Hobab Asked - Hobab Assured

Well, good morning and thank you very much, Ian, for your warm welcome. It's good to be with you and I do bring greetings from the Black Isle from our congregation at Ferentos and Rizollas.

We're going to read as our call to worship this morning the words of 1 Peter chapter 1. At verse 24, we read these words,

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Well, of course, we associate the fellowship of the gospel with God's house, and we are going to commence our service by singing together from Psalm 122.

It's the Sing Psalms rendering of Psalm 122.

This is on page 169.

To the Lord's house they were calling, and with joy I went with them.

Now at last our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem, and so on.

So let's stand, let's sing to the praise of God.

Psalm 122.

To the Lord's house they were calling, and with joy I went with them.

Now at last our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.

See Jerusalem like a city, built compactly, close and strong.

That is where the tribes assemble, tribes which to the Lord belong.

To the Lord's name praise they offer, as for Israel the great.

There are set of thrones for judgment, thrones of David's royal seed.

Pray for Zion's peace and safety.

May your friends securely dwell.

Peace within your walls continue.

Strength within your citadel.

For the sake of friends and brothers, peace be in you I will sing.

For the sake of her God's temple, I seek your prosperity.

Well let's draw near to God in prayer.

Let's pray.

Amen.

As your people rejoiced during the days of ancient Israel, it is truly a joy for us to be in the Lord's house on the Lord's day.

And for this renewed opportunity to gather in gospel fellowship, we give thanks.

We praise you for how your people gravitate towards the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And we pray that on this Lord's day, the sound of the gospel would resonate far and wide.

We pray that in our towns and villages and crofting townships alike, knees would bow and tongues would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

And as we pray for our communities, so we pray for our cities, our countries and continents alike.

And so we pray that the proclamation of the gospel would be heard across our world, indeed to the far ends of the earth.

We praise you for your living and abiding and enduring word.

And as we gather under its supreme authority, so we pray that we would read it and engage with it with heartfelt reverence.

Still our hearts even now and enable us to worship you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May we do so in spirit and sincerity and in truth.

May God the Holy Spirit hover over us.

May God the Holy Spirit minister to us and enable us, we pray, to have as our great endeavor the glory and honor and praise of your name.

and so we seek your blessing upon us we ask oh lord that you would forgive us for we confess

our sins we pray for cleansing through the shed blood of jesus our sinless sin bearer

and so we come in his name giving thanks that we have in this moment direct access to the very

throne room of heaven through our mediator and advocate with the father we ask oh lord that you

would grant us now grace and mercy and peace for all we ask is in jesus name and for his sake amen

well it's wonderful to see so many boys and girls now we're going to think

just for a few moments on the bible as a manual for life but before doing so we're going to read

together from the bible from the new testament from second timothy chapter 3

2 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

now the apostle paul writes to a very young timothy

and as he writes to him he is urging timothy to read his bible

now we're going to read from verse 14 in second timothy chapter 3 this is on page 1199 of the pages

2 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy so timothy

but as for you continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed knowing from whom

you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are

able to make you wise for salvation through faith in christ jesus all scripture is breathed out by god

and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

The Bible, a manual for life. Now, there are manuals and there are manuals. I have here

a screenshot of a manual that's probably more familiar to, shall we say, a more mature generation

here today. Decades ago, almost every garage across Lewis would have had a copy of Haynes' manual.

This one is for the Ford Escort, the Owner's Workshop Manual. These are now readily available

on eBay and on other platforms, but much of these manuals are no longer available. You've got to

go looking for them. But if you had a manual like this and you owned a car and you thought,

I can strip it down, I can reassemble it, I can fix it, then you'd have turned the pages of Haynes'

workshop manual. But the Bible is a manual for life. Now, this manual, it's been around for a long time.

In fact, it was first published, Haynes' workshop manual, back in 1965. Now, that was a long time ago.

But really, Paul is saying to young Timothy here that the Bible has been around much longer.

