Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 144

Lessons from their lives Talk 10

Benaiah – Performing Great Exploits

Welcome to talk 10 in our series, Lessons from their lives. Today our subject is Benaiah. Benaiah was one of David’s mighty men and we’re given a summary of his exploits in 2 Samuel 23 :20-21.

20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men (KJV ‘lion-like’). He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

 Romans 15 :4

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 We shall consider:

• The nature of the enemy
• The dangers of the battle
• The weapons of our warfare

The Nature of the Enemy

Benaiah defeated :

• Two of Moab’s best men (lion-like men of Moab)
• A lion in a pit
• A huge Egyptian

Let’s take these in reverse order:

EGYPT

In biblical thought Egypt may be taken to symbolise:

• The world
• The flesh
• The pleasures of sin

The world (out of which God’s people had come)

1 Cor.10:1-2

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

 The flesh (on which God’s people must not rely

Isaiah 31:1, 3

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord !

The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.

The pleasures of sin (which Moses had left behind)

Hebrews 11:24-26

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

THE LION

The lion is a symbol for the devil

1 Peter 5 :8

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour

MOAB

Moab symbolises :

1. Sexual perversion

Moab was the son of Lot by incestuous union with his elder daughter  (Genesis 19 :30-38)

2. Idolatry

In Numbers 25, the Moabite women seduced the men of Israel and led them into the idolatrous worship of the god Chemosh, involving child sacrifice.

3. Oppression

Judges 3 :14 tells us how the Children of Israel served Moab for 18 years.

4. Supernatural Opposition

In Numbers 22-24 Balak, king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse Israel,

BUT

How shall I curse whom God has not cursed ?

5. Demonic Power

 These were lion-like men of Moab. Not the lion, but like the lion !

 The Dangers of the Battle

 NUMBERS were against him

– TWO of Moab’s best men

APPEARANCES were against him

– lion-like men

As strong as lions ? As savage as lions ? Looked like lions ? !

CIRCUMSTANCES were against him

– snow, pit, hands cold, lion hungry !

enemy bigger

– Egyptian 7’6 tall (1 Chr.11 :23) – superior weapons (spear)

 The Weapons of our Warfare

Despite the enemies, despite the dangers, he conquered ! How ?

1. He had had experience in the fight

He was from Kabzeel. This was in Judah on the borders of Edom. There would have been many border skirmishes. He had plenty of opportunity to perform great exploits (v.20)

2. He had the promise of God

In Numbers 22 Balak, king of Moab hired Balaam to curse Israel, but in Numbers 24:17 Balaam declares that Moab would be crushed:

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab…

3. He entered into the victories of his King

• David had already defeated Moab (2 Samuel 8 :2)
• David was already a lion-killer (1 Samuel 17 :37)
• David was already a giant-killer (1 Samuel 17 :50)

So, too, JESUS has already conquered the enemy for us. He has taken the enemy’s chief weapon out of his hand and destroyed him with it !

Hebrews 2 :14 tells us that by his death he has destroyed him who had the power of death – that is the devil.

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 143

Lessons from their lives talk 9:

David – When your problem could hardly be bigger!

Welcome to talk 9 in our series, Lessons from their lives. Today our subject is David, and in particular the story of David and Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17:1-53. The story is well known, so I won’t take time to read all 53 verses. As we’ve said many times in these talks, the victories won by God’s people in the Old Testament serve as illustrations of how we can be victorious over our spiritual enemies today. As we shall see, the principles are very much the same as we have recently learned from the stories of people like Gideon and Jonathan. Today we’ll be considering:

• The enemy (or the size of the problem)
• The person who defeated the enemy (or who solved the problem)
• The victory he accomplished (or the solution to the problem)

We’ll begin by reading vv 4-11.

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall.

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armour of bronze weighing five thousand shekels;

6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back.

7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.

9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.”

10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.”

11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

In this passage we see:

• The size of the enemy
• The weapons he possessed
• The challenge he presented
• The persistence of his challenge
• and the effects it was having.

The size of the enemy

Goliath was over 9ft tall v4

– your problem could hardly be bigger!

The weapons he possessed

He was apparently invincible:

V5 his armour weighed 5000 shekels (over 9 stone – 126 lbs)

V7 his spearhead weighed 600 shekels (1 stone – 14 lbs)

The challenge he presented

v10 he defies God’s people

The persistence of his challenge

v16 it lasted for 6 weeks. The problem wouldn’t go away!

