Jude 11-25, What is our purpose; what are we truly living for?

Jude 11 (NIV)Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.


• Three specific examples are listed here. What are they and what do they mean?
• Way of Cain
• He refused to listen to God's warning
• He fell into sin and disgrace
• Gen 4:5-7 (NIV) ... but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. // 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
• We are not told why the offering was not accepted, but Cain is warned to do the right thing. And he is apparently struggling with sin
• Balaam's error (Num 22-24)
• Apparently, Balaam was hoping to make money off of his walk with God. The story of the donkey is that while Balaam was following God's guidance, he was secretly hoping to make a profit off of the adventure. He was using a spiritual gift for the purpose of personal gain
• Korah's rebellion (Num 16)
• Korah stands against God's appointed leaders after the debacle with the spies
• They, as Levites, felt that they would be better spiritual leaders than Moses and Aaron
• Num 16:3 (NIV) They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"
• APPLICATION: In each case, men rebelled or wanted to rebelled against specific instruction from God, because they thought they knew better or had a better plan


Jude 12-13 (NIV) These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm — shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted — twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.


• Why would they be blemishes at the love feast, and what is a love feast?
• A love feast would be a pot luck where they also would celebrate communion
• They are blemishes because they don't care for (love) others but only for themselves. How would this be seen?
• Not bringing a fair share
• First in line
• Largest portions
• Shepherds (suggest leaders) who only feed themselves. Their priority is on their own stomach (which also goes back to the illustration of Israel and the Exodus, and the desire to feed their own stomachs)
• Why "clouds without rain, blown along the wind?"
• They look good but don't really provide any nourishment
• They are influenced by the current breeze and not founded on the word of God
• Why "autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted -- twice dead?"
• Autumn trees are beautiful
• Autumn trees are past the harvest time
• These trees produced nothing of value, no fruit
• These trees are uprooted, meaning they have nothing to tap into for true nourishment
• These trees are twice dead, meaning they produce no fruit (dead) and they have no root system (doubly dead)
• APPLICATION: What fruit do we produce? What are we doing to develop are root systems?
• Why "wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame?"
• Have you ever watch the waves bring in the garbage of the sea
• These men just bring garbage
• Why "wandering stars?"
• Technically these were the planets. They were called wandering because they did not follow the order of the other "stars" but did their own thing
• It is one thing to do your own thing when you have solid scriptural guidance, but it is quite another to revolt against established truths just because you don't like it


Jude 14-19 (NIV) Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.


17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.


• Here, Jude quotes a book familiar to a Jew but apocryphal, i.e., not scripture
• In this context, Jude's using it would mean that it is a true statement
• Four times the word "ungodly" is used. Again that is the irreverent, the scoffer, the one who mocks truth
• The message to the ungodly: there is a judgment coming
• Some other characteristics of this group is described …
• Grumblers -- negative attitude about things whenever life does not go the way they want
• Faultfinders -- they see others faults but not their own. These people use the term hypocrite more often than anyone else
• Follow own evil desires -- appetite directs their lives, not the word of God
• They boast about themselves -- very prideful
• They flatter others for their own advantage -- we have all met they weasel-ly, oily creatures
• Characteristics of the last days
• A lot of these type of scoffers following their own ways (describes today)
• They divide churches
• They follow business models, not spiritual guidance
• They do not have the Spirit (therefore they are not believers)


Jude 20-25 (NIV) But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.


22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.


24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.


• For ourselves, Jude says
• Build yourselves up -- that is done through the word of God
• Pray -- grow in your relationship with God
• For others
• Deal mercifully and gently with those who have doubts
• Stand up and defend the truth of the gospel -- there are people all around you who are falling into the devil's trap because all they do is listen to scoffers -- you can save them, but you can't if you haven't studies the questions yourself
• For some, be fearful. Sin is very dangerous. You may think you are helping but if you get too close to the fire you will be burned
• Set limits
• Flee sin

Jude 1-10, How does our own doctrinal deviations affect our witness?

