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Annual Staff Retreat and Travel Challenges

In about two weeks’ time, I'm going to go overseas again, but very tiny strip of sea lah because I'm going to cross over to Johor for our annual staff retreat. For the past one or two years, we've been going to JB because it's the cheapest and so it reminds me of our last staff retreat last year, and it was supposed to be a very nice, pleasant trip, but it turned out to be quite a nightmare, at least at the checkpoint because we were stuck there for at least four hours. Glad we didn't have any prostate or bladder problems, otherwise you really, you really want to give up there. I mean, you're stuck there for four hours, you can't get across. Now it's not because we had bad planning. We planned for it to be on a normal weekday, but it turned out that the government thought the same as us and chose that day to be the presidential elections. So everybody voted, and then “cheong” (hokkien word for rushed) for JB, and that's how we got into this. 

Well, what was supposed to take maybe half an hour, took us four hours, and that is pretty much the predicament of the people of Israel as they aim to enter the Promised Land. What was supposed to take maybe weeks, or at most months, turned out to be a long 40 years of wandering in the wilderness before the next generation could get in. 

Introduction to the Book of Numbers

So we are going to look at the book of Numbers. And I understand that the book of Numbers is a difficult book for me as well. As I prepared this series, it's far from easy. For example, if you start reading Numbers, you may want to do so right now on your phones. It's okay, ignore me for a while, just look at the Bible. If you just browse through the first few chapters of Numbers, you will realize it's very difficult to make sense of what it's trying to convey, because it's a long list of names, names that we are unfamiliar with, and a long list of rituals and procedures and protocols. So you will already be bored after reading those chapters, and then if you get past them, you read stories that are rather depressing. They keep sinning, rebelling against God, and God would have to judge them. So it's a very difficult book to go through, and I can understand why a lot of people would not be familiar with Numbers.

Singapore is well known for our hawker culture. And I think a lot of foodies here would know where this is. This is Maxwell Food Center. And if you go to Maxwell Food Center, you will know that there are some famous stalls, right? Probably the most famous one is the “Tian Tian Chicken Rice”. My son, Matthias, was very keen to find out if, basically, there is a chicken rice war there, because one of the helpers here decided to start another stall that looks almost exactly the same as them. So he went there and tasked me to buy from two stalls, and he wants to test which one is the better one. So “Tian Tian Chicken Rice” is well known. You go there, you see a long queue of people. During COVID days, the line stretches all the way to the walkway. And besides “Tian Tian Chicken Rice”, you may be familiar with their roast meat stall, or maybe the fried oyster cake stall. These are some of the popular stalls. So if I were to liken the Bible to be like Maxwell Food Center, then a lot of us would go to the Romans, Matthew, Genesis, Revelation stalls, very popular. Long lines of people queuing up to study those books. But there will be some stalls like Leviticus and Numbers where no one goes. 

Remember the uncle I was talking about? “Ri Xin snack stall”. He sells “ang ku kueh” which is a kind of Chinese confectionery, and nobody goes. Nobody likes it. When I go there, he's always sitting there like that very “cham” (hokkien word for poor thing), no business. But actually, his “ang ku kueh”, well, I wouldn't say it's the best at all, but he is sincere. He's, he's not, he's not dishonest. He really packs his “ang ku kueh” with lots of “liao” (hokkien word for filling) one, a lot of filling inside. But nobody seems to go so netizens seeing uncle's predicament, kind of rallied support for him by writing in social media posts and more people went along, including myself. Well, today my job is to rally support for you to come and visit the “Numbers” stall.

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It's not wrong for you to read your Romans, your Matthew, your Revelation, they are great books. Of course, they are the Word of God, but don't neglect, don't forget that God has a purpose and plan in giving us the book of Numbers. Now, because this is a difficult book, I will not try to be too ambitious in the first sermon. So today's message will not have references to specific verses in Numbers. I just want you to have a helicopter big picture idea as we launch into this study for the next few months. So two things I want to deal with. Number one, I'm going to share with you the big story so far. And then number two, the big themes, or the big messages or ideas in this book. So let's start with the big story. 

