Come Home With Us
The wilderness wanderings of the Israelites provide a powerful picture for us
A)The
Apostle Paul declares this in his letter to the Corinthians- speaking about the
wanderings of the Israelites
1Cor. 10:6 Now these things
were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they
also lusted after
1Cor. 10:11 NLT
All these events happened to them as
examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when
this age is drawing to a close.
B) So As we observe their wanderings
we are able to gain understanding that will help us in a practical way
1) Examples
of what to Avoid & WARNINGS what to
watch out for !!!!
C) But The
wanderings of the Israelites are NOT only a picture FOR us,
they are a picture OF us.
Consider:
A)For 400 years they were in
bitter bondage to Pharaoh -He brutally forced them to bake bricks under the hot
Egyptian sun
B) They cried unto the Lord
and He heard them and redeemed them
1) So too - We were the servants
of Satan and Sin & OUR FLESH /We cried
unto the Lord to SAVE US and He redeemed us
C) SECONDLY - They were a RELATED people
1) They were related by the fact that all of them could trace their lineage back to Abraham
D)Likewise/We in the Body of
Christ are related by reason of the fact that we are born again into the family
of God { The Living God is our Father
THIRDLY - They were a RELIANT people- As they wandered
through the wilderness they were DEPENDANT upon God
B) From
enemies -Remember how Pharaoh pursued them after their release
Protection From the hot desert sun - The cloud by day
1) Protection from the Cold
Desert nights Pillar of Fire
C) They were a Protected
people - We ALSO are a protected people
1)
We
are surrounded by enemies- Principalities and powers{ Satan & Cohorts / BUT
the word declares Greater is He that is in you......
D) Protection from Trials Not tempted beyond what you are able
They were reliant upon God not
only for PROTECTION but for PROVISION as
well
A)Every morning they were
supernaturally provided for as God gave them Manna from heaven
B) So too the Lord provides
for our needs - You might say: "I'm a part of
the Body of Christ but that doesn't happen for me... I go out in the morning
and there's no bread on the ground"
1) Through jobs... Parents... Friends- He provides for YOU
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights
LISTEN: Everything that you have is because God has graciously given to
you..... Even the next breath that you take
A)Paul declared to the
Philippians Phil. 4:19 But my God shall
supply all your need according to
his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
B) So they were a Redeemed
people / Related People / Reliant People
C)
FOURTHLY They were a People of DESTINY
1) They were NOT destined to forever wander in the
wilderness... They were destined for a land of promise
1) The Scriptures declare
that we are PILGRIMS & STRANGERS that are
headed for heaven
E) So these people are a
picture FOR us and a picture OF us as we wander
through the wilderness experience of this life
Now In our text
this morning we find the Israelites in the wanderings ready to break camp &
begin their journey towards the promised land
A)They
had spent nearly a year in Sinai- where they had received INSTRUCTION &
ILLUMINATION concerning their
relationship w/ God
B) They received the Law of
God and the Law of Moses /They were
instructed concerning worship and the priesthood
1) NOW They are ready to move
out- BUT - Before they go, Moses has an encounter with a man named Hobab Read v.29
again
C) Now here we see Moses
Trying to get this man Hobab to Join them on their Journey COME W/ US
E) LESSON FOR US - We have the opportunity and
responsibility to say to the Hobabs of this world COme with us.......
