Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Hobab's Answer - Moses' Appeal

Transcript

Hobab's Answer - Moses' Appeal · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
Well, good evening and welcome to our service. Once again, it's good to be with you. I'm glad to see you all here in good time after I try to persuade you this morning at the close of the service to be here for 6pm.
0:15
But I'd forgotten that you were half past 6. At least it wasn't 7pm, which was, of course, the appointed time for the evening service, I believe, in decades past.
0:29
So, we are here to worship God and before we sing to the praise of God, let's read from Ephesians chapter 3 as our call to worship the Lord.
0:45
Ephesians 3 verse 20, the Apostle Paul writes,
0:49
Amen.
1:11
Well, let's sing to the glory of God.
1:17
Let's raise our voices as we sing Psalm 47.
1:26
The Sing Psalms rendering of Psalm 47 on page 62.
1:33
The tune is Walton.
1:36
All nations, clap your hands and shout.
1:40
Let joyful cries to God ring out.
1:43
How awesome is the Lord most high, great King who rules the earth throughout.
1:53
Let's stand and sing to the praise of God.
1:56
All nations, clap your hands and shout.
1:57
All nations, clap your hands and shout.
2:07
Let joyful cries to God ring out.
2:15
How awesome is the Lord most high, great King who rules the earth throughout.
2:30
He has such good beneath our feet.
2:39
The nations who are freeing our cause.
2:48
When blessings, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who are freeing our efforts, who
3:18
The trumpet sound
3:22
Sing praise, sing praise
3:26
To God, most high
3:30
To God, our King
3:35
Let his abound
3:39
For God is King
3:45
Of all the earth
3:48
Sing sounds of praise
3:53
To them alone
3:57
For whose the nations
4:02
Come on high
4:05
He sits upon this holy throne
4:14
The leaders of the nations
4:21
Come to yield themselves
4:26
To the heavens God
4:31
To him belong
4:34
The shields of earth
4:38
Exalted with the is the Lord
4:47
Let's draw near to God
4:53
Let's unite our hearts
4:55
In prayer
4:56
Our heavenly Father
5:06
Our great God and King
5:11
We praise you for your faithfulness
5:16
For your goodness and grace
5:20
We give thanks that you have
5:25
Brought us together
5:26
Together
5:27
Again
5:29
Under your word
5:32
And as we
5:35
Recognize its supreme authority
5:39
So we pray that we
5:43
Would live by it
5:48
Grant us to immerse ourselves
5:52
In it
5:53
And to see our need
5:56
Of turning the pages
6:00
Of scripture day by day
6:02
Being led
6:05
By the inspired word of God
6:09
In every aspect of our lives
6:12
We praise you for the blessings
6:18
Of the Lord's day
6:19
We thank you for this
6:22
The first day of the week
6:24
The Christian Sabbath
6:26
We praise you for the empty tomb
6:29
We give thanks for how the words
6:34
Of the Lord Jesus
6:35
Resonate with us
6:37
I am the resurrection
6:41
And the life
6:43
And so we gather in the name of
6:47
Our living exalted savior
6:50
The one who lives
6:52
And whoever lives
6:54
We praise you that he
6:57
He abolished death
6:59
And brought life
7:00
And immortality to light
7:02
Through the gospel
7:04
We thank you this evening
7:07
That in Jesus Christ
7:12
We have a great high priest
7:15
Like no other
7:17
We thank you that we have
7:21
In Jesus Christ
7:23
An advocate with the Father
7:26
A mediator
7:29
We have a glorious redeemer
7:33
And we praise you
7:36
Our Father in heaven
7:37
That we can draw near to you
7:42
Through the son of your love
7:45
Even in this moment
7:46
So anew we pray
7:49
That you would still our hearts
7:51
Take from us any distracting thoughts
7:56
So that nothing will hinder us
7:59
From worshipping you
8:01
The only living and true God
8:04
We pray that you would take from us
8:10
Any anxious thoughts
8:12
We might have
8:14
For your word exhorts us
8:18
To be anxious over nothing
8:25
But in everything by prayer
8:27
And supplication
8:28
With thanksgiving
8:31
To bring our requests
8:35
Before your throne of grace
8:39
And how we praise you
8:42
For the peace of God
8:47
Of which we read of
8:49
On the pages of Scripture
8:51
As it transcends all understanding
8:54
Safeguarding
8:57
Protecting
8:58
The fragility of our hearts and minds
9:02
Through Christ Jesus
9:05
Our Lord
9:07
Take from us anything
9:10
That might come between us and you
9:17
For we confess our sins
9:20
And we pray that you would forgive us
9:24
For our many wrongdoings
9:28
Even in this very moment
9:32
Our thoughts can wander
9:37
We drift
9:39
Keep us
9:41
We pray
9:42
Anchored now
9:43
To your word
9:45
And as we sing your praises
9:47
Enable us to
9:50
Fully engage
9:52
In this act
9:53
Of worship
9:54
May your spirit
9:56
Lead us
9:57
As we
9:59
Read your word
10:02
And engage with it
10:03
Anew this evening
10:04
Grant your blessing
10:07
On the ministry of the gospel
10:08
Here
10:09
Within
10:10
This congregation
10:11
We pray that
10:15
Your blessing
10:16
Would be
10:16
Upon
10:18
All that is
10:21
Undertaken
10:22
Said and done
10:24
In your name
10:24
From week to week
10:26
We pray for the
10:29
Encouragement
10:29
Of
10:30
Calamurdo Smith
10:32
And for
10:34
The congregation's
10:35
Interim moderator
10:36
Colin McLeod
10:37
May you bless
10:40
Pastors
10:41
And people
10:42
Alike
10:42
And may there be
10:45
A felt
10:46
Sense of
10:47
Oneness
10:47
And togetherness
10:49
During these
10:50
Days of
10:51
Vacancy
10:52
May you
10:54
Draw near
10:55
And may you
10:57
Grant
10:58
Much
10:58
By way
10:59
Of encouragement
11:00
To all
11:01
Who long
11:02
To reach out
11:03
With the good news
11:04
Of the gospel
11:05
Bless
11:06
Every
11:06
Endeavor
11:08
We praise you
11:10
For
11:11
The
11:13
Children
11:14
Present
11:14
This morning
11:15
And for those
11:17
Who are present
11:18
This evening
11:19
And for every
11:20
Provision
11:21
For
11:22
Them
11:23
For every
11:24
Means
11:25
Through which
11:26
They have
11:27
And are given
11:28
An exposure
11:29
To the good news
11:31
Of the gospel
11:32
All of which
11:35
Revolves around
