Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word
Speaker A The Bible. It's the word of God, sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Speaker B I'm very glad that we serve a redemptive God, A, God that makes provision for purification of that which is unclean. In the Old Testament, there was purification animals and purification of ground. There was purification of people and getting right before God. And there was a way prior to the birth of Christ that the Lord made it possible for sinners to be redeemed. And I'm so glad Christ came. He arose from the dead. And even to this day Here in the 21st century, the purification of that which is unclean, the redemption of that which was lost, the forgiveness of those who were guilty, that is still God's heart and that is still possible today. And we'll talk about this in numbers 19 and much more. Well, Bert, welcome, to the program. I say welcome. You and I have done this show together for a long time, but we welcome the listeners to join in with us as we look at God's word in the Old Testament book of Numbers. Aren't you glad that we, we serve a seeking, saving God who purifies the unclean?
Speaker C Amen. He does. And it made me think of when God ran that song and it was taken from the prodigal son. Yeah, the prodigal son had to come to himself and head home and, repent. Turn around saying, God, I have sinned against you and God. And then the Father, though he was watching for him, waiting for him, and then he ran to meet him. And our God loves you today. I just want to tell everybody out there, our God cares, he loves, and he wants to bring you into the greatest relationship there is. And Alex has already talked about that, how God is a forgiving God and how God can come into your life and make a difference. Alex, chapter 19 is an interesting, and it's an interesting way to look at it.
Bert says Romans 19 is very clear on sin and redemption
we get a lot of questions about the red heifer and the future concerning the temple, but here we find out how it was used in the Old Testament. And yet we find out. Two things that came to my mind, and I'll throw it back to you. One was again that it was, without defect, no defect in it, no blemish. And then it was to be taken outside the camp. you know, some of the sacrifices they were to be at the temple, or in this case, in the tabernacle, but this outside the camp, I think there's some pictures there of a beautiful thing about how God takes care of her sin, don't you?
Speaker B Absolutely. and, you know, to be outside the camp was, you know, ceremonially to be, estranged from God and from the people of God. One of the reasons that I just as an aside, and I was talking to an archaeologist last week, one of the reasons that the church of the Holy Sepulcher in the old city of Jerusalem could not be the place where Christ was crucified. I believe it was Golgotha Calvary, because he was crucified outside the walls of the city. And the church of the Holy Sepulcher. And some say that had to be where Christ was crucified is well, well inside the city. Now, we get words like this, outcast, you know, outsized, ostracized. And so, to be outside of the fellowship of the people and outside the presence of God, that was very pictorial of what sin is. But the bottom line, Romans 19 is 22 verses. And it's the provision, the means to cure uncleanness in the sight of God. And you mentioned the red heifer. God was very, very particular, very precise about how it was to be done. verse four says Eliezer, the priest shall take of her blood with his finger. It's a female cow. Sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times. That's God's number of perfection. And one shall burn the heifer in his sight. Her skin, flesh, blood, dung, shall he burn. sin is all encompassing. And in a similar way, God's cleansing and redemption is all encompassing. And the priest shall take the cedarwood, the hyssop and scarlet, cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer, then wash his clothes. let me say this in verse nine, all of these intricacies, which I would urge people to read, it is a purification for sin. Bert. sin and our cleansing from it is a little more complicated than people really give it credit for, isn't it?
Speaker C It really is, Alex. That is a good point that we just want. Okay, I'm sorry. Let's go on. No. Ah. Sin separates. Okay. Sin separates us from God. And so to be made right with God, that sin must be dealt with. And then we come into, relationship with him from that separation. And here you see this outside the camp. Now, it hit me most of the work of the priest was at the tabernacle, later at the temple. But this was outside that, Alex, you know, and it hit me, okay, this is what Christ has done. Yes, he did the work that was necessary when he ascended to the Father's throne, but he came outside of that throne. He came to earth, the Incarnation, and dwelt among us. And as it says in Jon, we beheld his glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And so, after he had done his work outside the throne room of God, he goes back, Alex, and again I see this picture of Christ. You see it, and you bring attention to it so well. And, you've helped me to see it more times. I say, okay, I see that now, but I saw that here, Christ taking care of our sin. Now, I know it's a red heifer, but it's still picture of what Jesus does for us in dealing with our sin and bringing us back into relationship with him and what Jesus has done for us in order to do that.