Because when you start reading your Bible, you'll discover that many of the Bible stories,

if you go way, way, way, way back to book number one of 66, then you're taken back thousands upon

thousands of years. Now, unlike the Bible, Haynes' manual is not a one-size-fits-all. Great if you own a

Ford Escort, but this particular manual is of no use to you if you own, for example, a Volkswagen

Golf. Now, Haynes' manual is, well, mainly for cars. But the Bible is a manual for life.

Haynes equips you to get to know your car better. But Paul is saying here that the Bible thoroughly

equips us for getting to know the Lord Jesus Christ and walking with him every day. Sadly,

John Harold Haynes, who first published this manual back in 65, well, he's no longer with us. He died

in 2019 at the age of 80. But Jesus lives, and he ever lives. And when we turn the pages of the Bible,

the Bible points us, doesn't it, to the Lord Jesus. Now, as I said at the beginning, many of Haynes'

manuals are now history and of no use to anyone because, well, most of the cars we drive these days

are a world removed from the Ford Escort of 1980 to 1982. But the Bible, as Paul tells us here,

is God breathed. It is inspired. You can't say that about any other book you have in your library.

And whenever we're talking about Haynes' manual, we're talking in the past tense. We're talking

about stuff that was. But you see, the Bible is useful. Paul is speaking in the present tense.

It's useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and training in righteousness,

training us how we can have a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

And finally, Haynes' workshop manual, well, it made many of its readers in decades past into very,

very good mechanics. But the Bible makes its reader into a man or a woman of God. So I want to encourage

you today to read your Bible. There's nothing terribly scientific about that, but it is so,

so important to read your Bible every day, to read it carefully, to read it prayerfully. And as you do so,

ask the Lord to lead you and to guide you to Jesus, to get to know him and to walk with him

every day in life. Because the Bible is a manual for all of life. Amen. We're going to pray together.

We're going to pray the words of the Lord's Prayer. So let's do that as the Lord Jesus taught his

disciples. So we pray with one voice. Let's do so in unison. Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass

against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Well, let's continue to sing to the praise of God. Psalm 19.

And this is the Scottish Psalter version of Psalm 19.

On page 223. And we're singing verses 7 to 11.

A psalm which focuses on various aspects of the Bible. Verse 7, the Bible, God's law is perfect

and converts the soul in sin that lies. God's testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise. So let's

sing these verses to the praise of God.

God's law is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies. God's testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise.

God's law is perfect and makes the simple wise. The statutes of the Lord are right and do rejoice the heart.

God's law is perfect and does not do rejoice the Lord's command. The Lord's command is pure and does not do the eyes impart.

God's law is perfect and does not do groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, but dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan, dethens the groan,

They more than gold, yea, much fine gold to be desired are.

Than honey, honey from the cold that drop the sweeter far.

Moreover they thy servant warned, how he this life should frame.

A great reward provided is for them that keep the same.

Well we're going to read God's word together once again.

This time from the Old Testament scriptures from the book of Numbers and chapter 10.

On page 142, Numbers chapter 10 and we're going to take up our reading at verse 11.

Numbers 10 · chapter mention

Numbers 10, 11.

In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony.

And the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai.

And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Peran.

They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses.

The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies.

And over their company was Nation, the son of Amminadab.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel, the son of Zuer.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helan.

And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out.

And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies.

And over their company was Eliezer, the son of Shadur.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shalumiel, the son of Zerushaddai.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliaseth, the son of Jeul.

Then the Kohathites set out carrying the holy things.

And the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.

And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies.

And over their company was Eliashemah, the son of Ammihud.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel, the son of Pedazur.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abiodun, the son of Gideonai.

Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps set out by their companies.

And over their company was Ahazer, the son of Amishadai.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pediel, the son of Ochron.

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Ehairad, the son of Enon.

This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies when they set out.

And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law,

We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said,

I will give it to you.

Come with us and we will do good to you.

For the Lord has promised good to Israel.

But he said to him, I will not go.

I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.

And he said, please do not leave us.

For you know where we should camp in the wilderness and you will serve as eyes for us.

And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us the same will we do to you.

So they set out from the mount of the Lord for three days journey.