11:37
Jesus Christ
11:38
And him
11:39
Crucified
11:40
And so now
11:43
We pray your
11:44
Blessing on every
11:45
Home and family
11:46
Belonging to
11:47
And associated
11:48
With the
11:49
Congregation
11:50
We pray
11:53
That you
11:53
Would remember
11:54
This town
11:55
And the
11:55
Island
11:56
And grant
11:58
That as
11:59
In times
12:00
Past
12:00
You would
12:02
Come
12:02
With
12:04
Power
12:05
From
12:06
The very
12:07
Throne room
12:08
Of heaven
12:08
Itself
12:09
As
12:11
In decades
12:12
Past
12:13
As in
12:13
Ages
12:13
Past
12:14
When there
12:16
Were
12:16
Eras
12:17
Of
12:17
Spiritual
12:18
Awakening
12:19
Come
12:19
We pray
12:20
With
12:20
Reviving
12:21
Power
12:22
Across
12:22
Our
12:24
Highlands
12:24
And
12:24
Islands
12:25
And so
12:27
Now
12:28
We look
12:28
To you
12:29
Our
12:30
Great
12:30
God
12:31
And
12:32
Father
12:32
You
12:33
Are
12:34
Infinite
12:34
Eternal
12:35
You
12:35
Are
12:35
Unchangeable
12:36
In
12:37
You
12:37
We
12:37
Live
12:37
We
12:38
Move
12:38
And
12:38
We
12:38
Have
12:39
Our
12:39
Very
12:40
Existence
12:41
And
12:42
It
12:42
Is
12:43
Your
12:43
Presence
12:44
We
12:44
Crave
12:45
And
12:45
Long
12:46
For
12:46
Now
12:47
Watch
12:48
Over
12:49
Us
12:49
Forgive
12:50
Us
12:51
And
12:51
You
12:51
For
12:51
All
12:52
Of
12:52
Our
12:52
Sins
12:52
For
12:53
All
12:54
We
12:54
Ask
12:54
Is
12:55
In
12:55
Christ's
12:56
Name
12:56
And
12:56
For
12:57
His
12:57
Sake
12:57
Amen
12:59
Now
13:03
We're
13:03
Going
13:04
To
13:04
Read
13:04
God's
13:05
Word
13:05
Together
13:06
The
13:06
First
13:07
Of
13:07
Two
13:08
Scripture
13:09
Readings
13:09
Our
13:10
First
13:10
Bible
13:12
Reading
13:12
Is
13:12
From
13:12
The
13:13
New
13:13
Testament
13:13
Scriptures
13:14
From
13:14
The
13:15
Gospel
13:15
Of
13:15
Matthew
13:16
Chapter
13:16
16
13:17
And
13:19
At
13:19
Verse
13:19
24
13:20
On
13:20
Page
13:21
991
13:22
Matthew
13:23
16
13:24
And
13:25
At
13:25
Verse
13:26
24
13:27
Then
13:35
Jesus
13:36
Told
13:36
His
13:36
Disciples
13:37
If
13:38
Anyone
13:39
Would
13:39
Come
13:39
After
13:40
Me
13:40
Let
13:40
Him
13:41
Deny
13:41
Himself
13:42
And
13:42
Take
13:42
Up
13:43
His
13:43
Cross
13:43
And
13:44
Follow
13:44
Me
13:45
For
13:46
Whoever
13:47
Would
13:47
Save
13:47
His
13:48
Life
13:48
Will
13:49
Lose
13:49
It
13:49
But
13:50
Whoever
13:50
Loses
13:51
His
13:51
Life
13:52
For
13:52
My
13:52
Sake
13:52
Will
13:53
Find
13:53
It
13:53
For
13:55
What
13:55
Will
13:55
It
13:55
Profit
13:56
A
13:56
Man
13:56
If
13:57
He
13:57
Gains
13:57
The
13:57
Whole
13:58
World
13:58
And
13:59
Forfeits
14:00
His
14:00
Life
14:01
Or
14:02
What
14:03
Shall
14:03
A
14:03
Man
14:04
Give
14:04
In
14:04
Return
14:05
For
14:05
His
14:05
Life
14:06
For
14:07
The
14:07
Son
14:07
Of
14:07
Man
14:08
Is
14:08
Going
14:08
To
14:08
Come
14:09
With
14:09
His
14:09
Angels
14:10
And
14:10
The
14:10
Glory
14:10
Of
14:11
His
14:11
Father
14:11
And
14:12
Then
14:13
He
14:13
Will
14:13
Repay
14:14
Each
14:14
Person
14:15
According
14:15
To
14:15
What
14:16
He
14:16
Has
14:16
Done
14:16
Truly
14:18
I
14:18
Say
14:19
To
14:19
You
14:19
There
14:19
Are
14:19
Some
14:20
Standing
14:20
Here
14:21
Who
14:22
Will
14:23
Not
14:23
Taste
14:23
Death
14:24
Until
14:25
They
14:25
See
14:25
The
14:26
Son
14:27
Of
14:27
Man
14:27
Coming
14:28
In
14:29
His
14:29
Kingdom
14:31
And
14:32
There
14:32
Follows
14:33
The
14:34
Account
14:34
Of
14:35
The
14:35
Transfiguration
14:36
Amen
14:38
Let's
14:40
Sing
14:40
To
14:40
God's
14:41
Praise
14:41
Psalm
14:42
73
14:43
The
14:45
Scottish
14:46
Psalter
14:46
Version
14:47
Of
14:48
Psalm
14:49
73
14:50
On
14:51
Page
14:51
351
14:53
We're
14:53
Going
14:53
To
14:54
Sing
14:54
On
14:56
Page
14:56
316
14:57
Rather
14:57
From
14:59
Verse
15:00
23
15:01
To
15:01
26
15:02
And
15:04
The
15:04
Tune
15:04
Is
15:05
Weatherby
15:05
Nevertheless
15:07
Continually
15:09
O
15:10
Lord
15:10
I
15:11
Am
15:11
With
15:11
The
15:11
Thou
15:12
Dost
15:13
Me
15:13
Hold
15:13
By
15:13
My
15:14
Right
15:14
Hand
15:15
And
15:15
Still
15:16
Upholdest
15:17
Me
15:18
And
15:19
So
15:20
On
15:20
To
15:20
The
15:21
Praise
15:21
Of
15:22
God
15:22
B
15:23
Amen.
15:53
Amen.
16:23
Amen.
16:53
Amen.
17:23
Amen.
17:53
Amen.
18:23
That I groan near to groan, in groan I trust, that all my efforts I may be fair unto groan.
18:51
Our next scripture reading.
18:53
takes us to the very passage we read this morning, Numbers chapter 10.
19:03
Now we're going to read from verse 29 to 36, but just by way of context for the benefit of those
19:13
of you who were not present this morning, let me just read from verse 11. In the second year,
19:23
in the second month, on the 20th day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the
19:29
testimony, and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai.
19:40
And at verse 29, and Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses's father-in-law,
19:48
what we are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you. Come with us,
19:58
and we will do good to you. For the Lord has promised good to Israel, but he said to him,
20:07
I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred. And he said,
20:17
please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness,
20:24
and you will serve as eyes for us. And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us,
20:33
the same will we do to you. So they set out from the mount of the Lord for three days' journey,
20:43
and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for three days' journey
20:47
to seek out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day,
20:54
whenever they set out from the camp. And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, Arise, O Lord,
21:04
and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you. And when it rested,
21:12
he said, Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel. Amen.
21:21
And we know God will add his blessing to the reading of his own holy word.
21:30
We'll now sing to the praise of God the words of Psalm 51 from St. Sam's verses 1 to 12.
21:40
This great psalm of confession.
