Well, good morning and thank you very much, Ian, for your warm welcome. It's good to be with you and I do bring greetings from the Black Isle from our congregation at Ferentos and Rizollas.
We're going to read as our call to worship this morning the words of 1 Peter chapter 1. At verse 24, we read these words,
For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Well, of course, we associate the fellowship of the gospel with God's house, and we are going to commence our service by singing together from Psalm 122.
It's the Sing Psalms rendering of Psalm 122.
This is on page 169.
To the Lord's house they were calling, and with joy I went with them.
Now at last our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem, and so on.
So let's stand, let's sing to the praise of God.
Psalm 122.
To the Lord's house they were calling, and with joy I went with them.
Now at last our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
See Jerusalem like a city, built compactly, close and strong.
That is where the tribes assemble, tribes which to the Lord belong.
To the Lord's name praise they offer, as for Israel the great.
There are set of thrones for judgment, thrones of David's royal seed.
Pray for Zion's peace and safety.
May your friends securely dwell.
Peace within your walls continue.
Strength within your citadel.
For the sake of friends and brothers, peace be in you I will sing.
For the sake of her God's temple, I seek your prosperity.
Well let's draw near to God in prayer.
Let's pray.
Amen.
As your people rejoiced during the days of ancient Israel, it is truly a joy for us to be in the Lord's house on the Lord's day.
And for this renewed opportunity to gather in gospel fellowship, we give thanks.
We praise you for how your people gravitate towards the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And we pray that on this Lord's day, the sound of the gospel would resonate far and wide.
We pray that in our towns and villages and crofting townships alike, knees would bow and tongues would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
And as we pray for our communities, so we pray for our cities, our countries and continents alike.
And so we pray that the proclamation of the gospel would be heard across our world, indeed to the far ends of the earth.
We praise you for your living and abiding and enduring word.
And as we gather under its supreme authority, so we pray that we would read it and engage with it with heartfelt reverence.
Still our hearts even now and enable us to worship you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May we do so in spirit and sincerity and in truth.
May God the Holy Spirit hover over us.
May God the Holy Spirit minister to us and enable us, we pray, to have as our great endeavor the glory and honor and praise of your name.
and so we seek your blessing upon us we ask oh lord that you would forgive us for we confess
our sins we pray for cleansing through the shed blood of jesus our sinless sin bearer
and so we come in his name giving thanks that we have in this moment direct access to the very
throne room of heaven through our mediator and advocate with the father we ask oh lord that you
would grant us now grace and mercy and peace for all we ask is in jesus name and for his sake amen
well it's wonderful to see so many boys and girls now we're going to think
just for a few moments on the bible as a manual for life but before doing so we're going to read
together from the bible from the new testament from second timothy chapter 3
now the apostle paul writes to a very young timothy
and as he writes to him he is urging timothy to read his bible
now we're going to read from verse 14 in second timothy chapter 3 this is on page 1199 of the pages
so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy
but as for you continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed knowing from whom
you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith in christ jesus all scripture is breathed out by god
and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
The Bible, a manual for life. Now, there are manuals and there are manuals. I have here
a screenshot of a manual that's probably more familiar to, shall we say, a more mature generation
here today. Decades ago, almost every garage across Lewis would have had a copy of Haynes' manual.
This one is for the Ford Escort, the Owner's Workshop Manual. These are now readily available
on eBay and on other platforms, but much of these manuals are no longer available. You've got to
go looking for them. But if you had a manual like this and you owned a car and you thought,
I can strip it down, I can reassemble it, I can fix it, then you'd have turned the pages of Haynes'
workshop manual. But the Bible is a manual for life. Now, this manual, it's been around for a long time.
In fact, it was first published, Haynes' workshop manual, back in 1965. Now, that was a long time ago.
But really, Paul is saying to young Timothy here that the Bible has been around much longer.
Because when you start reading your Bible, you'll discover that many of the Bible stories,
if you go way, way, way, way back to book number one of 66, then you're taken back thousands upon
thousands of years. Now, unlike the Bible, Haynes' manual is not a one-size-fits-all. Great if you own a
Ford Escort, but this particular manual is of no use to you if you own, for example, a Volkswagen
Golf. Now, Haynes' manual is, well, mainly for cars. But the Bible is a manual for life.
