Tag Archives: preaching Numbers

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Looking Back On Our Faith-Journey: Preaching Through Numbers

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Preaching God’s Review of Israel’s Journey

One of the joys of attempting to preach through a book of the Bible like Numbers is the satisfaction of having done it. I know it doesn’t sound very spiritual, but there is some truth to it. “Done it” includes tackling tough chapters like 33 where Israel’s journey is reviewed.

I structured the sermon with two points (gasp!):

  1. Looking back at God’s powerful redemption (vv. 3-4)
  2. Our struggle to trust Him (vv. 8, 9, 14-16, 40)

I selected just a few of the 56 verses in the review. By this time in the series there is much repetition. Evidently God wanted us to see how far He has brought us, how much we’ve put Him through, and yet He’s still faithful.

Consider doing some work on Passover (v. 3), such an important concept for our redemption.

Encourage your folks with: “the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn….On their gods also the Lord executed judgments” (vv. 3-4). Let that look in the rearview mirror bolster your faith and theirs in the fight for faith and faithfulness! Some in our faith-families could sure use a dose of victory over the enemy.

In the second part of the sermon I selected tests of faith to remind us all of the struggle we’re in every day:

  • v. 8 and crossing the sea into the wilderness caused quite the test of faith!
  • vv. 9, 14 and the issue of water: almost dying of thirst and then the 12 springs of water!
  • v. 16 and that disastrous request for meat to eat that ended up with the name: “graves of craving” as the Lord judged His people with a great plague!
  • v. 40 and the enemy, Canaanites, that constantly threatened Israel’s enjoyment in the land!

After all that, there they were ready to enter and enjoy the Promised Land. And here we are enjoying the presence of God.

There’s only one way to explain a people like us enjoying God like this. It’s all because He is faithful to His promises.

And if you were interested in a Christological reading of Numbers 33 look no further than the reference to Passover (v. 3), our Passover Lamb, the buried Firstborn of our God (v. 4).

I hope these posts through books of the Bible, especially those in the OT, will encourage you to take your people there. May our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus as you do (Ephesians 3:21).

Randal

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Looking Out For #2: Preaching Through Numbers

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We Really Are In This Faith-Race Together
So We Can’t Only Look Out For #1!

Back to preaching through Numbers this week.

When you arrive at Numbers 32 you’ll encounter a tricky narrative (at least I found it especially challenging).

Best to allow the storyline to carry the theology along. [I hope you are seeing through this series that you can trust the storyline.]

In this case God teaches us through a combination of storyline and the concepts of inheritance and unity. The storyline is the starting point for theological interpretation of narrative. The concepts of inheritance begins with reference to “the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead…” (v. 1) and is specified in vv. 18-19, “our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan…”

I divided the narrative like this:

  1. an example of self-interest for good reason (vv. 1-5)
  2. which created unintended spiritual dangers (vv. 6-15)
  3. but led to cooperation in the fight for faith (vv. 16-42)

Long before the Book of Acts God provides the church with a look at how the Body of Christ operates.

Our congregants need to be reminded what’s at stake if our harmony is destroyed. Verse 15 summarizes what happened to the earlier generation: “For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people.” Pretty severe.

Ancient interpreters censure the actions of the two tribes, but as you can see in vv. 16ff. they adjust to Moses’s plea, stick to their idea of settling this side of the Jordan, but, most importantly, agreeing to “take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place” (v. 17).

Everything is aimed at every one of God’s people enjoying their inheritance. The chapter ends with resounding victory.

Great story of how God’s people are in the fight for faith together. That’s why we talk about “faith-family.”

And, if you were wondering how a Christ-centered reading might sound in this narrative, I selected moving from the humility of the two tribes to Paul’s description of our Savior in Philippians 2:1-8. Anyone who receives Christ’s sacrifice shares His mindset and lives with others in view.

I hope you can see how God can receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) through a journey through the Book of Numbers.

Randal

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Just Trust the Narrative: Preaching Through Numbers

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Do you trust the book of Numbers to speak to God’s people?

After writing last week’s post, I thought it might be good to show how I arrived at the theology. So, here goes:

First, trust the storyline of the narrative. Every part of the chapter hinges on God’s final assignment to Moses: “Avenge the people of Israel…” That’s why I titled the sermon: “He will bring us into this land” (remember, that was my unifying idea of the series): And that includes one day avenging His people.