21:48
Oh, my God, have mercy on me. In your steadfast love, I pray. In your infinite compassion,
21:58
my transgressions wipe away. Cleanse me from iniquity. Wash my sin away from me.
22:08
Let's sing these words prayerfully to God's praise.
22:13
Amen.
22:14
Amen.
22:17
Amen.
22:18
Oh, my God, have mercy on me. In your steadfast love, I pray.
22:29
For you, my God, have mercy on you. In your infinite compassion, my transgressions wipe away.
22:42
Cleanse me from iniquity. Wash my sin away from me.
22:57
For I know my own transgressions, I can see my sinful life.
23:10
You, you, only I've all been lived, and an evil in your sight.
23:23
So your words are verified, and your word is justified.
23:39
From my birth I have been sinful, such an angel I receive.
23:49
Sinful from my first beginning, in my mother's womb conceived.
24:03
Truth, dear, and fall in my heart, wisdom to me you impart.
24:16
Men's witness of purifying me, I'll be whiter than the snow.
24:31
Let the bones you crush be joyful, may I joy and gladness know.
24:42
From my failure I endure face, out of my wickedness.
24:57
Lord, create a pure heart in me, and a steadfast mind for you.
25:10
Do not take your spirit from me, cast me not away from you.
25:22
Carry back the joy I have, keep my willing spirit glad.
25:37
And the melody there, incidentally, was Ottawa, which I omitted to mention.
25:49
Well, turn with me, if you will, for a short time this evening to the passage we read together from the book of Numbers, chapter 10.
26:02
Numbers 10, the words of Moses to Hobab in verse 29,
26:11
Come with us, and we will do good to you.
26:16
For the Lord has promised good to Israel.
26:22
But he said to him, I will not go.
26:26
I will depart to my own land and to my kindred, and so on.
26:35
A man named Hobab.
26:42
Now, this morning we considered verse 29 under two headings.
26:50
Hobab asked, Hobab assured.
26:54
So just to recap, the Israelites, in verse 12 of this chapter, they set out in order to begin the conquest of Canaan.
27:10
We see them here, assembled, mobilized into orderly ranks with standards and banners lifted up.
27:19
It is destination Canaan.
27:22
They are good to go, and they are now looking forward to the first leg of their journey towards the promised land.
27:33
But our interest, as we highlighted this morning, is in the very personal element to this narrative.
27:41
It revolves around Hobab, Moses' Midianite brother-in-law.
27:47
He is asked here to join the people of Israel, to enroll, to sign up, to subscribe, to accompany them through the wilderness,
27:58
and play a crucial part, a meaningful part, in assisting Israel in navigating their way to Canaan.
28:08
But as we noted this morning, Hobab is not merely being called upon as a navigator, as a route finder, as a tracker.
28:19
There is so much more to this.
28:22
Moses' invitation goes much deeper.
28:27
This is a personal invitation with a powerful gospel dynamic to it.
28:34
Walk with us, Moses says.
28:37
Journey with us.
28:39
We will treat you well, should you do so.
28:43
In fact, you will share in our inheritance, in the inheritance of God's goodness.
28:50
And this is his assurance, should he come along.
28:55
It's compelling.
28:56
Multiple blessings await Hobab, a promised land flowing with milk and honey, a better country, better by far.
29:09
So the question we're going to address tonight is, how will Hobab respond?
29:17
Similar to this morning, two headings, we're going to look at Hobab's answer, and we conclude by looking at Moses' appeal.
29:32
So what are we to make of Hobab's answer to the invitation of Moses?
29:40
When I ministered in Barvis, I would sometimes watch very experienced surfers surf very large Atlantic waves just beyond the Barvis Macher.
29:59
It was not for the faint-hearted.
30:03
I was once invited by a local surfer to give it a go.
30:08
Come with us, he said.
30:12
I can't recall if he said, we will do you good.
30:15
But my response was, no.
30:20
I'm not doing it.
30:22
Go on, he said.
30:25
And I simply borrowed Hobab's reply to Moses, and I said firmly, no.
30:31
I will not go.
30:33
You see, Hobab declines Moses' invitation to associate himself with Israel here.
30:42
And it's a firm no.
30:45
In no uncertain terms, he makes it very clear to Moses that he is not prepared to sever his personal tie
30:55
with his own property and his own indigenous people.
31:01
He kind of digs his heels in, doesn't he?
31:06
When he says no, you get the impression that he means no.
31:12
As if to say, with all due respect, Moses, I'm not going.
31:17
No ambiguity.
31:19
No hesitation.
31:20
This appears to be a resolute no.
31:26
I will not go.
31:28
Now, three things hinder Hobab.
31:34
Note here, when he says, I will now depart to my own land and kindred,
31:43
it's clear that, yes, three things hinder him.
31:49
He's preoccupied with land, livestock, the two overlap, and loved ones.
32:00
Land, livestock, and loved ones.
32:04
That resonates with us, doesn't it?
32:09
We are a crofting community, essentially.
32:13
The land, livestock, and loved ones, all three, go deep.
32:22
You see, there is much to sacrifice here for Hobab.
32:26
And he's just not prepared to let go.
32:31
Because to follow, he must forsake.
32:36
So he resolves not to go.
32:40
He may be apprehensive, afraid about letting go,
32:44
because his attachment to the land is strong.
32:48
But Moses is saying,
32:50
there's a better land.
32:52
There's a better country.
32:55
Come with us.
32:59
But Hobab has duties.
33:02
He has responsibilities.
33:05
He has personal family ties.
33:09
He can't just walk away and leave everything behind.
33:14
He may also be concerned about his personal and professional reputation.
33:20
What will his Midianite family and community think of him?
33:26
Should he now associate himself with the people of Israel?
33:31
What will people say?
33:34
What will people think of me?
33:37
After all, the Midianites and the Israelites
33:42
had a frosty relationship.
33:46
It wasn't without friction.
33:52
So at best, they coexist at this time.
33:58
So it seems that the cost implications are just too great for Hobab here.
34:05
So I want to ask at this point,
34:08
if perhaps some of us here tonight
34:10
feel a measure of sympathy for Hobab.
34:14
Do you feel his pain?
34:17
Do his personal circumstances here reflect your own?
34:25
Perhaps for those of us who are Christians here tonight,
34:30
we can reflect on a time
34:34
when perhaps we were first challenged
34:39
with the invitation of the gospel.
34:42
That moment when we perhaps heard the words of Numbers 10 29.
34:50
And you too initially responded with a firm,
34:55
I will not go.
34:57
It's not happening.
34:59
You heard the gospel anthem of the church,
35:02
come with us.
35:03
We will do you good.
35:04
And yet you responded by saying,
35:06
no, I will not go.
35:09
Why not?
35:12
Well, perhaps if some of us are prepared to reflect,
35:17
maybe it had a lot to do with our attachments and ties at that time.
35:26
You see, there's much to walk away from
35:29
when you become a follower of Jesus Christ.
35:32
There's much to sever and to sacrifice.
35:37
What will my family and friends say?
35:43
You see, Numbers 10 reminds us of this great truth
35:48
that we see across the landscape of the four gospels
35:52
as Jesus calls his followers.
35:56
To follow, one must forsake.
36:01
And this is a recurring emphasis on the pages of the Bible.