Haynes equips you to get to know your car better. But Paul is saying here that the Bible thoroughly
equips us for getting to know the Lord Jesus Christ and walking with him every day. Sadly,
John Harold Haynes, who first published this manual back in 65, well, he's no longer with us. He died
in 2019 at the age of 80. But Jesus lives, and he ever lives. And when we turn the pages of the Bible,
the Bible points us, doesn't it, to the Lord Jesus. Now, as I said at the beginning, many of Haynes'
manuals are now history and of no use to anyone because, well, most of the cars we drive these days
are a world removed from the Ford Escort of 1980 to 1982. But the Bible, as Paul tells us here,
is God breathed. It is inspired. You can't say that about any other book you have in your library.
And whenever we're talking about Haynes' manual, we're talking in the past tense. We're talking
about stuff that was. But you see, the Bible is useful. Paul is speaking in the present tense.
It's useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and training in righteousness,
training us how we can have a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
And finally, Haynes' workshop manual, well, it made many of its readers in decades past into very,
very good mechanics. But the Bible makes its reader into a man or a woman of God. So I want to encourage
you today to read your Bible. There's nothing terribly scientific about that, but it is so,
so important to read your Bible every day, to read it carefully, to read it prayerfully. And as you do so,
ask the Lord to lead you and to guide you to Jesus, to get to know him and to walk with him
every day in life. Because the Bible is a manual for all of life. Amen. We're going to pray together.
We're going to pray the words of the Lord's Prayer. So let's do that as the Lord Jesus taught his
disciples. So we pray with one voice. Let's do so in unison. Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Well, let's continue to sing to the praise of God. Psalm 19.
And this is the Scottish Psalter version of Psalm 19.
On page 223. And we're singing verses 7 to 11.
A psalm which focuses on various aspects of the Bible. Verse 7, the Bible, God's law is perfect
and converts the soul in sin that lies. God's testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise. So let's
sing these verses to the praise of God.
God's law is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies. God's testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise.
God's law is perfect and makes the simple wise. The statutes of the Lord are right and do rejoice the heart.
God's law is perfect and does not do rejoice the Lord's command. The Lord's command is pure and does not do the eyes impart.
God's law is perfect and does not do groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan,
They more than gold, yea, much fine gold to be desired are.
Than honey, honey from the cold that drop the sweeter far.
Moreover they thy servant warned, how he this life should frame.
A great reward provided is for them that keep the same.
Well we're going to read God's word together once again.
This time from the Old Testament scriptures from the book of Numbers and chapter 10.
On page 142, Numbers chapter 10 and we're going to take up our reading at verse 11.
Numbers 10, 11.
In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth 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 the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Peran.
They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses.
The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies.
And over their company was Nation, the son of Amminadab.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel, the son of Zuer.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helan.
And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out.
And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies.
And over their company was Eliezer, the son of Shadur.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shalumiel, the son of Zerushaddai.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliaseth, the son of Jeul.
Then the Kohathites set out carrying the holy things.
And the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.
And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies.
And over their company was Eliashemah, the son of Ammihud.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel, the son of Pedazur.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abiodun, the son of Gideonai.
Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps set out by their companies.
And over their company was Ahazer, the son of Amishadai.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pediel, the son of Ochron.
And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Ehairad, the son of Enon.
This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies when they set out.
And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law,
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 trust we know God will add his blessing to the reading of his holy and inspired word.
Let's continue to sing to the praise of God.
Psalm 23 on page 28.
It's the Sing Psalms version.
The Lord is my shepherd.
He's my shepherd.
And this he has done his great name to display.
Though I walk in death's valley where darkness is near.
Because you are with me, no evil I'll fear.
Your rod and your staff bring me comfort and cheer.
In the sight of my enemies, a table you spread.
The oil of rejoicing you poured on my head.
My cup overflows and I'm graciously fed.
So surely your covenant, mercy and grace will follow me closely in all of my ways.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord all my days.
