Transcript Numbers chapters 14-17

NUMBERS CHAPTER 14
Forgiven Rebels
 The whole community was threatening to
stone them to death, but suddenly the people
saw the dazzling light of the Lord's presence
appear over the Tent. The Lord said to Moses,
‘How much longer will these people reject
me? How much longer will they refuse to
trust in me, even though I have performed
so many miracles among them?’” (Numbers
14:5-10 – GN).
 “So now, LORD, I pray, show us your power
and do what you promised when you said, 'I,
the LORD, am not easily angered, and I show
great love and faithfulness and forgive sin and
rebellion. Yet I will not fail to punish children
and grandchildren to the third and fourth
generation for the sins of their parents.' And
now, LORD, according to the greatness of your
unchanging love, forgive, I pray, the sin of
these people, just as you have forgiven them
ever since they left Egypt.” (Numbers 14:17-19
GNB)
 “The Lord answered, ‘I will forgive them, as
you have asked. But I promise that as surely as
I live and as surely as my presence fills the
earth, none of these people will live to enter
that land. They have seen the dazzling light of
my presence and the miracles that I performed
in Egypt and in the wilderness, but they have
tried my patience over and over again and
have refused to obey me. They will never enter
the land which I promised to their ancestors.
None of those who have rejected me will ever
enter it’” (Numbers 14:20-23 – GN).
Forgiveness
 Did the people ask to be forgiven?
 Were they forgiven?
 How many of these forgiven people entered
the promised land?
 How many of these forgiven people will arrive
in heaven?
 Wouldn’t the fact that they were forgiven
indicate a proper adjustment of their legal
standing?
The Problem
 “Don’t think that the LORD is too weak to
save you or too deaf to hear your call for
help! But your sins have made a separation
between you and your God, and your sins
have hidden His face from you so that He
does not hear.”(Isaiah 59:1,2)
 “If our conscience condemns us, we know
that God is greater than our conscience and
that he knows everything.” (1 John 3:20 –
GN)
Who takes the initiation?
 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1
John 1:9 – NKJV)
 “Don't you see how wonderfully kind,
tolerant, and patient God is with you?
Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you
see that His kindness is intended to turn
you from your sin?” (Romans 2:4 NLT)
 “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to
forgive (salach), and abundant in loving
kindness to all who call upon You.” (Psalm
86:5)
 – refers to the removal of our sense of guilt
and condemnation produced by our sin
 “Let the wicked change their ways and
banish the very thought of doing
wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that
He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn
to our God, for He will forgive (salach)
generously.” (Isaiah 55:7 NLT)
 “They refused to obey, and they were not
mindful of Your wonders that You did
among them. But they hardened their
necks, and in their rebellion they
appointed a leader to return to their
bondage. But You are God, ready to forgive
(root: salach), gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, abundant in kindness, and did not
forsake them.” (Nehemiah 9:17)
 99 sheep, one lost
 10 coins, one lost
 Prodigal son
 “At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All
my father's hired workers have more than
they can eat, and here I am about to starve! I
will get up and go to my father and say,
‘Father, I have sinned against God and against
you. I am no longer fit to be called your son;
treat me as one of your hired workers.’ So he
got up and started back to his father. He was
still a long way from home when his father
saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he
ran, threw his arms around his son, and
kissed him. ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have
sinned against God and against you. I am no
longer fit to be called your son.’
 “But the father called to his servants.
‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and
put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and
shoes on his feet. Then go and get the
prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate
with a feast! For this son of mine was
dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but
now he has been found.’ And so the
feasting began.” (Luke 15:23,24 – GN)
Then Jesus straightened up and
asked her, "Where did they go?
Has anyone condemned you?"
The woman answered, "No one,
sir." Jesus said, "I don't condemn
you either. Go! From now on
don't sin." (John 8:10-11 GW)
 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive (aphiemi) us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1
John 1:9 – NKJV)
 “to send away,” the removal of guilt from
one’s own psyche, sending away guilt and
pain
 “When the captain there saw what
happened, he honored God: ‘This man was
innocent! A good man, and innocent!’ All
who had come around as spectators to
watch the show, when they saw what
actually happened, were overcome with
grief and headed home.” (Luke 23:47,48 –
The Message)
The physician model
 A 55 year old man comes to see you after missing his
last 25 appointments…he is 20 minutes late for
today’s appointment
 He has neglected his high blood pressure and
diabetes for years
 His diet has been horrible and he is 70 pounds
overweight
 He smokes 3 packs of cigarettes per day and has 2 6
packs of beer/night
 He hasn’t taken his medications. Now he is feeling
dizzy and has headaches.
Terminal Diagnosis
 “There is no remedy for your injuries, and
your wounds cannot be healed. All those
who hear the news of your destruction
clap their hands for joy. Did anyone escape
your endless cruelty?” (Nahum 3:19)
 Israel:
 “I wanted to heal Israel, but its sins
were far too great. Samaria is filled
with liars, thieves, and bandits!”