36:06
It's no different here.
36:09
Hobab is being invited to walk by faith.
36:15
What is faith in Jesus Christ?
36:17
Look at that word and break it down into five elements.
36:24
F-A-I-T-H.
36:26
You've probably heard it before, but we'll say it again.
36:29
Forsaking all.
36:31
I trust him.
36:34
This is what is being asked of Hobab.
36:40
How will Hobab respond?
36:43
When you're reading through Matthew's gospel,
36:48
we read a little from Matthew's gospel tonight from chapter 16.
36:52
We'll come back to a number of key reference points there in a moment.
36:57
But if you begin in Matthew chapter 4,
37:01
as Jesus commences his ministry,
37:05
he calls, in the first instance, Peter and Andrew,
37:09
just as they're casting their nets on the Sea of Galilee.
37:14
Come, follow me, Jesus says to them.
37:19
To follow Jesus,
37:22
they must forsake their ties to the Sea of Galilee.
37:29
And that attachment is strong.
37:32
They are fishermen.
37:35
And they did.
37:37
At once, Matthew tells us,
37:40
indeed, with immediate effect,
37:42
they left their nets and followed Jesus.
37:48
But let's go from the positive to the negative.
37:51
Because when we come to Matthew chapter 19,
37:55
we realize that this is not always the case.
37:59
There's a Hobab in the mix.
38:01
In the form of a self-righteous, rich, young ruler
38:08
who struggles to forsake his ties to an affluent lifestyle
38:15
in order to follow Jesus.
38:18
Come, follow me,
38:21
Jesus says to this rich young man.
38:23
But Matthew tells us
38:26
that he went away sad
38:30
because he had great wealth.
38:34
He does a Hobab.
38:36
He says to Jesus,
38:38
No,
38:39
I will not go.
38:42
You see,
38:42
Christian discipleship is best summed up
38:45
in the words of the Lord Jesus
38:47
in the passage we read from Matthew chapter 16,
38:50
verse 24.
38:52
Whoever wants to be my disciple
38:56
must deny themselves,
38:59
take up the cross,
39:01
and follow me.
39:03
Now,
39:04
it's fair to say,
39:06
is it not,
39:06
that Hobab
39:07
seems to have an issue
39:09
with self-denial.
39:12
And it's something
39:14
that you and I
39:15
often struggle with
39:16
if we're honest with ourselves.
39:19
There was once
39:21
a preacher,
39:23
an author,
39:24
his name was Henry Drummond,
39:26
and he said this,
39:29
The entrance fee
39:31
into the kingdom of heaven
39:33
is nothing,
39:35
but the annual subscription
39:37
is everything.
39:39
And this is where we see Hobab.
39:44
Moses is saying to him,
39:46
Hobab,
39:47
there is so much to gain.
39:51
Hobab is saying to Moses,
39:53
Ah,
39:54
but there's everything to lose,
39:57
is there not?
39:59
This is Hobab's challenge,
40:02
and perhaps it's yours tonight.
40:04
So let's move on.
40:08
Let's come to Moses' appeal.
40:12
Because this really takes us
40:15
to the nitty-gritty
40:19
of what is unfolding.
40:23
Credit to Moses
40:24
in verse 31.
40:28
You will notice that he is not one
40:30
for taking no for an answer.
40:33
What are we to make
40:35
of his appeal
40:37
in verse 31?
40:40
What does he say to Hobab?
40:41
Hobab,
40:42
please do not leave us,
40:44
for you know
40:45
where we should camp
40:46
in the wilderness,
40:48
and you will serve
40:49
as eyes for us.
40:54
Please, Hobab,
40:55
I beg you,
40:58
don't abandon us
41:00
at this critical juncture.
41:03
He pleads with him
41:04
not to walk away,
41:06
not to depart,
41:08
not to detach himself,
41:10
not to go back.
41:15
There's something
41:16
distinctly missional
41:19
about Moses
41:20
in this instance,
41:21
isn't there?
41:22
You see,
41:23
missional outreach
41:25
is reaching out
41:27
to someone
41:28
with the gospel.
41:30
It's as simple as that,
41:32
and we see it here.
41:33
Moses leads by example
41:35
here in Numbers 10.31.
41:38
Notice how he reaches out
41:40
to Hobab,
41:43
and his appeal,
41:45
as we've just read,
41:46
it's personal,
41:48
but it's incredibly persuasive.
41:51
Notice, too,
41:52
that it's intentional,
41:54
it's purposeful,
41:55
and it is passionate.
42:00
This is one-to-one evangelism
42:04
at its very best,
42:06
and no,
42:07
we're not on the pages
42:08
of the New Testament.
42:10
This is Numbers chapter 10,
42:13
and it's bulging
42:15
with the gospel,
42:16
isn't it?
42:17
Notice, too,
42:18
that Moses,
42:19
here in verse 31,
42:21
calls Hobab
42:24
to serve.
42:27
Now, this is crucial
42:28
to our understanding
42:30
of Christian discipleship
42:32
throughout the Bible.
42:34
The Lord Jesus himself
42:37
sets the sacrificial bar
42:39
of service.
42:42
The Son of Man,
42:44
he says,
42:45
came not to be served,
42:48
but to serve,
42:50
and to give his life
42:52
as a ransom for many.
42:56
Now, when you think of Hobab,
42:58
it's important for us
43:00
to think of someone
43:01
who is distinguished.
43:04
He's a prominent figure
43:05
in the Midianite community.
43:09
He's a man of standing,
43:10
and yet,
43:13
his commission
43:13
is to serve.
43:17
Service,
43:19
not status.
43:21
No platform,
43:23
no pedestal,
43:24
no superiority,
43:26
no standing,
43:27
no pomp,
43:29
no ceremony.
43:31
Hobab's,
43:33
Moses' appeal
43:34
to Hobab
43:35
is
43:36
to serve.
43:38
And that word
43:39
in this verse
43:40
really is important.
43:43
You see,
43:44
a servant,
43:46
generally speaking
43:47
throughout the Scriptures,
43:50
is by definition
43:51
devoted
43:53
to another
43:55
to the disregard
43:57
of his own interests.
44:01
It's the vocabulary
44:03
of slavery.
44:04
And who is the ultimate
44:07
bond-servant
44:08
in the narrative here?
44:10
It is, of course,
44:11
Moses,
44:12
the servant
44:13
of God himself.
44:17
Moses is the one
44:18
addressing Hobab
44:20
to serve.
44:22
Moses is indeed
44:23
one who is owned
44:25
and dedicated
44:26
to serve
44:27
his Lord
44:29
and his Master,
44:31
the Holy One
44:32
of Israel.
44:34
Now,
44:35
it's important
44:36
for us
44:36
to recognize
44:37
the importance
44:38
of this little
44:39
but significant
44:40
word,
44:41
serve.
44:43
You will serve
44:45
as eyes
44:46
for us.
44:47
Because,
44:47
you see,
44:49
this kind
44:50
of vocabulary
44:51
really goes
44:53
against the grain
44:54
of contemporary
44:54
thinking these days,
44:56
doesn't it?
44:57
A self-orientated,
45:00
self-focused,
45:02
self-centered,
45:04
self-elevating,
45:06
21st century
45:07
take on life.
