Welcome To Search The Scriptures

1. Welcome • To • Search The Scriptures

2. Our Concluding Lesson On Moses • The 10 Commandments: • Insights of • Purpose of • Place of • Preparation For Entering The Promised Land • Moses, Anger, And Consequences • Moses’ Obituary

3. Gathering at Sinai • Exodus 19:1-2, “On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. • 2 They set out from Rephidimand came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,

5. The Hebrew people are encamped before Mount Sinai. • The Israelites are having a personal encounter with their (and our) God • At this mountain for the first time, God made a covenant with the entire nation of Israel • Usually called “The Mosaiccovenant”

7. God came to the Israelites as the GreatKing • And presented them with a bindingtreaty in which He would make certain promises to them • And they would have certain obligations as His servants • Because of this, the Hebrews needed to know how to conductthemselves under the covenant

8. The Israelites had to act a certain way – God’sWay because they had a relationship with the living God • God had demonstrated His love for them by saving them • He had shown His faithfulness to his promises to their parents, Abraham and Sarah

9. He had formalized His relationship with them in a treaty and promised to make them His specialpeople • Finally, He gave them instruction for how to live • What a huge occasion for the Hebrews! • What a pivotal point in their history • Everything, from Abraham to their deliverance from Egypt had led up to this . . .

11. Six Insights Into The 10 Commandments • 1. They originated from God • They express His will for His people • They are commands, not suggestions • They are clear, simple, and exact • There are only ten of them • They establish a healthy fear of God

12. The Place of the Law • As Christians, what are we to make of the law? • God’s perfect Law, which sinners are unable to keep, shows us ourneed for a Savior. • But what about after we come to faith in Christ? • What purpose does the Law serve for believers? • We will look at two views of the Law

13. Balanced Antinomian Judiazer 1 2 3 4 5 05 4 3 2 1

14. Unhealthy Views of the Law • “Antinomianism” • The name means “against the law” • It describes people who have little or no respect for God’s Law • May be unbelievers who have adopted a humanistic way of thinking – getting rid of all moral restrictions

15. To them, the idea of an objective set of religious codes is an outdated concept and narrow-minded • Some believers are antinomians -- people in the church who don’t see the Law as relevant for Christians • They say that the Law no longer has relevance for those who have found spiritual freedom through faith in Christ

16. They argue that since Christians have been freed from the curse of the Law, believers have no further use for the Law • Antinomianism has been around for centuries • Believers that hold to this view often show contempt for those that hold a deep respect for the law, calling them “legalists” or supporters of “salvation-by-works”

17. Antinomian Balanced Judiazer 1 2 3 4 5 05 4 3 2 1

18. “Legalism” • This group believe that we can actually keep the Law and gain righteous standing before God. • Salvation then comes through keeping the Law, not through faith in Christ • They all agree that some kind of obedience to God’s Law is necessary for eternal life • Legalism has been around for centuries also

19. The “Pharisees” are a good example in the N.T. • The apostle Paul confronted legalism in his dealings with the church in Galatia . . . A church he had founded • “Judiazers” taught that faith in Christ alone was insufficient for salvation • They said salvation plus Jewish ceremonial law was necessary (circumcision)

20. Obedience to the Law can never save • Circumcision couldn’t do it for the Judaizers • We can’t keep the Law today • Only one Person kept the Law perfectly – Jesus Christ • When we believe in Him, His perfect righteousness is transferred to our account • Faith in Jesus Christ saves us. Period.

21. Antinomian Balanced Judiazer 1 2 3 4 5 05 4 3 2 1

22. Complaints Against Moses • Numbers 10-14 • With the sin of the golden calf, the Israelites went from being called a “holy nation” to God declaring them a “stiff-necked people.” (Exod. 33:3) • Fortunately for Israel, Moses, their mediator, continued to find favor in God’s sight.

23. Moses continued to intercede for the people and God relented, promising to accompany the Israelites and renewing His covenant with them (vv.12-17; 34:1-28) • The remainder of Exodus includes • Building of the tabernacle • Its furnishings • Priestly garments

24. Now that the laws have been given, they are ready to move from Mount Sinai to God’s leading in the Promised Land • The Book of Numbers tells us what happened • It has been almost a year . . . The people have received God’s provision and guidance, and instruction • They should be ready . . .

