Wanderings: Israel on a Road Trip
Numbers and Deuteronomy
Intro: Road trip! “Are we there yet?” Kids getting impatient.
• They say men hate to ask for directions, not me. I hate getting lost. I want to get there without taking a bunch of wrong turns. Maybe I should get a GPS
• In the Bible, Moses had over 3 million kids on a road trip who were complaining and asking “Are we there yet?”
• Leading Israel was like herding cats. In The Story we come to the wanderings of Israel as Moses leads them toward the Promised Land that flowed with milk and honey.
Big Pic: God has our “road trip” all lined out for us. To avoid getting lost, stay in the Word and ask for directions.
• Today we’re going to talk about the “road trip” we are all on and how to stay on course.
Text: Deut. 30:9b-10
Not long into the trip, the people of Israel start complainung to Moses. Numbers 11-12
They complain about general hardships of the trip. Num. 11:1-3
• Stop your whining!
• Same with us. I know life is hard…
They complain about the food (every day it’s “manna”). Num. 11:4-6
• We should be grateful for what we have!
• It’s so easy for us to always want more…
Miriam and Aaron complain about Moses being the driver (leader). Num. 12:1-9 PIC
• Do you know what you are doing/where we are going?
• 12:6-8 is key…
• Follow the God-appointed leaders in your life.
PIC The people of Israel takes a dangerous wrong turn/stall out at Kadesh-barnea. Numbers 13-14
• On their way to the promised land (Canaan), because of their stubbornness and pride, the Israelites start wandering in circles…for 40 years!
• They are so close to the Canaan that they send twelve spies (a man from each tribe) to survey the Promised Land. Num. 13:1-2, 17-20
• Ten spies report about the abundance of the land and also the
giants who live there and conclude “We cannot take the
land.” Num. 13:25-28 & 31-32
• The Israelites lived in and near Kadesh-barnea (PIC) for 40 years. This was the southern end of Canaan, so when the Israelites reached there, they were on the verge of entering the promised land.
• But as a result of the rebellion prompted by the spies negative reports, God punished the people by making them wait 40 years to enter the land. 14:34 PICS 2
• These 10 spies and doubting people represent those people and circumstances that come into our lives and threaten to distract us from what we know is true.
• We can’t listen to those negative messages….
Two spies (Joshua and Caleb) report the same thing, but conclude, “Because God is with us, we can take the land.” Num. 13:30, 14:5-9
• Joshua and Caleb represent everything that we know is right and true.
• That would be godly leaders, the Bible, other mature Christians…we need to listen to the voice of God.
• After Moses urges the people to trust God and take the land, the people rebel and refuse to obey. 14:10-12
• This is such and typical example of human nature. We know what is right, but we let doubt, worry and sin pull us away from what we know is right.
• God makes it very clear to Moses what the consequences will be for the peoples disobedience and lack of faith. Numbers 14:26-34
• Our consequences today may or may not be as severe, but there will be a price to pay for not following God.
PIC Israel’s lack of trust in and disobedience to God is what created this 40 year detour.
• Even the children are punished for their parents’ disobedience. Numbers 14:18
• After 40 years of wandering, they end up where they began—at Kadesh-Barnea.
• This is a classic story of disobedience. Wandering in circles, getting lost, grumbling the whole time, asking for God’s judgment…
• As we continue the road trip that is each of our lives, we need to be careful not to rebel and wander off God’s path for us.
• It may not be a 40 yr. detour in our lives, but if we’re not careful we will give up precious years to our rebellion.
Between Numbers 14 and Deut. 32 we find all kinds of stories and lessons God taught his people as they wandered.
• Even Moses also failed to trust God: Numbers 20:7-13
• God told Moses to speak to the rock and Moses struck it twice. PIC
• As a result of Moses’ disobedience, he is allowed to see the Promised Land, but not allowed to lead the people into it. Deuteronomy 34:1-5
• Finally, the people come around, repent and are forgiven. Deut. 30:1-16
Moses’ Victory Speech/Song at Kadesh-Barnea:
Deuteronomy 32-33
• Moses tells the people that they have a fresh opportunity to trust and obey God who is the divine GPS.
• Moses tells the people that they are not alone—God is with them.
Application:
On our road trip of life, God allows us to drive the car.
That is both a privilege and a curse. PICS 3
There is going to be people in the car with us.
On this “road trip” called life, you need to covenant with this local community to trust and obey God, knowing that God will never lead you into a wrong turn.
Who are the people in your life that are your “backseat/sideseat drivers?” PIC
We need people to tell us when we are getting off course. Look at the map (bible) with us and get us back on course.
It’s called accountability.
