Blessing & Temptation (Numbers 21-25)

I became a dad. Six years ago.

I immediately felt a desire to protect my daughter.

I was immediately met. With the realization that her.

Safety is. Ultimately out of my hands today

in numbers we consider. God's.

Perfect protection. Of his children, please turn

your Bible. To Numbers 21 to 25, if you

don't have a Bible, maybe you didn't bring one.

Maybe you don't have one at home.

Just raise your hand. Someone would be glad to bring a

Bible to you. One there in the back, one up

here in the front. Friends, we're back in the Book

of Numbers. After the Lord delivered his.

People from slavery to Egypt, he.

Prepared to lead. Them to the promised land.

But they had to go. Through the wilderness, the

journey that should have taken a few weeks.

Took 40 years because. When the first generation

arrived at the promised land. They refused.

To enter numbers is the. Story of how the Lord led his.

People to the promised land. Despite.

Their rebellious refusal to enter.

It was written over 3. 1000 years ago and Paul tells us

these things took place as examples for us.

Where have we been so far? We've covered a lot of.

Ground we focus on Moses. As prophet.

And the outer camp that. Was chapters 13 to 15.

Then we took another. Step into the camp.

And we looked at Aaron as priest and the inner camp of.

Levites that was last. Time, chapter 16 to 20.

To do today. We move one more step.

Towards the center of the. Camp where the Lord is.

King in. Every single chapter in numbers

21 through 25. Israel's attacked by their.

Enemies and in every single. Chapter.

Israel's King, the Lord. Protects her.

Here's the point of these. 5 chapters.

Here it is. God will protect us.

On the way to the. Promised Land, he will.

How? Three points if you're taking

notes .1 by providing for us in every trial, chapter 21.2 by

turning curses into blessings, chapters 22 through 24, and .3

by saving us from our greatest enemy, Chapter 25.1 by providing

for us in every trial in numbers 21, Israel.

Faces trials on every. Side and the Lord provides for

them in every way and. Church, he'll do the same.

For us, look at verses. 1:00 to 9:00 When the Canaanite, the

king of Arid, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was

coming by the way of a therein he fought against Israel, and

took some of them captive, and Israel.

Vowed A Vowed to the. Lord and said, if you will

indeed give this people into my. Hand then I will.

Devote their cities to destruction.

And the Lord. Heeded the voice of Israel.

And gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their

cities to destruction. So the name of the place was

called Horma from Mount Hor. They set out, by the way, to the

Red Sea. To go around the land of Eden.

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's no food.

And no water. And we?

Loathe this worthless. Food.

Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and

they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we

have spoken against the Lord and against you.

Pray to the Lord that he take away the.

Serpents from us. So Moses.

Prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, make

a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole, And everyone who is bitten

when he. Sees it shall live.

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole.

And if a serpent bit anyone? He would look at the.

Bronze Serpent and live we see the second generation is

attacked in the very beginning of the.

Chapter They're attacked by the king of arid, but they.

Turn to the Lord. He hears their cry.

He saves them the. King of Arid, no match.

For the king of Israel. So they name the place.

Horma. Do you remember Horma in chapter

14? The first generation was.

Defeated there when they tried to take the promised.

Land. Without the Lord's help.

But the second generation is different, but not so different.

As you saw, they're still. Prone to the sins of their

parents in verse 4, the. Lord.

Sends them on a divine. Detour.

They had to go. Around the land of Eden and they

became impatient. On the way.

Parents, have any of you heard this chorus in the.

Car. Are we there yet?

I'm hungry. There's no food.

I'm thirsty. I hate this food.

Kids, we're not picking on you. I wonder if your parents sang

that same chorus when they were your age.

We are all. Prone to complain.

For Israel, 1 detour reveals 3 sins.

They're impatient. Because they refuse to submit to

Providence, they're fearful about the.

Future, so they speak, against Moses and God.

