BBC Sermon Cast

As is true of many chapters of Numbers, chapter 33 is not exactly stimulating reading—until one understands the context. For the handful of Israelites from the first generation, along with the multitude of the second and new generation, the travel itinerary recorded here served as a record of remembrance intended to lead to reverence. This “journey journal” was intended to jar the memory of God’s people concerning God’s faithfulness to his promises and to his people. It also served to remind them of God’s grace so that they would not be overwhelmed with guilt. It will help us in the same way as we study this text, which we will do so under four broad headings:

(1) A Glorious Exodus (vv. 1–15)

(2) A Groaning Experience (vv. 16–40)

(3) A Growing/Great Expectation (vv. 41–49)

(4) A Grave Exhortation (vv. 50–56)

The ancient African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child. If that is true, then it is equally true that it takes a church to raise a believer. There is strength in community, as we see in Exodus 17:8–13. We will consider this text under four broad headings:

(1) The Attack (v. 8)

(2) The Answer (v. 9)

(3) The Act (vv. 10–12)

(4) The Aftermath (v. 13)

It’s all too easy to make the Christian life mystical and completely miss the boat. May God help us to think more like our Saviour as we seek to live lives of muscular, rather than mystical, faith.

Numbers 32 records what at first blush seems to be a common-sense and harmless idea by the leaders of two tribes of Israel. Yet as we dig into their request, and as we study the outcome of this decades and even centuries later, we see that it was not a harmless suggestion at all. The decision to live on the fringe apart from the community of faith is rarely a good idea. Living on the fringe can be dangerous to the spiritual welfare of both the individual Christian and to the local church. May God teach us and protect us. We consider this chapter under the following headings:

(1) An Indifferent Request (vv. 1–5)

(2) An Indignant Rebuke (vv. 6–15)

(3) An Innovative Response (vv. 16–32)

(4) An Instructive Result (vv. 33–42)

It is all too easy to forget that we are in a spiritual battle. This loss of focus can cause us to grow complacent and open ourselves up to spiritual attacks and even to falling away from the faith completely. As we take a closer look at Hebrews 3:12–15 we will do well to heed the warning of the writer, and to thank God for the church as his means of grace to persevere together. We consider these verses under three broad headings:

1. The Reality of Apostasy (v. 12)

2. The Deceitfulness of Sin (vv. 13b–15)

3. The Blessing of the Ordinary Church (v. 13a)

It has a been a long journey for Job—and for the reader. But it has been worth the effort. As we consider the final chapter, we finally come to the part of the book that the reader anticipates: Job’s restoration and renewal. If we think, however, that the moral of the story is “hand onto God and everything will work out,” we have missed the point of the book. As we consider the final chapter of this incredible book, we seek to glean its true lesson under the following broad headings:

1. Job Repents (vv. 1–6)

2. The Friends Rebuked (vv. 7–9)

3. God Restores (vv. 10–17)

A major theme of Numbers 31 is the spoils of victory. The handling of these spoils with integrity is very important at this stage of Israel’s history for soon she will cross the Jordan, conquer many peoples, and be tempted to take what God has prohibited. This final conflict, west of the Jordan, provides an opportunity for Israel to be alerted to this temptation and how to handle it: by taking God seriously. Though our world is very different, and the church’s commission radically different, nevertheless we too must take God seriously if we will please him as we engage an evil world. This chapter will help us to do so as we consider it under four broad headings:

(1) A Holy Mandate (vv. 1–2)

(2) A Holy Motive (vv. 3–24)

(3) A Holy Mindset (vv. 25–47)

(4) A Holy Mercy (vv. 48–54)

Job thought he knew how the universe should be run. He assumed that he had the wisdom as to how and when justice should be exercised. He wanted his day in heaven’s court to argue his case before God. That day came, but he was not the one speaking. God spoke. And what he said would change Job’s life. Job learned that if he could not understand the basic elements of cosmology, meteorology, or zoology, who was he to tell God how to run his universe? Job was assured that God is able and willing and committed to crushing the chaos—whether chaotic Behemoth or chaotic Leviathan. We consider God’s second speech under the following headings:

(1) Big, Bad but Beaten Behemoth (40:6–24)

(2) Loosed, Lurking but Leashed Leviathan (41:1–34)

(3) Jolted and now Joyful Job (42:1–6)

Israel was to be a promise-keeping people, reflecting Yahweh’s integrity of Yahweh. Their yes was to be yes and their no to be their no. Their word was to bind them to their promises. This matter of promise keeping was essential for the welfare of their family, community, and nation. But, of course, promise keeping was vital for the integrity of their faith as expressed in their corporate worship. Promise keeping would bring blessing and promise breaking would bring judgement. This remains true for God’s people today. Numbers 30 addresses this theme under two broad headings:

1. Promissory Responsibility (vv. 1–4)

2. Patriarchal Responsibility (vv. 5–16)

Job’s words, and those of his three friends, have ended. Elihu has also finished speaking, seemingly preparing the way for the Lord. The sky has cleared (37:21–24), anticipating the most important speeches: those of Almighty God. What will he say? What does Job need to hear? What does Job need to do? For one thing, he needs to learn to doubt his doubts about God. And I dare say that we have the same need. These final chapters in Job are designed to do this. The Lord’s first speech (38:1–40:5) can be considered under the following headings:

1. God the Creator (38:1–21)

2. God the Controller (38:22–38)

3. God the Carer (38:39–39:30)

4. Job the Convicted (40:1–5)