THE EVENT THAT IS REPEATED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Nb 17:1-15

Today's text relates an event which doesn't stop being repeated during the Old Testament. Only Jesus Christ the Lord was able to stop this event. Lets us think about three things.

1) mankind's sin (6).

To rescue humans from sin, the Eternal God punished Qoré's band. But the next day, after 24 hours, the rebel murmuring again exploded from the Israelites' mouth. But it's the reality of sinful humans. Humans like sin. (Jn 3:19, Gn 9:2)

2) God's judgment (11)

In the Old Testament, God's judgment is expressed in corporal's death, but the real judgment toward humans is'nt the body's disappearance, it's separation between God and human (Hb 9:27)

3) The work of Jesus Christ (13) A

At the moment when Aaron stood up between the killed and the living, the plague could be stopped. But what Aaron did wasn't sufficient for mankind's salvation, only Jesus Christ's blood on the cross can really stop the plague caused by sin (Eph 5:1, 1 Tim 2:5). How do you resolve the problem of sin which persists in your heart ?

Prayer : Thank you Lord, you sent us the mediator between you and us to resolve sin's problem which persists

Bottom line : our mediator

THE LEADER'S ATTITUDE IN FRONT OF A NO-WIN SITUATION

Nb 16:1-15

Apparently, the leader is splendid, but whoever is a leader recognizes that it's a heavy and difficult task. Lets us learn what must be the leader's attitude in front of a no-win situation.

1. The problem which Moise was faced with

The imminent no-win situation was revolt. If we see the main accusation of this people was that Moses is arrogant (3) and that he imposes himself on them (13)

2. The leader's attitude in front of a no-win situation

In this urgent situation, what did Moses do to drive back cruel and overwhelming accusations ? First, Moses faced it with gentleness. Moses had enough gentleness to examine the situation objectively : how their accusations could be justified (4). Secondly, with an enlightened mind (6, 11), a fair reasoning, he showed how this people had an extreme conduct, and the position that they held was a great privilege before God. Thirdly, with prayer. When Moses heard the word, he was very irritated, but he came before God to pray. (15, 1P 2 :23)

Prayer : Lord, in front of all these embarrassing no-win situations, help us to have gentleness, a fair reasoning and prayer to get through.

Bottom line : leader full of gentleness

DISCERN THE TIMES

Numbers 14:36-45

If the sun goes down, night falls, and if the sun rises, day breaks. If spring ends, summer comes. Where there’s a will, there’s a time and a period. Through this word, we learn how it would have been better if the Israelites had been able to discern the times.

1. The end of those who murmur during the time of attack

After listening to the spies’ report, instead of taking heart, the Israelites became afraid. They abandoned the idea of conquering the land, they sat down, and they murmured. The end of these faithless people was only disaster and death (36,37).

2. The end of those who attack during the time of waiting

If we follow the example of our big brother Moses, we see the people should have waited rather than attacking. But they depended on their own courage and went out to attack. It wasn’t the right moment, since, as Moses said, the Eternal God was not with them. As a result, they were soundly defeated and ruined. The Israelites should have discerned the will and the time when they should have acted. What period of time are you in now ?

Prayer : Lord, thank you for giving us the right discernment to distinguish the four seasons. Help us to discern your will and the time when we must execute your will.

Bottom line : in the time of waiting

GOD PROMISED THAT CALEB WILL COME INTO THE COUNTRY

Nb 14:20-35

The Eternal God released the Israelites from Egyptians, to those who had no hope, God gave them hope of Canaan's country, following with milk and honey. For the Israelites who wandered in the desert, the promised Canaan country was really hope. Today's text lets us see who can enter in the new country and the new Heaven.

1. God says : Caleb will come into the promised country (20-25)

The Eternal God swore, by his glory which fills all the earth (21), that all people who saw Eternal God's glory and offended him, would not come into the promised country. But the Eternal god swore that Caleb would come into the promised country. Why was Caleb able to enter ? On one hand, his spirit was different. On the other hand, he followed wholly God's voice (24). How is our spirit different compared with the one of the world's people ?

2. God says : they will not come into the promised country (26-35)

Hopefully, they would enter, but Israel was not able to bear the slightest difficulty, so they came to :

1. tempt God (22)
2. offend God (23)
3. mutter against God (29)

As a result, all those who were less than twenty years old, died. Moreover, their children were forced to wander during forty years.