They're ungrateful. For the Lord's provision, how

quickly we forget His works. They were born in the

wilderness, but they questioned God's wisdom to.

Bring them out of Egypt. And So what?

Does the Lord do He releases a taste of Egypt fiery serpents?

Personally, I hate snakes. Some people have pet snakes.

Maybe some of you not. Me, I've read Genesis 3.

I know how the story. Goes this wilderness was filled

with. Snakes.

The British officer. And archaeologist Lawrence of

Arabia. Said in his time in the desert,

it was plagued. With snakes.

Horn Vipers. Puff adders, cobras, Black

snakes. Sometimes his guides would kill.

20 snakes a day. Can you imagine that in Egypt

snakes were a symbol of evil and power?

Pharaoh's headdress. Featured a snake.

On the front, the snake. Bites here symbolize the. 2nd

generations experience of. Egypt, they experience the

oppression. That their parents.

Lived under but they're delivered from Egypt too they.

Repent. They ask Moses to pray.

For them, the Lord tells. Moses to make a serpent, place

it on the pole. If someone's bitten, they just

need to do one thing. They just need to look.

And they'll live, brothers and sisters, the wilderness.

Exposes the. Hidden sins of our hearts, one

divine. Detour.

It's all it takes. The last time the Lord disrupted

your plans. How'd you respond?

Grumbling reveals. That our grip is a little too

tight. We need to learn to release.

Our plans and submit to Providence.

Grumbling reveals that our gratefulness to God is often

tied to. What he gives, not who.

He is. We need to.

Learn to bless God whether He gives or He takes.

Grumbling. Reveals our hope is short

sighted. We need to learn to fix our.

Gaze on a better country, a true and lasting 1A Kingdom that

can't be shaken. But how can we learn in John 3?

Which was our call to worship. Jesus tells us as Moses.

Lifted up the. Serpent in the wilderness.

So must the. Son of Man be.

Lifted up that whoever believes. In him may.

Have eternal life. Jesus is saying here the snake

on the pole points to him on the cross.

So, brothers and sisters, think about that.

What does that mean? For you, it means you deserved

eternal death. But you look to Christ.

And you receive eternal life. Imagine with me.

If you're one of those. Israelites.

Bitten by a deadly snake. If you're left there untreated.

You're dead. What do you think Moses was

saying? Look, look, look and live.

It's that simple. Look and you'll live.

Friend, if you're not a. Christian your.

Sin if left untreated. Leads to death, but.

You can look to the cross, you can look where the Son of God

was lifted up and. Crucified, you can look.

Where Jesus? Bore God's wrath.

In the place of sinners, you can look where there's an empty.

Tomb because he rose. From the dead you can look and

live. And brothers and sisters.

Won't looking to the. Cross keep.

Our hearts from grumbling against God.

In the rest of chapter. 21 The grumbling turns.

To singing, even though the trials continue.

Look at the rest. Of chapter 21, we won't read it.

But. Israel's transitioning from the

wilderness to the promised. Land in verse 16 the.

Lord gives them water in verse 17.

They sing. He satisfies their thirst, they.

Sing his praises. King Sihan of the Emirates

attacks them. But they easily defeat.

Him and take his land once again They sing, then king.

Ogg of bashin attacks. In verse. 34 The Lord

encourages. Them don't fear him, for I have

given him into your hand. Augs defeated, too.

If you're keeping score, that's three to zero.

Or, as we said in Dubai, Three Nil Trinity Baptist Church.

We're on a journey to heaven together.

But we have to go through the wilderness.

We'll face trials of various kinds along the.

Way divine detours the consequences of our own sin.

The opposition from the. World God does not promise to

take away our trials. But he.

Promises to provide for us. To sustain us to.

Protect us. As the 18th century pastor John

Newton once wrote to a church member, everything is needful

that God sends. Nothing can be needful.

That he withholds do you believe that if we truly believe that

like Israel, our. Grumbling will turn to singing.

God will protect us on the way to the promised Land.