Background of the Book of Numbers

How did we come to the book of Numbers? What happened before this? What's the background? Well, God sent Moses to Pharaoh. That's the story in Exodus. The people of Israel are slaves in this land of Egypt, and God said, “It is time for Israel to worship me”. So God sent Moses to Pharaoh, saying to Pharaoh, “Let my people go.” But Pharaoh was a hardened man. He would not let Israel go. So God sent plague after plague so that Pharaoh would soften and let his people go. But Pharaoh never did, until God sent the last plague of the death of every firstborn in Egypt. Now, by the way, if you look at all the ten plagues, scholars tell us that they are like war, or a signal of war, against the false Egyptian gods. So God, one by one, demonstrated that He alone is the true God, and through these ten plagues revealed His power. Pharaoh, at every juncture would reject God, would harden himself against God until the very end, when his first born died. He said, “Israel, you may go.” But even then, he was reluctant, because soon after Israel left, he had a change of heart, and so he got his army to chase after Israel and trapped them before the Red Sea. 

Now God then took this as an opportune time to once again demonstrate His power in using Moses to part the Red Sea. It is a, I mean, it's an unbelievable story in a sense. I mean, the Red Sea was walled up on both sides, and Israel walked through on dry land, and when they have walked through, the Egyptian army would be drowned behind them when the waters would return. So that marked the Exodus, the exit from Egypt into the wilderness. Exodus would then continue that story line whereby Israel would journey ultimately to rest at Mount Sinai. 

And at Mount Sinai, God met with Israel in a unique way. God came down, it is described in Exodus 19, to the top of the mountain, and Moses would go up to the top of the mountain. And this is the Mount where there is thunder and lightning and clouds and smoke and fire. It is to convey the holiness and the awesomeness of God. And there on that mountain, God said to Israel, “If you keep My commandments, if you keep My covenant, I will be your God, and you will be My people.” And all of Israel said, “We will do as you say.” So on this mountain, later on in the Bible, it is described by God, this became a wedding ceremony between God and Israel. It's a kind of marital union. It's a covenantal relationship. You keep My commandments and I will be your God. So Mount Sinai is like our Fort Canning, ROM, the “Registry of Marriages”. Israel is joined together with God. So for one year, by the way, for one year, Israel was encamped at Sinai. One year receiving the instructions, one year building the tabernacle as God has ordered them to do. So they were there for one year, and when it was time, God said, “Now move on towards the Promised Land.” And this is where we join in, in the book of Numbers.

The Census and Preparation for the Promised Land

Now the march and the preparation to enter the Promised Land began with a population census. Singapore does population census once in a while, right? So at that point of time, before they are to go to war, God says to Moses, “Number all the men who are capable of going to war.” So there is this numbering, and that's where you get the name “Numbers”. There's a first numbering in the first ten chapters, and then we read of procedures, protocols, religious rituals. And in chapter 11, they sent out spies to spy out the Promised Land, because it's a land inhabited by the Canaanites, and in order to occupy the land, they have to drive out the Canaanites. So they kind of spied out the kind of enemies that they would face in the Promised Land. Twelve spies were sent, and they realized that this is truly an abundant land, a fertile land, a land that flows with milk and honey. They brought back the grapes from the Eshkol Valley to bring back to Israel and show them. Yeah, it is true, it is a beautiful luscious place. “But”, there's always this sad “but”. But the people there are big and strong, they are Shaquille O'Neal on steroids, and their fortresses are walled up, and there is no way we will ever beat them. Not a chance. And so all of Israel listened to this negative report brought by ten out of twelve spies, and they said, “Aiyo, why God always like that one? Set us up to kill us.” Joshua and Caleb however said, “No, God will enable us to enter the Promised Land.” But they were outnumbered and Israel refused to obey. God's wrath was kindled and the ten spies died on the very same day and God subjected the entire nation of Israel now to forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Forty years for forty days of spying, one year for every day of spying. And the purpose besides to fulfill that one year for one day of spying is so that the previous generation would all die. Their wilderness would lie or their carcasses would lie in the wilderness and God will wait for the next generation of Israelites before He will lead them into the Promised Land. So this is a story of “hentak kaki”. You know what's “hentak kaki”? I was in NCC and army, “hentak kaki” is marching on the spot. You march and march and march and march and you never get anywhere. And that's the story of Israel. It's a “hentak kaki” story. 

