Numbers chapter 11. I will not
read the chapter to begin with, but I probably will read much
of it as we go through this. My text, of course, is Numbers
chapter 11, verses 1 through 35. Most here this morning probably
already know that. My title, I gave you that as
well this past week. My title is this. When Christ
is left out, But let me make it clear that I do not mean nor
am I talking about those who leave Christ out unaware or through
ignorance. Those who leave Christ out because
they know nothing of Christ shall still perish without Christ. It's just the way it is. But our subject for this morning
is not about the ignorant. Our chapter deals with men and
women who were very well informed. Think about it. These people
had been in Egyptian bondage or under Egyptian bondage, all
of them. all of them for all their life. Because the bondage had went
on for 400 years. And men at this time did not
live as long as some men lived back in the early time of Genesis. And yet God delivered these people in a clear unmistakable Irrefutable act
of miracle and All they've been through from being in Egypt and
being delivered and going out with a high hand Remember they
didn't even leave a hoof behind a hoof not a foot They didn't
even leave the hoof of a beast behind And they go out of Egypt
and they've been two years in this way now. Mason, they've
stood at Sinai and they've seen the rumblings and the lightning
and the thunder. They've seen God and what he
would do when they would act in rebellion and idolatry against
him when they were at the foot of that mountain. So I'm not talking about some
poor ignorant heathen out yonder somewhere. I'm talking to people
this morning who are aware, to some degree, at least in some
technical and academic way, they are aware of the truth of the
personal work of Christ. And when Christ is left out,
when Christ is left out, trouble will ensue. Now lay a foundation. Try to be brief here. In our
text we have types. I understand that. But don't look at numbers the
same way you look at Leviticus. Remember in Leviticus, there
was what, two or three historical events recorded, and that's it.
The rest of it is just the laws, the regulations, and it's all
types and symbols. Now it had a reality for those
people back then, but when we get to numbers, we're going to
see types and symbols. That's true, I'm not denying
that. But what we have, in numbers
especially, is types and symbols, that's Old Testament shadows
or figures of Jesus Christ, mixed with real events of faith and
unbelief. I have made, don't fall into
the same mistake I've made. I've been preaching before and
made a statement along this line. Speaking of, say, King David.
You know, all know King David. He was a type of the believer.
Do you see the error of that? Now, we might say David is a
type of Christ, but Joe, he ain't no type of the believer. He was
a believer. So all of this is not types and
symbols. This is real life events here.
So I want to make that point. In other words, the manna, of
course, was a type, right? The manna was a type. But to
belittle the manna, look at verse five and six of chapter 11. We
remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely. That's a
lie. Really? They were slaves. They were fed just enough to
keep them alive so they could finish the building of the pyramids
or whatever it was that the pharaohs were building. We remember the
fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers, the melons,
and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlics. But yet there
was a point to what they were saying, was it not? Jack, they had good food when
they were there. But look, here's the real problem. We're all prone to exaggerate.
Sometimes when we intend on just trying to tell the truth, we
still exaggerate. You know what exaggeration, the
other word for exaggeration is? L-I-E. But look, here's the real
problem. But now, our soul is dried away. Really? There is nothing at all
beside this manna. Do you see what they've just
done? They've criticized God in a miracle. Every morning when
they woke up, it was there fresh. Granted, it was only one thing,
but it was there every morning fresh. And on the Sabbath, when they
were not supposed to perform work, they were allowed to gather
enough for two days so that they didn't have to work the seventh
day. And they saw it got this manner. Two things is wrong with
this. One, it was blatant rebellion
against the miracle of God. And it is indeed to knowingly
leave Christ out. Think of it. This was rank unbelief. Whoever did it is rank unbelief. We must call it what it is, whether
it's from us or them out there. We gotta call it what it is.