He will provide. For us in every trial, how else

will God protect us .2 By turning curses into blessings.

Chapters. 22 through 24 friends. This is the longest.

Point. Just a heads up.

It's 3 chapters in chapters 22 through 24.

All eyes are on the King of Moab and his military medicine man,

Balaic and Balaam. It's king.

Moab. Versus the King of Israel.

Balak and Balaam, they're by. Far Israel's greatest foe so

far, you know. Balak hires Balaam.

A notorious sorcerer to curse Israel.

Now, if you're not familiar. With this story.

If you're not familiar. With the previous stories.

You need to know 1 crucial. Detail before we dive in.

Israel was enslaved to Egypt for 400 years before.

That. God made a.

Promise to their forefather Abraham in Genesis 12, God said.

I will make of you a great. Nation and I will bless.

You. And make your name great.

So that you will. Be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you.

And him who dishonors you? I will curse.

And in you all. The families of the earth.

Shall be blessed. So about. 400 years before this.

God promised to bless Israel. The tension of these.

Chapters is will God. Change his mind.

As we'll see, God will bless us. He'll.

Even turn curses into blessings now.

Chapters 22 through 20. Four are two.

Acts so heads. Up if you're taking notes, these

are my sub. Points in Act 1 Balaam.

Is called by Balak to curse Israel.

That's chapter 22 all the way. To verse 35.

In act. Two, Balaam is constrained.

By the Lord to bless Israel. That's chapter. 22 verse 36.

All the way to the end of chapter. 24.

I'll read. Act One, which is chapter 22,

verses 1 to 35. Straight through look at

chapter. 22 verse one. Then the people of Israel set

out and camped in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan, at

Jericho and Balak, the son of Zippor.

Saw all that Israel had. Done to the Amorites and Moab

was in. Great dread of the people.

Because they were many, Moab was overcome with fear of the people

of Israel and Moab said to the elders of Midian.

This horde. Will now lick up all that is

around us. As the ox licks up the grass of

the field, so. Balak, the son of Zippor, who

was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to Balaam, the

son of Bior. At.

Pathor, which is near the river in the land of the people of

Almah, to call him, saying, Behold, a people, has come out

of Egypt. They cover the face of the

earth. And they are dwelling.

Opposite me come now, curse this people for me, since they are

too mighty for me perhaps. I shall be.

Able to defeat them and drive them from the land.

For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom

you. Curse is cursed verse 7.

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian.

Departed with the fees for. Divination in their hand.

And they came to Balaam. And gave him Balak's message and

he said to them, Lodge here tonight and I will bring back

word to you as the Lord speaks to me.

So the Princess of Moab stayed with Balaam, and God came to

Balaam and said, Who are these men with you and Balaam?

Said to God, Balak the. Son of Zippor, king of Moab, has

sent to me saying, Behold, a people has come out of Egypt and

it. Covers the face of the.

Earth now come curse them for me perhaps.

I shall be able to. Fight against them and drive

them out, God said to Balaam. You shall not go with them.

You shall not curse. The people, for they are

blessed. So Balaam.

Rose in the morning and said to the Princess of Balak.

Go to your own land. For the Lord has refused to let

me. Go with you.

So the Princess of Moab. Rose.

And went to Balak and said Balaam refuses to come with us.

Once again, Balak sent Princess more in number and more

honourable than these. And they came to Balaam.

And said to him Thus says Balak, the son of Zippor.

Let nothing hinder you from. Coming to me.

For I will surely do you great. Honour and.

Whatever you say to. Me, I will do come.

Curse this people for me. But Balak answered and said to

the servants of Balak. Balaam answered and said.

To the servants of Balak, though Balak were to give.

Me, his house full. Of silver and gold I could not

go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do.

Less or more, So you too, please stay here.

Tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.

And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, If the men have

come to call you, rise, go with them.

But. Only.