Background:

Assume Jesus death	33
Galatians	49-51
1 & 2 Thess	49-51
Mark / Matt / Luke	60-68
Destruction of Temple	70
John / 1,2,3 John / Rev	80-90

Jude - Geisler says 67-69; Ryrie 70-80; Unger et al 67-80
We will look at the audience and author next


Jude 1-2 (NIV) Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, // To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: // 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.


• What does Jude say about himself and also what does he not say about himself?
• He is the brother of James
• James is head of the church of Jerusalem
• James is associated with the idea of maintaining the law (Gal 2:12)
• James takes the lead in describing the requirements for Gentile believers (Acts 15:13, 19-21)
• He does not say he is the brother of Jesus
• Could be humility
• Could be shame, because he did not believe
• Not sure when Jude did believe, although 1 Cor 15:7 mentions Jesus appearing to James after the resurrection
• Audience is probably a Jewish audience
• Because of his association with James
• Because of the use of the Hebrew scriptures
• Because of his use of topics that most Gentiles would not be familiar


Jude 3-4 (NIV) Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.


• What was his original intent in writing a letter, and why does he change it?
• He wanted to write a letter about the salvation they share (would be a positive aspect)
• He felt "compelled" to write about contending for the faith (negative)
• Particular Greek word is the only usage in the NT. It is a compound word, but the gist is that one agonizes in a struggle or wrestling match
• So the issue at the heart of this letter is what? Error and false teaching
• How does Jude describe these men the must be contended with?
• Condemnation written long ago: this is not an indication of predestined but rather that this behavior was expected and to be judged
• Secretly slipped in among you: not noticed, possibly never believers, clearly do not hold to the basics truths of scripture but have kept their rebellion hidden
• Godless men: characterized by an irreverent attitude toward God; a scoffer; a person who lives in opposition to God
• What is their philosophical bent?
• Misunderstanding of grace: they basically use the idea of grace to justify sin
• Antinomianism: free from the moral law by virtue of grace
• Gnosticism: somewhat related to both arguments in the sense of some secret knowledge available to a select few
• Deny Jesus as God
• And by denying Jesus' authority it removes the need to obey him
• APPLICATION: Doctrinal deviation often accompanies and often justifies ethical and moral sin (Constable, 2010)


Jude 5-7 (NIV) Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home — these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.


• Three examples are given. What is the common theme?
• In two of the three, are cases of groups of people who pervert God's grace
• In all three cases, we see the results of denying God's authority
• First case is the Exodus. What do we know of the people?
• Saved. Passed through the water. Saw God's great power. Fed by manna. Given the word in the wilderness. Protected
• Rejected God's command to take the land because of the Giants. Continually complained to God because life lacked variety (lust of the flesh)
• [As a side note, being chosen and elect of God is not a guarantee of anything on earth]
• Second case is the Angels
• Jude seems to be quoting an apocryphal book (Book of Enoch), in which case, he would be confirming what it said, but not ascribing diving inspiration (Constable, 2010). Paul also quoted non-biblical references (Ac 17:28)
• Special rank, privilege, and access
• Followed Lucifer's lies. Satan is the first Gnostic
• Third case is Sodom and Gomorrah
• No sense are they believers, but apparently they knew God's prohibition against sexual immorality and perversion (which would be homosexuality)
• They had life, but they gave it up for sin
• They are also judged and serve as an example of the punishment of eternal fire
• Why warn believers? Two of the three cases are believers


Jude 8-10 (NIV) In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"   10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals — these are the very things that destroy them.