The effects of the challenge

V11   God’s people were terrified

In v24 they ran from the enemy.

Contrast David (48) who ran quickly towards him.

What was different about David?

Why was he victorious?

What can we learn about how to overcome our enemies?

1.   He saw the enemy for what he was – uncircumcised

26 Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

2.   He saw God’s people for what they were – armies of the living God

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

3.   He saw himself for what he was:

a servant (32)

Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.

a servant with confidence in his own ability

17:34-37

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,

35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.

36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

But note v 37 – The Lord who delivered me…

God’s chosen servant  

1 Samuel 16:1

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’

He was indestructible until his destiny was fulfilled

a servant empowered by the Spirit

16:13

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of

his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came

upon David in power

4.   He saw GOD for who He is:

Living (36)

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

Deliverer (37)    

The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.

Saviour (47)

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.

Supernatural (47) – not sword or spear

Curses of no avail (43)And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

Cf. How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?

Numbers 23:8

Completely in Control (47)

for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our

hands.

To be known by all the earth (46)

and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

victory is not just for us

51 David ran and stood on him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

Simple…        sudden…        unexpected…            TOTAL!

• Stood on him
• Destroyed him with his own sword (cf. Jesus – Hebrews 2:11)
• Brought others into victory

52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines                           

Great Bible Truths Episode 142

Lessons from their lives Talk 8:

Jonathan – When God’s people feel outnumbered and powerless

 

Welcome to talk 8 in our series Lessons from their lives. Today our subject is Jonathan. We’ll begin by reading a selection of verses from 1 Samuel 13 and 14.

 

1 Samuel 13:5-7

5. The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven.
6. When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.
7. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.

 

1 Samuel 13:19-22

19. Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, ‘Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!’
20. So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their ploughshares, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened.
21. So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

 

1 Samuel 13:23-14:16, 20-23

13:23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

 14:1. One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father.

3. …No-one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4. On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff…
5. Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’
6. ‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his armour-bearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.’
7. Jonathan said, ‘Come on, then; we will cross over towards them and let them see us.
8. If they say to us, “Wait there until we come to you,” we will stay where we are and not go up to them.
9. But if they say, “Come up to us,” we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.’
10. So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. ‘Look!’ said the Philistines. ‘The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.’
11. The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, ‘Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.’ So Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, ‘Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.’
12. Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armour-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer followed and killed behind him.
13. In that first attack Jonathan and his armour-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
14. Then panic struck the whole army – those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties – and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.
15. Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.

 

20. Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.
21. Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22. When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit.
23. So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.

 

Today we’ll consider:

• A parallel with the situation today
• Five types of God’s people
• The example of Jonathan

A parallel with the situation today

God’s people outnumbered

5. The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore.

God’s people deprived of their weapons

1 Samuel 13:19-22

19. Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, ‘Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!’
20. So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their ploughshares, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened.
21. So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

Our sword today is the word of God (Ephesians 6)

The enemy has always tried to deprive God’s people of access to it, by attempting to:

• Destroy it
• Discredit it
• Distract us from reading it.

Five types of God’s people

1: Those who have gone into hiding

6. When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.

2: Those who have gone over to the enemy

14:21. Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

3: Those who were loyal, but afraid

13:7. …Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.

4: Those who were loyal and unafraid

14:7. ‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his armour-bearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.’

5: Those who were doing something for God

Jonathan himself. Please note 6 things we can learn from his example.

The example of Jonathan

He did not depend on the power or help of others.

His sword was enough.

Both Saul and Jonathan had swords, but only Jonathan had the courage to use it. If you have a sword, you have a responsibility to use it!

He recognised the true nature of the enemy

The enemy was uncircumcised – was not in covenant relationship with God

6. Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’

He had faith in God’s power to use him

6. Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’

He was willing to submit his plans to God’s will

8. Jonathan said, ‘Come on, then; we will cross over towards them and let them see us.
9. If they say to us, “Wait there until we come to you,” we will stay where we are and not go up to them.
10. But if they say, “Come up to us,” we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.’

He trusted God’s leading implicitly

13. Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armour-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer followed and killed behind him.

While he was doing so he would have had a limited access to his sword. He was trusting God to protect him.

