever his personal tie
with his own property and his own indigenous people.
He kind of digs his heels in, doesn't he?
When he says no, you get the impression that he means no.
As if to say, with all due respect, Moses, I'm not going.
No ambiguity.
No hesitation.
This appears to be a resolute no.
I will not go.
Now, three things hinder Hobab.
Note here, when he says, I will now depart to my own land and kindred,
it's clear that, yes, three things hinder him.
He's preoccupied with land, livestock, the two overlap, and loved ones.
Land, livestock, and loved ones.
That resonates with us, doesn't it?
We are a crofting community, essentially.
The land, livestock, and loved ones, all three, go deep.
You see, there is much to sacrifice here for Hobab.
And he's just not prepared to let go.
Because to follow, he must forsake.
So he resolves not to go.
He may be apprehensive, afraid about letting go,
because his attachment to the land is strong.
But Moses is saying,
there's a better land.
There's a better country.
Come with us.
But Hobab has duties.
He has responsibilities.
He has personal family ties.
He can't just walk away and leave everything behind.
He may also be concerned about his personal and professional reputation.
What will his Midianite family and community think of him?
Should he now associate himself with the people of Israel?
What will people say?
What will people think of me?
After all, the Midianites and the Israelites
had a frosty relationship.
It wasn't without friction.
So at best, they coexist at this time.
So it seems that the cost implications are just too great for Hobab here.
So I want to ask at this point,
if perhaps some of us here tonight
feel a measure of sympathy for Hobab.
Do you feel his pain?
Do his personal circumstances here reflect your own?
Perhaps for those of us who are Christians here tonight,
we can reflect on a time
when perhaps we were first challenged
with the invitation of the gospel.
That moment when we perhaps heard the words of Numbers 10 29.
And you too initially responded with a firm,
I will not go.
It's not happening.
You heard the gospel anthem of the church,
come with us.
We will do you good.
And yet you responded by saying,
no, I will not go.
Why not?
Well, perhaps if some of us are prepared to reflect,
maybe it had a lot to do with our attachments and ties at that time.
You see, there's much to walk away from
when you become a follower of Jesus Christ.
There's much to sever and to sacrifice.
What will my family and friends say?
You see, Numbers 10 reminds us of this great truth
that we see across the landscape of the four gospels
as Jesus calls his followers.
To follow, one must forsake.
And this is a recurring emphasis on the pages of the Bible.
It's no different here.
Hobab is being invited to walk by faith.
What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Look at that word and break it down into five elements.
F-A-I-T-H.
You've probably heard it before, but we'll say it again.
Forsaking all.
I trust him.
This is what is being asked of Hobab.
How will Hobab respond?
When you're reading through Matthew's gospel,
we read a little from Matthew's gospel tonight from chapter 16.
We'll come back to a number of key reference points there in a moment.
But if you begin in Matthew chapter 4,
as Jesus commences his ministry,
he calls, in the first instance, Peter and Andrew,
just as they're casting their nets on the Sea of Galilee.
Come, follow me, Jesus says to them.
To follow Jesus,
they must forsake their ties to the Sea of Galilee.
And that attachment is strong.
They are fishermen.
And they did.
At once, Matthew tells us,
indeed, with immediate effect,
they left their nets and followed Jesus.
But let's go from the positive to the negative.
Because when we come to Matthew chapter 19,
we realize that this is not always the case.
There's a Hobab in the mix.
In the form of a self-righteous, rich, young ruler
who struggles to forsake his ties to an affluent lifestyle
in order to follow Jesus.
Come, follow me,
Jesus says to this rich young man.
But Matthew tells us
that he went away sad
because he had great wealth.
He does a Hobab.
He says to Jesus,
No,
I will not go.
You see,
Christian discipleship is best summed up
in the words of the Lord Jesus
in the passage we read from Matthew chapter 16,
verse 24.
Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves,
take up the cross,
and follow me.
Now,
it's fair to say,
is it not,
that Hobab
seems to have an issue
with self-denial.