In our text we have elect souls. There's two mentioned here, Moses
and Joshua. We know that from the preponderant testimony of
scripture. Moses and Joshua were two of God's people. We know
that. But we also have those who have a serious question mark
placed about them. You know what I said? A serious
question mark. Verse four, and the mixed multitude
that was among them fell a lusting. And this in turn brought Israel,
the people, the full-blooded Jews, I'm gonna put it that way,
right back into their complaint again. even after they've been
interceded for by Moses. And God spared many of them. In our text, we have these people
as our example. 1 Corinthians chapter 10, and
I want you to listen to the words. This is what an inspired writer
said, not me. This is not my opinion. First
Corinthians 10 verse six, and it's talking about these very
people at this very time. It's talking about more than
just that, but it's including these very people at this time.
Verse six, now these things were our examples. We ain't talking about the unbelievers
out there in false religion. We talking about us, right? We talking about us. Now these
things were our examples. The inspired writer Paul includes
himself in that. To the intent, we. Do you see it? We, not they out
there. Now they out there ought to listen
to these things. But that's not the point here.
that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted,
and I will sum it up this way. He that thinks he stands, take
heed, lest he fall. And then this, verse 14, wherefore,
my dearly beloved, run away from. You see it? Run away from idolatry. Flee from idolatry. When anyone, anyone, them out
yonder, sure, but us here especially, when anyone leaves Christ out,
God is insulted. Trouble will come. It will come. It must needs come,
God being faithful to his covenant. Because when his sons and daughters
rebel, he must, not by needs of necessity in himself, but
because of his covenant, he must needs correct us. Correct? Is that not true? If you're without
correction, if you're a believer and you stray, God will correct
you. Not just chasing in the sense
of beat you, but chasing in the sense of correct you. And if
you don't do that, you are illegitimate. You are a bastard. You're not
a true son or daughter of God. That's what it says. Our text
also is not about who gets to go to heaven and who's got to
go to hell. I've mentioned this to you before,
and like I said, I know we're all hungry. You've done set through
two messages, and I know the body can only take so much. But
I don't want to rush through this. It's too important. Our
text is not about who gets to go to heaven, who gets to miss
hell. That certainly is important. Don't get me wrong. Hell scares
me. I was gonna say to death, but
that'd be a lie. It scares me. It makes, when I think about
hell, sometimes it makes the hair stand up on the back of
my neck. I see people I care about and God snatches them out
of this world. And I see some that I think they
didn't have anything. And I see another one that thank
God they had some grace. But I, concerning them, still
don't know for sure. I'm not always absolutely sure
about me, let alone them and you. And yet, I don't believe we have
to wait till we get to the end to find out anything, Mason.
At the same time, I know most religious people say, that's
double talk. No, that's the reality of what
we are by nature and what we are by grace. It's not about just who gets
to go to heaven, who gets to go to hell. Our text is about what
happens when Christ is left out. No matter who you are. But especially
if you're a people that knows better. Yeah. Yeah. Now I will not go into it because
I don't understand much about it, but our Lord actually said
something along this line, it won't be a verbatim, that it'll
be more tolerable in the day of judgment for some folks than
for others. Right? I can't explain all, basically
I don't know how to explain all that. I don't, but I know it's
true. And some men and women, they're
not informed. They're not even physically informed.