He received supernatural help from God

15. Then panic struck the whole army – those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties – and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 141

Lessons from their lives: Talk 7

Samuel – God’s response to the state of the nation

 

Welcome to talk 7 in our series Lessons from their lives. Today we are looking at Samuel. I think that those of us who love the word of God are increasingly concerned at the way in which modern society pays little attention to the things that God has clearly declared in his word.  And the situation is not helped by church leaders who fail to take a stand for biblical truth, apparently afraid to call sin sin, but who rather prefer to interpret the Scriptures to conform to the current trends of worldly thinking. It’s as if we’re living in the days prophesied by Amos when he said:

 

‘The days are coming,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘when I will send a famine through the land – not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Amos 8:11

 

It was just the same in the days of Eli the priest when Samuel was called by God to denounce the sins of the people. In 1 Samuel 3:1 we read:

 

In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

 

Does this mean that God was communicating less because the people simply were not listening?

 

Before we look at 1 Samuel 3 which describes the call of Samuel, let’s first examine the context in which the chapter is set. I am going to suggest that there were four main factors that illustrate the state of the nation and which may be contributing factors to the state of our nation today.

 

The state of the nation

 

1. There was very little earnest pleading with God.

 

1 Samuel 1:12-15

As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.’ ‘Not so, my Lord,’ Hannah replied, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.

Hannah had no children, so she was pouring out her soul before the Lord. This was so unusual that the priest thought she was drunk. In that godless generation that was more likely!

 

 

 

1. The priesthood had become professionalised and had no regard for the Lord.

 

1 Samuel 2:12

Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.

 

1. As a result, God’s sacrificial offering was being despised

 

1 Samuel 2:17

This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.

 

Their sin is described here in verses 13-16. When making an offering, the worshipper had to give the priest the fat, the breast and the shoulder. The fat was then burnt to the Lord. Hophni and Phineas were taking by force what belonged to the offerer and insulted God by demanding their portion before his was burnt on the altar. In other words they used what was intended as a sacrifice for the sins of the people as a source of profit for themselves.

 

1. There was sexual immorality among the priesthood.

 

1 Samuel 2:22

Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

 

In other words, the whole nation was being affected by the failure of those who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders.

 

God’s answer to the need

 

Thank God he had an answer – a woman called Hannah.

I see Hannah as a picture of the Lord’s people, pleading for blessing.

She is unfruitful – she has no children – but earnestly seeks God who answers her prayer and Samuel is born.

 

Now, if you can, please have your Bible open at 1 Samuel 3. You will notice that, by the end of the chapter, things have changed very much for the better. I’m going to suggest that, if Hannah is a picture of God’s people pleading for blessing, Samuel may be seen as a picture of a renewed and revived church which hears what God is saying and declares it fearlessly to the nation.

 

1. Samuel was the product of the prayers of God’s people as a result of their unfruitfulness.

Cf. the Pentecostal Movement/Charismatic Renewal.

 

1. Samuel lived in the presence of the Lord

 

1 Samuel 2:26

Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with people.

 

1. Samuel was called at a time when the vision of the established priesthood was dim.

 

2. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.

 

Note: the lamp of God had not yet gone out (3)

 

1. Samuel heard and obeyed the voice of God.

 

4. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’
5. And he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ But Eli said, ‘I did not call; go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down.
6. Again the Lord called, ‘Samuel!’ And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ ‘My son,’ Eli said, ‘I did not call; go back and lie down.’
7. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8. A third time the Lord called, ‘Samuel!’ And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ Then Eli realised that the Lord was calling the boy.
9. So Eli told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’

 

Note:

Samuel was available. Here I am…

Samuel learned to recognise God’s voice v 7.

Samuel listened to God v 10

 

 

1. Samuel was willing to declare an unpopular message
2. And the Lord said to Samuel: ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.
3. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family – from beginning to end.
4. For I told him that I would judge his family for ever because of the sin he knew about; his sons uttered blasphemies against God, and he failed to restrain them.
5. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, “The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.” ’
6. Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,
7. but Eli called him and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’ ‘
8. What was it he said to you?’ Eli asked. ‘Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.’
9. So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, ‘He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.’

 

1. God upheld Samuel’s prophetic words

 

19. The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

 

G . Samuel was destined to be God’s instrument for the restoration of blessing to the nation.