Prayer : Lord, help us to not mutter against you, help us to have a different spirit than people's in the world and follow wholly your voice.

Bottom line : a different spirit

Numbers 14:13-19

MOISE PRAYS BEFORE THE ETERNAL GOD

Moses was confronted with a great difficulty, so he prayed before God. In the same way, when we are confronted with trouble, instead of being afraid or wracking our brains for human wisdom, we must above all come to the feet of God to pray. Let's learn about the content of Moses' prayer.

1. Moses prayed for the honor of the Eternal God

Moses remembered how the Eternal God had guided the people of Israel up to this moment (13,14). After that, he invokes the honor of the Eternal God, saying that if God kills his rebellious people in the desert, that would be a great dishonor for God. Thus, Moses begs the Lord to hold back. We can see here that Moses doesn't pray for his people, for the future of his people, or for himself, but that he prays that the name of the Eternal God would not be dishonored. We should not pray for our church or our people independently of God's will and glory. Many people pray in this way, but we must stop. Instead, let's pray that the glory of God would be revealed beyond our family, our sheep or our church.

2. Moses prayed while believing in the love of God

If we look at Moses' prayer, we see that he first recognized himself as a sinner deserving eternal condemnation (19). He also acknowledged that the Lord visits the iniquity of the fathers to the third and fourth generation, but in the bottom of his heart, Moses also believed that God is a God of love. Therefore, he was able to come before God and beg for mercy, forgiveness and that God would continue to love his rebellious people. We must pray while believing in the love of God ; we must also pray for the glory of God as our primary subject.

Prayer : Lord, help us to live for your glory and to believe in your love, so that people around us will believe in your love. Correct the prayer of this people.

Bottom line : Forgive this people, just as you forgave your people whom you brought out of Egypt and sustained until now (19b)

6 june 2016

Nb 14:1-12

CALEB SAYS : WE WILL DEVOUR THEM

If we defined it, faith signifies to believe, to trust in the Eternal God, who will protect us with his power and his love, whatever happens to us. This morning, we will Study Caleb's faith and lift up our weakened knees.

1. The Israelites said : Let's Return to Egypt

After listening to ten among twelve incredulous people's report, Israel raised its voice and cried all night long. They muttered against Moses and Aaron (2, 5). Then Moses and Aaron fell face against the ground in front of all the assembly. What were the Israelites' words ? (3, 4). What do you think about the Israelites who proposed returning to Egypt and submitting again as the Egyptians' slaves ?

2. Caleb says : We will devour them

To teach faith to a person who has no content is like teaching colors to blind people (1 Co 2:14,15). But Caleb and his associates rose and yelled to challenge unbelieving people. Read aloud verse 6 to 12. They flared up against the people's incredulity (6), eyes who saw the country of blessing, faith which trusts in the Eternal God, and eyes to see enemies (9). With these subjects, think about your faith personally and also about this people's faith.

Prayer : Lord, thanks for today's word. Forgive and give your favor to those who don't believe in you because of lack of faith, raise a lot of men et women of faith like general Caleb.

A word : If the Eternal God approves of us (8)

Dr Samuel Lee

June 3, 2016
Num 13: 1-22

CONCRETE ORDER TO EXPLORE OF ETERNAL
We are called soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2: 3). As God's people, we have spiritual battles to fight imperatively. By texte of today we learn faith and also two lessons to fight this war.

1) God appointed twelve chiefs (1-16)
God, through Moses, chose a man from each tribe, leader of the Israelites. God sent them to explore the country. What is the reason God chose and established the twelve heads of the Israelites? It is God who establishes, promotes, sends. What is the direction for the spiritual leader of this country to assume, fulfill the will of God?

2) The concrete order of exploration of God
Success for victory depends on faith and trust that God's people gave to Jehovah God. But look ver. 22. How the order to explore the country was concrete. Have you tried to find the concrete details to explore, fight, defeat the enemy? Do you obey concretely to the word of God to lead your struggle until victory? Or are some of you leading the way roughly, obeying what pleases you, rejecting what doesn't please you?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this word, thou hast ordained leaders to lead the fight to victory, help us, we have a big fight ahead of us to explore and defeat the enemy, give us a concrete fighting order, and help us fight this battle until victory by obeying absolutely and concretely to your word.

One Word: explore the country (2)