They just don't know much of anything about God, other than
some superstitious heathenism, at best. But there are others,
they've been taught. Most, maybe not most here this
morning, and many who probably hear me later, maybe even right
now through live streaming. Many of us have been under this
since we were brought off the breast. Our responsibility, our accountability
before God is far greater than others. When Christ is left out, you
insult God. Do not presume that God owes
you anything. And yet, I must say, God is gracious. God is gracious. Now, I have seven thoughts, and
after I wrote it down, I thought, no, I'll leave it there. I'll
go ahead and lie to you, and then tell you I lied to you, and tell
you what it really is. It's just seven numbers here. There are
many more thoughts than seven. Think about it. When we complain,
and when the people complained, who? The people complained. The people are clearly distinguished
from the mixed multitude. Right? So here we even see the
people complaining. It displeased the Lord. That's you and me. not them out
there. And the Lord heard it. I thought
about that one. And the Lord heard it. God don't
have to hear anything. He knows what our hearts are
really like even before we do. When we complain, and we do. And almost all the time we try
to justify it some way or another. until finally the conscience
eats you alive and you say, this is at the hand of God, I got
to bow under it. Isn't that kind of the way it
works? Well, I'm just complaining about my health. Who gave you
that? Good or bad? God did. God did. Well, my job's so rough. Who gave you that? God did. Rough or pleasant, whatever it
is. When we complain, ever complain? ever say it. They didn't have to say it for
God to be aware of it. But when they said it, it was
a public insult against God. I think a lot of things down
in here, but thank God for the grace that says, Walter, keep
your mouth shut. You understand what I'm saying? Can you relate
to that? And I've heard it, I've heard it even here. It wasn't
used with fists in light, but it was about if a man ever looks
at a woman, if a man looks at a woman, the lust after it in
his heart, he's already guilty. And it was actually said here,
well I might as well go ahead and do the real thing if I'm already
guilty. No. Now this was said to Earl, I
was young, I was in the background, I kept my mouth shut. And Earl
adequately answered the question. But both of us agreed to this
young, and sadly it was a young individual. You got it all mixed
up. You're using the truth of God
to justify yourself. One thing, if you do that physically,
you've involved somebody else. And that's what happens here
when we complain out loud. Evil communications corrupts
good manners. And when we're constantly bellyaching
out loud, we're going to bring somebody else down with us. Are
we not? Are we not? and his anger was
kindled and the fire of the Lord burnt among them and consumed
them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp." Think about
it. Here is Israel laid out. The tabernacles here now, it's
set up now, and here they are laid out in their groups according
to their standards, north, east, south, and west. And all of a
sudden, and I take it that it's that fire that was with them.
I don't say it specifically, but the fire of the Lord started
to burn in the outer edges of the camp. People were dying. There was no doubt as to where
this come from. Huh? And the people cried unto Moses,
and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire Was quenched aren't
you glad that somebody's interceding for you when your belly aching
against God? Huh Hmm Yep, I think God there
is always always for God's people interceding mercy I'll try to illustrate about
what I'm about to give you Ever had somebody say were you a Calvinist?
And then Paul May had had a piece about this in his bulletin. Are
you a Calvinist? And you begin to back up and
explain what you don't believe about what they might think Calvinism
is. You ever done that? Apologizing. I don't forget go.
Are you a Calvinist? Yes. Yes. Well, but you follow
John Calvin. No, but I'm a Calvinist. And
I believe John Calvin was my brother. When are we going to
quit trying to apologize and just say, yes. I was asked if
I was a Calvinist way back before I even really knew what a Calvinist
was. And in the end, I didn't have
to say, yeah, I am one. And he said, well, you'll never
preach for me again. Well, OK, so be it. I don't know
what I just got kicked out for, but I kicked out for being a
Calvinist. Now, have you ever had somebody
say, well, if I believe like you did, I just go out and sin
all I want. And then we try to start philosophically giving
check marks. You ever done that? Let me read
you something. I'm gonna go ask you to turn
to it. When I start reading it, I'm sure you will be aware of
it. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the
truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. Now is that God's word or not?
I don't care. You ought not misunderstand this,
but even if you do misunderstand this, thank God there's forgiveness
of sin and sins. If we say we have not sinned,
we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children,
these things write unto you, and this is four words. It's
the only way John explains it, that ye sin not. That ye sin not, and if any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous. You see, if God's love was on
you in eternity, God's love's on you now. Even when we bellyache
and cry. But don't think that means everything's
gonna be as we call honky-dory in the camp. Now is it? Is it? Ever been influenced by the mixed
multitude? Wait a minute, ever been the
mixed multitude? Mm-Hmm ever been the mixed multitude
And it's so easy to do this Hmm. It's easy to do that Right
here's my problem. I am the mixed multitude Mason
even after God said no no especially after God saved me. I'm the mixed
multitude I Used to be nothing but natural man Now, I'm spiritual
man. If I've been born of God. But
at the same time, God still left the old natural me there. All
of God's truly born from above ones are truly the mixed multitude. And we are our own worst enemies. Think about it. Unbelief demands
variety. I've already read it. Faith is
given singularity. The fish, the cucumbers, the
melons, the leeks, the onions, the garlic, that's variety. God says to faith, here's one
object that you glory in. That's the personal work of Jesus
Christ. One food, one bread. Does it, now listen to me, I'm
gonna try to say it honestly. Don't it get sometimes a little
stale, though? Don't it seem like it's a little
stale? The problem ain't, though, with the bread. The problem's
because of this in here. Because we're remembering the
fish and onions and leeks and garlic. And they're good, ain't
they? They're good, ain't they? I think you get the picture,
don't you? Number two. I still got several more to go.