45:10
Shameless,
45:11
self-promotion
45:12
dominates just about
45:14
every social media
45:16
platform these days.
45:18
it's at the core
45:20
of our individualistic
45:22
culture where there's
45:23
a constant striving
45:25
for self-fulfillment.
45:29
And yet,
45:30
when you turn
45:30
the pages of
45:31
Matthew,
45:32
Mark,
45:32
Luke,
45:32
and John,
45:34
what is it
45:34
that strikes you
45:36
immediately?
45:38
Serving Jesus Christ
45:40
is central
45:41
to the gospel
45:42
narratives.
45:43
You see,
45:45
discipleship begins
45:46
as it does
45:47
in Matthew chapter 4.
45:49
We referenced it earlier.
45:51
It begins with
45:52
follow me
45:53
and continues
45:54
with the same
45:56
discipleship
45:57
dynamic
45:58
throughout.
45:59
Follow me,
46:00
serve me,
46:02
live for me
46:03
from the beginning
46:04
of your Christian life
46:06
to the very end.
46:08
It struck me
46:10
recently
46:10
reading
46:11
Paul's letter
46:12
to Titus.
46:15
Paul is an old man.
46:17
The sun
46:18
is setting
46:18
fast
46:19
over
46:20
his days.
46:23
It's now
46:24
65 AD.
46:27
He writes
46:28
to Titus,
46:30
the great
46:30
apostle Paul.
46:34
And he begins
46:35
this letter,
46:36
yes,
46:36
in the evening
46:37
of his years.
46:39
Paul,
46:40
a servant
46:41
of God
46:43
and
46:44
an apostle
46:45
of Jesus Christ.
46:49
As we read
46:50
this narrative
46:51
tonight,
46:51
I want us
46:52
to ask ourselves
46:53
soul-searching
46:55
questions.
46:57
What,
46:59
who
47:00
are we
47:01
living for?
47:03
What is
47:04
your great
47:05
goal in life?
47:07
is it
47:07
self-gratification
47:09
or self-denial?
47:11
Is it
47:12
higher status
47:13
or higher
47:15
service?
47:18
Hobab,
47:19
Moses says,
47:20
you know
47:21
where we should
47:21
camp in the wilderness
47:22
and you can
47:24
serve
47:25
as our
47:27
eyes.
47:28
Notice
47:28
something else
47:29
that Moses
47:30
does.
47:30
focus on
47:32
and
47:33
he focuses
47:33
on Hobab's
47:34
knowledge
47:34
and awareness
47:35
and experience
47:36
all of which
47:37
makes him a
47:38
resourceful and
47:39
effective person
47:40
to have.
47:42
In other words,
47:43
his gifts
47:44
can be put
47:46
to good use
47:47
within the
47:49
fellowship
47:49
of Israel.
47:52
Service
47:53
and gifts
47:54
overlap
47:55
in the
47:56
Christian
47:56
life
47:57
and both
47:59
are to
48:00
be
48:00
not for
48:01
our
48:02
benefit
48:02
but for
48:03
the glory
48:04
of God.
48:07
You see,
48:08
Hobab can
48:09
input
48:09
and assist
48:11
as few
48:12
can.
48:12
That's the
48:13
point here.
48:14
He can
48:15
act as
48:16
the very
48:16
eyes of
48:17
Israel
48:17
and play
48:19
an active
48:20
part in
48:21
this journey.
48:21
So what is
48:22
Moses saying
48:22
to him?
48:23
Well,
48:24
again,
48:25
come,
48:27
not as a
48:28
passenger,
48:29
but come
48:30
as an
48:30
active
48:31
participant,
48:32
Hobab.
48:33
Again,
48:34
this is
48:35
vital
48:36
to our
48:37
understanding
48:38
of discipleship
48:39
as we
48:40
read this
48:41
narrative in
48:42
Numbers 10
48:43
in parallel
48:44
with the
48:44
Gospels of
48:45
Matthew,
48:46
Mark,
48:46
Luke,
48:46
and John.
48:47
You see,
48:47
the kingdom
48:48
always requires
48:49
of you and
48:50
I a
48:51
hands-on
48:52
approach.
48:53
Folded
48:54
hands are
48:54
of no
48:55
use in
48:55
the kingdom.
48:57
Proactive,
48:58
not inactive.
48:59
Doing,
49:00
not dithering.
49:01
Hands to
49:02
the plow,
49:03
no looking
49:04
back.
49:06
And so
49:06
Hobab is
49:07
given every
49:08
encouragement
49:09
by Moses
49:09
here to
49:10
enroll,
49:12
to sign
49:12
up,
49:13
and to
49:13
accompany
49:14
Moses and
49:15
the people
49:15
of Israel
49:16
through this
49:18
wilderness
49:19
journey ahead
49:20
and play
49:21
a strategic,
49:23
meaningful,
49:25
vital,
49:25
key part
49:26
in assisting
49:27
Moses and
49:28
the people
49:28
of Israel
49:29
and to
49:30
give of
49:30
his insight
49:31
and knowledge
49:32
and experience
49:33
to the
49:33
glory of
49:34
God.
49:34
God.
49:37
But let me
49:38
just say
49:38
what I
49:39
said this
49:39
morning
49:40
very briefly.
49:43
Moses'
49:44
appeal
49:44
goes
49:45
so much
49:47
deeper
49:47
than just
49:48
having
49:50
Hobab
49:51
on board
49:52
as someone
49:53
who would
49:54
be useful
49:55
to have.
49:56
As we
49:57
said,
49:57
this points
49:58
us firmly
49:59
to a
50:00
very powerful
50:01
moving
50:02
gospel
50:02
invitation.
50:03
You see,
50:04
Hobab is
50:04
personally
50:05
asked to
50:07
step
50:07
forward,
50:09
to come
50:10
forward,
50:11
and associate
50:12
himself now
50:13
with God's
50:13
people,
50:14
to follow
50:15
the ark
50:16
of the
50:16
covenant,
50:17
to follow
50:18
the pillar
50:19
of cloud,
50:20
to follow
50:21
not just
50:21
the people
50:22
of God
50:23
but the
50:23
Lord God
50:24
himself.
50:25
And he's
50:26
assured here
50:27
too that
50:27
God has
50:28
a purpose,
50:29
for him.
50:31
Listen to
50:31
what Moses
50:31
says in
50:32
verse 32,
50:34
Hobab,
50:35
should you
50:36
come,
50:36
and can
50:37
you hear
50:37
the decibels
50:38
rising in
50:39
Moses'
50:40
voice?
50:43
Hobab,
50:44
should you
50:44
come with
50:45
us,
50:45
then you
50:46
too will
50:47
be a
50:48
recipient
50:49
of blessing
50:50
as much
50:52
as every
50:52
other
50:53
Israelite
50:53
you see
50:54
around you
50:54
here.
50:56
You will
50:57
not be
50:57
excluded
50:58
should you
50:59
come
50:59
with us.
51:01
We will
51:01
treat you
51:02
well.
51:04
Indeed,
51:04
you will
51:05
be grafted
51:06
in,
51:06
you will
51:07
be adopted
51:08
into the
51:08
family of
51:09
God,
51:10
Hobab.