Do what I tell you. So Balaam rose in the morning

and saddled his donkey, and went with the Princess of Moab.

Verse 22 But God's anger was kindled because he went and the

Angel. Of the Lord took his.

Stand in the way. As his adversary.

Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with

him, and the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in

the road. With a.

Drawn sword in his hand and the donkey turned aside.

Out of the road. And went into the field, and

Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the road.

Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the

vineyards with a wall on either side.

And when the donkey saw the Angel?

Of the Lord, she pushed. Against the wall and pressed

Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

Then the Angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow

place, where there was no way to turn either to the right.

Or to the left. When the donkey saw the Angel.

Of the Lord she lay. Down under Balaam and Balaam's

anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff, then

the. Lord opened the mouth.

Of the donkey. And she said to Balaam.

What have I done to you? That you.

Struck me these three times, Balaam said to the donkey.

Because. You have made me a fool, made a

fool of me. I wish I had a.

Sword in my hand. For then I would kill you and

the donkey said to Balaam. Am I not your donkey on which

you have ridden? All your life long.

To this day. Is it my habit?

To treat you this way. And he said no.

Then the. Lord opened the eyes of Balaam.

And he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his

sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed down and fell on his face.

And the Angel of the Lord said to him.

Why have you? Struck your donkey these three

times. Behold, I have come out to.

Oppose you because your. Way is perverse before me.

The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three

times if she had not turned aside.

For me, surely. Just now I would have.

Killed you? And let her live then Balaam

said to the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know

that you stood in the road against me now.

Therefore, if it is. Evil in your sight I will turn

back, and the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam.

Go with the men. But speak only the.

Word that I tell you. So Balaam went on.

With the Princess of Balaam. Quite a narrative a talking.

Donkey the Angel. Of the Lord with sword in hand,

ready to strike. What do we make of Balaam?

Is he? Caught.

Between good and evil, he wants to do the right thing, you know?

A couple. Clues are written throughout.

This passage that tell us. Balaam is not who he seems.

Starting with where? Israel is so Israel camps.

In the plains of Moab, like Pharaoh back in Egypt, Moab is

overcome with fear because Israel was many.

Balak's already watched 3 Kings. Fall, he knows that he.

Could be next, unless he seeks aid from the spirits to strike.

Down his enemy, so that's. Why he sends?

For Balaam to curse Israel. It takes 2 rounds of

negotiations for Balaam to come. First, they show up.

With money and a. Message but.

Balaam says he needs to consult the Lord.

Seems like a wise thing. To do, but God tells.

Him. Don't go.

Don't. Curse Israel, they're blessed.

Balaam though, only relays the first part.

Of the message to the messengers, he.

Starts to show his true colors. So Balak.

Starts the second. Round of negotiations.

He sends more Princess and presumably more money.

Balak knows. If the price is right.

He can get Balaam to change his mind.

On the surface again, it seems that Balaam.

Knows the right answer, he says. Hey, even if you gave me all

your money. I can't go beyond.

The word of the Lord. But look what he says.

Next verse 19, he says we'll stay here tonight.

That I may know what more the Lord.

Will say to me. Interesting someone.

Asks you to rob a bank tomorrow. Would you respond?

Well, God says I shouldn't. But I should really pray about

it. Probably not.

That's Balaam here in this passage.

So God gives. Balaam over to his sin.

So he permits him to go, you can go.

But only. Say what I tell you to say.

Balaam starts the journey to Balak on his donkey.

And God's anger is immediately. Kindled in verse 22.

You might still be confused. God told him to.

Go God's angry that he went. The reason is clarified at the

end. Of Act One.

Notice a couple things in this scene.

Three times the Angel stands in. Balaam's.

Way with sword in hand. 3. Times the donkey sees the Angel

and turns away. Three times Balaam strikes the

donkey for turning. The passage is riddled.

With irony, the donkey. Sight is.

Better than the sorcerer's? And notice the last time, the

third time. The Angel stands in a place

where there's nowhere to. Turn so the donkey lies down.