 

20. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.
21. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through the word of the Lord.

4:1 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.

 

Finally, it was Samuel who brought in the kingdom of David

 

Could we be the generation that sees the arrival of the kingdom of great David’s greater Son?

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 140

Lessons from their lives Talk 6: Gideon (Part 3) – Raising up an army

Welcome to talk 6 in our series Lessons from their lives. Today we’ve reached the final section of our talks on Gideon. So far we’ve seen how when God’s people were in defeat because they had disobeyed the Lord, when they turned back to him God raised up a leader. Last time we saw three things that were essential in preparing for victory:

• Destroying your idols
• The power of the Spirit
• Finding the will of God.

Today we’re in Judges 7. Our subject is Raising up an army and we’ll be considering the men and methods God uses in bringing his people into victory. To save time, rather than reading the whole chapter, here’s a quick summary:

 

God tells Gideon that he has too many people in his army. He doesn’t want Israel to boast that her own strength has saved her. He tells Gideon to send away everyone who is fearful and 22,000 leave, reducing the army to 10,000.

 

But God says it’s still too many! The men are to be taken down to the water and selected according to the way they drink – more of this later. As a result Gideon is left with just 300 men.

 

During the night God tells Gideon, if he’s afraid, to go down to the Midianite camp and listen to what they’re saying. Gideon arrives just as a man is telling his friend his dream in which a round loaf tumbled into the Midianite camp and overturned it. His friend interprets the dream as meaning that God has given Gideon victory over the Midianites.

 

This encourages Gideon and he prepares to attack. He divides his men into three companies of 100 men. Each man is given a trumpet and an empty jar with a torch inside. Following Gideon’s lead they go to the edge of the enemy’s camp and simultaneously smash the jars and shout, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon’. The Midianites flee and the Israelites are victorious.

 

So, what can we learn from this story about the men and methods God uses in bringing his people into victory? It’s very clear that doing things God’s way is the only guarantee of success.

 

The Men God chooses

 

Those who are courageous

 

3 Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back

 

It’s not surprising that people were afraid. The enemy was very powerful:

 

12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.

 

But there’s a difference between being afraid and trembling with fear.

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is acting despite your fear.

It’s clear from verse 10 that even Gideon was fearful

but the assurance of God’s presence is the antidote to fear

6:11 The Lord is with you mighty warrior.

 

How often does God remind us of what he has told us many times?

Cf. Hebrews 13:5-6

5 … be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

 

Fear can be incapacitating! But we don’t have to let it. The Lord is with us.

 

Now let’s look at vv 5-7.

 

5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.”

6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.

7 The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.”

 

To be honest, the precise details are not quite clear here, but the NLT summarises as follows:

When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him,

“Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water

in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs.

In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.”

 

So the men are separated into two groups:

 

1. those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs
2. those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream

 

Now this may have just been God’s way of reducing the army to the size he wanted, but it’s also possible that the way they drank revealed something about their character. One way of interpreting this is as follows:

 

GROUP A

Why did God choose these?

Have you ever noticed how a dog drinks? With its eyes always open for the enemy. This suggests to me that God uses

those who are disciplined.

 

GROUP B

Why did God reject these?

Drinking water is a legitimate exercise. Indeed, it’s essential! But it’s not something we should bow down to. There are many legitimate things in our lives, less essential than water, that can, if we’re not careful, become a barrier to our service for the Lord if we let them become the controlling motivation for our actions. This suggests to me that God uses

those who do not bow down to the legitimate. They are totally dedicated to the task.

 

So God uses those who are courageous and disciplined and totally dedicated.

 

The methods God uses

 

He wants us to rely totally on him

 

2 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her

 

He continually encourages and guides us

 

9 During that night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.

10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah

11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.”

 

He even uses the enemy to bring about his purposes

 

13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.“

 

He has a unique solution for every situation

 

16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

 

He has a right moment for everything

 

17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.

18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.'”

19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands.

20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”

 

He expects us to know our place and to follow the leaders he has appointed

 

17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.

 

21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

 

He works with us

 

22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled…

 

 

He guarantees us victory

25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders (AV princes), Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.

 

The princes were taken

Satan will be destroyed

Jesus has already won the victory!