Got to move. Ever been overwhelmed? We'll read it, time's going.
Chapter 11, verse 10 through 15, Moses became overwhelmed. Did he not? There's no need for
me, in a small group in the past 10 years, a little bit longer,
we've really been overwhelmed. And I'll say it, we have seen
God pick us off one at a time. We've seen our physical numbers
dwindle one at a time. Now others have just left. Some
for decent reasons, others for not. But you ever been overwhelmed? Moses was, was he not? But I want you to go back and
look at it and read those verses again if you must sneeze, if
you don't remember. That gospel conversion forces
self-judgment. even when we want to throw the
towel in. Moses is saying, God, I can't do this. I'm paraphrasing,
right? I can't do this, but look at
what he says. Verse 15, and if thou deal thus
with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand. You see it? You ever been there? God, just get this over with.
Right? If I have found favor in thy
sight, and let me not see my wretchedness. Moses knew the
people ain't really my problem. Do you see that? Moses knew I'm
really my worst enemy. Because Moses knew down in here,
he was just like they are. Just like they are. Again, I
say gospel conversion forces self-judgment, even when we would
throw the towel in. Folks, that's grace. That's grace. Consider this. Even when I do at times leave
Christ out, and we do sometimes, now don't we? We leave Christ
out. Isn't it amazing how God will
not let you get away from this? I hate myself. and I repent in
dust and ashes. You see, I know there are people
who think, well, good people go to church. If you go to church,
you're supposed to be a good people. No, the only people that truly
go to church are bad people. Sinners. Men and women who know
that they are total corruption from the top of their head to
the bottom of their feet. And they come to hear of a savior
who saves such as that. Now, I know that's not what everybody's
hearing, but that ain't church. That's idolatry. That's man-centered
religion. Ever been overwhelmed? Sure we
are, and we will be more. Until God pulls our ticket, Mason,
there will be times we're overwhelmed. Number three. We're never alone. Verses 16
and 17. The Lord said unto Moses, gather
unto me 70 men. And what's God do? Gives them
the same spirit that was in Moses. Do you see that? Do you remember,
who was it? I don't forget now. It's recorded
by Paul. Let me find my spot, Romans chapter. Lord, they've
digged down thine altars. Israel's done gone completely
to pot. And they had. And the prophet
said, Lord, they've did down your all. I'm alone. God said,
no, you're not. I got 7,000 that haven't bowed
the knee to Baal. Because see, after all, it's
about God's glory, not our comfort. I try to think of what it was
like for some of our brothers and sisters. God just snatched
right out of here. and for them to awaken his likeness and to
see Jesus Christ in the flesh. I can't imagine it, Jack. Mason,
I gotta tell you, sometimes it feels like a pipe dream. But
I know this word is true. My flesh would say, whistle,
while you're going through the cemetery. So the ghosts don't get you.
But the Spirit of God in me says, believe God, Walter Pendleton.
Take God at his word, even when you complain, even when you're
overwhelmed, even when you think you're alone. Number four, when
Christ is left out, God may give us the alternative. We want flesh
to eat, right? I gotta read this one to you.
We want flesh to eat look at chapter 11 verse 18 and saying
to the people still God talking to Moses Sanctify yourselves
against tomorrow and ye shall eat flesh Hmm For ye have wept
in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
For it was well with us in Egypt, therefore the Lord will give
you flesh, and you will eat. Sometimes God will give you what
you want. And we use our liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, he'll let you go for a while. And he'll let you have that flesh.
