Numbers 11 | In the Wilderness

·34 min·3 clips

Why did God's fire consume part of the Israelite camp when they complained in the wilderness?

This sermon from NewCity Orlando focuses on Numbers 11, a passage where the Israelites complain about their misfortunes in the wilderness, leading to God's anger and a fire that consumes part of the camp. Pastor Benjamin introduces the episode with a personal anecdote about meeting a young man named Dylan at a calisthenics park, connecting it to the theme of leadership found in Exodus and Numbers. He states his conviction that God leads through people, citing Augustine of Hippo. The main point is that one must lead in the wilderness honestly to God, as a team, by the Spirit. The sermon walks through the text, highlighting the people's strong craving for meat and their selective amnesia about Egypt's hardships. Pastor Benjamin distinguishes between complaint, which is directed nowhere, and lament, which is directed to God, using Moses' prayer in verses 11-15 as a key example where Moses asks God to kill him if the burden is too heavy. He discusses the weight of leadership and how Moses feels unable to carry it alone. God's response is to appoint 70 elders to share the burden, which Pastor Benjamin humorously connects to Presbyterianism, emphasizing teamwork. He then stresses the need for the Spirit, noting that the spirit rested on Eldad and Medad even outside the formal gathering, showing God's grace extends beyond structures. Joshua's objection to their prophesying is met with Moses' wish that all God's people were prophets. The sermon links this to the New Testament, where the Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost, fulfilling Moses' longing. Pastor Benjamin encourages the congregation to rely on the Spirit to overcome fleshly cravings and to see themselves as saints indwelt by God's Spirit rather than merely as sheep. He closes with a prayer asking for the Holy Spirit.

As heard by us

A sermon about craving, complaint, and taking both to God.

The sermon reads Numbers 11 as a study of desire under pressure: Israel complains, Taberah burns, and Moses brings the matter back to the Lord.

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Why you'd press play

If your cravings have opinions, this sermon meets them in the wilderness.

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