And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for three days journey to seek out a resting place for them.

And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day whenever they set out from the camp.

And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered and let those who hate you flee before you.

And when it rested, he said, return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.

Amen.

Amen.

And we trust we know God will add his blessing to the reading of his holy and inspired word.

Let's continue to sing to the praise of God.

Psalm 23 on page 28.

It's the Sing Psalms version.

The Lord is my shepherd.

He's my shepherd.

And this he has done his great name to display.

Though I walk in death's valley where darkness is near.

Because you are with me, no evil I'll fear.

Your rod and your staff bring me comfort and cheer.

In the sight of my enemies, a table you spread.

The oil of rejoicing you poured on my head.

My cup overflows and I'm graciously fed.

So surely your covenant, mercy and grace will follow me closely in all of my ways.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord all my days.

Well, before we turn to God's word, let's once again bow our heads.

Let's unite our hearts in prayer.

Shepherd us now, we pray.

Thank you, gracious God, gracious God, into the green pastures and still waters of holy scripture.

Open the eyes of our understanding.

Give us light.

Give us gospel clarity as only you can.

We pray that you would bind us together

as one in Christ Jesus.

Grant your blessing upon us

for it is your blessing we long for,

the blessing that makes one rich and adds no sorrow.

We praise you for the indescribable gift

of your Son, your one and only Son,

your only begotten Son,

the Son of your steadfast and unfailing love.

How we praise you today anew

for the one in whom we have redemption

through his shed blood,

the forgiveness of our sins,

according to the riches of your grace,

which you have lavished upon us

via Calvary's cross.

Remember us, we pray,

as we bring our cares and our concerns

before you at the throne of grace.

You are the God of all grace,

and for the sufficiency of your grace,

we give thanks.

We praise you that you are the God of all comfort,

so may you bring comfort,

consolation, encouragement,

strength to all this day

who may be in need

of having a felt awareness

of your presence,

of your grace and mercy and peace anew.

So draw near to us

and grant us now, we pray,

to wait upon the Lord.

May we know

the joy of the Lord as our strength,

and may we look to you

with our eyes fixed on Jesus,

the pioneer and the perfecter of our faith.

For we ask all things

in his name and for his sake.

Amen.

Well, turn with me, if you will,

to the book of Numbers,

to the passage we read together

from Numbers chapter 10.

Numbers 10 · chapter mention

Our text is verse 29,

the words of Moses to Hobab.

Come with us,

and we will do good to you,

for the Lord has promised good to Israel.

A man named Hobab.

Now, the Old Testament has,

you might say,

a register of peculiar names.

And whilst some are,

these days,

very popular baby names,

such as Adam and Caleb and Noah,

Leah, Esther, Hannah, Rebecca,

you are less likely to find the name

of Hobab on a birth certificate.

After all,

he is mentioned ever so briefly

on the pages of Scripture.

Other than this reference,

we have in Numbers chapter 10,

Numbers 10:29

verse 29,

he is not referred to again

across the landscape

of the book of Numbers.

There are two further indirect references

to Hobab in the book of Judges,

but that's it.

So,

why turn the spotlight

this morning

on someone

who seems

so insignificant

and somewhat

irrelevant?

There are,

after all,

some 3,000

names

in the Bible

to choose from.

So,

why

Hobab?

Well,

because I would argue

that there is much

to glean

from this Bible character.

There is much

for us to learn

from Hobab

here in Numbers chapter 10,

Numbers 10 · chapter mention

so much so

that we're going

to spend the day

unpacking this passage

before us.

We are going to be

a little forensic,

more of a fine-tooth comb

than a broad brush,

as we explore

verses 29 to 36

of Numbers chapter 10.

Numbers 10 · chapter mention

But this morning,

we're going to focus

primarily

on the words

of verse 29,

and we're going to do so

under two headings,

two A's.

Hobab

asked

and Hobab

assured.

What has he asked?

What are we to make

of the invitation

of Moses?

Come with us

and

we will do

good

to you.

We will treat

you well.

Well,

that is the assurance

that Hobab

is given

in its

sum and substance.