Well, before we turn to God's word, let's once again bow our heads.
Let's unite our hearts in prayer.
Shepherd us now, we pray.
Thank you, gracious God, gracious God, into the green pastures and still waters of holy scripture.
Open the eyes of our understanding.
Give us light.
Give us gospel clarity as only you can.
We pray that you would bind us together
as one in Christ Jesus.
Grant your blessing upon us
for it is your blessing we long for,
the blessing that makes one rich and adds no sorrow.
We praise you for the indescribable gift
of your Son, your one and only Son,
your only begotten Son,
the Son of your steadfast and unfailing love.
How we praise you today anew
for the one in whom we have redemption
through his shed blood,
the forgiveness of our sins,
according to the riches of your grace,
which you have lavished upon us
via Calvary's cross.
Remember us, we pray,
as we bring our cares and our concerns
before you at the throne of grace.
You are the God of all grace,
and for the sufficiency of your grace,
we give thanks.
We praise you that you are the God of all comfort,
so may you bring comfort,
consolation, encouragement,
strength to all this day
who may be in need
of having a felt awareness
of your presence,
of your grace and mercy and peace anew.
So draw near to us
and grant us now, we pray,
to wait upon the Lord.
May we know
the joy of the Lord as our strength,
and may we look to you
with our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the pioneer and the perfecter of our faith.
For we ask all things
in his name and for his sake.
Amen.
Well, turn with me, if you will,
to the book of Numbers,
to the passage we read together
from Numbers chapter 10.
Our text is verse 29,
the words of Moses to Hobab.
Come with us,
and we will do good to you,
for the Lord has promised good to Israel.
A man named Hobab.
Now, the Old Testament has,
you might say,
a register of peculiar names.
And whilst some are,
these days,
very popular baby names,
such as Adam and Caleb and Noah,
Leah, Esther, Hannah, Rebecca,
you are less likely to find the name
of Hobab on a birth certificate.
After all,
he is mentioned ever so briefly
on the pages of Scripture.
Other than this reference,
we have in Numbers chapter 10,
verse 29,
he is not referred to again
across the landscape
of the book of Numbers.
There are two further indirect references
to Hobab in the book of Judges,
but that's it.
So,
why turn the spotlight
this morning
on someone
who seems
so insignificant
and somewhat
irrelevant?
There are,
after all,
some 3,000
names
in the Bible
to choose from.
So,
why
Hobab?
Well,
because I would argue
that there is much
to glean
from this Bible character.
There is much
for us to learn
from Hobab
here in Numbers chapter 10,
so much so
that we're going
to spend the day
unpacking this passage
before us.
We are going to be
a little forensic,
more of a fine-tooth comb
than a broad brush,
as we explore
verses 29 to 36
of Numbers chapter 10.
But this morning,
we're going to focus
primarily
on the words
of verse 29,
and we're going to do so
under two headings,
two A's.
Hobab
asked
and Hobab
assured.
What has he asked?
What are we to make
of the invitation
of Moses?
Come with us
and
we will do
good
to you.
We will treat
you well.
Well,
that is the assurance
that Hobab
is given
in its
sum and substance.
So,
Hobab
asked,
now,
Numbers chapter 10,
if we go back
to verse 11
where we began
to read
this narrative
concerning Hobab,
it marks
a significant
turning point
for Israel.
You might say
a new beginning.
Having pitched
their tents
for a whole year
at Mount Sinai,
it's now time
to move on.
Indeed,
we read
that they set
out,
verse 12,
to begin
the conquest
of Canaan.
So,
picture the scene,
if you will,
at this key
landmark.
There they are,
assembled,
mobilized
into orderly ranks
with standards
and banners
lifted up.
Destination
Canaan,
the promised land.
Now,
our interest
this morning
is in the
personal dynamic
to the narrative,
particularly
verse 29,
because it
revolves around
this character
by the name
of Hobab,
Moses'
Midianite
brother-in-law.
Note that
he is asked
to join
the people
of Israel
to sign up,
to subscribe,
to walk
with Moses
and the people
of Israel,
to accompany
them through
the wilderness,
and to play
a meaningful
part as a,
verse 31,
service provider
in assisting
Israel
in navigating
their way
to Canaan.