• Why call them dreamers?
• Possibly they profess prophetic visions
• How do they pollute their own bodies?
• 1 Cor 6:18-20 (NIV) Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
• Sexual sin is a sin against God (Ps 51:4) and against our own body, which in the NT is a temple of the HS
• We also see the same characteristics of these ungodly men:
• Reject authority -- There is no higher authority. I am my own master or god
• Slander celestial beings -- Idea of a scoffer. I can say what I want because they don't exist
• This is a Jewish story about an argument over the body of Moses
• Michael is one of the chief angels and according to tradition is Israel's defender. The story says that Moses' tomb was put under the authority of Michael. In some manner, Satan brings an insulting charge against Michael, but Michael does not reply in the same way
• The point of the story, is that even though Michael was in the right, he still didn't speak abusively against Satan, though we might think he was in the right
• We need to watch our words. Specifically I think of Facebook
• Our words need to be gracious and seasoned with salt
• When we talk and act like the world, we hurt our witness and our opportunity to show the difference Christ can make in our life
• APPLICATION: The NFL handed down a punishment against Sean Payton, coach of the Saints. In his apology, he talked about the not demeaning the shield (the reference to the NFL shield--
"Respecting our great game and the NFL shield is extremely important to me"). Why don't we as believers care more about our witness for Jesus Christ?

Num 13-14, Some decision are irrevocable

The Expedition
Num 13:1-2, 17-25 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 2 "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders."
. . .
17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)


21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.


• Where are we in the trip from Egypt to Exodus, timewise?
• It turns out, that it was not God's original plan to explore the land, but rather God accedes to the wishes of the people
• Deut 1:22-23 (NIV) 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 and the towns we will come to." // 23 The idea seemed good to me; so I selected twelve of you, one man from each tribe.
• The concern is the route. Interestingly, when they finally do attack, the go after the two main fortified cities in the middle of the country, Jericho and Ai
• What other reasons might there be for exploring the land?
• God's perspective: it shows his faithfulness in providing exactly what he promised
• Moses' perspective: it helps in determining where to divvy up the various tribes according to their particular gifts and strengths
• Could be the first signs of doubt
• James 1:6-8 (NIV) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
• I think this verse is easily misunderstood. Faith is not getting what you want, but believing God will answer your prayer in his wisdom (which could be NO or WAIT)
• Three specific items are mentioned as produce, what are they?
• Grapes, pomegranates, and figs
• Num 20:4-5 (NIV) Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
• We will discuss this "grumble" later as it is very significant in the NT, but while the issue is water, the mention of the three items leads us back to the "spy event," why?
• The missing items are a constant reminder of their disobedience
• APPLICATION:
• Do we believe God always answers our prayers?
• Do we demand our answer from God?
• Is there issue of disobedience in my life that I have not repented and sought God's help?


The Report
Num 13:26-33 (NIV) They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 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. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."


30 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."


31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."


• What was the original purpose of the spy's trip and what had it diverged into?
• Originally, they were looking for an attack route and an understanding of the type of land to divide up among the tribes
• Ultimately it became an intelligence report on their probability of success
• By going beyond their assigned task, they do what?
• They usurped the authority of the leaders (they were not their tribe's leaders), and far more importantly of God
• This is an example of human opinion, philosophy, and worldview juxtaposed against God's direction and his word
• APPLICATION: How quick do we consider the world's opinion against God, ignoring the absurdity of comparing man to God in knowledge?


The People's Response
Num 14:1-9 (NIV) That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" 4 And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."


5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."


• Obviously, the ten spies cause a huge emotional response from the people (actually, the report is exactly as God said -- a land flowing with milk and honey), but why the response of the people?
• They focused on the GIANTS, not on the promises
• What were they expecting? A cakewalk, go around the circle and wait until your number is chosen
• They focused on the things of the world, and not the things of God
• BOTTOMLINE: They did not believe God!!!
• Four men (Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb) fall down before the people. They argue the truths of God's word. They remind them of truths they should already know
• APPLICATION: We have the word of God. There is no excuse for not reminding ourselves of his truths by regularly reading God's word


God's Test
Num 14:10-19 (NIV) But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. 11 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? 12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they."


13 Moses said to the Lord, "Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. 14 And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, O Lord, are with these people and that you, O Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15 If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16 'The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert.'


17 "Now may the Lord's strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 'The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.' 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now."