And it's something
that you and I
often struggle with
if we're honest with ourselves.
There was once
a preacher,
an author,
his name was Henry Drummond,
and he said this,
The entrance fee
into the kingdom of heaven
is nothing,
but the annual subscription
is everything.
And this is where we see Hobab.
Moses is saying to him,
Hobab,
there is so much to gain.
Hobab is saying to Moses,
Ah,
but there's everything to lose,
is there not?
This is Hobab's challenge,
and perhaps it's yours tonight.
So let's move on.
Let's come to Moses' appeal.
Because this really takes us
to the nitty-gritty
of what is unfolding.
Credit to Moses
in verse 31.
You will notice that he is not one
for taking no for an answer.
What are we to make
of his appeal
in verse 31?
What does he say to Hobab?
Hobab,
please do not leave us,
for you know
where we should camp
in the wilderness,
and you will serve
as eyes for us.
Please, Hobab,
I beg you,
don't abandon us
at this critical juncture.
He pleads with him
not to walk away,
not to depart,
not to detach himself,
not to go back.
There's something
distinctly missional
about Moses
in this instance,
isn't there?
You see,
missional outreach
is reaching out
to someone
with the gospel.
It's as simple as that,
and we see it here.
Moses leads by example
here in Numbers 10.31.
Notice how he reaches out
to Hobab,
and his appeal,
as we've just read,
it's personal,
but it's incredibly persuasive.
Notice, too,
that it's intentional,
it's purposeful,
and it is passionate.
This is one-to-one evangelism
at its very best,
and no,
we're not on the pages
of the New Testament.
This is Numbers chapter 10,
and it's bulging
with the gospel,
isn't it?
Notice, too,
that Moses,
here in verse 31,
calls Hobab
to serve.
Now, this is crucial
to our understanding
of Christian discipleship
throughout the Bible.
The Lord Jesus himself
sets the sacrificial bar
of service.
The Son of Man,
he says,
came not to be served,
but to serve,
and to give his life
as a ransom for many.
Now, when you think of Hobab,
it's important for us
to think of someone
who is distinguished.
He's a prominent figure
in the Midianite community.
He's a man of standing,
and yet,
his commission
is to serve.
Service,
not status.
No platform,
no pedestal,
no superiority,
no standing,
no pomp,
no ceremony.
Hobab's,
Moses' appeal
to Hobab
is
to serve.
And that word
in this verse
really is important.
You see,
a servant,
generally speaking
throughout the Scriptures,
is by definition
devoted
to another
to the disregard
of his own interests.
It's the vocabulary
of slavery.
And who is the ultimate
bond-servant
in the narrative here?
It is, of course,
Moses,
the servant
of God himself.
Moses is the one
addressing Hobab
to serve.
Moses is indeed
one who is owned
and dedicated
to serve
his Lord
and his Master,
the Holy One
of Israel.
Now,
it's important
for us
to recognize
the importance
of this little
but significant
word,
serve.
You will serve
as eyes
for us.
Because,
you see,
this kind
of vocabulary
really goes
against the grain
of contemporary
thinking these days,
doesn't it?
A self-orientated,
self-focused,
self-centered,
self-elevating,
21st century
take on life.
Shameless,
self-promotion
dominates just about
every social media
platform these days.
it's at the core
of our individualistic
culture where there's
a constant striving
for self-fulfillment.
And yet,
when you turn
the pages of
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke,
and John,
what is it
that strikes you
immediately?
Serving Jesus Christ
is central
to the gospel
narratives.
You see,
discipleship begins
as it does
in Matthew chapter 4.
We referenced it earlier.
It begins with
follow me
and continues
with the same
discipleship
dynamic
throughout.
Follow me,
serve me,
live for me
from the beginning
of your Christian life
to the very end.
It struck me
recently
reading
Paul's letter
to Titus.
Paul is an old man.
The sun
is setting
fast
over
his days.
It's now
65 AD.
He writes
to Titus,
the great
apostle Paul.
And he begins
this letter,
yes,
in the evening
of his years.
