In scripture we see many instances were God’s patience runs out… Abraham and his nephew Lot in the story of the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, We see God’s patience in the days of Noah…
Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ August 26, 2007
“When God’s Patience Runs Out”
Life of Moses part 13
Numbers 16
Key Principles from earlier weeks…
· God specializes in using broken vessels.
· Predicaments teach us dependence upon God.
· God gave Divine rules for human conduct.
· Being a Gap Stander makes all the Difference.
· Every decision is Pivotal for God’s blessing.
What happens when your patience runs out?
Have you ever lost your patience with someone, and then let them have it?
Patience is the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset.
Isaiah 7:13 Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
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In scripture we see many instances were God’s patience runs out… Abraham and his nephew Lot in the story of the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, We see God’s patience in the days of Noah… |
1 Peter 3:20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water… He then judged the world for their wickedness bringing a global devastating flood that we see evidence of today all around the world.
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Many instances… Jonah’s attempt to run from God, Ananias & Sapphira lying about holding back money from the proceeds of their property and the Lord struck them dead… |
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Many, many times we see the nation of Israel grumbling, complaining, murmuring, walking in unbelief and rebellion as we see God’s glorious manifest presence being revealed... who they chose to ignore. |
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Last week we saw them on the very brink of blessing about to enter the Promise Land and they made a pivotal wrong decision that cost them 40 years of wandering in the desert. |
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How discouraging to travel a year to get there and because of unbelief sent packing into the desert |
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God’s patience wears thin… suffering for their unfaithfulness… wander in no man’s land for 40 years… |
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There are many stories concerning their 40 years of wandering… poison snakes, manna, tabernacle… |
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What happens when God’s patience runs out? Today we’ll pick the story up in… |
Numbers 14:27,33,34 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites… 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. 34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’
· Please note that two little phrases – “suffering for your unfaithfulness” and “you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you”
· You do not want to be in the position of stiff arming God and to have Him fight against you.
· An immutable law of God: Sowing & Reaping
Proverbs 22:8a “He who sows wickedness reaps trouble…”
1. Rebellious Leaders… (16:1-3)
Downward Spiral…
· PROUD Hearts
Numbers 16:3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"
o We’re the righteous ones Moses – not you and Aaron… we love God, we’re better than you
o Who do you think you are Moses? You have gone too far… pushed us far enough – I quit
· POWER Hungry
Numbers 16:9-10 Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.
o They desired the office of priesthood that Aaron was given by the Lord… forced self-will
o They weren’t content to do the work of the tabernacle… they wanted more… force the issue
o Power struggles are not new, they go on today in many churches… bloom where planted!
· PROMOTED Conspiracy
Numbers 16:11 It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"
o Principle of: Birds of a feather flock together… look around carefully and you will see it
o A non-spiritual person usually connects well with another non-spiritual person…
o A negative whiner usually connects well with another negative whiner.
o The rebels banded together… all joined the “hood” against God’s men Moses & Aaron
· PERVERTED Authority
Numbers 16:12-13 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, "We will not come! 13 Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us?
o They refused to submit to God’s authority… we will not come… who died & made you boss?
o Can you sense the arrogance of Dathan & Abiram? Two of the ringleaders.
o Be ever so careful going against God’s anointed authority… bringing judgment on yourself.
· POISONOUS Accusations
Numbers 16:14 Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!"
o Moses, you’re not who you think you are… you’re pulling the wool over the people’s eyes.
o You’re throwing sand in their eyes to blind them to what’s really going on…
o Accusations that poisoned many of the Israelites… open defiance & sin – we will not come!
2. Moses’ Intervention… (16:12-22)
· Sought the Lord v4,15,22
Numbers 16:4When Moses heard this, he fell facedown…
Numbers 16:15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."
Numbers 16:22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?"
o In the face of adversity, there’s no better place to turn than to the Lord… our Rock & Strength, our Deliverer, our Fortress, our Refuge, The Almighty One!
· Confronted the rebellious leaders vs5-18
Numbers 16:5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers
Numbers 16:6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this:
Numbers 16:8 Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites!