Travel with us
We are only passing through this world / we are headed for
heaven... Headed for glory/ Jesus
graciously extended an invitation to us
Matt. 11:28 Come
unto me, all that are Weary & are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
A)That
IS the Invitation that He has extended to us & Then He told us invite
others to come with us - Mark
16:15 15And
He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature
B)
That is the New Testament truth that is pictured
for us here in
Num. 10 -We are to AUDIBLY
make this invitation
Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
C)
NOTICE that
there are TWO voices saying Come
1)
The
Spirit [ HS inside Knocking on the door of Hearts] and the Bride.... the Church...( OUTSIDE) AUDIBLY
D) Listen: It is our PRIVILEGE and or RESPONSIBILITY to declare
this invitation to the Hobabs of the
world
Who was Hobab? - He was a Midianite
A)He was a part of the
heathen culture... those who didn't KNOW God or
WALK with God
B) Moses was RELATED to
Hobab / He was Mosess Brother-in-law
1)
Moses
married his sister Ziphorah- when he was out in the desert 40yrs
C) So Hobab was in Moses' sphere of influence / So too with all of us
1)
There
is a circle of people around us / They WORK with us... Are RELATED to us.. LIVE
by us/ Kids play sports w/ our Kids
D)These
are people w/ whom we can say: Come with us
1)
There
are people around us who can and will respond to such an initiation /
E) Some might even be the down-&-outers/MISFITS/
The ones that everyone else at work ignores
1) The ones that everyone else
puts down / People who, that if WE made the effort, would respond
A)The Samaritans were HATED
by the Jews- The Jews went out of their way to avoid that Place but here
Jesus a Jew said I need to go thru Samaria
B) See there was a woman
there that Jesus needed to talk to : Well Noon sent Disciples into town to
get some Burgers
1) Along comes this woman
{Woman w/ a Past why she was there at noon - And He spoke to a Samaritan woman
asked her for a drink
C) She was shocked that He, being a Jew, would talk to her, a Samaritan woman{ Woman w/ a Past { Jesus broke the stereo type reached out to her
1) LK 19 Zach is another example Hated Tax collector
1) So too - We have an
opportunity to reach out to those whose lives we come in contact with
E) So Hobab was within the
sphere of Moses' influence...
Now Notice what
Moses said to Hobab -Moses gave to Hobab several reasons why he should go with
them { Insights into
Evangelism
A)1st v.29 Come
with us because of the PLACE that we are going to
We are setting
out for the place of which the LORD said, I will give it to you.
B) Hobab we are going to a
great place & you have got to come w/ us !!
1) We can invite the Hobabs
around us on the same basis WERE
GOING TO HEAVEN !!!!
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be
troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are
many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
C) Last Mondy I performed
a memorial service for a woman in our Church named Toni Greemore/ Talking about
Heaven Believers Hope
1) Cancer
is gone / Place of no more Pain Absolute Joy !!!
D)
Said what I usually say those types of Funerals Toni could talk
to us right now she would say I dont want you to miss this
1)
Trust Christ This place is Awesome & I want you to be here That day
several of her friends prayed to receive Christ
Rev. 21:1; 3-4 And
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away;..... And I heard a
great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle
of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them,
and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
A)I read a story this week
about a woman who was dying Cancer she was talking w/ her pastor Special
request about her memorial service
B) She like Toni- mood
celebrative but special request I want to be laid in the casket [ open casket]
w/ a fork in my hand Pastor asked Why?
1) All the yrs that
I have been coming to this Church Potlucks & Luncheons after the main
course / clearing tables Keep your fork
C) She said the Reason was the best was yet to come
Strawberry Cheese cake / Brownies & Ice Cream / Chocolate Cream Pie / Hot
Apple Pie
1) Something wonderful, and with substance!
D) So, I just want people to see
me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder Whats with the fork?
1) Then I want you to tell them:
Keep your fork...the best is yet to come.
"
True If you are a Christian - This earth is as bad as it gets for
you It is only going to get better from
here on out UPWARD & ONWARD
A)IF you are NOT a Christian
- This earth is as close as your are
going to get to heaven.... It is only going to get WORSE from here on out
1) I see this world for
what it is and I can rest{ Can endure difficulties
C) EXAMPLE: IF you won an all expense paid trip to MAUI &
you were to leave on Tuesday.. Do you think that you could make it
through Monday?