51:11
What's
51:11
ours will
51:12
be yours,
51:13
the same
51:14
inheritance,
51:17
no less.
51:19
That's what
51:20
Moses is
51:21
saying in
51:22
verse 32,
51:23
just as
51:24
that little
51:25
word serve
51:26
is so
51:26
significant
51:27
in verse
51:28
31,
51:28
the word
51:29
same carries
51:30
tremendous
51:30
weight in
51:32
verse 32.
51:35
Now isn't
51:36
Moses a
51:36
great evangelist?
51:38
He's
51:39
persistent,
51:40
isn't he?
51:40
He reaches
51:41
out to
51:41
Hobab
51:42
once again,
51:43
and with
51:44
urgency he
51:45
makes his
51:45
appeal to
51:46
him to
51:47
commit once
51:48
and for
51:48
all.
51:49
You see,
51:50
the Israelites,
51:50
well,
51:51
they're good
51:51
to go.
51:52
They're
51:54
ready to
51:54
depart.
51:55
They await
51:55
the signal
51:57
from Moses,
51:59
but Moses
52:00
will not
52:00
lift his
52:01
hand until
52:02
he's finished
52:03
with Hobab,
52:05
and he's
52:06
not finished
52:07
with him
52:07
yet.
52:08
This
52:09
incident,
52:10
again,
52:10
I say it,
52:11
it's bulging
52:12
with the
52:12
gospel,
52:12
isn't it?
52:14
You see,
52:15
this call,
52:15
this appeal
52:16
to Hobab
52:17
to take
52:18
to the
52:18
path of
52:20
discipleship
52:21
is powerful,
52:22
but it's
52:22
also
52:23
ponyant.
52:24
There's
52:24
an urgency
52:25
to this.
52:28
There's
52:28
tension
52:29
in the
52:29
air.
52:30
Why?
52:31
Because it's
52:31
like standing
52:32
in the
52:33
last chance
52:33
saloon.
52:35
The clock
52:36
is ticking.
52:37
It's time
52:38
to go,
52:39
and there
52:40
is no
52:40
more time
52:41
to lose.
52:43
This is
52:43
it.
52:45
Decision
52:46
time,
52:46
Hobab.
52:49
Now,
52:50
can I
52:50
stop there
52:50
and ask
52:51
as we
52:53
read this,
52:54
if you
52:54
have not
52:55
as yet
52:56
resolved
52:57
to trust
52:58
in Jesus
52:58
Christ,
53:00
will you
53:01
resolve
53:02
to do
53:02
that now?
53:05
Will you
53:06
resolve
53:06
to live
53:07
for Jesus?
53:10
Will you
53:11
resolve
53:11
to sever
53:12
any ties
53:13
you have
53:13
tonight
53:14
that might
53:14
be holding
53:15
you back
53:16
from trusting
53:17
in the
53:18
Lord Jesus
53:18
Christ
53:19
as your
53:20
personal
53:21
savior?
53:22
Will you
53:23
come into
53:24
the fellowship
53:25
of the gospel
53:26
with God's
53:28
people?
53:30
Will you
53:30
say,
53:31
the world
53:31
behind me,
53:32
the cross
53:33
before me,
53:35
no turning
53:36
back?
53:38
Because when
53:39
all is said
53:40
and done,
53:41
there remains
53:43
one important
53:45
question.
53:46
Who asks
53:47
that question?
53:48
It is,
53:49
of course,
53:49
the Lord
53:49
Jesus
53:50
himself.
53:51
The question
53:52
that is put
53:53
in the passage
53:54
we read
53:54
from Matthew
53:55
16,
53:56
verse 26,
53:57
6,
53:58
what will
54:00
it profit
54:01
a man
54:03
if he gains
54:04
the whole
54:05
world
54:06
and forfeits
54:07
his own
54:08
soul?
54:10
We can
54:11
paraphrase
54:12
that ever
54:13
so slightly
54:14
because in
54:15
this verse
54:16
that I've
54:16
quoted from
54:17
Matthew
54:17
16,
54:18
26,
54:19
Jesus
54:20
turns the
54:21
word
54:21
good
54:22
in Numbers
54:23
10,
54:24
29
54:24
on its
54:25
head.
54:27
As if
54:28
to say,
54:29
what good
54:30
will it
54:30
be for
54:32
someone to
54:33
gain the
54:34
whole world
54:35
yet forfeit
54:37
their soul?
54:39
Does that
54:40
paint a
54:40
picture of
54:41
you tonight?
54:42
It certainly
54:43
paints a
54:43
picture of
54:44
Hobab.
54:47
So,
54:49
to be
54:51
or not
54:52
to be?
54:54
That is
54:55
the question.
54:57
What did
54:58
Hobab do?
55:00
How did
55:01
he respond?
55:04
What is
55:04
the outcome?
55:07
Well,
55:07
let's look
55:08
at verse
55:08
33
55:09
because it
55:10
sheds
55:11
some light
55:12
on how
55:14
all of
55:14
this
55:14
concludes.
55:15
So,
55:20
they
55:20
set out
55:22
from the
55:23
mountain
55:23
of the
55:23
Lord.
55:26
The
55:26
ark of
55:27
the
55:27
covenant
55:27
of the
55:28
Lord
55:28
went
55:28
before
55:29
them
55:29
to
55:30
seek
55:31
out
55:31
a
55:31
resting
55:32
place
55:32
for
55:32
them.
55:34
The
55:34
cloud
55:35
of the
55:35
Lord
55:35
was
55:36
over
55:36
them
55:36
when
55:37
they
55:38
set
55:38
out
55:38
from
55:39
the
55:40
camp.
55:43
What
55:43
is so
55:43
significant
55:44
about the
55:46
pronouns
55:47
we come
55:48
across
55:49
from verse
55:51
33?
55:52
Well,
55:53
do the
55:53
pronouns
55:54
they
55:55
and them
55:56
not include
55:57
Hobab?
55:59
Well,
56:00
I'm
56:01
persuaded
56:02
that all
56:03
five
56:04
pronouns
56:04
do
56:06
just that.
56:07
he
56:09
has
56:09
come
56:10
forward.
56:11
He's
56:12
in.
56:13
He
56:14
has
56:14
taken
56:14
that
56:15
next
56:15
step.
56:17
He's
56:17
in the
56:18
fellowship
56:18
of
56:18
Israel.
56:19
Had
56:19
he
56:19
not,
56:20
then
56:20
surely
56:20
the
56:20
passage
56:21
would
56:21
have
56:21
spelt
56:22
this
56:22
out
56:22
for
56:23
us.
56:24
If
56:24
there
56:24
had
56:25
been
56:25
a
56:25
parting
56:25
of
56:26
the
56:26
ways
56:26
at
56:27
this
56:27
decisive
56:28
point,
56:29
then
56:30
this
56:31
would
56:31
in
56:32
all
56:32
probability
56:33
be
56:37
highlighted.
56:39
But we
56:39
mustn't
56:40
stop
56:40
there
56:40
because
56:41
we need
56:42
to go
56:42
beyond
56:43
the
56:43
law
56:43
of
56:43
probability,
56:44
don't
56:44
we?