 

 

 

 

 

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 139

Lessons from their lives Talk 5: Gideon (Part 2) – Preparing for Victory

 

Welcome to talk 5 in our series Lessons from their lives. Today we’re continuing with Gideon. Looking at Judges 6, we saw last time that God’s people were:

 

1. On the defensive
2. In hiding
3. Engaged in unproductive activity
4. Sowing much and reaping little
5. Impoverished
6. Experiencing no miracles

 

We saw that the apparent cause of the problem was the Midianites but that the real cause was that they had done evil in the eyes of the Lord. They had not listened to him. However, when they cried to the Lord, he raised up a leader. We noted that Gideon:

• Was just like the rest – in hiding
• Had very little faith
• Was aware of his own inadequacy
• Needed lots of reassurance

 

In response to this, God:

1. revealed himself to Gideon
2. reassured him of his presence
3. told him to go and promised him success
4. confirmed his word supernaturally

 

We now turn to verses 25-40 which I have called:

 

Preparing for Victory

In this passage we discover three keys to preparing for victory:

• Destroying your idols
• The power of the Spirit
• Finding the will of God

 

Destroying your idols (vv25-31)

 

In this section God tells Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and build a proper kind of altar to the Lord. Gideon does so secretly by night as he’s afraid of what his family and men of the town might do to him. Indeed when they discover what’s happened, the men of the town want to put him to death, but his father speaks up for him and says:

 

Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? …If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar (v31).

An idol may be defined as anything that takes the place of God in our lives. Please bear this in mind as we consider:

 

• The extent of their idolatry
• How to overcome idolatry

 

The extent of their idolatry (25-30)

 

25 That same night the LORD said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

 

They had built an altar to their idol. An altar is a place of sacrifice.

 

27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

 

They were devoted to it. Gideon was afraid of them.

 

31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him?

 

They were prepared to defend their idol.

 

How to overcome idolatry (25-26)

 

1. Count the cost of destroying it – Gideon was afraid, but he did it! In doing so he risked his life.
2. Make a clean break with it – tear it down! (v25). But you may need to work at it. It would have taken Gideon some time to cut it down.
3. If you need to, get other people to help you. Gideon took 10 men (v27).
4. Make a fresh start working for God. Build a proper kind of altar to the Lord (v26)

 

This implies work and sacrifice!

The Power of the Spirit (vv33-35)

33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.

35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.

 

The enemy regroups – he always will when we start destroying idols

 

But the Spirit comes upon Gideon (Heb: clothed). Cf. Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8

And Gideon blows a trumpet

There is an audible evidence when the Spirit comes upon us

(cf. tongues – testimony – praise – proclamation)  

 

Finding the Will of God (vv36-40)

36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised

37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”

38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew–a bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”

40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

 

Gideon’s doubt (36)

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised… (Was it doubt or was it fear?! Fear often causes doubt).

 

God’s patience (38, 40)

 

A word about ‘fleeces’

The Spirit came upon Gideon.

He indwells us as Christians. Should we need ‘fleeces’?

 

The will of God is revealed:

• In his Word
• Through circumstances
• By peace in our hearts (Col.3:15)
• By direct revelation (Philip, Cornelius etc.)
• By our total surrender (Romans 12:1-2)

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 139

Lessons from their lives Talk 5: Gideon (Part 2) – Preparing for Victory

Welcome to talk 5 in our series Lessons from their lives. Today we’re continuing with Gideon. Looking at Judges 6, we saw last time that God’s people were:

1. On the defensive
2. In hiding
3. Engaged in unproductive activity
4. Sowing much and reaping little
5. Impoverished
6. Experiencing no miracles

We saw that the apparent cause of the problem was the Midianites but that the real cause was that they had done evil in the eyes of the Lord. They had not listened to him. However, when they cried to the Lord, he raised up a leader. We noted that Gideon:

• Was just like the rest – in hiding
• Had very little faith
• Was aware of his own inadequacy
• Needed lots of reassurance

In response to this, God:

1. revealed himself to Gideon
2. reassured him of his presence
3. told him to go and promised him success
4. confirmed his word supernaturally

We now turn to verses 25-40 which I have called:

Preparing for Victory

In this passage we discover three keys to preparing for victory:

• Destroying your idols
• The power of the Spirit
• Finding the will of God

Destroying your idols (vv25-31)

In this section God tells Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and build a proper kind of altar to the Lord. Gideon does so secretly by night as he’s afraid of what his family and men of the town might do to him. Indeed when they discover what’s happened, the men of the town want to put him to death, but his father speaks up for him and says:

Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? …If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar (v31).