Themes of Faithlessness and Faithfulness

But God never gave up on Israel. He did not forsake them even though they were unfaithful to him. And so in Numbers chapter 26, you read of the second numbering. That's why the book is called “Numbers”, first numbering, second numbering. But the second numbering is the numbering of a second generation and they will be numbered before they would proceed on later towards the Promised Land. 

So Exodus gives you the journey of the red line to Mount Sinai. Numbers will talk about the “hentak kaki”, the wanderings for 40 years here in the wilderness of Paran and Zin and later on when we read Joshua which Pastor Chee Kean was preaching on last Sunday, we will read how they would cross the river Jordan into the Promised Land. So that's where we are in the book of Numbers. So far, so good? No verses, simple pictures. So the book of Numbers then, I'm coming to now the major themes, what is the book of Numbers all about? What's the big idea? Or what are the big ideas in Numbers? I think the book of Numbers is a book or a story about faithlessness of Israel and faithfulness of God, as our video snippet would convey, in spite of Israel and not because of Israel. God is faithful even when we are unfaithful. Now, therefore, let me, I'm not just a storyteller, right? I'm here to preach, to teach God's Word. So let's look at some applicatory thoughts for all of us.

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Book of Numbers display the faithlessness of Israel. Now, if I were to give you an overview, Exodus is a book about freedom. God sets his people free from slavery in Egypt. Leviticus is a book about fellowship, how to draw near to God and the instructions that are found in Leviticus help us understand so. I hope you still remember a certain chiastic structure in the entire book, pointing us to Jesus Christ. Numbers is a book about failure, failure to inherit the promises and blessings God has prepared. They failed to enter the Promised Land, not because they had no weapons, not because they were small in number, not because they were not skilled in war. They failed to enter because of, you've already seen a verse, “Unbelief”, because they were faithless. We see in Hebrews, the New Testament commentary of the events in Numbers. We see that they were unable to enter, not because they were weak or weaponless, but because they were a people of unbelief. How can you read someone's heart? How can you read whether they believe or not? Oh, we can tell because of their life and behavior. They could not enter because they were disobedient. 

Applicatory Thoughts and Lessons

Let's learn something here. Faith is always going to be expressed in obedience and unbelief is always going to be expressed by disobedience. We know that Israel, during the times of Moses, were an unbelieving people by and large. Most of them were unbelievers because they were a people of disobedience. It's very clear according to the Hebrews author. And because they did not believe, they could not enter the Promised Land. Their disobedience, by the way, is not occasional. It's not as if they were generally obedient and then they slip and fall. Because God made this remark in Numbers 14, “You have put me to the test these ten times”. Wow. God really takes note. You know when I read Exodus, Numbers, I don't know when I read this, huh, ten times, got ten times meh? I scratch my head, maybe one or two times at Mara, at the manna, but that I don't think three, four times what? But my memory is bad, you see. God's memory is not bad. In fact, He knows all things. So what are the ten times? They lack faith at the crossing of the Red Sea. They, in effect, if you read Exodus 14 verses 11 and 12, they were complaining. “Aiyo, why God bring us out into the wilderness to die? Might as well let us die in Egypt better.” That's what they said when they were trapped at the Red Sea. Strike number one. Strike number two, they complained about the water that is bitter at Marah. “Wah, God brought us out of the Red Sea to drink bitter water, die here.” Complain number two. Strike number two. Strike number three, they were hungry in the Desert of Sin. Number four, they collected more manna than they were supposed to. Number five, they attempted to collect manna on the Sabbath when God told them not to. You know disobedience is like a child seeing that sign, “Wet paint, don't touch, “gnair gnair” (Hokkien word for purposely), still want to go and touch. That's what Israel is doing, number five. Number six, complaining over the lack of water. I want you to note the number of times they complain and how this is equally serious to God. And we always say Singaporeans’ favorite pastime is complain. I think it's a very scary thought if you square it up with the Bible. Do all things without grumbling or murmuring. Wow. They were guilty of it. Number seven, this is a big one. They engaged in idolatry in a golden calf incident. Instead of worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth, they said,“ Oh, let us make a golden calf and let this be the God who saved us.” Number eight, they complain again about misfortunes at Taberah. They complain about food. Complain, complain, complain. Number ten, they will not trust God to enter the Promised Land. 