So,

Hobab

asked,

now,

Numbers chapter 10,

Numbers 10 · chapter mention

if we go back

to verse 11

where we began

to read

this narrative

concerning Hobab,

it marks

a significant

turning point

for Israel.

You might say

a new beginning.

Having pitched

their tents

for a whole year

at Mount Sinai,

it's now time

to move on.

Indeed,

we read

that they set

out,

verse 12,

to begin

the conquest

of Canaan.

So,

picture the scene,

if you will,

at this key

landmark.

There they are,

assembled,

mobilized

into orderly ranks

with standards

and banners

lifted up.

Destination

Canaan,

the promised land.

Now,

our interest

this morning

is in the

personal dynamic

to the narrative,

particularly

verse 29,

because it

revolves around

this character

by the name

of Hobab,

Moses'

Midianite

brother-in-law.

Note that

he is asked

to join

the people

of Israel

to sign up,

to subscribe,

to walk

with Moses

and the people

of Israel,

to accompany

them through

the wilderness,

and to play

a meaningful

part as a,

verse 31,

service provider

in assisting

Israel

in navigating

their way

to Canaan.

So,

why Hobab?

What is it

about Hobab?

Why is Moses

so compelled

to speak to him

and ask him

to come

with them?

Well,

Hobab

is a

knowledgeable,

resourceful

man who

is more

than familiar

with the

desert terrain.

Hobab

can provide

much-needed

guidance,

direction,

and practical

advice

for mapping

out purposes

and more

besides.

But if we

just take

the spotlight

away from

Hobab

for a moment

and turn

the spotlight

on Moses,

then it

tells us

also,

doesn't it,

something

interesting,

something that

perhaps warms

our hearts

about the

great leader

of Israel

himself.

does he

really need

Hobab?

After all,

he's an

outstanding

leader.

He's well

resourced.

yes,

but does

Moses not

recognize

too that

he is

not

indispensable?

You'll

recall how

his father-in-law,

Jethro,

had reminded

him back

in Exodus

18 of

his need

to delegate

responsibility

onto

others.

wise

counsel.

Here we

are in

Numbers

Numbers 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10.

Moses,

yes,

he is

assured

of

divine

protection.

But he

also seems

to be

saying

here that

he also

values

human

support

and

assistance.

Yes,

here is

the

illustrious

Moses,

the

godly

servant

of

God

who

knew

God

face

to

face.

But he's

also,

in the

words of

the

commentator

Raymond

Brown,

a mere

man,

with all

the natural

hesitancy

and fears

that anyone

would feel

on the verge

of such

a massive

enterprise.

I want

you to

think of

Hobab

as the

ultimate

Sherpa.

Hobab.

So,

if this

was

Everest

terrain,

then you

would

instinctively

call

someone

like

Hobab,

someone

well-informed

and

experienced.

But I

want us

to stop

there because

he is

not merely

being called

upon here

as a

facilitator,

as a

pilot,

as a

navigator,

as a

root

finder,

no,

there is

so much

more

to what

is unfolding.

There is

always

substance

to

Scripture

and verse

29 of

Numbers 10

is no

exception.

Notice

that Moses'

invitation

goes so

much

deeper.

What we

have here

in verse

29

is a

personal

gospel

invitation.

An

invitation,

you might

say,

with a

powerful

gospel

dynamic

to it.

But I

know that

the moment

we make

reference

to the

word

gospel,

someone

might be

thinking,

hold on,

this is

not the

New

Testament.

We are

not here

on the

pages of

Matthew,

Mark,

Luke,

or John.

The

book of

Numbers

centers on

ancient

Israel,

not the

first

century

world

of the

gospel.

Well,

that's

true,

but there

are

clear,

very

clear

overtones

of the

good news

of the

gospel

here,

as you

will find

across

the pages

of the

Old

Testament.

Let's

not forget

how it

begins.

Where do

we first

see that

powerful,

moving,

stirring

gospel

dynamic?

We see

it,

don't we,

in Genesis

Genesis 3:15

chapter 3,

verse 15.

