February 16th – God seeks our obedience
Background on Numbers
- Author: Moses (traditional view, based on John 5:46)
- Title: from the Greek word Arithmoi, based on the census taken in ch. 1-4 and ch. 26.
- Date: roughly around 1405 BC.
- Purpose: To show the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and his descendents. This book teaches the reality of God’s presence and His desire for holiness.
God wants DEEPER obedience from us. God is glorified when He is lifted up in our daily obedience to His truth. Our lack of obedience is DEEPER pride. Our desire for obedience is DEEPER holiness.
DEEPER Obedience glorifies God, shines His holiness, and provides for our greatest need.
- Exodus 17:1-8
- Exodus breakdown
- God speaks to Moses – ch. 3
- God rescues the people – ch. 12
- God provides passageway – ch. 14
- God provides bread – ch. 16
- The people complain – ch. 17
In this story, God provides for the people by instructing Moses to stand before the people, strike a rock, and water will be provided for the thirsty people. This is how God would be glorified…by the obedience of Moses.
The people drank, God was glorified…He was set apart in His ways…should be the closing deal…
- John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
- John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
- John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
- 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
- 2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it
DEEPER Disobedience intensifies sin, shines pride, and leads to hopeless walking
Numbers 20:10-13
In this story, God works in a different way. Instead of striking the rock, He called Moses to speak to the rock (v.8). Instead of speaking, Moses took the self-righteous opportunity to yell at the people (v.10), and he hit the rock with his staff twice (v.11)
DEEPER disobedience in this story led to the absence of God’s holiness and the increase of man’s sinfulness.
How often do we act out of disobedience in despair? For example:
- Our girlfriend/boyfriend dumps us…we react sinfully
- Our grades drop…we react sinfully
- Our dreams are broken…we react sinfully
- Our friends struggle in their faith…we react sinfully
- Etc.
We sin when we disobey the truth of our Lord and exchange it for the comfortable deception of our own gratification.
The punishment in this story was Moses’ removal of the privilege of leading the people to the Promise Land (v. 12)
Ephesians 5:1-6
- Jesus obeyed because we don’t – Hebrews 5:8
- Jesus glorified the Father, because we won’t – John 17:1
- Jesus is holy, because we aren’t – Hebrews 13:12
- Jesus provides, because we are in need – Romans 5:17
Turn to Christ. Obey Christ. Worship Christ. Let your life be for His infinite glory and holiness.
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