The Promise to Abraham and Its Fulfilment in Jesus

So for these ten times, Israel disobeyed God, manifested their disobedience and proved their unbelief. And the Hebrews author tells us they could not enter because of their unbelief. And he applies it to you and I. He applies it to the readers. He says, “You as a reader, therefore there is a promise of entering God's rest available to you.” Now this rest is not Canaan. We are not going to Canaan. We're not going to Israel today. But there's this rest which the whole Hebrews book is all about. It's about salvation rest, a rest that Jesus provides, a right relationship with God, a forgiveness of sins, being called the children of God. There's this rest that is promised in the Bible. It stands. It is available for you, but let us fear, in case you don't reach it. Let us be concerned that we may know about this promise of eternal life, but not arrive there, because Israel is a picture of a people who know about God but will not believe Him. So I want to say to you today, this is a warning to people who do not have faith in God. God destroys ultimately those who do not believe. 

Jude 5 tells us again that Israel at that point of time was an unbelieving people. “I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it that Jesus, who saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe”. So they died in the wilderness, not because they were believers and they slipped, but because they were never believers. They always disobeyed. They never followed God, because they were a people of unbelief. By the way, if you are very stuck with this word “Jesus” here, in the Greek is the word “Kyrios” which means “LORD”, so you could read it as “the LORD who saved the people”, rather than the word “Jesus” itself. It's in the Greek “Kyrios”, “LORD”.

So, many people, this is where I think I may confuse you a bit, but I'll just confuse you first, next time sort it out. A lot of people think of Israel in the wilderness as the picture of the church, picture of Christians just somehow fumbling their way around, because they think that crossing the Red Sea is a picture of salvation. Oh you cross the Red Sea, you're delivered from the slavery of Egypt. Now you are a Christian, you're wandering in the wilderness, but you need to cross the river Jordan, which is a picture of entering into a realm of victory and success. But I think that is not what is supported by the Hebrews author or Jude himself, because Jude and Hebrews clearly tell us the wandering account in Numbers describe a people of unbelief, they were not saved. Some were saved, Moses, Caleb and so on, but the majority of them were not saved. So don't take the wilderness journey as a picture of Christians living in sin. It's a picture of unbelievers who will not believe. You get that? If you are confused, it is fine, next time we will clarify that further. 

So Numbers is a book about the faithlessness of Israel. They were never saved. They were never God's people, even though they were delivered out of Egypt, they did not believe. And so I learned that, you know, being in a church community doesn't save you. Moses was saved, and these people followed Moses, but just because they followed Moses didn't mean that they were saved. Just because your father is a Christian, doesn't mean that you are saved. Just because your pastor, I hope I'm a Christian, I will end in the Promised Land on the final day. Just because your pastor is a Christian doesn't mean that if you come to church, you are also saved. Being in a church community alone doesn't save. We often say going to church doesn't make you a Christian, just like going to McDonald's doesn't make you a hamburger. 

The Role of Miracles and Good Intentions

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We also learned secondly that seeing miracles alone does not save. They were a people who saw miracles every single day. Do you realize that? The 10 plagues, the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, followed Israel every single day, and every day they have free buffet, manna that rains down from heaven and water that flows from the rock. Every single day, they were filled with miracles. But you know, miracles don't save. We live in the day where many Christians say to themselves, “Oh, if only I see more miracles, I will be a Christian.” I don't think so. During the times of Jesus, the Bible says, “Even though Jesus did many miracles, yet they did not believe in Him.” John 12:37. The real miracle we need is the miracle of the heart inside, not outside. 

And thirdly, good intentions of we will obey God alone, also does not save. Israel at Mount Sinai says,“ We will keep all your word.” as it goes on to prove they can't. No one can, because we are born with sinful flesh. What am I saying here? I'm saying that there is only one way you can be saved. Only one way. Jesus said it, “Except a man be born again, or except a man be born from above by God, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. He can be part of the church. He can see many miracles. He can even say, “I want to be a good man”. He cannot be saved until God works in his heart. Super humbling, folks. And that's why we need to come to God crying for mercy. “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner”. But at the same time, don't forget that at the very same instance or incident when Jesus spoke these words, he also later on said in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. So this is the, this is the biblical balance. On one hand, Jesus was saying to that rich religious ruler, Nicodemus, who must have thought he could do something more to secure his salvation, Jesus says, “No, you can't. It's not something more you need to do except you be born from above, you cannot be saved.” At the same time, he's saying to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Son Jesus, that if you believe in Him, you will be saved”. What does it mean for you and me? It means I don't depend on these things, but I focus myself in crying out to God for mercy, that He will give me a new heart, and that I will, by His grace, repent of my sin, believe in His Son and how He died and rose again to save me from my sins. The nation of Israel stands as a sad picture of those who seem to be saved but who actually won't because they never believed. 