Vengeance on the Midianites points forward to God’s future vengeance on all His enemies.

Everybody knows vengeance is His, not ours. All the worshipers need to come to grips with “the Lord’s vengeance” (v. 3). That’s especially important in a day when the air we breathe is polluted with the thought that the vengeance of God on His enemies is offensive to our post-modern sensibilities.

The only reason given in the chapter for this acts of judgment is in v. 16 “…these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor.” This review of what happened is the only explanation for the violent judgment. Follow the progression:

Step one: God’s people are tempted and fail the test.

Step two: God judges the tempters and His people are involved in the judgment.

You might take a look at the end of the Story when the Lord returns in such places as Revelation 19:11ff. “…in righteousness he judges and makes war….And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine lines, white and pure, were following him…”

Finally, the bulk of the chapter and description highlights God’s people relishing in the victory, counting the plunder, and bringing the Lord’s offering. The chapter closes with: “And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, as a memorial for the people of Israel before the Lord” (v. 54).

The difficulty is moving from the OT battle against the Midianites to providing comfort and encouragement to God’s people as they await His return.

While we wait, our own fight for loving God supremely rages on. May our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as we place our hope in His soon return.

Randal

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Preaching About the Importance of Church Leadership: Preaching Through Numbers

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And We Will Respect God’s Choice…
Numbers 16:1–17:13

My full title for Numbers 16:1–17:13 was:

“He will bring us into this land”: And We Will Respect God’s Choice of Who Leads and Who Serves

I am writing this with a half-hour to go before the first 2020 Presidential Election. How’d you like to be those two?! How’d you like to be Moses or Aaron?

The infamous rebellion against Moses and Aaron recorded in these chapters is one of the most intense narratives in the Old Testament. What makes it even more intense to preach or teach is that we’re living in days when leadership at all levels faces skepticism and cynicism.

To help you tackle this large preaching portion you might consider the following structure:

  1. Two more challenges to leadership (vv. 1-3a, 41)
  2. The wrongheaded thinking that causes it (vv. 3b, 12-14)
  3. Our response to the situation (vv. 21, 24, 26-27a, 45)
  4. God’s judgment and mercy (vv. 4-11, 22, 27b-40, 46-50; 17:1-13)

(I know that’s a lot of verses, but if you have time, take a look at the fit between these verses and the major points.)

First, simplify the sermon by noting that Korah and company function as a “go and do otherwise” exemplar. So we worship this morning by not following their attack on God’s leadership. Put positively, we respect God’s leadership.

Second, be ready to dig in theologically when you get to 16:3-5 and the question of whether only Moses and Aaron were holy or, according to Korah, the whole congregation was equally holy.

Third, Moses’s reaction was incredible to me. I think I would be tempted in light of the attack against him to gladly agree with God’s plan (16:21). Instead Moses intercedes for the congregation!

Fourth, as we’ve seen so often in Numbers, this lengthy narrative provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the holiness and judgment of God.

Finally, God’s mercy and Israel’s confession/repentance are highlighted in these scenes as God stops the plague and Israel says,

“Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, shall die. Are we all to perish?” (17:12-13)

And if you’re fond of a Christ-centered reading of such texts, you might land on 16:22 (“…shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”) or 16:47 (“And [Aaron] put on the incense and made atonement for the people”). Concerning the former, one man, Adam, did sin and the human race experienced the judgment of God. However, one Man, Jesus Christ, was righteous and faced the judgment of God so that we by faith could be acquitted. The second one is an easy leap to the cross.

And as always, may our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as you work hard for Him each weekend.

Randal

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Think Twice Before Challenging God-Ordained Leadership: Preaching Through Numbers

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If you’ve been reading some of these posts about preaching through the book of Numbers, you may be surprised at how much “preachable” material is there. When you arrive at chapter 12 you’ve hit the jackpot. The chapter describes what happened to Miriam when she and Aaron “spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman who he had married, for he married a Cushite woman” (the second clause must’ve been added to make sure we didn’t miss it!?!) (12:1).