And you know, look at what, here's what happens. Verse 33, sum it
all up. and while the flesh is yet in
our teeth. Air is being chewed while we're
sitting there enjoying it up a storm. Man, this quails good,
right? The wrath of the Lord was kindled
against the people and the Lord smoked the people with a very
great plague. Somebody said God don't do that
to the people. God does do that to the people. Never think that grace puts us
up on the pedestal. Grace puts us in Christ, and
he is on the pedestal. And when we knowingly rebel against
God, trouble must come. Now I must say this, just because
trouble has come, doesn't mean you've rebelled against God.
But when you rebel against God, trouble will come. and it won't be pleasant. Paul,
or the writer of Hebrew, says it won't be joyous, but afterward,
what's it do? It yieldeth the peaceable fruit
of righteousness, and I'm gonna put, to those that God lays a
hold of and corrects, to those that are exercised thereby. Number five, when Christ is left
out, we're all prone to underestimate God. God said, yeah, go give
him flesh. Well, what are you gonna do, kill all the cows?
kill all the sheep, kill all the goats, right? You remember
it? Now wait a minute. Those are
for who? Who were those animals for? Those
are for God. Those are his sacrifices that
they will be offering. Now what's God do? Causes a strong
wind to come in, blows quail. Look at how many there were.
Quail was laying on the ground. Mason, I don't. Way, yay, deep. A day's journey that way and
a day's journey that way. Quail! And then it just starts
to rot in your teeth as you chew on it. See, here's the problem. If it don't rot in your teeth, then you don't really know God.
I go back to what I said before. Every son that God receives,
God chastens. If you're without chastisement,
you are a bastard and not a son. It is not God's people don't
sin. It's when God's people sins,
God makes us completely aware of it. If God brings you trouble
and it's over a specific thing, he gonna let you know what that
was for. He don't beat us like some people
would just beat a dog. We are his sons and daughters.
He teaches us why the correction has come. Number six, God will have his glory. God
comes down in a cloud. This is Moses, pick 70 guys.
But think about it. Think about it. Two of them stayed
in the camp. Who was it? Eldad and Medad. It don't even matter what, their
name means something. But you know what, think of it.
They were left in the camp and Joshua says, wait a minute, this
can't be. You ever done that? Well so and
so's well beyond right, not quite with us. Not exactly like we are, where
we are, as we are. Isn't that what Joshua was basically
saying? But what did Moses do? Well,
if they won't come to us, we'll go to them. You see it? Verse 28, and Joshua the son
of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, this is
Joshua, answered and said, my Lord Moses, forbid them. That's
the old dad and me dad. And Moses said unto him, envious
thou for my sake. would God that all the Lord's
people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit
upon them and Moses get him up into the camp. He and the elders
of Israel. If a man will have friends, he
must find himself what? Friendly. Don't wait for them
to come to you. You go to them. Now, if you're
going to them, doesn't turn out the way you'd hoped, then Mason,
so be it. Again, I've mentioned this before,
but who's really, was L. Dad B. Dad really saved? Was
Moses really saved? Was Joshua, was all those people
that were, the edges were burned? Were they saved? I've told you
why we want to know that. So we know, can I go as far as
they did and still be okay? That's why we wanna know that.
If God would show me my name in the Lamb's book of life, it
would probably ruin me, Mason. Do you know that? It would ruin
me, Jack. Because we walk by what right
now? Faith. Faith. And faith takes this word
as it is, in spite of what I see down in here, as it is. God will have his glory. True
faith gathers one way or another, don't it? Somebody says, well,
people even here in this area, people that are aware of this
place, people who've been here and left, whatever, and they
believe the doctrines of grace, are they really saved? I don't
know. Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't know, but I can tell
you this, if they're not here and they could be here, if their
conscience is not eating them alive, they got a real problem. They got a real problem. And
let me tell you, one of God's, somebody say, how long does that
last, that chesta? I don't know. But the Lord knows
them that are His, don't He? And you know what I'm supposed
to say? Well, if you're one of the elect, you're okay, no? Here's what I'm supposed to say,
and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity. Isn't that how the book puts it? Number seven, when
Christ is left out, rest assured, death is coming. Verse 34. And he called the name of the
place Kibroth Hetevah, because there they buried the people
that lusted. And I will put it this way, saved
or lost, regenerate or unregenerate, converted or not converted. Because
the question is not, well, do I get to go to heaven? Isn't
it amazing? Everybody wants to go to heaven and miss hell. But
when somebody dies, everybody's so sad, especially if that person
was a believer. Well, I'm just so sad for them.