The Fulfilment of the Promised Land in Jesus

Number two, the book of Numbers display to us the faithfulness of God. You know, when Israel sinned against God, God could have wiped them out ten times. Actually, one time is more than enough. God could have wiped them out, but God didn't. He allowed them to wander in the wilderness so that a new generation may arise. He numbered the new generation and would subsequently lead them to the Promised Land. Now why? It's not because of Israel. It's not because Israel is great, not because they were lovely. They were a very irritating bunch of people, just like you and I, but God was doing all this because He is faithful to what He promised. Long before Israel was in Egypt, God already said to their to their ancestor, Abraham. “Abraham”, if I may add the words “I promise you, I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. Abraham. I promise you that I will give this land to your offspring”. Abraham will inherit all these things, not because Abraham is a great guy, but God unilaterally, graciously, sovereignly, binds Himself to this promise. And God did not just say this to Abraham, but He said this to his son, Isaac, “I will multiply your offspring, and in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”. He repeated this, not just to Isaac, but to Isaac's son, so Abraham's grandson, Jacob, “The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring”. So God is, you must understand, Numbers did not end with the annihilation of Israel, because God is faithful to His Word. So in spite of Israel, and not because of Israel. It's because God is always inflexibly righteous and faithful. 

The great promise we find that he gave to Abraham is one that I think we can apply today. “In your offspring” and if you have been with us in the Galatians series, you would know that this offspring is in the singular. God is saying,“ Abraham, in one of your descendants”. And we know that that descendant is several, many generations down. It is Jesus. Jesus came from the line of Abraham, and so long ago, God said to Abraham,“ In your offspring, in one of your descendants, in Jesus Christ shall all the nations of the earth”. This promise is not applicable only to Israel, but to every tribe and nation. Doesn't matter if you are Chinese, Malay, Indian, Filipino, Caucasian, doesn't matter. All nations will be blessed in your offspring, Jesus. Why? Because your offspring will come and crush the serpent's head. Your offspring will come and die on the cross and in His death, defeat Satan, sin and hell. Your offspring will rise from the dead victorious. Your offspring will lead many into that everlasting life. So in your offspring, Jesus, shall all peoples be blessed, blessed with salvation, with the indwelling Spirit, with the capacity to live a holy life, and with the hope of the Promised Land to come and all that is because God is faithful. 

We learn about the faithfulness or faithlessness of Israel. We learn about the faithfulness of God to bless in spite of our faithlessness. And finally, number three, I want to see the fulfillment in Jesus. You know, every book in the Bible should point us to Jesus. Let me show you how this is particularly so in the book of Numbers. The Promised Land is promised to Israel. Will they inherit this Promised Land? Have they inherited this Promised Land? Even today they are fighting in the Promised Land, correct? I was told they are fighting seven on seven fronts. That's crazy. Singapore fight one front. We already “chuai” (Pastor spoke in Hokkien meaning “frightened”) . They are fighting on seven fronts. Has Israel ever inherited the Promised Land? Well, let's look at some specifics. On that day, the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying,“ To your offspring, I give this land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates”. Now this is important. I'm sure if you buy property today, and if you buy landed property, you will check the drawings on URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority), make sure your land is maximized. You want to know the boundaries because if you can “jia” (hokkien word for gain) one more square meter, you also “jia”. It's so expensive, right in Singapore?

So this is like God drawing the boundaries for Israel. This will be your Promised Land, from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates. I'll show you a map later. Just keep these words in your mind. Not only this, God said your title deed is super freehold one because it's for an everlasting possession. It's super freehold because it belongs to you forever, and you will not lose it. Today, you buy freehold, you can still lose it. If the government want to “chong gong” (hokkien word for confiscate) your land to build a MRT line, you will be “bobian” (something can’t be helped in hokkien) but this one cannot “chong gong”.