Theologians

call it

the

Proto-Evangelium,

the first

announcement

of the

gospel

on the

pages of

scripture.

And yes,

this is

book 1

of 66,

and the

gospel

is beginning

to resonate

as we

begin

our

journey

through

redemption

history.

Genesis

3, 15

revolves

around the

offspring

of the

woman,

the one

who would

triumph

over the

old

serpent,

and his

name is

Jesus

Christ.

he

shall

bruise

your

head,

God

says,

to the

serpent

in the

narrative

of the

fall.

Yes,

the

gospels

are a

distinct

part of

the New

Testament,

but

exploring

gospel

themes

like

Numbers

10,

29

within

on the

pages of

the Old

Testament

provides

us,

doesn't

it,

with a

deeper

understanding

of the

Bible

as a

whole

and of

how the

Old

Testament

points

us

consistently

in the

direction

of

Jesus.

The

Old

Testament

gravitates

towards

Jesus

and

ultimately

crystallizes

in

Jesus

Christ.

The

great

translator

of

Scripture

himself,

William

Tyndale,

puts it

so,

so well,

the

Scriptures

spring

out of

God

and

flow

into

Christ

and

were

given

to

lead

us

to

Christ.

Well,

Numbers

10

is no

exception.

So I

want us

to see

that this

passage

is

bulging

with what

we're

going to

call

gospel

markers.

The

invitation

of the

gospel

and

Hobab's

response

to it

is

played

out

very,

very

clearly

here.

So the

symbolic

significance

of what

unfolds

is

striking.

You see,

Hobab

is essentially

being

invited

here

by

Moses

to

enter

into

fellowship

with

God's

people.

It is

a call

to

discipleship

and there

are overtones

here of

that key

discipleship

directive

follow me

so central

to the

gospel

ministry

of the

Lord

Jesus

on the

pages

of the

gospel

but we

see it

here.

you

might

say

that

it's

a

big

ask

from

Hobab's

perspective.

Well,

so it

is.

But for

you and

I this

morning

there are

moments

in life

when we

either

accept

or

decline

an

invitation

to

various

life

events,

functions,

meetings,

receptions,

and other

occasions.

But you

see,

Numbers

10

29

takes us

into the

realm

of one

of life's

defining

moments.

This is

a momentous

invitation

like no

other.

And how

you respond

today

to this

gospel

invitation

of Numbers

10

29

matters

more than

anything else

that's unfolding

in your life

right now.

In fact,

it will

determine

how you

live the

rest of

your life

and where

you will

spend the

endless

ages of

eternity.

This is

serious

business.

Hobab

is

invited.

It's

more of

an exhortation,

isn't it?

Come with

us

to associate

himself

with Israel,

to join

the circle,

to position

himself

behind the

ark of

the covenant

and to

follow the

pillar of

clouds,

to walk

by faith,

to follow

not just

God's

people,

but God

himself.

And should

he come

along,

Hobab is

assured

that he

will be

made to

feel

most welcome,

he will

be well

received,

and he

will be

embraced

with

generosity

and

kindness.

We

will

treat

you

well,

is what

Moses

conveys to

Hobab

literally

in the

words we

have here.

And by

extension,

this is

your assurance

today too,

should you

come

and follow

in the

footsteps

of

Hobab.

But secondly,

Hobab

assured.

Now,

what are we

to make

of Moses'

words of

assurance

to Hobab

here?

Well,

the words

are interesting.

We will

do good

to you,

we will

treat you

well,

for the

Lord has

promised

good things

for Israel.

Hobab's

assurance

is founded

on the

goodness

and

faithfulness

of God.

The

Lord,

in his

covenant

faithfulness,

has promised

good things

for Israel,

primarily

the

promised

land.

And this

is what

Moses

is alluding

to.

Hobab

now has

the

opportunity

to become

a recipient

of this

covenant

promise

and the

multiple

blessings

that go

with it.

He's

invited,

he's

encouraged,

he's

exhorted

in the

imperative

mood.

Come

with us,

walk

with us,

journey

with us

on this

epic journey,

and we

will treat

you well.

