Poison is a lot like sin.

2. Poison is a lot like sin.

3. Sin tastes so sweet.

4. Sin tastes so sweet. • When Eve was tempted by the serpent in the Garden, she saw that “the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise” (Gn 3:6, ESV).

5. Sin tastes so sweet. • Gn 3:6. • Moses chose “to be mistreated with the people of God [rather] than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Heb 11:25, ESV).

6. Sin tastes so sweet. • Gn 3:6. • Moses chose “to be mistreated with the people of God [rather] than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Heb 11:25, ESV). There is pleasure in sin!

7. However sweet sin may taste, sin brings death.

8. However sweet sin may taste, sin brings death. • “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek 18:4, ESV).

9. However sweet sin may taste, sin brings death. • “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek 18:4, ESV). • “You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked” (Eph 2:1-2, ESV).

10. In tonight’s text, the Israelites learn just how much death sin can bring.

12. The Israelites sin against God & God judges them with death.

13. The Israelites sin against God & God judges them with death. • But, the people can “Look & Live.”

14. SIN SPEAKS. • SERPENTS SLAY. • A SAVIOR SAVES.

15. Sin Speaks vv 4-5

16. “From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food’” (vv 4-5, ESV).

17. The people set out to the Promised Land on quite a “scenic route.”

18. The people set out to the Promised Land on quite a “scenic route.” • It is clear that the Israelites were wandering aimlessly at this point.

19. The people set out to the Promised Land on quite a “scenic route.” • It is clear that the Israelites were wandering aimlessly at this point. • The people wander aimlessly because of sin against God.

20. The people set out to the Promised Land on quite a “scenic route.” • It is clear that the Israelites were wandering aimlessly at this point. • The people wander aimlessly because of sin against God. • Of the 12 spies sent into Canaan, only Joshua & Caleb believed that the people could take the land.

21. “None of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it” (Num 14:22-23, ESV).

22. Because they are wandering aimlessly in the wilderness, the people become impatient.

23. Because they are wandering aimlessly in the wilderness, the people become impatient. • On one hand, this frustration is quite understandable—God could have just landed his people in the Promised Land.

24. Because they are wandering aimlessly in the wilderness, the people become impatient. • On one hand, this frustration is quite understandable—God could have just landed his people in the Promised Land. • But, there are other factors involved.

25. In the wilderness, God was testing his people.

26. In the wilderness, God was testing his people. • “You shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not” (Deut 8:2, ESV).

27. In the wilderness, God was testing his people. • “You shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not” (Deut 8:2, ESV). • Some failed miserably, while others—e.g., Joshua & Caleb—rose to the challenge.

28. In the wilderness, God was testing his people. • The people wandered 40 years because of their sin.

29. We need to be a patient people.

30. We need to be a patient people. • The Holy Spirit produces patience in our lives (Gal 5:22).

31. We need to be a patient people. • The Holy Spirit produces patience in our lives (Gal 5:22). • We are to clothe ourselves with patience (Col 3:12).

32. Why does Scripture urge us to be patient?

33. God still tests us.

34. God still tests us. • “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (Js 1:2-3, ESV).

35. God still tests us. • “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (Js 1:2-3, ESV). • God tests us to make us stronger, to make us more like him, & to allow Jesus to shine through us.

36. It may also be that we struggle because of our own sins.

37. It may also be that we struggle because of our own sins. • There are real consequences of sin in this life.

38. It may also be that we struggle because of our own sins. • There are real consequences of sin in this life. • If we suffer because of the consequences of our sin, we have no reason to become impatient.

39. The people really get into trouble when they open their mouths.

40. The people really get into trouble when they open their mouths. • “And the people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food’” (v 5, ESV).

41. Why would I talk about the people’s impatience before I talk about their speech?

42. Why would I talk about the people’s impatience before I talk about their speech? • Because it was the people’s impatience that led to their corrupt speech.

43. Why would I talk about the people’s impatience before I talk about their speech? • Because it was the people’s impatience that led to their corrupt speech. Evil speech comes from our hearts.

44. Why would I talk about the people’s impatience before I talk about their speech? • Because it was the people’s impatience that led to their corrupt speech. Evil speech comes from our hearts. • “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart” (Mt 15:18, ESV).

45. The text says that the people spoke against God & Moses.

46. The text says that the people spoke against God & Moses. • Granted, speaking against God is wrong.

47. The text says that the people spoke against God & Moses. • Granted, speaking against God is wrong. • “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Ex 20:7, ESV).

48. The text says that the people spoke against God & Moses. • Granted, speaking against God is wrong. • “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Ex 20:7, ESV). • The beast out of the sea blasphemed God (Rv 13:6).

49. But, why would it be wrong to speak against Moses?

50. Blaspheming a leader of God’s people is the same as blaspheming God.