Paul,
a servant
of God
and
an apostle
of Jesus Christ.
As we read
this narrative
tonight,
I want us
to ask ourselves
soul-searching
questions.
What,
who
are we
living for?
What is
your great
goal in life?
is it
self-gratification
or self-denial?
Is it
higher status
or higher
service?
Hobab,
Moses says,
you know
where we should
camp in the wilderness
and you can
serve
as our
eyes.
Notice
something else
that Moses
does.
focus on
and
he focuses
on Hobab's
knowledge
and awareness
and experience
all of which
makes him a
resourceful and
effective person
to have.
In other words,
his gifts
can be put
to good use
within the
fellowship
of Israel.
Service
and gifts
overlap
in the
Christian
life
and both
are to
be
not for
our
benefit
but for
the glory
of God.
You see,
Hobab can
input
and assist
as few
can.
That's the
point here.
He can
act as
the very
eyes of
Israel
and play
an active
part in
this journey.
So what is
Moses saying
to him?
Well,
again,
come,
not as a
passenger,
but come
as an
active
participant,
Hobab.
Again,
this is
vital
to our
understanding
of discipleship
as we
read this
narrative in
Numbers 10
in parallel
with the
Gospels of
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke,
and John.
You see,
the kingdom
always requires
of you and
I a
hands-on
approach.
Folded
hands are
of no
use in
the kingdom.
Proactive,
not inactive.
Doing,
not dithering.
Hands to
the plow,
no looking
back.
And so
Hobab is
given every
encouragement
by Moses
here to
enroll,
to sign
up,
and to
accompany
Moses and
the people
of Israel
through this
wilderness
journey ahead
and play
a strategic,
meaningful,
vital,
key part
in assisting
Moses and
the people
of Israel
and to
give of
his insight
and knowledge
and experience
to the
glory of
God.
But let me
just say
what I
said this
morning
very briefly.
Moses'
appeal
goes
so much
deeper
than just
having
Hobab
on board
as someone
who would
be useful
to have.
As we
said,
this points
us firmly
to a
very powerful
moving
gospel
invitation.
You see,
Hobab is
personally
asked to
step
forward,
to come
forward,
and associate
himself now
with God's
people,
to follow
the ark
of the
covenant,
to follow
the pillar
of cloud,
to follow
not just
the people
of God
but the
Lord God
himself.
And he's
assured here
too that
God has
a purpose,
for him.
Listen to
what Moses
says in
verse 32,
Hobab,
should you
come,
and can
you hear
the decibels
rising in
Moses'
voice?
Hobab,
should you
come with
us,
then you
too will
be a
recipient
of blessing
as much
as every
other
Israelite
you see
around you
here.
You will
not be
excluded
should you
come
with us.
We will
treat you
well.
Indeed,
you will
be grafted
in,
you will
be adopted
into the
family of
God,
Hobab.
What's
ours will
be yours,
the same
inheritance,
no less.
That's what
Moses is
saying in
verse 32,
just as
that little
word serve
is so
significant
in verse
31,
the word
same carries
tremendous
weight in
verse 32.
Now isn't
Moses a
great evangelist?
He's
persistent,
isn't he?
He reaches
out to
Hobab
once again,
and with
urgency he
makes his
appeal to
him to
commit once
and for
all.
You see,
the Israelites,
well,
they're good
to go.
They're
ready to
depart.
They await
the signal
from Moses,
but Moses
will not
lift his
hand until
he's finished
with Hobab,
and he's
not finished
with him
yet.
This
incident,
again,
I say it,
it's bulging
with the
gospel,
isn't it?
You see,
this call,
this appeal
to Hobab
to take
to the
path of
discipleship
is powerful,
but it's
also
ponyant.
There's
an urgency
to this.
There's
tension
in the
air.
Why?
Because it's
like standing
in the
last chance
saloon.
The clock
is ticking.
It's time
to go,
and there
is no
more time
to lose.
This is
it.
Decision
time,
Hobab.