• God tells Moses that he will destroy the people and start over. This reminds us of another incident with a similar response, what is it?
• The golden calf
• This is an extremely important moment in the history of Israel …
• Heb 3:16-19 (NIV) Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?  19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
• Israel cannot enter their rest because of unbelief
• This is Israel's irrevocable decision. They can choose to do what God says or they can choose to do what the world tells them is best
• They choose the judgment of man and forfeit spiritual rest
• We've talked about the warning in Hebrews before. Essentially, if believers do not continue in faith toward maturity in their walk with God, they will miss out on a sabbath-rest for believers. This is not heaven or losing their salvation, but the peace that comes from a life lived devoted to God
• Just as before, Moses intercedes for the people, as I believe God intended
• APPLICATION: Certain decisions in life are irrevocable spiritually. You cannot lose your salvation but they can determine the direction of the rest of your life. You can be forgiven but you can not escape the consequences of certain decisions


God's Judgment
Num 14:20-38 (NIV) The Lord replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times —  23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea."


26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 In this desert your bodies will fall — every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32 But you — your bodies will fall in this desert. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. 34 For forty years — one year for each of the forty days you explored the land — you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.' 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert; here they will die."


36 So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it —  37 these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.


• Is God merciful or a hard judge? How many times has Israel rebelled? What signs and wonders has God shown them?
• How does the punishment fit the crime?
• They worried about dying in Canaan. They are to die in the desert
• They Adults rejected Canaan, so God gave it to their children
• They spent 40 days essentially figuring out if they could take the land, they would spend 40  years (one day for one year) traveling in the desert
• God judges the ten spies who brought the bad report. They die of plague, but Joshua and Caleb don't
• APPLICATION: when God gives you a job, do the job, don't tell God how the job should be done


The People's Inability to Obey
Num 14:39-45 (NIV) When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40 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 promised."


41 But Moses said, "Why are you disobeying the Lord's command? This will not succeed! 42 Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43 for the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword."


44 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. 45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.


• What do the Israelites remind you of?
• Children who broke an expensive vase who decide to make it better by gluing it back together (Ashley)
• We too can fail to receive our reward if we disobey God, both here (the Sabbath-rest) and in eternity
• We also need to accept the discipline of God and not fight against God

Num 11-12, Be careful of the company you keep

Num 11:1-3 (NIV) Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.


• Note the first rebellion was three days out of Egypt.  We are now (potentially) three days out from Mt Sinai (Num 10:33)
• The first issue is what?
• Hardship
• Not really explained
• What were not their hardships?
• Food -- manna
• Clothes and shoes -- did not wear out
• Shelter -- they had tents, but not fixed structures
• Protection -- God was protecting them
• Family -- living with their families, extended and otherwise
• What might their hardships be?
• Carrying water
• Living out of suitcase (so to speak)
• Strange to say "in the hearing of the Lord," why?
• Because God hears everything ("where can we flee from his presence?")
• God sees all our actions, there is nothing we do that he does see and hear
• It's as if they wanted to make sure God heard what they said ...
• What is the punishment?
• God sends fire (?from Heaven) to burn some on the outskirts of the camp
• Follows a principle that is associated with sin -- that if you play too close the fire (dabble near sin), you will get burned


Num 11:4-6,10-21 (NIV) The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost — also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"


10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now — if I have found favor in your eyes — and do not let me face my own ruin."


16 The Lord said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.


18 "Tell the people: 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19 You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month — until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it — because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?" '" 


• Note that the rabble were non-Israelites who came out of Egypt with Israel
• What is the rabble's argument?
• Manna is boring
• Egyptian food was more exciting, different
• So what is their objective in life? to satisfy the lust of the flesh
• There is a proverb that suggests bad company corrupts good morals. You hang around with people who do not view sin as God views sin, then you are playing with fire
• We don't want to pull out of the world. The NT (2 Cor) tells us not to
• But we do need to be careful about our degree of involvement
• How does Moses respond and why?
• He takes it personal
• He sees it as a rejection of himself as leader
• He is trying to make people happy and satisfy them
• He is worn out and tired -- Why is he so worn out? Because he is trying to make people happy ...
• What does God see as the problem?
• Moses does need help. Specifically, he needs others who will represent the Lord before the people
• The people have rejected God not Moses.  Technically, they would rather be slaves in Egypt then free under God
• This is the same thing today.  Do you want to be a slave to sin or free to worship and serve God? Many choose the latter
• You can complain to your parents or your pastor about your Christian life, but you are rejecting God himself, not me, not your parents, and not your pastor ...