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What is “chong gong”? “Chong gong” means confiscate. So you can't, you can't be taken from you. This, this land I promise, will be your everlasting possession. Wow. This is very significant. Now, in case you're not very clear about the boundaries, there's an upgraded version in Joshua, where we read “From the wilderness and this Lebanon”. Please don't think about Lebanon as today's Lebanon, but “From the wilderness and Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun”. A bit complicated the “ang mo” (hokkien word for English), but what is toward the going down of the sun? What does it mean? The sun rises in the east and goes down in the west. So there is a great sea on the west side. So these are some of the boundaries that are drawn up. You have these words in your head? Okay, let's look at some pictures. When Joshua led Israel across the river Jordan into Canaan, they eventually occupied these territories, according to the twelve tribes, alright, both sides of the river Jordan. But that's not quite the full territory or the biggest territory they occupied. Later on during David and Solomon's reign, their occupation will be even greater. So the purple parts describe Solomon's kingdom, probably the largest extent Israel ever had in this Middle East, as compared to the twelve tribes initial settlement. So the initial settlement is far from what it is supposed to be. And if you look at Solomon, it probably is nearer what God has promised. Now, let's look at some geography here. Remember the river of Egypt? Ah, the river of Egypt is confusing. I was confused for a while because the river of Egypt, most of us would think is the Nile River, right? You can see the Nile River. But I don't think the river of Egypt refers to the River Nile, because if it refers to the River Nile, then when Israel was still here as slaves, they would already be in the Promised Land, which is not true. They had to come out to cross over to enter the Promised Land. So this river of Egypt is probably not referring to the River Nile but is referring to another Brook or the Wadi, they call it of Egypt, which separates Egypt from Sinai. So the boundary is probably correct here. And you will recall in Joshua, it speaks about the wilderness. And most people think that the wilderness refers to the wilderness of the Gad, which is here. Lebanon is here. So from the South to the North, the great river Euphrates, the Great Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea. This would describe the boundary of the Promised Land. But I am personally not so sure about the eastward boundary. Some people say it may stretch further, but well, this is the furthest they have ever occupied. But even Solomon and David, who has brought them to this greater empire, never secured for Israel an everlasting possession, because there are always skirmishes and wars. They were never at peace. They were never in full enjoyment of the land. They were always facing incursions and attacks. 

So we see that in the Old Testament, Moses couldn't lead Israel into the Promised Land. He sinned, and God disqualified him. Joshua led them across the River Jordan, but Joshua never led them to the full extent of the Promised Land. David and Solomon, they tried. They had the largest reign, but they never had this everlasting possession. So the entire Old Testament is a story of how they kind of possess a little but not to the full extent. Just like the entire Old Testament gives us glimpses of a good prophet, but never the perfect prophet, glimpses of a good king, but never the perfect king, glimpses of good priests, but never the perfect priest, because there is no priest who can save Israel from their sins forever. There is no king who can lead Israel into peace forever. There is no prophet who can teach Israel to draw near to God forever. There is no prophet, no priest, no king, no land in the Old Testament that is ultimately fulfilled, until in the New Testament, we come to the perfect Prophet, Priest and King, Jesus Christ. And it is, I think, in Jesus, that we will ultimately enter the Promised Land. And so I suggest, I think whilst there may be intermediate stages towards the ultimate possession, such as how Jesus will come and reign in Zion one day on this planet Earth, that's not the ultimate one, because the ultimate one has to come in a new heaven and new earth. We know that whatever is on earth today will one day melt away with a fervent heat. 2 Peter tells us, but all these are the intermediaries, just like Joshua's time, David's time, just pointing us to the ultimate day where we will inherit all things, where the Bible says the meek shall inherit the earth, and I think forever and ever. So we come to that great, great promise. God is promising all these things to Abraham very early on, “in your offspring, in Jesus, shall all nations be blessed”. Blessed with forgiveness, right standing with God, the indwelling Spirit and real estate, precious, precious real estate, you shall inherit the earth. 

So in two weeks’ time, we are going to JB, not you, but the staff. And I think we learned our lesson. Last year was an example for us. So we, if you really learn your lesson, you will not do things the same way, right? So this year going up to JB, even though we could drive, I don't think they're going to call for elections on this day again, too close already, isn't it? Yet way ahead, months ahead, we already planned. We will not go up by coach anymore, in case something funny happens. We decided to go by a KTM shuttle bus or train, and it says SG to JB in just five minutes, if you want to “siam” (hokkien word for avoid), if you want to avoid the causeway jam and we want to. 

