2. After nearly 40 years of wandering in the desert, the time has come for God to get Israel back into “fighting shape” to reclaim Promised Land. Yet… the issue of fear is a huge obstacle.

3. Deuteronomy 2: 24-25 24 “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. 25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you.”

4. Deuteronomy 3: 1-2 1 Next we turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan with his whole army marched out to meet us in battle at Edrei. 2 The L ORD said to me, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

5. Deuteronomy 3:11 “Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites. His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.” King Og info * Rephaites were “giant-like” men, like Goliath. - Amos 2: 9-10 * Og was probably 11 feet tall, since a body was 2/3 the size of their coffin during this time.

6. With Moses’ faithful leadership & example, these were 2 big steps forward for Israel: Rediscovering again that they can conquer any “giant” that they come across through steadfast faith and wholehearted obedience to God.

7. Numbers 22-24 As God predicted, Moabite King Balak is fearful of the Israel army nearby and tries to hire the prophet Balaam to curse Israel for him. A miraculous incident of a talking donkey and an angel of the Lord convince Balaam not to do so.

8. Revelation 2:14 “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.”

9. It’s almost beyond belief that after “riding high” on these 2 huge victories over these giant opponents; that Israel would now stumble and fall over the basic sins of idolatry and sexual immorality.

10. Numbers 25: 1-3 1 “While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the L ORD ’s anger burned against them.”

11. Many of the commands given by God at Mount Sinai and afterward stress the danger of being “yoked” with others (romantically or in deep friendship) who do not worship the same God as you.

12. The Yoke Symbolism is pretty simple: When we’re yoked together with someone in a relationship; we most often will end up acting like, speaking like, and having the same values as that person. Sadly, the person without Christ will more often heavily influence their “yokemate.”

13. In a tragic replay of the “1-step back” Golden Calf incident at Mount Sinai, many of the Israelites will again openly violate the 1 st, 2 nd and 7 th Commandments. Likewise, it ends badly.

14. Numbers 25: 4-13 God sends a plague as judgment on the people Phinehas (grandson of Aaron) kills a shameless pair of adulterers God stops the plague and honors Phinehas (Psalm 106: 28-31)

15. It was Phinehas’ passion (zeal) for God and His holiness that was impressive to God; and undoubtedly gave Moses hope for the people’s future. Perhaps the 2 nd and 3 rd Generation will follow the Lord faithfully after all!

16. Like Moses was of Israel, we are right to be skeptical of ourselves… can we really break this cycle? 2 steps forward, 1 step back

17. Thankfully, God is patient with our mistakes; but He longs to help us walk in maturity and health. As long as we submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading, obey the Ways He already has in place for us, and stay out of our own way; true progress is possible!

18. “Watching Our Steps” 1.) Just as trials test us; victories do, too. By giving God the credit for our wins, we leave ourselves less open for losses. 2.) For progress to happen, sins of the “flesh” need crucified in us, not coddled. Remember the “yolk” symbolism. 3.) We all need a Phinehas… someone who will help hold us to God’s standard that we know is best for us & our future.