An idol may be defined as anything that takes the place of God in our lives. Please bear this in mind as we consider:

• The extent of their idolatry
• How to overcome idolatry

 The extent of their idolatry (25-30)

25 That same night the LORD said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

They had built an altar to their idol. An altar is a place of sacrifice.

27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

They were devoted to it. Gideon was afraid of them.

31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him?

They were prepared to defend their idol.

How to overcome idolatry (25-26)

1. Count the cost of destroying it – Gideon was afraid, but he did it! In doing so he risked his life.
2. Make a clean break with it – tear it down! (v25). But you may need to work at it. It would have taken Gideon some time to cut it down.
3. If you need to, get other people to help you. Gideon took 10 men (v27).
4. Make a fresh start working for God. Build a proper kind of altar to the Lord (v26)

 This implies work and sacrifice!

The Power of the Spirit (vv33-35)

33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.

35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.

 The enemy regroups – he always will when we start destroying idols

But the Spirit comes upon Gideon (Heb: clothed). Cf. Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8

And Gideon blows a trumpet

There is an audible evidence when the Spirit comes upon us

(cf. tongues – testimony – praise – proclamation)  

Finding the Will of God (vv36-40)

36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised

37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”

38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew–a bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”

40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Gideon’s doubt (36)

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised… (Was it doubt or was it fear?! Fear often causes doubt).

God’s patience (38, 40)

A word about ‘fleeces’

The Spirit came upon Gideon.

He indwells us as Christians. Should we need ‘fleeces’?

The will of God is revealed:

• In his Word
• Through circumstances
• By peace in our hearts (Col.3:15)
• By direct revelation (Philip, Cornelius etc.)
• By our total surrender (Romans 12:1-2)

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 138

Lessons from their lives talk 4: Gideon

 

Welcome to Talk 4 in our series Lessons from their lives. Today we’re talking about Gideon. In fact I have so much material on Gideon that it will take three talks to cover the subject. But it’s an important one. God used Gideon to lead his people from a place of defeat to a place of victory, and there are so many lessons we can learn from his story that are very relevant to our situation today.

There are times in our Christian experience when it seems that everything is against us. Nothing seems to go right. Such occasions are opportunities for us to rise up in faith. But if we’re not careful, instead of doing so, we slide into defeat. The Book of Judges tells us of one such occasion. We’ll be looking at chapters 6-7. We will see how God uses a most unlikely person to lead his people into victory. Although our enemy is spiritual rather than physical, there are many lessons we can learn from the story of Gideon. We’ll take two talks to cover the subject which I’ve divided into four sections:

1. God’s people in defeat
2. God raises up a leader
3. Preparing for victory
4. Raising up an army

We’ll deal with the first two headings today and then take two further talks to deal with #3 and #4. So today we’ll start with God’s people in defeat and we’ll begin by reading Judges 6:1-6 which give us a graphic picture of the symptoms of defeat.

1. God’s People in Defeat (6:1-10)

 

a) The symptoms of defeat (1-6)

 

1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.

3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.

4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.

5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.

6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.

 

In this passage we see that God’s people were:

 

1. On the defensive (v2) – prepared shelters for themselves
2. In hiding (v2) – mountain clefts, caves and strongholds
3. Engaged in unproductive activity (v3-4) Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites…ruined the crops
4. Sowing much and reaping little (cf. Haggai 1:6)
5. Impoverished (v6) Midian so impoverished the Israelites – What a tragedy in the light of Deuteronomy 28:1-14  where God promises his people victory over their enemies and prosperity if only they will obey him
6. Experiencing no miracles happening (v13) – Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about?

b) The cause of their defeat

 

• The Apparent Cause – the Midianites

v.2 the power of Midian was so oppressive

v.6 Midian… impoverished the Israelites

 

• The Real Cause – themselves

v.1 the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD

v.10 you have not listened to me

 

It’s easy to blame the enemy, or other people,

but God doesn’t want us to be in bondage to anyone. If we are, it’s our fault!

