A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
Related Articles
RETURN TO SYLLABUS
NUMBERS 14
LESSON #16
THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF UNBELIEF
v MEMORY VERSE: HEB 3:19
v IN THE LAST CHAPTER WE HEARD THE POSITIVE AND THENEGATIVE ARGUMENTS FOR TAKING POSSESSION OF THE PROMISED LAND. IN THIS CHAPTER, THE PEOPLEMAKE THE FINAL DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND.
v READ NUM 14:1-4 ISRAELS REFUSAL
Ø THEIR UNBELIEF:
§ THE NEW TESTAMENT GIVES USA GOOD COMMENTARY ON THEIR DECISION.
· READ HEB 3:17-19.
¨ WE ARE TOLD THEY WOULD NOT ENTER THE PROMISEDLAND BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF.
Ø WE ALL CONTINUALLY MAKE DECISIONS IN OURLIVES WHETHER WE WILL TRUST GOD FOR CERTAIN SITUATIONS OR NOT. THE REASON THIS COMMENTARYIS IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS IS BECAUSE IT APPLIES TO THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER AS WELL ASTHOSE PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS.
§ THE BOOK OF HEBREWS SAYSTHAT BELIEVERS SHOULD TRUST GOD TO ENTER INTO THE FULLNESS OF ALL HIS BLESSINGS. IT CALLSTHIS STATE OF SUPREME CONFIDENCE IN GOD A REST (REPOSE). SOME BELIEVERS FALLSHORT OF GODS REST BECAUSE OF THIS SAME CONDITION OF UNBELIEF. (HEB 4:1-3)
§ WHAT IS UNBELIEF AND WHYWAS THIS THEIR CONDITION?
· UNBELIEF BEGINS IN THE HEART,WORKS OUT INTO ACTIONS, AND THEN SEEKS TO JUSTIFY ITSELF.
· UNBELIEF IS A FAILURE TO TRUSTGOD IN 3 AREAS:
¨ THEY DID NOT THINK GOD WAS IN CONTROL OF THESITUATION.
Ø THIS IMPLIES A GOD WHO LACKS POWER.
¨ THEY DID NOT THINK GOD LOVED THEM.
Ø THIS IMPLIES AN IGNORANCE OF GODSMOTIVES.
¨ THEY DID NOT THINK GOD KNEW BEST.
Ø THIS IMPLIES A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND WIDSOMON GODS PART.
· UNBELIEF IS BASED IN AN ATTITUDEOF PRIDE WHERE MAN THINKS HE DOES NOT NEED GOD.
§ HOW DID THEY COME TO SUCH ACONDITION OF UNBELIEF AFTER THEY HAD SEEN GOD DO THE MIRACLE OF DRYING UP THE RED SEA FORTHEM?
· UNBELIEF IS THE RESULT OF ANINCOMPLETE COMMITMENT. REMEMBER THESE PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT THEIR EGYPTIAN IDOLS WITH THEM(ACT 7:43).
· UNBELIEF IS THE RESULT WHEN THEREIS NOT COMPLETE SURRENDER. PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THEIR OPTIONS OPEN TO BELIEVE GOD WHEN THEYWANT, AND TO FOLLOW OTHER GODS OF THEIR OWN MAKING WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT, ARE UNSTABLE.
¨ READ JAM 1:2-8
Ø THEIR ULTIMATE REBELLION:
§ THEIR COMPLAINING ABOUTMOSES LEADERSHIP
· THEY CONSIDERED APPOINTINGANOTHER LEADER TO TAKE THEM BACK TO EGYPT.
§ THEIR COMPLAINING ABOUTTHEIR CONDITIONS IN THE WILDERNESS RESULTS IN ULTIMATE DESPAIR.
· IN OTHER WORDS, THEY FEEL ASTHOUGH THERE IS NO HOPE. THEY ONLY SEE DEATH. IF THEY TRY TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND, THEYWILL DIE. IF THEY STAY IN THE WILDERNESS, THEY WILL DIE.
§ THE JUSTIFICATION OFUNBELIEF AND REBELLION:
· THEY USE THE FATE OF THEIRCHILDREN AS AN EXCUSE FOR THEIR UNBELIEF.
· THEY ACCUSE GOD OF NOT CARING FORTHEIR CHILDREN.