Balaam strikes again. Then the Lord opens the donkey's

mouth. What does the donkey say?

He says. What have I done to you?

Balaam responds. While you're making me.

Look like a fool. Keep in mind there's two

servants. With him, he says if I had a.

Sword, I'd kill you right now. Then the Lord opens Balaam.

'S eyes, he sees the Angel. He bows to the ground.

Here we find out why the Lord's anger was kindled.

Look at verse 32. The Angel.

Says your way is. Perverse before me.

Balaam was told to go, but to only speak.

What the Lord says. Balaam went and he intended.

To curse, he hoped the Lord. Would change his mind, so the

Angel. Warns him again.

Verse 35. Go, but only speak.

What I tell you, we see here this sorcerer.

Balaam he is. Caught.

Between 2 Kings 1, Balak is offering him.

All this wealth, he wants that. But there's another king, the

king of Israel, who is warning him.

Of his wrath. Balaam doesn't know what to do.

Friends this. Is a true story God?

Can really. Make a donkey speak.

And in act. Two, he even turns a crooked

sorcerer's curses. Into.

Blessings, so act. Two, Balaam is constrained by

the Lord. To bless Israel.

Act 2 is chapter. 22 verse 36. All the way.

To the end of chapter 24, it contains 7.

Oracles or. Sayings.

You can see them if you look at. Those chapters.

Each time it says balaam. Took up his.

Discourse. So those are the.

Signals. There's seven of them.

They're really grouped into. 4 though, so we'll.

Look at them in in sets of four first.

In the first Oracle, Balak takes Balaam up on a mountain.

He sees a. Fraction of the Israelite camp

Balaam asked Balak to build. 7 altars with seven bulls.

And seven. Rams, he's trying to persuade.

The Lord to curse Israel. In Balaam's eyes, God's.

Made in his image, he. Thinks.

God is greedy for gain. Just like him.

Look at chapter 23, verses 8 and 10.

Balaam asks how can I curse whom God is not cursed and he asks.

Who can count? The dust of Jacob, God's already

told Balaam Israel is blessed. Not.

Cursed. When Balaam looks down on.

Israel He. Sees God's evident blessing as

God promised Abraham in Genesis 13, just a fraction of the

people. Or as the dust.

Of the earth they entered. Egypt with 70 people, they.

Exited with hundreds of thousands.

God has blessed them after the first Oracle Balak.

'S not. Happy with his purchase, he's.

Paying Balaam to curse. Israel not to bless.

Israel, I thought that was clear, he says.

But in the second Oracle, the blessings continue to pour.

Down again, Balak goes. Up a high.

Place with balaam they see a fraction.

Of the people. Again, they make sacrifices.

And again. The Lord blesses 2 key verses.

In the second Oracle verse. 19 and 21 verse 19 God is not a

man. That he should lie, or a son of

man that he should. Change his mind, has he?

Said And will he not do it? Or has he spoken?

And will he not? Fulfill it all along.

Balaam's been hoping, praying, pleading for God to change his

mind. God's not a man.

He won't change his mind. He's.

Immutable. Unchanging.

As James says, there's no variation.

Or shadow of turning in God. This means for.

Israel, that God's. Promise to them is irrevocable.

Balaam can do whatever he wants, it doesn't matter.

And look at verse 21, the Lord. Their God is with.

Them, and the shout of a king is among them when?

Balaam looks down at the camp. He sees the Lord with his

people. Guiding them safely to the.

Promised land, perhaps? He saw the pillar of cloud.

Or the fire by night. He even hears the shout of a

king among them. Here's what's crazy here.

This is the first time in the Bible.

That the Lord. Is named King.

And who does it? It comes from the lips of a

Pagan prophet. After the second Oracle.

Balak's Really. Not happy, he tells Balaam.

I get it. You want to bless them.

Don't curse them, forget that. Just don't bless them either.