The Importance of Enduring to the End

So if you are smart, you change. I hope today you gospel-lighters are smart, because Paul tells us now these things took place as examples for us. The Book of Numbers is not written for, just for kids to read when they are about to fall asleep. The Book of Numbers is written for us. Is an example of warning, and these things in that context refers to everything you read in Numbers. What did they do in Numbers? “Oh, I don't want you to be unaware, brothers. The ancestors of Israel, they were all under the cloud. They were led by the cloud. They all passed through the Red Sea with Moses. They were baptized into Moses”, in the sense that they were identified with him. He was their leader. They were following him. Moses was a believer. Caleb was a believer. Joshua was a believer. Quite a few of them are believers, but the rest of them simply followed them and were not believers. Because with most of them, God was not pleased, and they were overthrown. They were killed in the wilderness. Elsewhere we read, their carcasses died in the wilderness, and they were there dying in the wilderness because of unbelief. “So these things are written to be examples for us, in case you might desire evil and to live in sin like the Israelites do”. And say to yourself, “Oh, I'm in the church. I'm part of the Corinthian church. I should be okay.” You are not okay. You are not okay. You can't come to church today and say to yourself, “Oh, I belong to Gospel Light. I've been here for many years. It doesn't matter how I live my life. It doesn't matter if I have an extra marital affair. It doesn't matter if I'm always grumbling and unforgiving and covetous. It doesn't matter because I believe in Jesus.”

45:50

That's what you say. But is that what your heart really shows? “How do I know my heart?”, you say. Look at your life. A true believer lives a life of obedience. I'm not saying perfect obedience, but it is not persistent, habitual sin. Scripture after scripture, warns God's people from having this complacent mindset that as long as I call myself Christian, as long as I come to church, I will be saved. I will be A-OK. You are not okay. Numbers is given as an example for us that we might not desire evil as they did. They lived in idolatry, in sexual immorality and in constant grumbling. Is that your life? And one day perhaps it will be a scary thought if some of us, maybe even many of us, would stand before Christ and we say, “Lord, Lord, didn't we come to church?” And Jesus will say to you,“ I never knew you, you workers of iniquity”. This is not just what Paul said. The Hebrews author equally tells us there's a promise of entering into his rest that still stands, but you should fear in case you fail to reach it, because you do not hold on to the confidence that is in Christ, because you are still living in your sin, you are tempted to give up on your faith. So the author says, “Take care. Be alert. Be vigilant. Be sober. Don't be complacent because there can be some of you with that evil, unbelieving heart when you continue living in sin with no regard.” So the author says, “Exhort one another every day, help one another stop sinning, help one another obey God.” It's not that you obey to deserve salvation, but it's in that obedience that you demonstrate real salvation. Because if you sin carelessly, there is no more hope for you. Be careful about sin, because it is deceitful and it will harden you against God. I hope, as the Hebrews author would say, “ Let us pay close attention.”

Conclusion and Call to Action

I'm thankful you pay close attention so far. It's a difficult book, but it's an important book. I hope you'll join me in visiting this uncle in this hawker center to read this book in the Bible, be warned and fight for godliness in your life, because if you do so, and if you endure to the end, you will be saved. I hope to see you in the Promised Land. I hope to see you in the Heavenly Canaan that is to come. Let's bow forward for word of prayer.

Father, thank you again for your Word. We pray for Gospel-Lighters, people who have been here, professing Christians, that we will not be complacent nor presumptuous, but we will work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and that we may endure to the end and one day hear you say, “Well done, you good and faithful servant, enter you into My rest.” May we not fail to reach that promise of rest. And I pray for all our guests who are here. This is a complicated sermon, I can understand, but Lord, I pray that they would see that promise you made to Abraham in Jesus shall they be blessed. And so I pray that they would recognize their sin and their own inability to save themselves, that they may truly turn to your Son. Thank you at the heart of it all, we read about our own faithlessness, and we read about your amazing faithfulness. May we worship you, may we depend on you, may we follow You. We thank you. We pray all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.