So,
why Hobab?
What is it
about Hobab?
Why is Moses
so compelled
to speak to him
and ask him
to come
with them?
Well,
Hobab
is a
knowledgeable,
resourceful
man who
is more
than familiar
with the
desert terrain.
Hobab
can provide
much-needed
guidance,
direction,
and practical
advice
for mapping
out purposes
and more
besides.
But if we
just take
the spotlight
away from
Hobab
for a moment
and turn
the spotlight
on Moses,
then it
tells us
also,
doesn't it,
something
interesting,
something that
perhaps warms
our hearts
about the
great leader
of Israel
himself.
does he
really need
Hobab?
After all,
he's an
outstanding
leader.
He's well
resourced.
yes,
but does
Moses not
recognize
too that
he is
not
indispensable?
You'll
recall how
his father-in-law,
Jethro,
had reminded
him back
in Exodus
18 of
his need
to delegate
responsibility
onto
others.
wise
counsel.
Here we
are in
Numbers
chapter 10.
Moses,
yes,
he is
assured
of
divine
protection.
But he
also seems
to be
saying
here that
he also
values
human
support
and
assistance.
Yes,
here is
the
illustrious
Moses,
the
godly
servant
of
God
who
knew
God
face
to
face.
But he's
also,
in the
words of
the
commentator
Raymond
Brown,
a mere
man,
with all
the natural
hesitancy
and fears
that anyone
would feel
on the verge
of such
a massive
enterprise.
I want
you to
think of
Hobab
as the
ultimate
Sherpa.
Hobab.
So,
if this
was
Everest
terrain,
then you
would
instinctively
call
someone
like
Hobab,
someone
well-informed
and
experienced.
But I
want us
to stop
there because
he is
not merely
being called
upon here
as a
facilitator,
as a
pilot,
as a
navigator,
as a
root
finder,
no,
there is
so much
more
to what
is unfolding.
There is
always
substance
to
Scripture
and verse
29 of
Numbers 10
is no
exception.
Notice
that Moses'
invitation
goes so
much
deeper.
What we
have here
in verse
29
is a
personal
gospel
invitation.
An
invitation,
you might
say,
with a
powerful
gospel
dynamic
to it.
But I
know that
the moment
we make
reference
to the
word
gospel,
someone
might be
thinking,
hold on,
this is
not the
New
Testament.
We are
not here
on the
pages of
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke,
or John.
The
book of
Numbers
centers on
ancient
Israel,
not the
first
century
world
of the
gospel.
Well,
that's
true,
but there
are
clear,
very
clear
overtones
of the
good news
of the
gospel
here,
as you
will find
across
the pages
of the
Old
Testament.
Let's
not forget
how it
begins.
Where do
we first
see that
powerful,
moving,
stirring
gospel
dynamic?
We see
it,
don't we,
in Genesis
chapter 3,
verse 15.
Theologians
call it
the
Proto-Evangelium,
the first
announcement
of the
gospel
on the
pages of
scripture.
And yes,
this is
book 1
of 66,
and the
gospel
is beginning
to resonate
as we
begin
our
journey
through
redemption
history.
Genesis
3, 15
revolves
around the
offspring
of the
woman,
the one
who would
triumph
over the
old
serpent,
and his
name is
Jesus
Christ.
he
shall
bruise
your
head,
God
says,
to the
serpent
in the
narrative
of the
fall.
Yes,
the
gospels
are a
distinct
part of
the New
Testament,
but
exploring
gospel
themes
like
Numbers
10,
29
within
on the
pages of
the Old
Testament
provides
us,
doesn't
it,
with a
deeper
understanding
of the
Bible
as a
whole
and of
how the
Old
Testament
points
us
consistently
in the
direction
of
Jesus.
The
Old
Testament
gravitates
towards
Jesus
and
ultimately
crystallizes
in
Jesus
Christ.
The
great
translator
of
Scripture
himself,
William
Tyndale,
puts it
so,
so well,
the
Scriptures
spring
out of
God
and
flow
into
Christ
and
were
given
to
lead
us
to
Christ.