¨ IN REALITY, GOD CARED FOR THEIR CHILDREN MORETHAN THEY DID BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR CHILDREN HE LED INTO THE PROMISED LAND 40 YEARS LATER.
v THE SIX PREDOMINANT SINS OF ISRAEL:
Ø READ 1COR 10:1-11
§ UNBELIEF AND DISOBEDIENCE(1COR 10:5) (NUM 14:26-45)
§ LUST (1COR 10:6) (NUM11:4-9)
§ IDOLATRY (1COR 10:7) (EXO32:6)
§ COMPROMISE (COR 10:8) (NUM25)
§ PRESUMPTION (1COR 10:9)(NUM 21:4-9)
§ MURMURING (1COR 10:10) (NUM14:2-29)
v READ NUM 14:5-9 THE PLEA OF THE MOVE-ERS,JOSHUA AND CALEB
Ø THESE TWO MEN OF FAITH SAID THAT GOD WOULDGIVE THEM THE VICTORY IF GOD WAS PLEASED WITH THEM.
§ THEY ARE BREAD FOR US(WE WILL SWALLOW THEM UP)
· THIS PHRASE IS LIKE SAYING INENGLISH ITS A PIECE OF CAKE OR THEY ARE LIKE DUCK SOUP.
§ HOW CAN YOU KNOW IF GOD ISPLEASED WITH YOU?
· READ HEB 11:6
¨ JOSHUA AND CALEB KNEW THAT FAITH WAS WHATPLEASED GOD. IT WAS LIKE THEY HAD MEMORIZED THE VERSE EVEN BEFORE IT WAS WRITTEN DOWN INTHE NEW TESTAMENT.
v READ NUM 14:10-12 GODS REACTION
Ø EVERY TIME THE PEOPLE COMPLAIN, THE GLORIOUSPRESENCE OF GOD APPEARS BRIGHTER–HOT WITH ANGER.
§ THESE PEOPLE ARE MOREAFRAID OF A HUMAN ENEMY THAN THEY ARE OF AN ALL-POWERFUL GOD.
· IT IS OBVIOUS, THEREFORE, THATTHEY DO NOT KNOW GOD. THEY ONLY KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT HIM.
v READ NUM 14:13-20
Ø GOD SETS A TEST FOR MOSES:
§ GOD SAYS HE WILL DESTROYTHE PEOPLE AND START OVER WITH A NEW GROUP DESCENDED FROM MOSES. THE OFFER WOULD APPEAL TOA MAN WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE. HOWEVER, THE SUGGESTION WOULD NULLIFY THE PROMISES GODMADE TO JACOB AND THE 12 TRIBES.
· MOSES PASSES GODS TEST, ANDDECLINES THE OFFER. IN FACT, WE CAN LEARN A LOT ABOUT INTERCESSORY PRAYER FROM MOSES.
¨ WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT INTERCESSORY PRAYERFROM MOSES?
Ø THE BASIS OF PRAYER IS GODS CHARACTER:
§ HIS PRAYER IS BASED ON GODSREPUTATION AMONG THE HEATHENS. (14-16)
§ HIS PRAYER IS BASED ON GODSPLAN. (16)
§ HIS PRAYER IS BASED ON GODSPROMISES TO THE PEOPLE. (17)
§ HIS PRAYER IS BASED ON GODSMERCY AND FORGIVENESS. (18)
§ HIS PRAYER IS BASED ON GODSPAST RECORD. (19)
Ø WHEN YOU BASE YOUR PRAYERS ON THE CHARACTER,NATURE, AND PLAN OF GOD, YOU SET ASIDE YOUR OWN DESIRES. THEN GOD WILL HEAR AND ANSWER.
Ø WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT GOD FROM THIS CHAPTER?
§ GOD IS FAITHFUL EVEN WHENMEN ARE NOT.
§ HE IS A GOD OF JUSTICETEMPERED WITH MERCY AND FORGIVENESS.
§ GOD DESIRES FAITH.
§ HE IS A GOD WHO LOVES HISPEOPLE.