Now,
can I
stop there
and ask
as we
read this,
if you
have not
as yet
resolved
to trust
in Jesus
Christ,
will you
resolve
to do
that now?
Will you
resolve
to live
for Jesus?
Will you
resolve
to sever
any ties
you have
tonight
that might
be holding
you back
from trusting
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ
as your
personal
savior?
Will you
come into
the fellowship
of the gospel
with God's
people?
Will you
say,
the world
behind me,
the cross
before me,
no turning
back?
Because when
all is said
and done,
there remains
one important
question.
Who asks
that question?
It is,
of course,
the Lord
Jesus
himself.
The question
that is put
in the passage
we read
from Matthew
16,
verse 26,
6,
what will
it profit
a man
if he gains
the whole
world
and forfeits
his own
soul?
We can
paraphrase
that ever
so slightly
because in
this verse
that I've
quoted from
Matthew
16,
26,
Jesus
turns the
word
good
in Numbers
10,
29
on its
head.
As if
to say,
what good
will it
be for
someone to
gain the
whole world
yet forfeit
their soul?
Does that
paint a
picture of
you tonight?
It certainly
paints a
picture of
Hobab.
So,
to be
or not
to be?
That is
the question.
What did
Hobab do?
How did
he respond?
What is
the outcome?
Well,
let's look
at verse
33
because it
sheds
some light
on how
all of
this
concludes.
So,
they
set out
from the
mountain
of the
Lord.
The
ark of
the
covenant
of the
Lord
went
before
them
to
seek
out
a
resting
place
for
them.
The
cloud
of the
Lord
was
over
them
when
they
set
out
from
the
camp.
What
is so
significant
about the
pronouns
we come
across
from verse
33?
Well,
do the
pronouns
they
and them
not include
Hobab?
Well,
I'm
persuaded
that all
five
pronouns
do
just that.
he
has
come
forward.
He's
in.
He
has
taken
that
next
step.
He's
in the
fellowship
of
Israel.
Had
he
not,
then
surely
the
passage
would
have
spelt
this
out
for
us.
If
there
had
been
a
parting
of
the
ways
at
this
decisive
point,
then
this
would
in
all
probability
be
highlighted.
But we
mustn't
stop
there
because
we need
to go
beyond
the
law
of
probability,
don't
we?
And the
Bible
does.
There
are
two
further
references
to
Hobab,
or at
least
Hobab
is being
alluded
to.
So if
you've
got your
Bible
in front
of you,
just
turn,
if you
will,
a few
books
forward
to
the
book
of
Judges.
Judges
chapter
1
verse
16.
Now,
we're
turning
to the
book
of
Judges
because
the
book
of
Judges
provides
more
compelling
evidence
to
support
our
conclusion.
Judges
1
16,
as I
said a
moment
ago,
alludes
to
Hobab.
Let's
just get
a handle
on the
historical
context.
We are
in the
realm
of the
ongoing
conquest
of
Canaan,
so we're
some
40 to
60
years
on
from
the
events
that are
unfolding
in
Numbers
10
at
Mount
Sinai.
What
do we
read
in
verse
16?
And
the
descendants
of
the
Canaanite,
Moses'
father-in-law,
went up
with the
people of
Judah
from the
city of
Palms
into the
wilderness
of
Judah.
Now,
this
speaks
of
Hobab's
kindred,
of
Hobab's
people.
The
Canaanites
were a
subgroup
of the
Midianites.
And
this would
strongly
suggest
that
his
whole
family
have
followed
in
his
footsteps.
But
we're
not
done
yet.
There's
one
further
reference
and
you
only
have
to
turn
a
page
or
two.
We
come
to
chapter
4
verse
11
and
you
will
see
there
that
Hobab
is
actually
mentioned.
You
will
notice
that
more
specifically
it
refers
to
the
descendants
of
Hobab
Moses'
brother
in
law.
Now
Heber,
the
Canaanites,
had
separated
from the
Canaanites
the
descendants
of
Hobab,
the
father-in-law
of Moses
and so
on.