Well,
Numbers
10
is no
exception.
So I
want us
to see
that this
passage
is
bulging
with what
we're
going to
call
gospel
markers.
The
invitation
of the
gospel
and
Hobab's
response
to it
is
played
out
very,
very
clearly
here.
So the
symbolic
significance
of what
unfolds
is
striking.
You see,
Hobab
is essentially
being
invited
here
by
Moses
to
enter
into
fellowship
with
God's
people.
It is
a call
to
discipleship
and there
are overtones
here of
that key
discipleship
directive
follow me
so central
to the
gospel
ministry
of the
Lord
Jesus
on the
pages
of the
gospel
but we
see it
here.
you
might
say
that
it's
a
big
ask
from
Hobab's
perspective.
Well,
so it
is.
But for
you and
I this
morning
there are
moments
in life
when we
either
accept
or
decline
an
invitation
to
various
life
events,
functions,
meetings,
receptions,
and other
occasions.
But you
see,
Numbers
10
29
takes us
into the
realm
of one
of life's
defining
moments.
This is
a momentous
invitation
like no
other.
And how
you respond
today
to this
gospel
invitation
of Numbers
10
29
matters
more than
anything else
that's unfolding
in your life
right now.
In fact,
it will
determine
how you
live the
rest of
your life
and where
you will
spend the
endless
ages of
eternity.
This is
serious
business.
Hobab
is
invited.
It's
more of
an exhortation,
isn't it?
Come with
us
to associate
himself
with Israel,
to join
the circle,
to position
himself
behind the
ark of
the covenant
and to
follow the
pillar of
clouds,
to walk
by faith,
to follow
not just
God's
people,
but God
himself.
And should
he come
along,
Hobab is
assured
that he
will be
made to
feel
most welcome,
he will
be well
received,
and he
will be
embraced
with
generosity
and
kindness.
We
will
treat
you
well,
is what
Moses
conveys to
Hobab
literally
in the
words we
have here.
And by
extension,
this is
your assurance
today too,
should you
come
and follow
in the
footsteps
of
Hobab.
But secondly,
Hobab
assured.
Now,
what are we
to make
of Moses'
words of
assurance
to Hobab
here?
Well,
the words
are interesting.
We will
do good
to you,
we will
treat you
well,
for the
Lord has
promised
good things
for Israel.
Hobab's
assurance
is founded
on the
goodness
and
faithfulness
of God.
The
Lord,
in his
covenant
faithfulness,
has promised
good things
for Israel,
primarily
the
promised
land.
And this
is what
Moses
is alluding
to.
Hobab
now has
the
opportunity
to become
a recipient
of this
covenant
promise
and the
multiple
blessings
that go
with it.
He's
invited,
he's
encouraged,
he's
exhorted
in the
imperative
mood.
Come
with us,
walk
with us,
journey
with us
on this
epic journey,
and we
will treat
you well.
You will
share,
you too,
yes Hobab,
you too
will share
in our
inheritance
of God's
goodness
and loving
kindness.
This is
his assurance
should he
come along
and it
is
quite
compelling.
Again,
there are
gospel
overtones
to this
promised
inheritance
that we
find,
don't we,
across the
scriptures.
Listen to
the words
of Peter
in 1
Peter 1
verses 3
and 4.
Praise be
to the
God and
Father of
our Lord
Jesus
Christ.
In his
great
mercy,
he has
given us
in Jesus
an inheritance
that can
never perish,
spoil,
or fade.
And he
says this
inheritance
is kept
in heaven
for you.
You see,
what was
promised in
Numbers 10
29 is
fulfilled
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
the ultimate
inheritance
we have
in Christ
is
Emmanuel's
land,
the heavenly
city that
has foundations
whose
designer and
builder is
God.
Hebrews 11
10,
alluding,
of course,
to that
great promise
given to
Abraham.
And Abraham
actively
pursued
this
great
promise.
He was
looking
forward
to it,
the writer
to the
Hebrews
tells us
in
11
10.
You see,
the words
of
Numbers
10
29,
these words
were uttered
some 3,500
years ago.
