The Book of Numbers: Wandering Hearts Saved by God

1. Inner voices?

2. What is the Story So Far?

3. What happens in this episode?

4. What do we learn about God and the way he does things?

5. What do we learn about God and the way he does things through Jesus?

6. Trusting God’s Voice

Growing faint and weary

The enemy within (Numbers 11)

The implosion of the inner circle (Numbers 12)

Implications

Introduction: Follow your 'passions'

Context: The journey so far… Israel finally hit the road... (Numbers 10:11-36)

1.      The people’s passions (Numbers 11:1-15)

Implication: we are not to be conformed to our passions (1 Peter 1:14-16)

2.      The Lord’s provision (Numbers 11:16-35)

Implication: we trust the Lord's provision at Jesus' cross (1 Peter 1:17-21) 

3.      The people’s passions, against the Lord’s servant (Number 12:1-16)

Implication: Our passions can lead to missing out (1 Peter 2:1-3) 

Conclusion: we don't live by passions, we live by faith. 

Introduction: Numbers, a wholly different world from our own

Numbers 5-10: A holy different camp - Life in Israel's camp

Implications:

i.                Sin and death cut us away from God.  

ii.               Our God is Holy, our judge, and he cannot meet sin and death 

iii.              God calls us to be Holy as he is Holy. 

iv.              God made a way for us to be Holy, to deal with sin and death

v.               The Holy God goes with us, to bless, save & sustain.

Conclusion: A Holy different life together 

Intro: Journey

Point 1: Pursue Holiness

Point 2: Remember 

Conclusion: Get There!

Introduction: Is God safe?  

1.    The Lord God (Numbers 1:1)

a.    Spoke… in the wilderness 

b.    Saved… out of Egypt 

2.    The people of God 

a.    The people, the war, and the promise (Numbers 1:2-46)

b.    The people and the problem (Numbers 1:47-54)

3.    The meeting of God and his people 

a.    God at the centre (Numbers 2:1-2)

b.    God plans to journey with his people (Numbers 2:3-24)

c.     God creates a safe place (Numbers 3:1-49)  

4.    Implications (see also Hebrews 12:18-29)

a.     The nature of God and the safety of the cross 

b.    Jesus at the centre of life 

c.     The priority of God’s people, a matter of life and death

Background

Personnel (Numbers 1)

Formation (Numbers 2)

Roles (Numbers 3-4)