You will

share,

you too,

yes Hobab,

you too

will share

in our

inheritance

of God's

goodness

and loving

kindness.

This is

his assurance

should he

come along

and it

is

quite

compelling.

Again,

there are

gospel

overtones

to this

promised

inheritance

that we

find,

don't we,

across the

scriptures.

Listen to

the words

of Peter

in 1

1 Peter 1:3

Peter 1

verses 3

and 4.

Praise be

to the

God and

Father of

our Lord

Jesus

Christ.

In his

great

mercy,

he has

given us

in Jesus

an inheritance

that can

never perish,

spoil,

or fade.

And he

says this

inheritance

is kept

in heaven

for you.

You see,

what was

promised in

Numbers 10

29 is

fulfilled

in the

Lord Jesus

Christ.

the ultimate

inheritance

we have

in Christ

is

Emmanuel's

land,

the heavenly

city that

has foundations

whose

designer and

builder is

God.

Hebrews 11

10,

alluding,

of course,

to that

great promise

given to

Abraham.

Abraham.

And Abraham

actively

pursued

this

great

promise.

He was

looking

forward

to it,

the writer

to the

Hebrews

tells us

in

11

10.

You see,

the words

of

Numbers

10

29,

these words

were uttered

some 3,500

years ago.

And isn't it

remarkable that

these words

continue to

resonate with

us today

and are

amplified

through

the

gospel.

So,

Numbers

10

29 has

lost

nothing of

its gospel

intensity.

This

invitation

comes to

us

today

within

these

walls

with the

propelling

thrust

of the

gospel.

It has

lost

nothing

of its

weight

and

urgency.

Come

with

us.

It's a

familiar

formula

of words,

isn't it?

You might

say,

it sounds

like.

Well,

it does.

Come

with us

is very

similar to,

for example,

what Philip

said to a

somewhat

skeptical

Nathaniel

in the

opening

chapter of

John's

gospel.

If you

read from

verse 43,

the narrative

unfolds.

But what

does he

say to

this

somewhat

cynical

Nathaniel?

Come.

Come with

us.

Come and

see.

Accompany

me.

Let me

take you

to the

feet of

Jesus.

Nathaniel

is a

reluctant

disciple

who,

before

accepting

Philip's

invitation

to come

to Jesus,

questions

whether

anything

good

can

come

out

of

Nazareth.

But,

oh,

when he

comes

and when

he

follows

Jesus,

he is

immediately,

just like

Hobab,

assured

of seeing

greater

things.

Come

with us.

This is

the great

anthem of

the Church

of Christ.

It's a

personal

invitation

inviting you

this morning

if you

have not

as yet

embraced

this

invitation

to come,

to come

into

Christian

fellowship.

It's a

call to

Christian

discipleship

to publicly

associate

yourself,

yes,

in this

very moment

with God's

own people

and to

lift the

gospel

standard,

the

banner

of

Jesus

Christ

and to

join the

circle

and follow

Jesus.

We are

talking about

an open

confession

of faith

in Jesus

Christ.

Is this

the moment

where some

of us

here today

will stand

up and

stand out

and respond

in a

positive

vein to

this

gospel

invitation

of

Numbers

1029.

The

assurance,

the

declaration,

the

guarantee

that is

extended to

Hobab

has not

changed.

I assure

you today

on the

authority of

God's

word that

we,

the people

of God

will do

you good.

We will

treat you

well.

Now,

coming back

to Hobab,

he knows

a thing or

two about

the wilderness.

Let's be

clear about

that.

He knows

that the

wilderness

out there

beyond

Sinai

is difficult.

It's

demanding.

It's

challenging

terrain,

and Moses

will not

try to

pull the

wool over

his eyes.

Because

Hobab

knows too

much.

He knows

the wilderness

far better

than Moses.

He knows

that it's a

dangerous world

out there.

Yet,

he is

reminded

that God

has promised

an abundance

of good

things

to his

covenant

people.

Multiple

blessings

await him.

a promised

land

flowing

with

milk

and

honey.