Why? We say we want to go to heaven
and miss hell so bad, but when somebody dies and is going one
or the other, we're just all tore up about it, and we don't
want to go. Isn't that amazing? People that make professions
that believe God, if God would kill me right now, rejoice for
me. Be sad for yourselves that he
left you here. But if he takes me now, I'm done
with this. But Mason, at the same time,
I'm not trying to kill myself either. Death will come, and yet, God's
grace is never absent, verse 35, and the people journeyed
from Kibrothateva unto Hazeroth and abode at Hazeroth. God could have killed them all
right there. Even Moses was not without his
faults, was he not? And as we go through this, we're
gonna see that continue on. Paul, Moses struck that rock
the second time. Did he not? He didn't get to
go into the land. Now we say, well that wasn't
too bad, he got to go to glory, that's true. But you know Moses'
heart was set on that land, Mason, for the first time God revealed
it to him. Did you know that? Anyone who knows even an inkling
about God, have you figured God out yet? Huh? Oh, I know, so-called Christian,
especially free will, works-oriented, man-centered religion, they got
everything, Roman numeral .1, .2, and all the sub-points, they
got it all down for you. Let me read you something about
God, and we'll close with that, and I'll have Mason, Lord willing,
give thanks for the food. If you want to read along, you're
welcome. Romans chapter 11. Verse 28, and I'm gonna take
time for the context, time's going. Verse 28, as concerning
the gospel, they, that is Israel, even rebellious Israel, Mason,
rebellious Israel. As concerning the gospel, they
are enemies for your sakes. But as touching the election,
they are beloved for the Father's sakes. For the gifts of calling
of God are without repentance. That is, God don't change his
mind about this. For as ye in time past have not
believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their, what? Oh,
if we just had more missionaries. God used some unbelievers to
bless some folk, did he not? Is that what that says or not?
For as ye in time past have not believed God, yet have now obtained
mercy through their unbelief, even so have these also now not
believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all
in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. In my mind, just
my eyes, I'm boggled at that. And look at how he puts it, all
the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God. How unsearchable are his judgments
and his ways past finding out for who hath known the mind of
the Lord. and who hath been his counselor,
or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto
him again. For of him, and through him,
and to him are all. And even the context, the immediate
context is unbelief and belief. Yes or no? Mercy and compassion. Hardening. Right? It's all in
the context here of what he's talking about. For of him, and
through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever. In the spirit, Paul, as Earl
used to say, Paul just couldn't stand it no more. He said, amen. Amen. Mason, would you give thanks
for the food? A holy, righteous, eternal God,
gracious and merciful, loving and kind, just and holy. It is Thee, Heavenly Father,
that we call upon to thank You. Thank You, God, for being as
You are. Thank You for letting sinners
gather together to praise Our Holy Name. For we say these words,
And we thank these thoughts. To the honor and glory of thy
holy name, through thy son, Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray,
amen. Amen. Let me give you one thing.
Did you cut that off? Let me give you one thing. I
missed it here. I had this for you. This is by
Thomas Brooks. He lived 1608 to 1680, nonconformist
in England, amongst the Puritans. He wrote these words. As soon
as I read this, we'll eat. All our murmurings, which are
so many arrows shot at God himself, will return upon our own heads.
They reach not him, but they will hit us. They hurt not him,
but they will wound us. It is better to be mute than
to murmur. It is dangerous to provoke a
consuming fire. I thought that was pretty good.
Let's eat.