God Idea: The Morning After

NLC LC@AL 11-17-10

Sermon Text:  Numbers 16:28b

Sermon Title:  God Idea:  The Morning After

The morning after the Israelites saw the miracle of the death of the 250, the manifestation of the events of that day and ran because they got the message; they act like they got a hangover.  They accuse Moses of murdering God’s PEOPLE? They act like they can’t remember anything.  How do you completely miss what God was doing?  How do you get up and flip the script on God.  After all God has done then you confuse what you saw. 

Point 1:  Interpretation

The move of God always needs interpretation.  The day after the people ran in fear, vs. 34 - ³⁴ At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

They accused Moses of murder.  Vs. 41 -  ⁴¹ The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the LORD’s people,” they said.

They completely misinterpreted the message and move of God. 

At first you wonder how they could misinterpret that?  Then when you think these are the same people right after 10 plagues grumbled.  Here are the same people who after the Red Sea swallowed Pharaoh and his army grumbled.  This is the same people who complained right after their dinner of manna from heaven, quail and water from a rock.  This is the same people whose clothes did not wear out in the desert and saw God lead them with a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.  They saw Moses meet with God face to face.  They got the original copy of the word of God written by the finger of God. 

The interpretation in the text; God is in control and he will not permit his congregation/community to be divided.  How do I know its God?  Ask yourself; does it add, increase, bring peace, fix, etc.  Then it’s God.  Don’t be confused like the Israelites. 

Point 2:  Intercession – vs. 45-46 - ⁴⁵ “…. And they fell facedown.  ⁴⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started.”

Interpretation didn’t work so Moses had to start interceding for Israel. Notice something Moses is praying for people who raised up against him.

a)    Light up

b)    Lace up – Aaron laced up his sandals and ran into the midst of the people.  Aaron literally stood between the living and the dead. 

c)    Line up – Aaron lined up with the people who couldn’t stand him. 

Point 3:  Interruption – vs. 48-50 - ⁴⁸ He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. ⁴⁹ But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. ⁵⁰ Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

After the intercession the plague was interrupted.  The plague only claimed 14,700 lives.  It was on its way to claiming more.

The wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life.  Look what the word says in the MSG bible in James 1:13 Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

God is able.  In order for God to do it follow Moses and Aaron’s lead. 

a)    Recognize the plague

b)    Remain at the Temple to get in God’s face

c)    Ratchet up their prayers/requests

Conclusion:  Don’t wake up the morning after God has showed himself with a miracle, manifestation and message and forget it was God.  If you do remember Interpret; Intercede and God will Interrupt.