And isn't it
remarkable that
these words
continue to
resonate with
us today
and are
amplified
through
the
gospel.
So,
Numbers
10
29 has
lost
nothing of
its gospel
intensity.
This
invitation
comes to
us
today
within
these
walls
with the
propelling
thrust
of the
gospel.
It has
lost
nothing
of its
weight
and
urgency.
Come
with
us.
It's a
familiar
formula
of words,
isn't it?
You might
say,
it sounds
like.
Well,
it does.
Come
with us
is very
similar to,
for example,
what Philip
said to a
somewhat
skeptical
Nathaniel
in the
opening
chapter of
John's
gospel.
If you
read from
verse 43,
the narrative
unfolds.
But what
does he
say to
this
somewhat
cynical
Nathaniel?
Come.
Come with
us.
Come and
see.
Accompany
me.
Let me
take you
to the
feet of
Jesus.
Nathaniel
is a
reluctant
disciple
who,
before
accepting
Philip's
invitation
to come
to Jesus,
questions
whether
anything
good
can
come
out
of
Nazareth.
But,
oh,
when he
comes
and when
he
follows
Jesus,
he is
immediately,
just like
Hobab,
assured
of seeing
greater
things.
Come
with us.
This is
the great
anthem of
the Church
of Christ.
It's a
personal
invitation
inviting you
this morning
if you
have not
as yet
embraced
this
invitation
to come,
to come
into
Christian
fellowship.
It's a
call to
Christian
discipleship
to publicly
associate
yourself,
yes,
in this
very moment
with God's
own people
and to
lift the
gospel
standard,
the
banner
of
Jesus
Christ
and to
join the
circle
and follow
Jesus.
We are
talking about
an open
confession
of faith
in Jesus
Christ.
Is this
the moment
where some
of us
here today
will stand
up and
stand out
and respond
in a
positive
vein to
this
gospel
invitation
of
Numbers
1029.
The
assurance,
the
declaration,
the
guarantee
that is
extended to
Hobab
has not
changed.
I assure
you today
on the
authority of
God's
word that
we,
the people
of God
will do
you good.
We will
treat you
well.
Now,
coming back
to Hobab,
he knows
a thing or
two about
the wilderness.
Let's be
clear about
that.
He knows
that the
wilderness
out there
beyond
Sinai
is difficult.
It's
demanding.
It's
challenging
terrain,
and Moses
will not
try to
pull the
wool over
his eyes.
Because
Hobab
knows too
much.
He knows
the wilderness
far better
than Moses.
He knows
that it's a
dangerous world
out there.
Yet,
he is
reminded
that God
has promised
an abundance
of good
things
to his
covenant
people.
Multiple
blessings
await him.
a promised
land
flowing
with
milk
and
honey.
Now,
Hobab
has seen
for himself,
of course,
in the
life of
his brother-in-law,
Moses,
that God
is indeed
true to
his word.
Yes,
he is
truthful,
he is
faithful,
and he
is covenant
keeping.
Because
the same
Moses,
this is
the same
Moses we're
talking about,
who refused
to be called
the son
of Pharaoh's
daughter,
he who was
once a prince
in Egypt,
walking through
the corridors
of power
within the
palace.
But he
chose,
of course,
he chose
rather to be
ill-treated
with the
people of
God
than to
enjoy,
as Hebrews
11,
24 puts it,
the fleeting
pleasures
of sin.
And he
has endured
much,
but his
endurance
has not
been without
enjoyment.
Moses
has experienced
God's
presence,
God's
power,
God's
blessing
time and
again.
So,
come with
us
is applicable
to you
an eye
today,
because,
you see,
just like
the Israelites
at the
beginning of
this narrative
back in
verse 11,
every day
of our
lives,
we too
are setting
out,
we too
are embarking
on a journey
into the
unknown.
We don't
have a clue
when we get
up in the
morning how
the day
is going
to unfold
and how
it's going
to end.
life is
uncertain.
However,
there is,
as this
passage
reminds us,
absolute
certainty
in the
promises of
God.
The future
is as
bright
for the
Christian
today as
the promises
of God,
because all
of his
promises are
yes,
amen,
in Christ
Jesus.