But Balak still thinks it's. Worth one more try.

They climb another mountain. They sacrifice.

Again, but there's a few. Key.

Shifts in the third Oracle. Look at chapter 24 verse one

Balaam. 'S been looking for omens.

In other words. He's been practicing divination,

but clearly it's not working. In verse 2, Balaam sees the

entire camp of Israel, and surprisingly the Spirit of God

comes upon him. Now he is constrained.

By the Spirit to speak when He. Sees Israel's Camp Balaam

showers down the. Blessings, he pictures their

future. They're like the garden.

Of Eden, their tents. Are lovely.

God is like a. Fountain in their midst, God is

endlessly. Supplying water as they wander.

Through the wilderness, God will take care of them.

You know if a politician. Hired an outside firm to run a

smear. Campaign on their opponent and

then they turn the TV on to watch the ads and all they saw

was this glowing endorsement what do you.

Think they would say after the third Oracle balak.

'S mad. He says I called you.

To curse them, you keep. Blessing them.

Get out of here. I'm not going to pay you

anymore. No honor for you.

It's interesting, Balaam responds by a kind of appealing

to the fine print. He says, Hey, didn't I say that

I couldn't go beyond the word of the Lord?

You know it's not my. Fault.

Balaam leaves. But before he does he.

Can't. Help, but speak one more.

Set of oracles, look at verse. 17 Balaam sees God raising up a

coming king. A star shall come out of Jacob,

and a scepter shall rise. Out of Israel.

It shall crush the head. Of Moab and break down all the

sons of Shaft. Who is this conquering king who

will crush? The head of Moab Balaam's

prophecy points to King David, who struck down the Moabites.

Second Samuel 8. Balaam's prophecy points beyond.

David. As Jesus said.

In Revelation 22, I am the root and descendant of Jacob the.

Bright morning star God is. Sending a coming king to.

Crush his enemies. If you look at the end of.

Chapter 24 There's three. Final oracles.

They're all short, and they're all about God coming to commit

his enemies. To utter destruction, He will

protect his people. Now you might be wondering.

As you should. Why did God place these three

chapters here? Why are we taken out?

Of the Israelite camp. Why do we go behind enemy lines

and observe? Moab's military tactics.

What's the .2 things first God wants us to observe?

His constant protection of his. People, what is Israel doing

during all these attacks? Sleeping, eating, drinking, just

going about their business. They have no clue the enemy.

Is watching their every step. Trying to breathe down curses.

They just sleep soundly in their tents while the Lord protects

them. 2nd. God wants to assure us.

Of the. Certainty of His blessing. 2

words are repeated throughout this narrative.

Bless and. Curse Curse is mentioned 14.

Times. Excuse me?

Curse is mentioned 7 times. You can probably guess how many

times Blessing is mentioned. 14 the Blessings.

Far outweigh the curses they. Cannot negate or do.

Away with God's. Promised blessing.

To Abraham for his people. You know when Moses.

Reflects back on this attack. It's so sweet.

Listen. Deuteronomy 23, he says.

The Lord your God. Would not listen to Balaam,

instead the. Lord, your God turned the curse.

Into a blessing for you. Why?

Moses says because the Lord your God loved you, brothers and

sisters, how did? We receive Abraham's blessing in

other. Words, How are we blessed?

And not cursed as we just encourage one another.

A moment ago, because Christ became a curse.

For us, for it is. Written cursed is.

Everyone who is hanged on. A.

Tree, you are blessed in Christ. Years ago, we stayed.

At some friends we were staying. Overnight and they told us.

Here's the fridge. Here's the pantry.

Help yourselves, raid it all, it's all yours.

You know, and you think when you hear that, Are you sure?

And then they reminded us we actually want to see you.

We want to come home and. Catch you raiding our pantry?

We want you to know everything is yours.

Brothers and sisters, if you're in Christ.

Every spiritual blessing. In the heavenly places belongs.

