Crisis of Faith Loss of Opportunity Numbers 13-14

Crisis of Faith / Loss of Opportunity Kadesh Barnea: A place of infamy. Have you ever experience a Crisis of Faith?

Crisis of Faith / Loss of Opportunity Numbers 13-14 I Doubting God’s Word Numbers 13:1-25 II Discouraging God’s People Numbers 13:26-28 III Defying God’s Will Numbers 14:1-10 IV Deserving God’s Judgment Numbers 14:11-38 V Disobeying God’s Command Numbers 14:39-45

I. Doubting God’s Word Numbers 13:1-25 Doubting God is the Beginning of Crisis of Faith “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance…..to the land of the Canaanites…..and see I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.” Deut.1:6-8

I. Doubting God’s Word “See the LORD you God has given you this land. Go up and take possession of it…..Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Then all of you came to me and said ‘let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take….” Deut. 1:21-22

I. DOUBTING GOD’S WORD 12 spies: One leader from each tribes; 40 days A Majority Report: 10 spies A Minority Report: Joshua / Caleb

II. Discouraging God’s People Num.13:26-28 The Majority Report “They gave Moses this account; ‘we went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.” (Anak were the giants). Numbers 13: 27

II. Discouraging God’s People “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are. And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land….The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size….we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we look the same to them.” Verse 31-33

II. Discouraging God’s People The Minority Report Caleb “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said ‘we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Numbers 13:30

II. Discouraging God’s People Joshua: “The land we passed through and explored is exceeding good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land….and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people the land, because we will swallow them up….The LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” Numbers 14:7-9

II. Discouraging God’s People “That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, if only we had dies in Egypt! Or in this desert!” Numbers 14:1-2 Fear to Doubt to Discouragement to Unbelief to Rebellion

III Defying God’s Will Num.14:1-10 Sin of Murmuring Faithlessness and doubt lead to complaining Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?.....Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to each other, ‘we should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14:3-4

IV Deserving God’s Judgment Num.14:11-38 Rebellion leads to Judgment “The LORD said to Moses, “how long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a great nation”. Numbers 14:11-12

IV Deserving God’s Judgment Moses: “the LORD slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sins and rebellion. Yet the LORD does not leave the guilty unpunished” Numbers 14:18

IV Deserving God’s Judgment God’s Punishment Numbers 14:23-38 1. The 10 unbelieving spies were judged immediately. “these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD” (v.37) .

IV Deserving God’s Judgment God’s Punishment Numbers 14:23-38 2. The whole nation was not permitted to enter the Promised Land and will wonder for 40 years in the wilderness (v. 34) 3 The whole adult generation; age 20 and over, will die off in the wilderness (v. 29) (Except for Joshua and Caleb)

V. Disobeying God’s Command Numbers 14:39-45 “…turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.” (v 25) “When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly.” (v.39) “Early the next morning, they went up toward the high hill country. ‘we have sinned’ they said, we will go up to the place the LORD had promised.” (v.40)

V. Disobeying God’s Command “Why are you disobeying the LORD’s command? This will not succeed! Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.” (v.41) “Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD’s covenant moved from the camp.” (v.44) Presumption: to be lifted up, arrogant, pride

V. DISOBEYING GOD’S COMMAND Dietrich Bonhoeffer “For faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it. And faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience” ‘Without faith, it is impossible to please Him” Hebrews 11:6a

Crisis of Faith / Loss of Opportunity Summary: Take Home Lesson: NOT Doubt God’s Word NOT Discourage God’s People NOT Defy God’s Will NOT Disobey God’s Command

Crisis of Faith / Loss of Opportunity What to do when our faith fails? 1. When our faith fails, we often look at our own human strength instead of trusting God and His Word and promises. Trust God and His Word 2. When our faith fails, we often forget God’s pass power and might in our lives Remember God’s pass mighty works

Crisis of Faith / Loss of Opportunity Slavery of Sin “Fear nothing but sin. Love nothing but God” John Wesley