1) It wouldn't matter how
bad things went on Monday
D) It wouldn't matter how
people dumped on you..... You know that
you're out of here in the Morning { cuts off on FWY Who cares Maui
traffic
1)
Boss
gets on your Case - You can ENJOY MONDAY because you know that TUESDAY is coming
E) THAT is exactly what
JESUS is saying to us
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be
troubled;
. I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive
you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Col. 3:2 Set your
affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
F) Affections = Passions & your Pursuits Heaven When you know that Heaven is coming around the corner Easier to make it thru this life
So first of all Moses says to
Hobab, come with us- We're going to a good place
A)YES - There will be
difficulties & Battles encountered
on the way
B) BUT - Ultimately, well
get there & You wont be Disappointed !!!
2ndly
Not only is the place good, but we
will TREAT YOU WELL
A)Now most of us have found
that it is an incredible blessing to be a part of the Body of Christ Be in
the Lords family
B) But there are those who
unfortunately would say - "No way...
Christians are hypocrites and jerks-
1) That might be true... But you should have seen us before
C) NOTE: We are NOT
a perfect people... We are a people being perfected
D) That is one of the
Beauties of being a Christian God is committed to changing You Molding you
shaping you
1)
Now
if you are open Process will be smoother & quicker -/ Not open it will be
tougher & longer But God is committed to doing that work
Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun
a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
E) I can rest in that
assurance in my life & the lives of those around me I know are walking w/
God He is committed to finishing that work
1)
We
are all going to be getting better
F) But the person who doesnt know the Lord /They Get worse over Time downward progression w/ sin digression
1) Flesh gets darker { more depraved more selfish -
3rd There
will be Blessings v.32 that
whatever good the LORD shall do to us, the same will we do to you
1 Cor 2:9 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the
heart of man The things which God has
prepared for those who love Him."
A) The Hobabs need to come
with us- Because of where we are going to a GOOD place / We are
going with Good company
1) We will have the Promise of God's blessings along the way
B) But Notice Hobabs initial
response v.30 And he said unto him, I will not
go; but I will depart to mine own land,
and to my relatives
SO Hobab said No thanks I am not interested - &
Moses said
Ok YOUR LOST GO TO
HELL THEN
A)No that is not what Moses
said - He pulled out arrow #2 from his quiver and fired a second round
v.
31 So Moses said, "Please do
not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and
you can be our eyes.
B) Moses is saying to Hobab look you will be a Help to us You know this desert / this wilderness so well !!
C) Now was Moses showing a Lack of faith here ? Was Moses
looking to Hobab to be a Security
or Safety net ? Not at all
1) Moses
wasnt lacking faith but he was Looking
at Fact If you go w/ us we will be better off!!!
D) Have you ever met someone & thought He would be a great Christian ?
1) Use that gift that talent for the Kingdom of God
E) That is what Moses is doing
here Hobab Come w/ us you will be an Asset to us
1) Key understand it was not that they couldnt get by w/out him But they sure would be blessed if he were w/ them
Listen We
must not come across as Projecting : "I have something for you but you have NOTHING
for me"
A)THAT is why Jesus, In John 4, began
His conversation with the woman
of Samaria with: "Give Me to drink"
B)He did NOT say: Let ME give you something to drink- He said: "I want to receive something from you" - Moses said: We can be enriched by you
C) We are enriched by those who come with us / All that they
are and al that they have are now enriching our lives
1) It is NOT essential that any of them come...but We are enriched by them
D) We must encourage them that there is a place for them in the kingdom
1) Their lives and abilities can take on eternal meaning
E) What was Hobab's response to this second appeal? He decided to go & we find his descendants listed in the book of Judges w/ the People of Israel
Num 10:33 So they [Hobab is included]
departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark
of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days' journey, to
search out a resting place for them.
Let us use take heed to the appeal of Moses to the Hobab and say to
those in our sphere of influence: Come with us- Let's tell them
1.) That we are going to a good place
2.) That there is good company for the journey
3) That there are God's blessings in store
4.) That they will enrich our journey