§ GOD HEARS THE PRAYERS OF AHUMBLE MAN.
v READ NUM 14:21-24 THE GLORIOUS PROPHECY
Ø GOD GIVES A PROPHECY IN VERSE 21 THAT HAS YETTO BE FULFILLED. IT WILL NOT BE UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST THAT THE GLORY OFTHE LORD WILL FILL THE WHOLE EARTH.
v READ NUM 14:29-37 GODS JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT
Ø GOD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE AS WELL AS MERCY.ALONG WITH GODS FORGIVENESS, THERE IS A JUDGMENT OF CONSEQUENCES THAT THE PEOPLEMUST BEAR.
§ THAT WHOLE GENERATION, 20YEARS OLD AND UP, WOULD DIE IN THE WILDERNESS.
· THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE JOSHUAAND CALEB. NOTICE THAT EVEN MOSES AND AARON WILL NOT ENTER THE PROMISED LAND.
§ THEY WOULD WANDER IN THEWILDERNESS 1 YEAR FOR EVERY DAY THE 12 SPIES WERE IN THE LAND 40 DAYS => 40 YEARS.
§ THE TEN OTHER SPIES DIED OFPLAGUE.
· REMEMBER THAT DESPITE THECONSEQUENCES THEY MUST BEAR, GOD WOULD STILL BE WITH THEM. HE WOULD FEED THEM WITH MANNAAND NOT LET THEIR SHOES AND CLOTHES WEAR OUT FOR FORTY YEARS.
§ THERE IS ANOTHER IMPORTANTPRINCIPLE WE MUST RECOGNIZE HERE:
· GOD HOLDS ADULTS RESPONSIBLE FORTHE DECISIONS MADE BY THE WHOLE SOCIETY. THE DIVIDING LINE IS 20 YEARS OLD. ANYONE OLDERTHAN 20 YEARS BEARS THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DECISIONS OF SOCIETY. THE WHOLE GROUP MUSTWANDER IN THE WILDERNESS 40 YEARS, EVEN MOSES, AARON, JOSHUA, AND CALEB.
¨ NOTICE THAT THE ATTITUDES AND DECISIONS OFTHE INDIVIDUAL AFFECT THE WHOLE GROUP, AND THAT THE DECISIONS OF THE WHOLE GROUP AFFECTTHE INDIVIDUALS.
v READ NUM 14:39-45 THE ULTIMATE PRESUMPTION
Ø WHY WAS THE PEOPLES CONFESSION IN VERSE40 UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD?
§ THEIR HEART IS STILL NOTRIGHT WITH GOD. THEY REFUSE TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES BEFORE GOD.
· WHEN THE PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT THECONSEQUENCES OF THEIR REBELLION, THEY WERE MORE AFRAID OF THE WILDERNESS THAN THEY WERE OFTHE GIANTS IN THE LAND.
§ IF GOD FORGAVE THE PEOPLEFOR THEIR NEGATIVE THINKING, WHY DID THEY LOSE THE BATTLE WITH THE AMALEKITES AND THECANAANITES?
· THEY DECIDED TO CONQUER THEPROMISED LAND IN THEIR OWN STRENGTH. GOD WAS NOT WITH THEM. GOD HAD TOLD THEM THEY WOULDNOT ENTER THE LAND FOR 40 YEARS. THEREFORE, WE COULD CALL THIS THE ULTIMATE PRESUMPTION.
¨ MOSES TELLS THEM THEY WILL NOT SUCCEEDWITHOUT GOD. MOSES KEPT THE ARK WITH HIM AND DID NOT GO TO BATTLE. OF COURSE, THEISRAELITES WERE DEFEATED.
Ø VICTORY ONLY COMES WHEN WE SUBMIT OURSELVESTO GODS WILL, IN GODS PERFECT TIME.
v HOMEWORK
v NUMBERS15
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY.PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER.
v APPLICATION OF NUM 14
Ø IN WHAT AREAS OF YOUR LIFE ARE YOU LIKE THEISRAELITES, UNSTABLE IN YOUR FAITH?
Ø READ ROM 10:17
§ WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BECOMEMORE STABLE IN YOUR FAITH?
v PREPARATION FOR NUM 15
Ø READ NUM 15:1-41
§ IF THE PEOPLE WILL NOTENTER THE PROMISED LAND FOR 40 YEARS, WHY DOES GOD GIVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS HERE?
§ WHAT IS THE PURPOSE ANDSIGNIFICANCE OF THE TASSELS OF BLUE?
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 101:6