25. WRONG! • They grumbled, • They groused, • They whined, • They wailed, • They complained! • Their lack of faith will cost them dearly

26. Num. 11:1, “And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. • They were terrified! • Moses interceded to God, and the fire died out (v. 2)

27. Num. 11:4-6, “Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! • We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

28. Moses goes to God (vv. 11-15) • “Why have you been so hard on Your servant . . . Was it I who conceived all this people . . . I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me . . .. If you are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once “ • Now that is despair! • The people got their meat (vv31-32)

29. Moses now faces a series of devastating blows: • Miriam and Aaron rebel (Num. 12:1-16) • Spies are sent into the promised land and their report to the people frightens them (Num. 13:1-4) • Caleb and Joshua try to encourage them . . . to no avail • They have a lifelong tendency to think the worst of the Lord.

30. Num. 14:1-3, “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, • “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

31. The people even made plans to replace Moses with a new leader who would take them back to Egypt (v.4) • God threatened to wipe them out and make a new nation (vv. 11-12) but Moses intervened again. • God relented, but he does not allow this entire generation to enter the Promised Land • (Num. 14:39-45)

32. 39 years of wandering in the wilderness • The older generation had died off • Their children were back at the same spot that spies had been sent into the promised land • They were not doing much better than their parents • There was a water shortage . . .

33. Water! • It takes two gallons of water a day to survive in the desert. That means they would need about 6 million gallons of water a day in the desert (not counting animals). • There wasn’t that much water in the desert. God had been supplying water all these years.

34. Num. 20:2-5, “Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! 4 • Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?

35. 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” • Moses and Aaron go to the Lord and the Lord gives specific instructions (v.8) • “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.”

36. God’s directions were very clear: “Speak to the rock.” Moses was not to touch the rock or speak to the people. What did he do . . . • vv. 9-11, “And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. • Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them,

37. “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” • And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.” • Did they follow instructions?

38. No! Moses used the opportunity to scold the people . . . And he hit the rock with his staff in anger. • God provided water, but He rebuked Moses and Aaron for their disobedience • vv. 12-13, “And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel,

39. therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.” • God told Moses that when he stands before the rock that it will be Christ, the pre-incarnate Christ standing there.

40. How do we know this? • 1 Cor. 10:4, “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” • When you and I sin, Jesus doesn’t need to do anything more. You just cry out to him and instantly water flows, life-giving water that washes you clean.

41. If you know Jesus as your Savior then Christ’s character stands in place of your character and you are accepted before God just as though you had never sinned.

42. Too harsh of a penalty? • Moses was a leader—the mediator between God and the people. “To whom much is given, much is required.” (Lk. 12:48) • Moses’ punishment reminds us that not even one as great as Moses is perfect. Even he was a sinner in need of God’s grace

43. Even though Moses was denied entry into this promised land, at his death he entered into the presence of the Lord

44. Moses’ Final Journey • Deut. 34:1-4, “Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, • 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar

45. 4 And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” • 5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6 and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.

46. “Legacy” -- Is what we leave behind when we die. Material wealth, deeds we have done, words we have said • Moses left a powerful legacy. • What will yours and mine be?

47. Credits/Resources • “Moses” Bible Study Guide by Charles Swindoll • “Trusting God Even When Life Hurts” by Jerry Bridges • “The Pursuit of Holiness” By Jerry Bridges • “Moses A Step To Life of Faith” By Bob Saffrin • ESV MacArthur Study Bible • ESV Study Bible • “Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook” By J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hayes • “History Popular Sin and God’s Sovereignty” By John Piper • “Just Do Something – A liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will” By Kevin DeYoung • “Note To Self: The Discipline of Preaching To Yourself” By Joe Thorn • “How Christians Should Relate To Government” By Wayne Grudem • “Suffering And The Power of God” By John Piper • “Christians Get Depressed Too” By David Murray