1. “Flattering God” Psalm 78:36

2. Israel: An Example to Christians Israel began, but failed (I Cor. 10:1-5) A warning (I Cor. 10:6) Sins of Israel (I Cor. 10:7-10) We could fail too (I Cor. 10:11-12)

3. The Journey Begins God would not let them starve (Deut. 2:7) Weak faith (Exod. 14:10) Belief and godly fear (Exod. 14:31) ▫ If only they would keep it (Deut. 5:2)

4. Grumbling Grumbling – thirst (Exod. 15:22-25) ▫ Bitter water made sweet – Marah Grumbling – hunger (Exod. 16) ▫ Distorted memories (Exod. 16:3; 1:13-14) ▫ Manna for the entire journey (Exod. 16:35) Grumbling – thirst (Exod. 17) ▫ Water from the rock ▫ Meribah & Massah @ Rephidim

5. Camp at Mt. Sinai Conditional blessings (Exodus 19:5-6) “We will obey” (Exod. 19:8; 24:3, 7) Short-lived devotion (Exod. 32:1-6) ▫ Made to drink their idols ▫ Levites kill 3,000 ▫ Plague “Eating, drinking, playing” (I Cor. 10:7)

6. More Grumbling “Misfortunes” (Num. 11:1-3) ▫ Punished with fire @ Taberah The “craving” (Num. 11:4-6) ▫ Quail and a plague (Num. 11:31-34) @ Kibroth-hattaavah Giant enemies & fortified cities (Num. 13-14) ▫ Bad report discourages people ▫ All will die except Joshua & Caleb (Num. 26:65) ▫ Evil spies died by plague

7. Grumbling & Moses’ Mistake Grumbling – thirst (Num. 20) ▫ Moses sinned (Num. 20:10-13; 27:14) ▫ Israel partly to blame (Psalm 106:32-33) ▫ Meribah @ Kadesh “Worthless manna” (Num. 21) ▫ Punishment of serpents (Num. 21:4-6) ▫ Regret and prayer (Num. 21:7) ▫ Tested God, destroyed by serpents (I Cor. 10:10)

8. Sexual Immorality & Idolatry Sins at Peor (Num. 25:1-3) ▫ Mixing with Gentiles ▫ Sexual immorality: prostitution, adultery ▫ Idol worship ▫ Punishment: plague – 24,000 dead ▫ Indulged in sexual immorality (I Cor. 10:8)

9. They Flattered God Believed, praised, forgot (Psalm 106:12-15) Israel’s cycle (Psalm 78) ▫ Praised God for mighty works ▫ Forgot God’s works and sinned ▫ Punished for sins ▫ Plead for mercy ▫ “Returned” to God (Psalm 78:32-41) ▫ False repentance is just “flattery” (Psalm 78:36)

10. A Lesson for Christians We are vulnerable too (I Cor. 10:11-12) ▫ Baptism is the beginning; we must continue God will protect us (I Cor. 10:13) ▫ He watched out for Israel (Exod. 13:17-18) Israel was often insincere (Isaiah 29:13) Don’t attempt to flatter God Be truly devoted!