Numbers 16:12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram,
Numbers 16:16 Moses said to Korah, "You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow--you and they and Aaron.
o Confrontation is never easy but vital to the health of the church
o Let God be true and every man a liar… be sure your sin will find you out… the showdown!
Numbers 16:18-21 18 So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire assembly. 20 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 21 "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once."
· Interceded for God’s mercy vs19-22
Numbers 16:22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?"
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· Separated Righteous from the Unrighteous vs23-27
Numbers 16:23-27 23 Then the LORD said to Moses, 24 "Say to the assembly, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.'" 25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins." 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.
o God commands His people to, “Come out from among them and be ye separate…”
o The Lord refused to destroy Sodom till “righteous” Lot was separated/removed from the city
o We see their castles (tents) all their possessions, wives, children, babies – whole families
Numbers 16:28-30 28 Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt."
3. God’s Wrath…
· Earth Swallows the Ring Leaders vs28-34
Numbers 16:31-33 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 33 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community…
o The sins of one man can affect the entire family… generational sins even today.
o We see the vindication of Moses & Aaron, God’s appointed servants…
o The rebellious leaders, their families and all their possessions swallowed by the earth…
o No trace left of them… mass grave – a picture of the underworld in hell – lost souls of men scream out in agony… if only I listened, if only, if only…
o The rest of the camp heard the terrifying screams as they slid into the grave - sheol (hades)
· Fire Consumes the 250 Leaders v35
Numbers 16:35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
o God’s patience ran out for the rebellious leaders, now the rest of the wicked experiences God’s wrath…fire from the Lord consumed all the guilty
o Moses took the brass censers and hammered them into the covering of the brazen altar as a continual reminder that only Aaron descendants can bring incense before the Lord.
o Lesson for everyone – leadership is not self-assumed but appointed by God Himself.
· Death Plague Afflicts the People vs41-49
Numbers 16:41-49 41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the LORD's people," they said. 42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, 44 and the LORD said to Moses, 45 "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown.
o The people didn’t learn the lesson quite yet… next day they grumbled against Moses…
o God showed up and was about to destroy them all v45
o Moses once again stands in the gap… instructing Aaron to make atonement for sin.
Numbers 16:46-49 Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started." 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.
o God’s patience runs out, God’s wrath is poured out… plague started sweeping the camp
o Aaron offered incense which is symbolic for prayer… he stood between the living & the dead
o One censer in hands of one man outweighs 250 censers in hands of 250 sinful men!
o God’s patience ran out for the rebellious Israelites in the wilderness
4. When will God’s patience run out for…
America? Family/loved ones/friends? You?
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
è He LOVES – me a sinner unconditionally, just as I am right now, today!
è He GAVE – God’s only Son Jesus Christ came, suffered and died for my sins!
è We BELIEVE – Whoever means me, you, everyone… believe is to place your trust in Jesus!
è We LIVE – Not perish in hell but to experience forgiveness of sin and eternal life!
Consequences for not believing and receiving Christ is to experience God’s wrath.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
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God’s wrath came upon the rebellious in the days of Moses… It also comes upon everyone who has never repented and believed. Would you call upon the name of Jesus today? |
Apply the Truth…
· Selfish ambition destroys but humble service edifies.
· Living a Godly life is never easy, often rare, always eventful but eternally rewarding.
Where do you stand on God’s Patience Scale?
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Korah woke up that morning thinking he was right with God yet he was so mistaken… he began his day like most others, he ended it by sliding into the bowels of the earth… God’s patience ran out. |
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Thousands woke up and headed to work one beautiful morning in September… only to find their world rocked to the core… a tragic satanicly inspired Islamic attack, striking the very heart of America. Wake up America, wake up loved ones, family members, friends, each of us must wake us also… |
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No one knows when the patience of the Lord will run, bringing judgment from Almighty God. |
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My friend your sin will find you out… don’t allow God’s patience to run out for you… get saved today! |
Let’s Pray
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary”, John Walvood/Roy Zuck; Victor Publishing 1985
“Moses, A Man of Selfless Dedication”, Charles Swindoll; Word Publishing 1999
“Basic Stages in the Book of Ages”, Dr. Willmington; Liberty Publishing 1975
“Experiencing God”, Henry Blackaby; LifeWay Press 1990
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