 

c) The remedy for defeat

 

• They cried to the Lord (vv 6-8)

6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.

 

• God sends a prophet

7 When the Israelites cried to the LORD because of Midian,

8 he sent them a prophet

 

The prophet reminded them of what God had done for them in the past

and told them what they were doing wrong (8-10)

But he did not only send a prophet. He raised up a leader.  

 

2.  God raises up a leader (6:11-24)

 

a) The Leader God chose

 

• Just like the rest – in hiding

 

v.11 Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

 

• Had very little faith

 

12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

13 “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

 

• Aware of his own inadequacy

 

v.15 “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

 

Humility is appropriate, but we mustn’t limit God.

 

• Needed lots of reassurance

 

v.17 If now I have found favour in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me

Cf. v.36 – if you will save Israel by my hand 

 

b) God’s Answer

 

• He revealed himself to Gideon

 

v.12 – the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon

the angel was the Lord himself Cf. vv. 14 & 16

 

• He reassured him of his presence

 

v.12 – “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

Both apparently untrue!

The Lord did not appear to be with Israel.

Gideon did not feel like a mighty warrior!

But God sees us as we are IN HIM

Note the plurals in v.13

“But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

 

But note the singular in v. 12 and v. 16.

“The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together (AV as one man)

To be a leader it must be enough to know that God is with ME

 

• He told him to go and promised him success (vv.14+16)

 

14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

16 The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

 

• He confirmed his word

In v.17 Gideon asks for a sign. He hadn’t seen any miracles (13)

So God grants him the sign he asks for:

 

17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favour in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the LORD said, “I will wait until you return.”

 

When Gideon comes back and presents his offering to the angel,

the angel touches it with the tip of his staff and fire flares up and consumes

the offering. Then the angel disappears (21).

 

22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”

23 But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

 

Note:

The sign followed a sacrifice (17-21)

The supernatural manifestation of God’s presence had departed (21)

but God was still with him (23)

How foolish Gideon’s fear was (22-23)

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 137

Lessons from their lives Talk 3: Joshua

Welcome to talk 3 in our series Lessons from their lives. Today our subject is Joshua. We’re looking particularly at Joshua 1 where we read that Moses has died and that God commissions Joshua to lead his people into Canaan, the land that God had promised them.

Very often, traditionally, for us as God’s people today, the Promised Land has been taken to symbolise Heaven and the River Jordan is seen as symbolising death. But I’m not sure that’s the best way of understanding it. There were many battles for the Israelites in the land of Canaan and there certainly won’t be battles for us in Heaven! It’s probably better to see the Israelites crossing the Jordan as a picture of our conversion and the Promised Land as a symbol of the Christian life. Today, however, I’m taking it to stand for the place of blessing that God wants to bring us to as the church today. For that to happen we will need the right kind of leaders and the right kind of followers.

As we look at Joshua we will see:

• The kind of people God chooses as leaders
• The responsibility of God’s people to support their leaders
• The certain promises God makes in these circumstances.

So let’s begin by reading Joshua 1.

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them – to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittite country – to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'” 12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers 15 until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” 16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

The kind of people God chooses as leaders

As we look other OT passages we learn about the training and experience Joshua had that prepared him to lead the nation, and, even more importantly, we learn about his character.

1. Joshua’s Experience

He had a good training

On at least three occasions Joshua is described as Moses’ assistant.

In Exodus 24, when Moses goes up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone on which God wrote the Ten Commandments, Joshua accompanies him as his assistant.

In Numbers 11:28 we’re told that Joshua had been Moses’ assistant since youth.

And again in Joshua 1:1 he is described as Moses’ assistant.

He gained experience in leadership

He was the leader of his tribe before he became the leader of the whole nation. In Numbers 13:8 he is described as the ruler of the tribe of Ephraim. (Incidentally, here he is referred to as Hoshea, meaning salvation, but verse 16 tells us that Moses gave him the name Joshua meaning YAHWEH is salvation). More of this later.

2. Joshua’s Character

He was totally committed to the Lord’s service

Exodus 33

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

He was loyal to his leader

Numbers 11

25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again. 26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” 29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”

He was a man of faith and courage

Numbers 14

6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” 10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites.

Joshua had faith to believe that despite the opposition the Lord would give them the land. He had courage not only to go in and take on the enemy, but also to stand against the majority who were of a different opinion.