You see,
Numbers 10
comes with
a concrete
assurance that
God's
covenant
mercy and
grace will
follow me
closely in
all of my
ways and
that ultimately
I will
dwell in
the house
of the
Lord all
my
days,
world
without
end.
This is
the dynamic
of the
great
assurance
that
Hobab
is being
assured
of.
We see
it,
don't we,
in the
writings of
John
Newton,
in that
great
song,
that great
hymn of
praise,
amazing
grace.
The
Lord has
promised
good
to me.
His
word,
my hope
secures.
He will
my shield
and portion
be as
long as
life
endures.
So I
want to
ask,
just as
Hobab
was asked,
as we
close now,
will you
resolve
to come
on this
journey?
Do you
feel the
excitement
of this
moment at
Mount
Sinai?
God
will
be
to
leave.
And just
like Hobab,
you too are
encouraged,
as we
bring this
service to a
close,
as we
pronounce the
benediction,
to sign up,
to come
with us.
So how will
you respond to
this gospel
invitation today?
That is the
question.
Will you
join the
circle,
and will
you sit
with us
at the
feet of
the Lord
Jesus
Christ?
There is
no better
place to
be seated.
Because you
see, this
gospel
invitation of
Numbers 10
29 finds
its ultimate
fulfillment in
one greater
than Moses.
In the
very personal
invitation of
the Lord
Jesus,
on the
pages of
Matthew 11
verse 28,
again,
sounds like,
come,
Jesus says,
come to me,
come with
me,
come to
me all
you who
labor and
are heavy
laden,
and I
assure you
that I
will give
you rest.
Come with
me and I
will do
you good.
You will
find rest
for your
souls.
God
will
Hobab
do?
Well, that
remains to
be seen.
And if you
are interested
in how all
of this
unfolds,
because it's
not without
an element
of uncertainty,
there's an
element of
suspense at
this point.
but if you
are interested
in what
happens next
and how it
all concludes,
come back at
six o'clock,
because we're
going to
revisit this
passage,
and we're
going to
navigate our
way through
it and
determine how
it all
ends.
But the
big question
today is
for how
this service
ends for
you.
Will you
respond to
this invitation
in the
here and
now, and
come to
the feet
of Jesus?
Amen.
Our
heavenly
Father, we
praise you
for the
invitation of
the gospel,
how we
give thanks
today for
the
multiple
invitations
and exhortations
we have
across the
pages of
the Bible.
We thank
you for the
compelling
words we
have engaged
with this
morning,
and may
we be
led to
stand
where
Hobab
stood with
Moses.
all these
generations
ago, in
the mists
of time,
and yet
your word
is both
timeless
and timely.
It speaks
to us
now, and
may we
sense your
still small
voice bidding
us to
come.
In
Jesus'
name,
Amen.
We're
going to
sing in
conclusion to
the praise
of God
the words
of Psalm
34.
It's the
Scottish
Psalter.
It's on
page 247.
And we're
going to
sing verses
8 to
15.
this great
gospel
invitation of
the Psalter
to taste,
to see,
to experience
the reality
of God's
goodness
in Christ.
Oh,
taste and
see that
God is
good,
who trusts
in him
is blessed,
fear God
his saints,
none that
him fear
shall be
with want
oppressed.
Let's
sing these
stanzas
and
conclusion.
Oh,
taste and
see that
God
is good,
who trusts
in him
is blessed,
fear God
the saints,
and the saints
none that
in fear
shall be
with want
oppressed.
The lions
young may
hungry be,
and they
may lack
their food,
but they
that truly
seek the
Lord
shall not
lack
any good.
O children,
hither
do ye
come,
and unto
me
give ear,
I
shall
you
teach
to
understand
how he
the Lord
should
fear.
What
man
is he
that
life
desires
to see
good
would
live
on,
and
lips
refrain
from
speaking
God,
and from
ill
words
thy
tongue.
Depart
from
ill,
do
good,
seek
peace,
pursue
eternally.
God's
eyes
are
on
the
just,
his
ears
are
open
to
their
cry.
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.