God's promises to his people, the Israelites.
In Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV)God revealed his intention for his people. "The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nationand I will bless you;I will make your name great,and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earthwill be blessed through you.' "
In Genesis 22:17-18 (NIV) God'spromise is reaffirmed."I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,and through your offspringall nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
By the providence of God and due to a severe famine, by the end of Genesis we find Abraham’s descendents in Egypt, but not in the land that God had promised to their father Abraham. In Exodus we read how God’s intention for his people was momentarily frustrated. As he blessed his people, as they became as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand grains on the seashore,they became a threat to the Egyptians.
In Exodus 1:8-14 (NIV) we read these words, "Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 'Look,' he said to his people, 'the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.'So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelitesand worked them ruthlessly.They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly."
But God was faithful. Exodus is an account of how God delivered his people from Pharaoh and captivity in Egypt. Their miraculous deliverance becomes a key theme throughout the Old Testament. Leviticus 26:13 (NIV) says, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high."
In Numbers the key issue is whether or not God's people will make their freedom count for something.
If Genesis was about the beginning of God’s covenant relationship and promises to his people and Exodus was about the deliverance of God’s people from slavery, then what's the theme of theOld Testamentbook of Numbers?
The book of Numbers is a book filled with numbers. Thus its name is derived.It is filled with countless lists of people, tribes, and clans. The key issue in Numbers is whether or not God’s people wouldv make their newfound freedom count? Now that they had been set free from slavery, set free from the oppressive rule of Pharaoh, and set free from fear, would they make their lives count for God?
The question facing the Israelites is not unlike the question facing us this morning as we begin a new year. Like the Israelites, we too have been set free. And the question for us is what will we make our freedom count for? Will we use our freedom to serve and glorify the living God? Or will we use our freedom to sin?
Galatians 5:1 (NIV) tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."1 Peter 2:16-17 (NIV) says, "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."
Unfortunately, a tragic storyline emerges in Numbers. Two different generations of people are featured. In Numbers 1 through Numbers 25 we read about the first generation. InNumbers 26 through Numbers 36 we read about a second generation.
Both generations would face the same basic question.What would they do with their freedom? Would they move from captivity to blessing? Or would they drift back into slavery? Here are the critical questions that the first generation faced.
Would they follow the word of God?
Numbers 1:1 (NIV) says, "The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said..."
There are many Hebrew names given to this book of Numbers. One of the names is, "And he spoke." Throughout the book of Numbers the living God speaks. When people followed God’s word there was great progress andpeace. Whenever Israel spoke for herselfwe hear grumbling, complaining, and rebellion, all of which provoked the judgment of God. Did you ever notice that the same thing happens with us? We don’t enjoy our freedom apart from God’s word.With sin comes much grumbling, complaining, rebellion, and the disfavor of God. We arenever so unhappy as when the word of God goes unheeded.
Would they stand up and be counted?
Numbers 1:2 (NIV) says,"He (God) said, ‘Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.' "
To take a census, they would line all the people up. They would then draw a line in the sand. As people were counted one by one, they would cross the line and stand with God’s people. With who will you stand in this new year? Are you proud to stand alongside God’s people, to wear the name Christian, and to be known by your relationship with the living God? Or are you ashamed? Is this a secret in your life?
Would they take up arms for God’s purposes?
Numbers 1:3 (NIV) says, "You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army."
The purpose of taking a census was to enlist men into service. It was not unlike a military draft. The census called upon men to take up arms for the righteous cause of God in their world. You can see in Numbers 1:4-46 all the men enlisted through census. Seeing those names should make us ask ourselves a question. Who are God’s fighting men today? Who is taking up his righteous cause in the world today? Who are God’s warriors here at Lakeside? Who is standing to be counted? Who is crossing the line? Who is taking up arms? Who is willing to shedhis blood for the cause of Christ inhis world?
So many men are sitting on sidelines in our church. Some of you men are totally disengaged and disinterested in the cause of Christ. You're on the sidelines, being underutilized. You’ve settled for a lesser purpose for life.
Here is the type of cause for which we are called to take up arms. It is not a physical warfare against flesh and blood, but rather a spiritual conflict. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) tells us, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Would they demonstrate ferocity in a right cause?
Numbers 1:49-51 (NIV) says, "You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death."
You may assume that the Levites were bunch of soft males, appointed to look after the holy things of God. But in reality, the Levites were the most ferocious tribe of all the Israelites. When theIsraelites worshiped the golden calf in Exodus the Levites so outraged and offended that they wanted put their own country to death. Where is such ferocity today? Where is outrage and the offense? Where has our passion gone?
Would they order their lives around God’s presence?
Numbers 2:2 (NIV) says, "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."
The tabernacle symbolized the presence of God and God'scovenant with Israel. This picture shows how some half million Israelites ordered their families and camps around the tabernacle.God was in the very center! Notice how differently families orient their lives today.We put so many other things in center of our lives, including our families, communities, sports activities, and jobs.
Would they respect the holy things of God?
Numbers 3:38(NIV) says,"Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death."
The Israelites were to learn deep respect for the holy things of God. You didn’t just waltz into the presence of God like modern churchgoers often do, approaching God on your own terms. God is holy. He is to be approached with reverence, awe, and humility.
As a youngster, I remember visiting the White House in Washington D.C. As we approached, I noticed men on the roof. Quite innocently I asked my father, "What are they doing up there?" My dad told me that they were snipers, and that if I were to jump the fence and race toward the White House, they would take me out. I remember how humbled I was at the thought of approaching the White House. I measured every step. I was concerned with every rule. If it's important to do this when visiting a man, how much more important is it when coming before a holy God? Do we have that same respect?
Would every person’s gifts be leveraged for God?
Every single person was made responsible some aspect of God’s work. Read Numbers 4:1-49 for a sample list of these responsibilities.There were hundreds of tasks and responsibilities critical to the worship of the Israelite community. What’s your responsibility at Lakeside? What piece are your responsible for?
Tragically, this first Israelite generation didn’t do so well with these things. As a result, they did not move from captivity to blessing. They waffled, back-peddled, complained, and rebelled. They died in the desert.
In Numbers 26 a new generation emerges and a new census is taken. Like us, this new generation would face the very same issues. Would they take their newfound freedom and make it count? Would they serve and glorify God with their lives? Would they learn the lessons from the previous generation who passed away in the desert?
The theme of this series.
A key verse summarizing the purpose of this new series of messages is Romans 15:4 (NIV)."For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Can we learn to use our freedom to serve and glorify Christ? Can we learn from the good and bad of those gone before us?
Galatians 5:1 (NIV) says,"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
1 Peter 2:16-17 (NIV) tells us, "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."