(Hosea 7:1 – NLT)
Judah:
 “The LORD God of their ancestors repeatedly sent
messages through his messengers because he wanted to
spare his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked
God’s messengers, despised his words, and made fun of
his prophets until the LORD became angry with his
people. He could no longer heal them” (2 Chronicles
36:15,16, GW).
 “Is there no medicine in Gilead? Are there no doctors
there? Why, then, have my people not been healed?
(Jeremiah 8:22 – GN).
 “The Lord says to his people, ‘Your wounds are incurable,
your injuries cannot be healed. There is no one to take
care of you, no remedy for your sores, no hope of healing
for you.’” (Jeremiah 30:12:13 – GN).
 Babylon:
 “Babylon will suddenly fall and be
shattered. Cry for it. Bring medicine for its
pain. Maybe it can be healed. We wanted
to heal Babylon, but it couldn’t be healed.”
(Jeremiah 51:8,9, GW).
 Egypt:
 “People of Egypt, go to Gilead and look for
medicine! All your medicine has proved
useless; nothing can heal you.” (Jeremiah
46:12 – GN)
 “So the prophecy of Isaiah applies to them:
‘This people will listen and listen, but not
understand; they will look and look, but not
see, because their minds are dull, and they
have stopped up their ears and have closed
their eyes. Otherwise, their eyes would see,
their ears would hear, their minds would
understand, and they would turn to me,
says God, and I would heal them.’”
(Matthew 13:14-15 – GN)
 “The members of the Council were
amazed to see how bold Peter and John
were and to learn that they were ordinary
men of no education. They realized then
that they had been companions of Jesus.”
(Acts 4:13 – GN)
“Perfection”
 “You must be perfect---just as your Father
in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 GNB)
 “You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for
an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But now I tell
you: do not take revenge on someone who
wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right
cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. And if
someone takes you to court to sue you for
your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And
if one of the occupation troops forces you to
carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.”
(Matthew 5:38-41 GNB)
 “When someone asks you for something, give it
to him; when someone wants to borrow
something, lend it to him. You have heard that it
was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.'
But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you, so that you may
become the children of your Father in heaven.
For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good
people alike, and gives rain to those who do
good and to those who do evil.” (Matthew 5:4245 GNB)
 “If all you do is love the lovable, do you
expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you
simply say hello to those who greet you, do
you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill
sinner does that. In a word, what I'm saying
is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now
live like it. Live out your God-created identity.
Live generously and graciously toward
others, the way God lives toward you.”
(Matthew 5:46-48 MSG)
 Eye for an eye? – Don’t take revenge
 Hit on the cheek? – Turn the other cheek
 Romans abuse you? – Carry it an extra mile
 Sued for your shirt? – Give your coat too
 Give to anyone who asks
 Love friends, hate enemies? – Love and pray
for your enemies
 For God sends rain and sun on the righteous and
unrighteous…live the way God lives toward you
 Be like that! Grow up!
 “Forgiveness is about power—it not only
sets free the sinner from the burden of
guilt but also sets free victims from being
forever defined by what has hurt them.”
 Samuel Wells, Duke University
What forgiveness is not
 Forgiveness comes after we say we’re sorry
 Forgiveness equals salvation
 Forgiveness means the sinful act was “OK” or
that there are no consequences
 Forgiveness means we “like” and trust the
person
 Forgiveness is weakness
 “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the
attribute of the strong.” - Gandhi
 “If you forgive (aphiemi) others the wrongs
they have done to you, your Father in heaven
will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive
(aphiemi) others, then your Father will not
forgive the wrongs you have done.” (Matthew
6:14-15 GNB)
 “Freely you have received, freely give.”
(Matthew 10:8)
 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
mind and soul….Love your neighbor as you
love yourself.”
 “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we
forgive the wrongs that others have done to
us.” (Matthew 6:12 GNB)
 “So if you are about to offer your gift to God
at the altar and there you remember that
your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at
once and make peace with your brother, and
then come back and offer your gift to God.”
(Matthew 5:23-24 GNB)
 “Do not judge others, so that God will not
judge you, for God will judge you in the same
way you judge others, and he will apply to
you the same rules you apply to others.”
(Matthew 7:1-2 GNB)
 “Don't pick on people, jump on their failures,
criticize their faults--unless, of course, you
want the same treatment. That critical spirit
has a way of boomeranging.” (Matthew 7:1-2
MSG)
 “The reason why so many...Christians are so
notoriously 'unChristian' is simple: for the
majority...Christianity isn't about the teaching of
Jesus...Christianity as it exists among [some] isn't
about behaving like Jesus. It's all about faith...The
underlying message seems to be: you can behave
any way you want as long as you believe...and say
you're sorry before you die...There ought to be a
term that would designate those who actually follow
the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has
been largely divorced from those teachings, and so
polluted...that it has come to connote their polar
opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and
bigotry.” – Philip Slater