To you, you are blessed. Are you in Christ?

Then you're blessed, the Lord. Shines his face upon you, the.

Lord's been gracious to. You the Lord's lifted.

Up His countenance upon you, and given you peace.

You shall look. Upon the goodness.

Of the Lord. In the land of the living, I am

sure. That neither death nor life.

Nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to

come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in

all creation. Will be able to separate.

You from the love of God. In Christ Jesus our Lord.

Are you in Christ? Then you're blessed.

You can declare. Boldly, even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death, I will.

Fear no evil. For you are with me.

Friend, you're protected. You may be completely unaware.

Of Satan's devices. But you can sleep soundly,

knowing that behind the scenes Christ himself is defending you

and restraining all your enemies until that day when he will

crush them under your feet. Are you in Christ?

Then you're blessed. You don't need to.

Bribe God or pester. Him or manipulate him or cut any

deals you. Couldn't even if you tried.

The storehouse of. Heaven's blessings have been.

Poured down on your. Head Satan himself that great.

Accuser could never change God's mind about you.

We need to bask. In God's faithfulness, he is.

Faithful, he is steadfast. He is committed to his promises.

He is committed. To his people, he will protect

us. On our way to the promised land,

turning curses into blessings along the way.

Point #3 Third and finally, and the shortest point.

How will God protect us by. Saving us from our greatest

enemy. Stop and consider God's

faithfulness to His bride, Israel.

Now look at verse 1 of chapter 25.

Behold. Israel's adultery.

God protects us. From our greatest.

Enemy ourselves, I'll read. Chapter 25 verses 1 to 9 While

Israel lived in shittim, the people began to.

Whore with the daughters. Of Moab.

These invited the people. The sacrifices of their gods.

And the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

So Israel yoked himself. To bail of payor.

And the anger. Of the Lord was.

Kindled against Israel, and the Lord said to Moses.

Take all the. Chiefs of the people, and hang

them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger.

Of the Lord. May turn away from Israel and.

Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each of you kill those.

Of his men who have yoked themselves to bail.

Of payor and behold. One of the people of Israel came

and. Brought.

A Midianite woman to his. Family in the sight of Moses,

and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people.

Of Israel while they were. Weeping in the entrance of the

tent of meeting when Phineas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron

the. Priest saw it.

He rose. And left the congregation and

took a spear in his hand, and went after the man of Israel

into the chamber, and pierced both of them, the man of Israel

and the woman. Threw her belly, thus the.

Plague on the people of Israel was stopped.

Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were 24,000.

We returned back to the camp. What's God's bride?

Doing bowing down to Baal. Whoring with the daughters.

Of Moab. Committing spiritual adultery?

It's right. That the Lord's anger.

Is kindled. He orders Moses to hang all

those. Chiefs in the sun, so his wrath

can be turned away, Moses relays the message.

But before we learn the outcome, the narrator turns our gaze in

verse 6. Behold, an Israelite brought

home a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, in the sight of

the whole congregation near the tent of.

Meeting no one did anything. Except one zealous priest,

Phineas, who's Aaron's grandson, sees.

Rises, leaves, takes a spear. And he pierces them.

Both. He stops the plague.

But 24,000 die. What should?

We think of Phineas. 'S zeal look at.

Verses 10 to 13 the. Lord.

Says Phineas turned back my wrath in that he was jealous

with my jealousy. And so the Lord rewards Phineas.

He gives them the covenant of peace because Phineas made

atonement. For God's people when?

Israel falls dead in the. Wilderness it's not.

Because of the enemies around. Them it's because of the enemy

within them, most of you know. We used to live in Dubai when a

taxi would pick me up, do you know it would be sitting on the?

Dashboard near the driver, his idol David.

Powerson says we're all idol. Makers.

Idol buyers. Idol sellers.

You might be thinking idols. What idols?

I don't see any idols and I assume as you drove to church

this morning there was no idol sitting on your dashboard.