Now,
again,
this is
years
later.
Here we
are
in
Canaan
during the
leadership
of the
judge,
prophet,
and
mother in
Israel,
Deborah.
Two very
significant
reference
points,
all of
which take
us back
to Numbers
chapter 10.
So,
had
Hobab
not
followed
and his
line and
his people,
his
immediate
and extended
family,
then
he would
not be
mentioned.
So,
we conclude
that Hobab
indeed,
back in
chapter 10
of Numbers,
subscribed,
yes,
he sided
with Israel.
He takes
that step
forward
and he
walks
alongside
Moses,
grafted
into
the
commonwealth
of Israel.
you might
ask the
question,
was he
disappointed?
No.
Yes,
there are
challenges
ahead.
If you're
going to
turn the
pages of
Scripture
from Numbers
chapter 10
onwards,
it doesn't
always make
for good
reading.
You're
going to
read of
periods of
rebellion
and plagues
and disobedience,
but you're
also going to
read of
times of
great blessing.
You're
also going
to read of
the faithfulness
of the
covenant-keeping
God of
Israel.
You're
also going
to read,
yes,
of how
sin abounds,
but you
will read
of how
grace
does so
much more
abound
in the
history of
Israel.
And we
believe that
Hobab is a
recipient
of grace
and mercy
and peace
as he
walks
the path,
the way
of the
wilderness
with the
people of
God.
No eye
has seen,
Paul says
in 1 Corinthians
2, 9,
no ear
has heard,
and no
human mind
has conceived
the things
God has
prepared for
those who
love him.
I'm sure
Hobab may
well have
said that
God did
immeasurably
more than
all he
could have
asked for
or imagined
back then
at Mount
Sinai,
according to
the power
at work
within
the people
of God.
To him
be the
glory in
the church
and in
Christ Jesus
throughout
all generations
forever
and ever.
Amen.
Let's
pray.
Our
heavenly
Father,
we praise
you for
the
message
of the
gospel.
We
thank you
this evening
for
the
very
compelling
tone
of the
narrative
we have
engaged
with.
And it
speaks to
us
now,
thousands
of years
later.
Perhaps
we are
standing
where
Hobab
stood.
We pray
that we
would be
constrained
by the
love of
Christ to
take that
next step
and to
walk
with your
people.
And for
those of
us who
can look
back
to that
time where
perhaps we
stood,
where Hobab
stood and
took that
next step
so we
reflect with
gratitude
and so we
would raise
our Ebenezer
and we
too can
stand next
to Samuel
and we
can say
hitherto,
thus far the
Lord has
helped us
and so may
we continue
to trust
unreservedly
in the
sufficiency
of your
grace
for the
remainder of
this day
and for
all our
days.
In
Jesus'
name,
Amen.
Well, let's
conclude our
service as
we sing
Psalm 36
from
Sing
Psalms.
The tune
is Huddersfield
verses 5
to 10
on page
44.
Your
steadfast
love is
great,
O Lord.
it reaches
heaven high.
Your
faithfulness
is wonderful,
extending
to the
sky.
Verses
5 to
10
to the
praise of
God.
Amen.
Your
steadfast
love
is
great,
O Lord,
it
reaches
heaven high.
Your
faithfulness
is
wonderful,
extending
to the
sky.
Your
righteousness
is
very
great,
like mountains
high and
steep.
Your
justice
is
like
ocean
depths,
both
man and
beast
you
keep.
high
precious
is
your
sacrifice
love,
what
haunted
exit
brings,
for
high and
loof
my
sheltering
the
shadow
of
your
wings.
The
feet
within
your
hearts
and
they
come
streams
of
your
delight,
on
with
your
soul
shall
fly,
in
your
life
we
see
light.
those
who
know
you
as
their
God,
your
steadfast
life,
loving
heart,
may
take
your
righteousness
to
those
of
pure
and
upright
heart.
The
grace of
the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
the love
of God
the Father,
and the
fellowship
of the
Holy
Spirit
remain
with
us
all.
Amen.