He was a man of the Spirit

In Numbers 27 Moses asks the Lord to appoint a man as his successor who will be a leader and shepherd for the nation. In verse 18 God says, Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

So Joshua was chosen by God because:

• He was totally committed to the Lord’s service
• He was loyal to his leader
• He was a man of faith and courage
• He was a man of the Spirit. He had also gained experience in leadership as the leader of his tribe and had learned from Moses as his assistant.

Now back to Joshua 1 where we learn something about:

The responsibility of God’s people to support their leaders

If we are to move to the place of blessing that God longs to bring us to, we are clearly going to need more than the right kind of leaders. We need the right kind of followers. Please note, we can’t all be leaders! You can’t have a leader without followers. If we were all leaders there would be no followers, so actually no one would be a leader! So what kind of followers do we need?

1. People who are willing to follow
2. 16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

v 17 …Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.

2. People who will pray for their leaders

v 17 …may the Lord your God be with you

3. People who will encourage their leaders

v18 …be strong and courageous

4. People who will cooperate with leadership and help each other

Look at verses 12-15.

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers 15 until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

The certain promises God makes in these circumstances

Joshua 1:5-8

No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

1. Power (v 5 – no-one will be able to stand against you)
2. Presence (v 5 – I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you)
3. Prosperity (v 8 – You will be prosperous and successful)

The condition? COURAGE TO OBEY THE BOOK! (7-8)

• Meditate on it
• Speak it
• Do what it says

To be successful as a leader Joshua had to learn total dependency on the Lord. Perhaps that’s why his name was changed from Hoshea to Joshua. Salvation is not in ourselves. It is the Lord who is our salvation.

 

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 136

Lessons from their lives Talk 2: The Call of Moses      

 

Welcome to talk 2 in our series Lessons from their lives.

Last time, Abraham. Today, Moses.

The passage we’ll be considering is Exodus 2:23 – 4:17

 

We’ll start at Exodus 2:23

23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.

24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.

25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

 

1. God cares

 

God sees

God cares

     about our nation today

     about his world

     about us – his covenant people (Cf. v 24)

 

2. God reveals himself

 

Whenever God decides to move in a nation or in a situation

he looks for people he can use.

 

Here in the story he reveals himself to Moses – the burning bush

 

1. Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
3. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.’
4. When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5. Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

 

He has revealed himself to us – in the person of Jesus

 

3. He reveals his purpose

6. Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7. The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
8. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey–the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
9. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.
10. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

God tells Moses 4 things:

1. who he is

6.Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham,

the God of  Isaac and the God of Jacob.”

2. of his concern for his people

I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.

3. that he has come down to deliver them

So I have come down to rescue them (8)

4. that he will bless them

to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey (8)

What a picture of the Gospel this is!

The eternally self-existent God

Is concerned about people

And has come down (in the person of Jesus)

To deliver us and bless us and bring us to his heavenly country!

 

4. He commissions his servant

SO NOW GO! I’M SENDING YOU!

And immediately Moses began to make excuses!

1. Who am I? (v11) I’m not worthy/suitable/capable

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

 God’s response: I will be with you

2. What shall I tell them? (v 13) I don’t know what to say

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God’s response: Tell them what I’ve told you. (cf vv7-10 with 16-18)

Tell them:

                Who I am

                I’m concerned about them

                I’ve come down to deliver them

                I will bless them

 3. They won’t believe me (4:1)

1. “Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”
2. The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”
3. And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.
4. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—
5. “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.””

 God’s response: What is that in your hand? (4:2) I’ll give you miracles.

Anything with God’s blessing on it will do! Deauville Walker’s camera

4. I’m no good at talking (4:10) I haven’t got the right natural ability          

“But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.””

God’s response: I made you…   I will help you ..

Please send someone else to do it (13)          The Lord’s anger…. (14)

14. Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.
15. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.
16. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.
17. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.

I’ll give you the natural help you think you need (Aaron)

But don’t forget my miracle-working power!

Concerned about the state of the world?

God still sees

God still cares

He has revealed himself in the person of Jesus who came down to deliver us and take us to heaven

To make this possible for all people he is looking for people he can send

To all our excuses he has an answer:

• I will be with you
• Just tell them what I’ve told you
• I’ll give you supernatural power to confirm the message