For those trials that go on and on

Pastor Fry preached another incredible sermon this past Lord’s Day evening. His text was from Numbers 15:1-21. I’d like to post a few of my notes and thoughts from his sermon.

To quickly familiarize ourselves with the context, in chapter 14 the Israelites grumbled against the Lord, Moses and Aaron. Even after having seen all the miraculous works of God before their very eyes they tried to appoint a different leader and march back to Egypt! Because of their disobedience the Lord tells them that all those 20 and older would die and not enter into the Promised Land. They were instead going to wander throughout the wilderness for 40 years. FORTY YEARS!

Can you imagine the desperation they would have felt hearing those words? Can you imagine having to experience those 40 years? Imagine how weary they must have become, year after year, wandering without a country to call their own.

For those who were 19 and younger, they would see the land that was promised to their fathers. How many funerals would they have gone to? Grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. They wouldn’t have borders for 40 years! Oh how easy it would have been to despair.

Then in chapter 15, God gives His people a promise: “1Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you, 3then make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed times, to make a soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock.’” (NASB).

“When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you, then make an offering by fire to the Lord…” (emphasis mine). What beautiful words these must have been for them to hear. Even though they would be facing this terrible and burdensome trial for 40 years, there was something to look forward to: the promise that God would one day bring them into the Promised Land.

Again, we pick up again in verse 18, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land where I bring you, 19then it shall be, that when you eat of the food of the land, you shall lift up an offering to the LORD. 20'Of the first of your dough you shall lift up a cake as an offering; as the offering of the threshing floor, so you shall lift it up. 21'From the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD an offering throughout your generations.”” (NASB).

“When you enter the land where I bring you…” (emphasis mine). God is again reminding them of His promise to them. You can bet they meditated on this promise, and all of God’s promises to them.

My pastor brought out that it is the same for us when we face our own trials. Even in the midst of the storms of life, we ought to remember the promises of God. When your trials seem to go on and on, and you find yourself asking: “When will this all be over?!” then you should dwell on the promises of God. For it is in the promises of God that the believer finds comfort.

Just as those 19 year-olds wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and were delivered, so will the Christian be delivered from his trials.

The Lord promised to the Apostle, and I believe to us as well, “...My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NASB).

To boast about my pastor for just a moment – he preaches sermons like this all the time … even from the book of Numbers for goodness sake =).

Thanks for reading yos (the plural form of “yo”).

Rusty