Num 11:24-30 (NIV) So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.


26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."


28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!"


29 But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.


• This interesting story about the giving of the Holy Spirit. We can see a number of principles as we look across scripture
• Scripture emphasizes certain points in history through the use of miracles
• How is this similar / different from Pentecost?
• OT: prophesied (did not speak in tongues) / leaders / inaugurated an event (slightly later)
• NT: spoke in tongues the gospel /leaders / inaugurated an event
• How many times do these OT saints who receive the HS prophesy? Once. Why? Because the miracle is used as a sign
• NT use of tongues
• Four cases described in Acts (all attest to a genuine conversion)
• Clearly the usage is of a known language (people understood the gospel in their native language)
• Acts 2 - Jews had come from foreign countries (sign to the Jews)
• Acts 8 - half Jew, half Gentiles come to the Lord (sign to Samaritans)
• Acts 10 - Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile, (sign to Gentiles who already believed in God)
• Acts 18/19 - This last group is "religious" people who had repented of their sin but had not believed in Jesus (they had only heard the message of John the Baptist). The baptism of the spirit confirms that faith now must be in the person of Jesus and no one else
• Interestingly, tongues occur whenever Jews were present as a sign to unbelieving Jews (also fits with 1 Cor 1:22; 14:21-23) [Bellshaw, Bsac 120:478, Apr 1963]
• Three chapters in 1 Corinthians (expository)
• Use of the word "unknown" in 1 Cor 14 is not in the original text [ibid]
• 1 Cor 12:13,30 makes it clear that all believers had received the baptism of the Spirit, but not all spoke in tongues [ibid]
• Rules on exercise of gifts in church
• Gift to be exercised by 2 or 3 persons (14:27) but no more
• An interpreter must be present (14:28)
• Women are not to participate in this experience (14:34) suggesting that women were not given the gift. And no where in scripture do women speak in tongues [ibid]
• No other book in the bible explicitly references this gift (it is only prominent in a church that was notorious in its sin and poor theology)


Num 11:31-35 (NIV) Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day's walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.


35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth and stayed there.


• A lot of food and unlike the manna we are given a logical explanation (kind of). Why not just say "God created quail meat?" Because the bible is true and this is what happened
• When did the people gather meat and how much? All day and into the next day. An average of ten homers
• How is that different from the manna? The manna was just enough; it was only gathered on the day; and it averaged an homer
• What is the difference? One represents lust; the other represents trust
• Lust - as much as you can get
• Trust - as much as you need
• Lust - stockpile extra
• Trust - use it, don't live for it
• Lust - get sick on it
• Trust - stay healthy
• Is your life characterized by lust or trust?


Num 12:1-16 (NIV) Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the Lord heard this.


3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)


4 At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, 6 he said, "Listen to my words:


"When a prophet of the Lord is among you,
I reveal myself to him in visions,
I speak to him in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?"


9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.


10 When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam — leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; 11 and he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away."


13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, "O God, please heal her!"


14 The Lord replied to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back." 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.


16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran.


• The statement "hasn't he also spoken through us" implies what?
• Aaron was one of the seventy, i.e., when he prophesied
• Miriam, Aaron's sister, is already recorded as prophesying when she broke out in a song
• Two godly spiritual leaders, a man and a woman, and yet they fall into sin.  What is there sin?
• Starts with comparison
• 2 Cor 10:12 (NIV) We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
• 2 Cor 10:12 (AMP) Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.
• Comparison leads to gossip -- "Hasn't he also spoke through us …"
• They have obviously discussed this issue among themselves
• Gossip can cause bitterness and envy
• Notice that the judgment only comes on one person, why?
• Miriam is probably the cause
• Yet Aaron is guilty too for not standing up to his sister when he should have
• Finally, the whole camp waits seven days before moving because of Miriam (our sin can and does affect others)