Speaker B Amen. Amen. Well, it's very intricate. And, you know, frankly, it was expensive. I mean, really. And by the way, you know, when I read about the. The rituals of the Old Testament, as they would, in faith, look to the Savior that would come. You know, I've often thought of this, Bert, why weren't they turning cartwheels of joy? Oh, my goodness. Jesus paid it all. He died once and he's risen. And now all we have to do is put our faith in Jesus. Hallelujah. the yoke of the law has been lifted. do you remember, Paul wrote to the Galatians, and he said, I'm marveled that you're so quickly once again ensnared with the yoke that you had been set free from. and Bert, we could talk about this. legalism is a puzzlement to me when we have grace as close by as a prayer. But let me say this. What's really amazing, if you read like, 11, through 22, all right, even the priests that perform the cleansing rituals, the purification rituals, and it talks about if somebody touches a dead body, he's considered unclean. Really is unclean. Seven days. But then there were things that people were to do. Whether it's burning the ashes or verse 18, a clean person shall take hyssop. And that. That's, ah, an herb that was associated with purification and even medicine. dip it in water, sprinkle it upon the tent on the vessels, sprinkle it on the persons that were there, sprinkle it upon him that touched a bone or a. Or a corpse. and the clean person can sprinkle on the unclean person the third day. On the seventh day, he shall purify himself. Now, here's my point, and maybe there's an analogy here. Even the clean person performing priestly duties, and they weren't guilty of a sin. they were helping other people get ritualistically cleansed. But then once they perform the ministry, they have to go purify themselves. And verse 21 says, it shall be a perpetual statute to them. He that sprinkles the water of separation shall wash his clothes. He who touches the water of separation shall be unclean until evening. Whatsoever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and the soul that touches it shall be unclean. Bert, even in the ministry, we're in a fallen, sinful world, aren't we? And even, I'm telling you, sin is serious. Maybe. Maybe the takeaway here is this, that in a fallen world, not only is it not possible to be unscathed and untouched by guilt and sin, but it's impossible to resolve it without salvation. God's way through. God's Messiah.
Speaker C There is no other way, as you said, Alex.
The red heifer cleanses us from all sin through Jesus Christ
And two things that I wanted to bring up when we get through a chapter. The red heifer. Why red? I was reading that. Why couldn't a white heifer, a black heifer? and there's two observations, and I, you know, one, of course, the color of blood. And the other, though, Adam, made from the what? Earth. you know, the ground. And red man, you know, that's kind. of. So I looked at that, and I said, I don't think it can separate either or. On the red and the color and the. I think it was purposeful. It wasn't just any. It wasn't any colored heifer. It was a specific colored heifer. And there's meaning behind that. I think it is the earth and other. All men, are sinners, and we need to be made right with God. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from. From all sin. And so that does it. The other thing, when you see this, how far away. Sin removes us from God. And as you said earlier, the intricate part of this, how they did it, was this person to this person, to this person. a person just couldn't do it on his own. He had to go through the priest, the red heifer. So that lets us know we can't just have salvation on our own. It is through Christ and Christ Alone through. There's no other way. there's no. No sufficiency in your goodness. There's none good. No, not one. there's no price that could be paid because we don't have that much or what it takes. So when I read chapter 19 of. Of Numbers and the red heifer, the severity of sin, the furthers that takes you away. But how God in his mercy, made a way for even sinners like you and me to come to know him. that is. That is praiseworthy. And in chapter, 19, I see that. Of what Christ has done and also what we must do to know Him. Alex.
Speaker B Amen. Amen.
Preborn Network aims to have 11,000 gospel conversations in Preborn clinics
Well, we're coming up on some very famous part of the Book of Numbers and pretty well known in all the Old Testament, actually, in numbers, chapter 20, of course, it begins with the death of Miriam. And she, was, buried there, I believe, at Kadesh, in the desert of Zin Z I n is how my Bible says it. But then the people cry out because they need water. And, Bert, I've got the old King James here, and it's talking about, there was no water. The congregation gathered themselves against Moses and Eryn. And verse three, the people chode or content C H O D E. They contended against Moses and said, would to God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord. This is so amazing. Now, Bert, I want to cover this about Moses and the rock and a lot in 20 and 21. But you remember when the rebellious sons, of course, horror fell into the earth. The earth swallowed them up. Ah, they're saying, they wish they had died when all that happened. Isn't that just a terrible, terrible. Numbers 20, Verse 3. The unbelief of the people.