56:45
And the
56:45
Bible
56:46
does.
56:49
There
56:49
are
56:49
two
56:50
further
56:51
references
56:52
to
56:53
Hobab,
56:54
or at
56:54
least
56:55
Hobab
56:55
is being
56:56
alluded
56:56
to.
56:57
So if
56:58
you've
56:58
got your
56:58
Bible
56:59
in front
57:00
of you,
57:00
just
57:01
turn,
57:01
if you
57:02
will,
57:02
a few
57:03
books
57:03
forward
57:04
to
57:04
the
57:04
book
57:04
of
57:05
Judges.
57:08
Judges
57:09
chapter
57:10
1
57:10
verse
57:13
16.
57:19
Now,
57:20
we're
57:22
turning
57:22
to the
57:22
book
57:22
of
57:23
Judges
57:23
because
57:23
the
57:24
book
57:24
of
57:24
Judges
57:24
provides
57:25
more
57:27
compelling
57:28
evidence
57:29
to
57:29
support
57:30
our
57:30
conclusion.
57:31
Judges
57:34
1
57:34
16,
57:35
as I
57:35
said a
57:36
moment
57:36
ago,
57:37
alludes
57:37
to
57:37
Hobab.
57:39
Let's
57:40
just get
57:40
a handle
57:41
on the
57:41
historical
57:42
context.
57:44
We are
57:44
in the
57:45
realm
57:46
of the
57:46
ongoing
57:47
conquest
57:48
of
57:48
Canaan,
57:49
so we're
57:49
some
57:49
40 to
57:50
60
57:50
years
57:51
on
57:52
from
57:53
the
57:53
events
57:54
that are
57:54
unfolding
57:55
in
57:55
Numbers
57:56
10
57:56
at
57:56
Mount
57:57
Sinai.
57:57
What
57:58
do we
57:58
read
57:59
in
57:59
verse
57:59
16?
58:00
And
58:00
the
58:00
descendants
58:00
of
58:01
the
58:01
Canaanite,
58:03
Moses'
58:03
father-in-law,
58:04
went up
58:05
with the
58:05
people of
58:06
Judah
58:07
from the
58:08
city of
58:08
Palms
58:09
into the
58:10
wilderness
58:10
of
58:11
Judah.
58:12
Now,
58:13
this
58:14
speaks
58:14
of
58:15
Hobab's
58:16
kindred,
58:17
of
58:18
Hobab's
58:18
people.
58:20
The
58:20
Canaanites
58:21
were a
58:21
subgroup
58:22
of the
58:22
Midianites.
58:24
And
58:25
this would
58:25
strongly
58:26
suggest
58:27
that
58:28
his
58:28
whole
58:29
family
58:30
have
58:30
followed
58:31
in
58:31
his
58:31
footsteps.
58:33
But
58:34
we're
58:34
not
58:34
done
58:34
yet.
58:35
There's
58:35
one
58:35
further
58:36
reference
58:36
and
58:37
you
58:37
only
58:37
have
58:38
to
58:38
turn
58:38
a
58:39
page
58:39
or
58:39
two.
58:40
We
58:41
come
58:41
to
58:42
chapter
58:42
4
58:43
verse
58:44
11
58:45
and
58:45
you
58:45
will
58:46
see
58:46
there
58:46
that
58:47
Hobab
58:47
is
58:48
actually
58:49
mentioned.
58:54
You
58:54
will
58:55
notice
58:55
that
58:56
more
58:57
specifically
58:57
it
58:59
refers
59:00
to
59:01
the
59:01
descendants
59:02
of
59:02
Hobab
59:03
Moses'
59:05
brother
59:06
in
59:07
law.
59:10
Now
59:10
Heber,
59:13
the
59:14
Canaanites,
59:14
had
59:14
separated
59:15
from the
59:15
Canaanites
59:16
the
59:18
descendants
59:18
of
59:19
Hobab,
59:20
the
59:20
father-in-law
59:21
of Moses
59:21
and so
59:22
on.
59:23
Now,
59:23
again,
59:24
this is
59:26
years
59:27
later.
59:29
Here we
59:29
are
59:29
in
59:31
Canaan
59:31
during the
59:33
leadership
59:33
of the
59:34
judge,
59:36
prophet,
59:37
and
59:37
mother in
59:38
Israel,
59:39
Deborah.
59:41
Two very
59:42
significant
59:43
reference
59:44
points,
59:45
all of
59:46
which take
59:46
us back
59:47
to Numbers
59:48
chapter 10.
59:49
So,
59:51
had
59:52
Hobab
59:52
not
59:53
followed
59:54
and his
59:56
line and
59:57
his people,
59:58
his
59:58
immediate
59:59
and extended
1:00:00
family,
1:00:01
then
1:00:01
he would
1:00:04
not be
1:00:04
mentioned.
1:00:07
So,
1:00:07
we conclude
1:00:08
that Hobab
1:00:12
indeed,
1:00:13
back in
1:00:14
chapter 10
1:00:15
of Numbers,
1:00:18
subscribed,
1:00:19
yes,
1:00:20
he sided
1:00:21
with Israel.
1:00:24
He takes
1:00:25
that step
1:00:26
forward
1:00:27
and he
1:00:28
walks
1:00:29
alongside
1:00:30
Moses,
1:00:32
grafted
1:00:33
into
1:00:34
the
1:00:36
commonwealth
1:00:37
of Israel.
1:00:38
you might
1:00:39
ask the
1:00:39
question,
1:00:40
was he
1:00:41
disappointed?
1:00:42
No.
1:00:44
Yes,
1:00:44
there are
1:00:44
challenges
1:00:45
ahead.
1:00:47
If you're
1:00:48
going to
1:00:48
turn the
1:00:49
pages of
1:00:49
Scripture
1:00:50
from Numbers
1:00:51
chapter 10
1:00:52
onwards,
1:00:53
it doesn't
1:00:53
always make
1:00:54
for good
1:00:54
reading.
1:00:55
You're
1:00:55
going to
1:00:55
read of
1:00:56
periods of
1:00:57
rebellion
1:00:57
and plagues
1:00:59
and disobedience,
1:01:01
but you're
1:01:01
also going to
1:01:02
read of
1:01:03
times of
1:01:04
great blessing.
1:01:06
You're
1:01:06
also going
1:01:07
to read of
1:01:07
the faithfulness
1:01:09
of the
1:01:09
covenant-keeping
1:01:10
God of
1:01:11
Israel.
1:01:12
You're
1:01:13
also going
1:01:13
to read,
1:01:14
yes,
1:01:15
of how
1:01:15
sin abounds,
1:01:17
but you
1:01:17
will read
1:01:18
of how
1:01:18
grace
1:01:19
does so
1:01:21
much more
1:01:22
abound
1:01:23
in the
1:01:24
history of
1:01:24
Israel.
1:01:26
And we
1:01:27
believe that
1:01:28
Hobab is a
1:01:29
recipient
1:01:29
of grace
1:01:31
and mercy
1:01:32
and peace
1:01:34
as he
1:01:35
walks
1:01:36
the path,
1:01:38
the way
1:01:39
of the
1:01:39
wilderness
1:01:39
with the
1:01:41
people of
1:01:42
God.