Where might they be hiding? In Ezekiel 14 three.

God charged the elders of Israel with.

Setting up idols in. Their hearts.

Oh, friends, we're we're clever creatures.

We do not. Display our idols publicly we.

Hide them in the corners of our hearts.

Where even we are often unaware of their control.

Over us What or who does your heart?

Bow down to friend. What?

Tempts you to act irrationally. What blurs your sight between?

Right and wrong, What good thing is fighting with God for the

throne of your? Heart so often idols.

Our good things, our. Career.

Our relationship. Our own children.

Our own. Health whatever you can't live.

Without. That's your God, Gavin.

Ortland once asked our church. Staff, we were sitting in the

office. Such a good question.

If Satan was going to. Take out Trinity Baptist Church.

How would he do it? What would be his?

Tactic according to chapter 20. Five, we have to say he'd work

through us. We are our greatest enemy.

Now this reality is made. Explicit by a missing detail in

Chapter 20. Five at the end of chapter 25,

look at verse 14. Two culprits who were speared

by. Phineas are named.

The man is Zemri, son of Salu of the.

Simeonites the woman is. Cosby, daughter of Zur A.

Tribal head of Midian What is a Princess of Midian doing in

Israel's camp? We're not told in chapter 25 in.

Fact. We have to wait.

Until chapter 31, six chapters later to learn that, guess who

was behind it all? It was Balaam.

He sent the women in. It was on his advice that they

infiltrated the camp. Why is that detail withheld for

six chapters? It's so it's abundantly clear.

That Israel's adultery was their own choice.

They chose to whore after the daughters of Moab.

They chose to bow down before Baal We.

Are our greatest enemy. And so we need a.

Church of Zealous Phineas. What does it look like for

Trinity Baptist? Church to be filled.

With the zeal of Phineas. It looks like a church.

Where we're. Killing our own sin.

A church where we're privately and gently admonishing one

another. A church where we.

Bring others alongside when someone persists an unrepentant

sin. A church where we bring.

Those who persist. In unrepentant sin.

Before the whole church. And call them and cry out to

them to. Turn a church where as.

Jesus taught us in Matthew 18. We excommunicate unrepentant

sinners. We tell them we can no longer

affirm your profession of faith-based on how you're

living. We bar them from participation

in the Lord's Supper because we love them.

Because we must warn them. That their sin leads to.

Death. Because we are jealous.

For God's glory. And the fame of his.

Name above even our own friend if you're not a Christian.

Only Jesus can turn back. God's wrath for you.

He's the only one. No one in this room can only.

Jesus, that zealous priest. But when he came first, he did

not come to. Spear you through for your.

Sins when he. Died on the cross.

His side was pierced by a spear. By a Roman soldier over 2. 100

years ago in a sermon by Benjamin Grosvenor.

He imagined out loud. What Jesus might have.

Said to his disciples. If they ran across that Roman

soldier. Who?

Pierced him in his side. Benjamin, picture Jesus saying

this. If you meet that.

Poor Wretch who thrust the. Spear into my side tell.

Him, there is another way. A better way to get?

To my heart. I will.

Cherish him in that very heart he has wounded.

He will find the blood he shed an ample atonement for the sin.

Of shedding it. We are our greatest enemy, but

we're no match. For the grace that's.

Found in Christ. Jesus is there even.

Forgiveness for those who have broken their vows against the.

Lord, yes, abundant. Ample.

Atonement is available in Jesus. Christ, God will protect us.

On the way to the promised land, He will provide for us in every

trial. He will turn every curse.

To. Blessing, He will save us from

our greatest. Enemy ourselves, let's pray.

Father we. Do not deserve the matchless.

Grace that you've. Given us in Christ Jesus, we do

not deserve you're. Careful you're constant

protection. So often we are the cause of our

own misfortunes. Yet you are kind.

You are gracious. You.

Lead us to repentance. You will bring us safely home.

We. Pray in Jesus name, Amen.