Now,

Hobab

has seen

for himself,

of course,

in the

life of

his brother-in-law,

Moses,

that God

is indeed

true to

his word.

Yes,

he is

truthful,

he is

faithful,

and he

is covenant

keeping.

Because

the same

Moses,

this is

the same

Moses we're

talking about,

who refused

to be called

the son

of Pharaoh's

daughter,

he who was

once a prince

in Egypt,

walking through

the corridors

of power

within the

palace.

But he

chose,

of course,

he chose

rather to be

ill-treated

with the

people of

God

than to

enjoy,

as Hebrews

11,

24 puts it,

the fleeting

pleasures

of sin.

And he

has endured

much,

but his

endurance

has not

been without

enjoyment.

Moses

has experienced

God's

presence,

God's

power,

God's

blessing

time and

again.

So,

come with

us

is applicable

to you

an eye

today,

because,

you see,

just like

the Israelites

at the

beginning of

this narrative

back in

verse 11,

every day

of our

lives,

we too

are setting

out,

we too

are embarking

on a journey

into the

unknown.

We don't

have a clue

when we get

up in the

morning how

the day

is going

to unfold

and how

it's going

to end.

life is

uncertain.

However,

there is,

as this

passage

reminds us,

absolute

certainty

in the

promises of

God.

The future

is as

bright

for the

Christian

today as

the promises

of God,

because all

of his

promises are

yes,

amen,

in Christ

Jesus.

You see,

Numbers 10

comes with

a concrete

assurance that

God's

covenant

mercy and

grace will

follow me

closely in

all of my

ways and

that ultimately

I will

dwell in

the house

of the

Lord all

my

days,

world

without

end.

This is

the dynamic

of the

great

assurance

that

Hobab

is being

assured

of.

We see

it,

don't we,

in the

writings of

John

Newton,

in that

great

song,

that great

hymn of

praise,

amazing

grace.

The

Lord has

promised

good

to me.

His

word,

my hope

secures.

He will

my shield

and portion

be as

long as

life

endures.

So I

want to

ask,

just as

Hobab

was asked,

as we

close now,

will you

resolve

to come

on this

journey?

Do you

feel the

excitement

of this

moment at

Mount

Sinai?

God

will

be

to

leave.

And just

like Hobab,

you too are

encouraged,

as we

bring this

service to a

close,

as we

pronounce the

benediction,

to sign up,

to come

with us.

So how will

you respond to

this gospel

invitation today?

That is the

question.

Will you

join the

circle,

and will

you sit

with us

at the

feet of

the Lord

Jesus

Christ?

There is

no better

place to

be seated.

Because you

see, this

gospel

invitation of

Numbers 10

29 finds

its ultimate

fulfillment in

one greater

than Moses.

In the

very personal

invitation of

the Lord

Jesus,

on the

pages of

Matthew 11

Matthew 11:28

verse 28,

again,

sounds like,

come,

Jesus says,

come to me,

come with

me,

come to

me all

you who

labor and

are heavy

laden,

and I

assure you

that I

will give

you rest.

Come with

me and I

will do

you good.

You will

find rest

for your

souls.

God

will

Hobab

do?

Well, that

remains to

be seen.

And if you

are interested

in how all

of this

unfolds,

because it's

not without

an element

of uncertainty,

there's an

element of

suspense at

this point.

but if you

are interested

in what

happens next

and how it

all concludes,

come back at

six o'clock,

because we're

going to

revisit this

passage,

and we're

going to

navigate our

way through

it and

determine how

it all

ends.

But the

big question

today is

for how

this service

ends for

you.

Will you

respond to

this invitation

in the

here and

now, and

come to

the feet

of Jesus?

Amen.

Our

heavenly

Father, we

praise you

for the

invitation of

the gospel,

how we

give thanks

today for

the

multiple

invitations

and exhortations

we have

across the

pages of

the Bible.

We thank

you for the

compelling

words we

have engaged

with this

morning,

and may

we be

led to

stand

where

Hobab

stood with

Moses.

all these

generations

ago, in

the mists

of time,