1:01:43
No eye
1:01:44
has seen,
1:01:46
Paul says
1:01:47
in 1 Corinthians
1:01:48
2, 9,
1:01:49
no ear
1:01:50
has heard,
1:01:52
and no
1:01:53
human mind
1:01:54
has conceived
1:01:55
the things
1:01:57
God has
1:01:58
prepared for
1:01:59
those who
1:02:00
love him.
1:02:04
I'm sure
1:02:05
Hobab may
1:02:06
well have
1:02:07
said that
1:02:10
God did
1:02:12
immeasurably
1:02:14
more than
1:02:16
all he
1:02:18
could have
1:02:18
asked for
1:02:19
or imagined
1:02:20
back then
1:02:21
at Mount
1:02:22
Sinai,
1:02:23
according to
1:02:24
the power
1:02:25
at work
1:02:27
within
1:02:28
the people
1:02:30
of God.
1:02:32
To him
1:02:32
be the
1:02:33
glory in
1:02:34
the church
1:02:35
and in
1:02:36
Christ Jesus
1:02:37
throughout
1:02:38
all generations
1:02:39
forever
1:02:40
and ever.
1:02:43
Amen.
1:02:45
Let's
1:02:46
pray.
1:02:50
Our
1:02:50
heavenly
1:02:51
Father,
1:02:52
we praise
1:02:52
you for
1:02:53
the
1:02:56
message
1:02:56
of the
1:02:57
gospel.
1:02:59
We
1:03:00
thank you
1:03:01
this evening
1:03:01
for
1:03:02
the
1:03:04
very
1:03:05
compelling
1:03:06
tone
1:03:07
of the
1:03:09
narrative
1:03:10
we have
1:03:11
engaged
1:03:11
with.
1:03:13
And it
1:03:14
speaks to
1:03:15
us
1:03:15
now,
1:03:16
thousands
1:03:17
of years
1:03:17
later.
1:03:20
Perhaps
1:03:20
we are
1:03:21
standing
1:03:22
where
1:03:22
Hobab
1:03:23
stood.
1:03:26
We pray
1:03:27
that we
1:03:28
would be
1:03:30
constrained
1:03:32
by the
1:03:32
love of
1:03:33
Christ to
1:03:34
take that
1:03:35
next step
1:03:36
and to
1:03:38
walk
1:03:39
with your
1:03:40
people.
1:03:42
And for
1:03:43
those of
1:03:43
us who
1:03:44
can look
1:03:45
back
1:03:45
to that
1:03:47
time where
1:03:48
perhaps we
1:03:49
stood,
1:03:49
where Hobab
1:03:50
stood and
1:03:51
took that
1:03:52
next step
1:03:53
so we
1:03:53
reflect with
1:03:54
gratitude
1:03:55
and so we
1:03:57
would raise
1:03:58
our Ebenezer
1:03:58
and we
1:03:59
too can
1:03:59
stand next
1:04:00
to Samuel
1:04:01
and we
1:04:02
can say
1:04:02
hitherto,
1:04:03
thus far the
1:04:07
Lord has
1:04:08
helped us
1:04:09
and so may
1:04:12
we continue
1:04:12
to trust
1:04:13
unreservedly
1:04:15
in the
1:04:16
sufficiency
1:04:17
of your
1:04:18
grace
1:04:18
for the
1:04:20
remainder of
1:04:20
this day
1:04:21
and for
1:04:22
all our
1:04:23
days.
1:04:25
In
1:04:25
Jesus'
1:04:26
name,
1:04:26
Amen.
1:04:27
Well, let's
1:04:30
conclude our
1:04:31
service as
1:04:32
we sing
1:04:33
Psalm 36
1:04:34
from
1:04:35
Sing
1:04:35
Psalms.
1:04:39
The tune
1:04:41
is Huddersfield
1:04:42
verses 5
1:04:46
to 10
1:04:47
on page
1:04:49
44.
1:04:51
Your
1:04:52
steadfast
1:04:53
love is
1:04:54
great,
1:04:55
O Lord.
1:04:55
it reaches
1:04:56
heaven high.
1:04:58
Your
1:04:58
faithfulness
1:04:59
is wonderful,
1:05:01
extending
1:05:02
to the
1:05:03
sky.
1:05:05
Verses
1:05:05
5 to
1:05:06
10
1:05:07
to the
1:05:08
praise of
1:05:08
God.
1:05:09
Amen.
1:05:13
Your
1:05:14
steadfast
1:05:16
love
1:05:17
is
1:05:18
great,
1:05:19
O Lord,
1:05:21
it
1:05:22
reaches
1:05:23
heaven high.
1:05:28
Your
1:05:29
faithfulness
1:05:32
is
1:05:33
wonderful,
1:05:37
extending
1:05:38
to the
1:05:41
sky.
1:05:44
Your
1:05:45
righteousness
1:05:47
is
1:05:49
very
1:05:51
great,
1:05:53
like mountains
1:05:55
high and
1:05:58
steep.
1:06:00
Your
1:06:01
justice
1:06:02
is
1:06:03
like
1:06:05
ocean
1:06:07
depths,
1:06:09
both
1:06:09
man and
1:06:11
beast
1:06:13
you
1:06:14
keep.
1:06:14
high
1:06:17
precious
1:06:18
is
1:06:20
your
1:06:21
sacrifice
1:06:23
love,
1:06:24
what
1:06:26
haunted
1:06:27
exit
1:06:28
brings,
1:06:32
for
1:06:33
high and
1:06:35
loof
1:06:36
my
1:06:37
sheltering
1:06:38
the
1:06:41
shadow
1:06:42
of
1:06:44
your
1:06:45
wings.
1:06:47
The
1:06:48
feet
1:06:49
within
1:06:51
your
1:06:53
hearts
1:06:55
and
1:06:55
they
1:06:56
come
1:06:57
streams
1:06:58
of
1:06:59
your
1:07:00
delight,
1:07:02
on
1:07:04
with
1:07:05
your
1:07:06
soul
1:07:07
shall
1:07:09
fly,
1:07:12
in
1:07:13
your
1:07:14
life
1:07:15
we
1:07:16
see
1:07:17
light.
1:07:20
those
1:07:21
who
1:07:22
know
1:07:23
you
1:07:24
as
1:07:25
their
1:07:27
God,
1:07:29
your
1:07:29
steadfast
1:07:30
life,
1:07:31
loving
1:07:33
heart,
1:07:36
may
1:07:36
take
1:07:38
your
1:07:39
righteousness
1:07:41
to
1:07:43
those
1:07:44
of
1:07:45
pure
1:07:47
and
1:07:47
upright
1:07:49
heart.
1:07:53
The
1:07:54
grace of
1:07:54
the Lord
1:07:55
Jesus
1:07:55
Christ,
1:07:56
the love
1:07:56
of God
1:07:57
the Father,
1:07:58
and the
1:07:58
fellowship
1:07:59
of the
1:07:59
Holy
1:08:00
Spirit
1:08:00
remain
1:08:01
with
1:08:01
us
1:08:02
all.
1:08:03
Amen.
1:08:03
Amen.