Here was my take on Numbers 12:1-16…

“He will bring us into this land”:

And We Will Follow God-Ordained Leadership

The narrative flows like this: there is a challenge to godly leadership (vv. 1-2), the problem centers on the leader’s authority (v. 3), the Lord, however, quickly shows His support of His chosen leader (vv. 4-8), and finally the terrible consequences of challenging the Lord’s leader appear (vv. 9-16, especially v. 10 “Miriam was leprous”).

From my title above you can see that I chose to state the idea positively instead of negatively. The narrative certainly is one of those “go and do otherwise” exemplars based upon Miriam and Aaron’s action of speaking against Moses (v. 1). What’s great about this portion of Scripture is how you can develop your listeners’s understanding of a theology of church leadership and also the exclusivity of God speaking through Christ.

There’s much more, such as Mose’s remarkable attitude toward Miriam (cf. v. 13 where “Moses cried to the Lord, ‘O God, please heal her–please.'”), or the interesting fact that “the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again” (after being quarantined, a very timely issue in light of the recent COVID-19!).

Anyway, I hope that these brief posts through Numbers will encourage you to preach through this fascinating book. I know our Lord will receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) if you do.

Randal

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Just How Straightforward Is Numbers 11? Preaching Through Numbers

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Numbers 11 Is Pretty Straightforward, Don’t You Think?

In my previous post I made the comment that Numbers 11 was pretty straightforward. A few days later it occurred to me that I should test that theory. Thirty years of teaching preaching to undergrads, masters, and doctoral students has taught me that preaching OT narratives is not easy for most of us.

So, how straightforward is Numbers 11? Could you find your way to its theology?

First, did you notice that the first major point about “a strong craving” comes directly from the narrator’s assessment of “the rabble” in 11:4 “Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving.” That’s pretty straightforward. Everything in vv. 4-10a deals with their strong craving, including the description of the manna.

Second, the narrator also lets us know what they were crying about: “…for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord saying… ‘For it was better for us in Egypt.’” (v. 18). It’s hard to imagine strong cravings for food being so strong as to cause God’s people to want to go back into slavery in Egypt.

Finally, the Lord’s reaction is clear in this narrative. He’s angry in v. 10b and in His anger it hails quail and they suffer a terrible plague while chewing.

So, can you see what God means by this narrative? It’s pretty straightforward, one of those “go and do otherwise” narratives: By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, yield to the Holy Spirit, not to our strong cravings. Or, something like that.

And may our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as we teach and preach through Numbers.

Randal

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Preaching the Cloud and Fire: Preaching Through Numbers

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We Follow His Clear Leading

First, it can be done! This past Sunday I completed a six month series through the book of Numbers. The series totaled 31 sermons for 36 chapters. Phew! Great challenges and great rewards!

One thing I want to do better in these posts is highlight the kind of literature you’re dealing with. It’s my way of helping you see how meaning is made before we get to what that meaning is for the church.

So, for instance, in Numbers 9:15-23 is the spectacular story of God guiding His people with a “cloud…by day and…fire by night.” (v. 16) Meaning is made through the subjects (cloud and fire), their actions (“lifted from over the tent” in v. 17), and the response of God’s people (“camped….set out” in vv. 17-18). The cloud and pillar, of course, are also described as “At the command of the Lord…” (cf. vv. 18, 20, 23 and the key phrase, “the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord” in v. 19).

It’s pretty clear that the Lord is instructing His people through the way He clearly leads them in their journey. And us? Well…

Our Lord will lead the way (vv. 15-16)

We will follow His leading (vv. 17-23)

Even without the cloud/fire?!? (biblical theology of God’s guidance and following Him in our journey.)

The third movement is where the fun is because everyone has asked at one time or another: “Wouldn’t it be great if God guided us now like that?” It’s comforting to know that He does.

I found it helpful to explain God’s guidance in Numbers and His guidance now like this: in Numbers the cloud and fire are like us going from A to B and we don’t know the way (if we don’t follow exactly, we’ll get lost); today we move from A to B and we know the way very well (we don’t have to follow someone and even know various ways to get to point B if we want to or have to).

Our arrival is just as sure because of God’s presence with us in the Person of Christ and His Spirit. And that should help you provide a Christological reading for your congregants. On the cross, Christ loses the presence of God so that He never leaves those who trust Him. Anyone whose heart has been warmed by the Gospel wants desperately to follow the Savior’s leading.

May our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as you preach and teach the book of Numbers.

Randal