Confession of Moses' faith

Sermon notes from Sunday 17 November 2019 pm

Numbers 10 verses 29 - 36

You will be aware as we broke into this passage that we are dealing with a situation as Moses is leading the children of Israel across the wilderness to the promised land, of a conversation Moses is having with his relatives.  Verse 29 shows a confession of Moses` faith.  He is witnessing of what God is going to do "we are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said I will give it you."  When Paul was preaching the word of God he said "I am what I am by the grace of God." (1 Corinthians 15 verse 10) Are we what God would have us to be?  Are we taking the Lord as Saviour tonight?  The Psalmist could say "The Lord is my shepherd."  What a wonderful confession of faith.  We cannot look away to the church we belong to and say we follow them.  That has nothing to do with it.  The Psalmist David when fighting Goliath took 5 little stones.  Goliath laughed at this young boy`s attitude - to step out and face him.  David told him "I am coming to you in the name of the God of Israel."  He testified that when out in the wilderness with the sheep and the bear had come against the flock he had put it to death.  He could say "I shall not want."  Can we trace our story back to Calvary?  We are journeying to the place because God has promised it to us.  Pau said "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2 Timothy 1 verse 12)  There is a day coming when we must leave this world behind and step into God`s eternity.  Paul was not worried about that day coming.  "I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4 verses 6 and 7)  He had no last minute plans or plots.  That is how we should be - ready to leave this sin cursed earth into the glories of heaven, into the presence of God for all eternity.  In Exodus 3 Moses was out in the wilderness with his sheep when he saw something he had never seen before.  He stood and marvelled at this bush burning but it was not consumed.  It should have gone up in smoke in the heat of the desert but it didn`t.  Moses decided to draw near and when he did God spoke to him.  That is how God works in our lives sometimes.  Perhaps through a time of sickness or disappointment.  Perhaps something happening around us in our families or circumstances or community.  God speaks to you through different means.  Will God speak to you tonight?  Will you make certain for heaven and home?  God has promised us this land and we are on our way to this land.  "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,  harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 3 verses 7 and 8)  God spoke out of the burning bush.  "I have seen the affliction of Israel and I am sending you to my people."  God had seen what was going on.  Pharaoh however would not let the people go as God commanded right to the last plague when all the baby boys were killed.  Then he decided to let them go.  "We are going to the place God has promised" the people were able to say when they left Egypt.  Can you say you are here in this place because of the faith you have placed in Christ one day? It is a gift of God that you can take.  The Philippian jailer as he came into Paul and Silas` cell asked "what must I do to be saved?"  Have you ever asked that question yourself?  Here was a man prepared to do anything yet he got it wrong because there is nothing you can do to be saved.  It is a gift of God.  Accept it.  Make your way to Calvary.  Jesus is giving his life for you on the cross.  Accept what he has done for us.  Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Have you got that salvation tonight?  Simply believing in Christ is all it takes.  Moses` confession of faith.

His commitment to follow.  He saw the strong arm of the Lord in dealing with the enemy, breaking the power of Egyptians, now the people are marching to the Promised Land.  He is now following.  He believed and is now stepping out, was willing to prove God.  When the Lord came to where Matthew was sitting at the seat of custom he said to him "follow me."  Matthew arose and followed Christ.  2 actions were required.  He stood to his feet but then he had to put a step to his feet.  He had to follow after the Lord.  Moses could see what God had done.  He needed the answer.  God had promised the people the land.  Now he must follow.  James said "if any man be a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; For he beholdeth himelf and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he is."  He sees what has to be done then forgets about it and walks away.  God`s word can do nothing for us.  We need to look at Calvary.  What it means.  Jesus stepping into the world, taking the form of a man, allowing himself to be nailed to the cross, to have a crown of thorns placed on his brow.  We go back to that scene once more night after night.  People hear this message all to no avail.  God delivered men and women and set them free out of Egypt but they must follow after the Lord.  God broke the fetters on this people, set them gloriously free but now they must follow.  Many are free but not following Christ.  I wonder will you follow?  You say you believe in Christ, what he has done.  James said "thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devil also believe and tremble." (James 2 verse 19)  Moses needed to move out of Egypt.

The confidence Moses had about the future.  "We are journeying unto the place which the Lord said I will give you."  Moses was looking for the land God had promised.  He was possessed of a hope that was steadfast and sure.  Are you sure of that place tonight?  Jesus said "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also." (John 14 verse 3)  Moses kept his eye on the cloud when it moved and he knew it was time to get up and walk.  When it rested they stopped and waited.  We do not speculate about heaven tonight.  It is a certainty, whether we go there or not.  If you are saved you are on your way there.  The confidence of the future.  Joshua leading the people of Israel, going through the Jordan, when the priests lifted the ark of the covenant the people were to keep their eye on it.  "You haven`t travelled this way before."  We dare not miss the ark today.  We need to keep our eyes on Christ.  Are we following tonight?  The Psalmist said "yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."  Have you that confidence?

Moses` concern for his family.  "come thou with us".  Moses knew all that God had for his children, every promise he had and wanted to extend it to his family.  What a man.  We are on our way to heaven and home - have we invited anyone to come with us?  Have we said to our loved ones, asked them to be saved.  They need to come to Christ, trust him as Saviour and Lord.  Moses knew there was a land he was going to but he wanted others to be with him.  Is there a longing in our hearts to see our loved ones gathered with us there?  1 Thessalonians 2 verse 19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ as his coming?"  Rahab took the spies in, let them down with the crimson chord.  She asked for her family to be saved when they came back.  They told her to have the cord hanging when they returned.  She gathered as many as she could into that house so they could be saved and they were.  David said "no man careth for my soul." (Psalm 142 verse 4)  May we not be a people that have no concern for souls, selfishly going to heaven without attempting to bring our loved ones with us.