Speaker C It is. And we're going to get back to this. You, don't want to go away. Chapter 20 is a pivotal chapter in the Book of Numbers. You need to study it and wait and see.
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Speaker E and even when I ran he didn't run away he came and put that back in its place Friday on a cross broken from my shame Sunday morning rose up from that grave ticket look at those scars on his hands and feet he said, set our souls for eternity Worthy is the lamb Glory to the king oh, let all the saints in the angels sing Our God is
Speaker C an awesome God Amen. We had to get to that part about God's awesomeness. He really is. We hope you know him that way.
There's a gap of time between end of chapter 19 and the beginning of chapter 20
Well, let me share this with you. We were started in chapter 20, and Miriam dies. But this is a good bit later. I checked it out with several, commentaries, and everybody agrees there's a. The ones I read, I'll put it that way. There's a gap of time between the end of chapter 19 and the beginning of chapter 20. As Alex said, they're back at Kadesh. You know, they kind of went around in circles in that area for years. 38 years after the two years they'd spent here, there, and the other. And then they started. So they're back at Kadesh. I know this is not exactly right, but they're back where they started. They're back where they went astray at Kadesh Barnea. And I think it is appropriate that there. That Miriam dies and was buried there. And, so they're there. And Alex was talking about how they contended with Moses. Well, the reason, Korah. But we're talking about 38 years, possibly different, 37. Could be that they are forgotten. Also, it's a new generation. If it's 30 years, 38 years later, most of the older generation has died. And this is the generation that's going into the land, most of them. And, but they still did the same thing. It seems like the sins of, the father was passed down. Now, what does that mean? Well, not just the effect, but I think also, committing some of the same sins. If we're not careful. And here they are. They're contending with Moses. And if only we had died when our brethren did. But they remember it. But they were sitting on the side. And so here it is in verse six. Alex and I want to read this. And there's something here. I've got a whole message on it. And so Moses and air. But I'm not preaching it today. Relief here. Brent looked at me like, you gonna preach it? No, but let me share it with you. Verse 6. So Moses and Eryn, now lotus, this word went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of Meeting and fell on their face, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. Now, again, the reason I preach this and teach that preachers and teachers, yes, we do spend time in the presence of the assembly where the people are. We need to know they're hurting. We need to know their pains. We need to know that. But what do we do? Do we just stay there with them? No, we go from that place to the tabernacle of Meeting to the presence of God. And, Alex, I think this is something that we really need to do. Did you ever remember the name Jack Hiles? a pastor.
Speaker B Yes, actually. Met him once, many, many years ago. Heard him preach one time. And so, yes, I'm familiar with who that was.
Speaker C Well, he. I heard him preach, but I remember him saying, this is when most of the pastors set up on the pulpit platform area, and they'd sit in the chair. And that's when he did. And he said, what I tried to do to get my ready to preach. I would sit there and I would look at the congregation, and I would see one family that was hurting so bad because, they had lost some family member, another family that had. They were struggling financially. And he said, it broke my heart. But then I would open the word of God and say, okay, I can't stay in the presence of the people and help them. I can bring. I can go to God and then bring God's word to them. When I read verse six, and I see Moses and Eryn went from the people to the very presence and, you know, help of God, Alex, that's what I need to do. That's what I want to do. I want to be the man that takes all these issues, whether they're mine or if I'm interceding for someone, I take, from that. But I take them to the Lord. Is that a fair use in verse 6 as a comparison to that?
Speaker B absolutely. Absolutely.
Bert: Moses is getting angry about the need for water
That I'm always impressed and blessed by you, Bert. How you notice these words that Moses and Eryn went from the presence of the assembly. Hey, by the way, I know we've got to move forward, but I was just thinking about something. you know, we don't see that Moses had a long time to grieve. Miriam, you know, and Numbers 14, I believe it was Verse 30, had said that other than Joshua and Caleb, none of the people would enter the land, you know, that they would die in the land. God only promised Joshua and Caleb would survive from that generation. And so the death of Miriam is one of the examples of numbers 1430, that Miriam, Eryn, and even Moses himself would die in the wilderness. And Miriam did. Now they've got this need for water, a legitimate need. So, God tells Moses, look at verses 7 and 8. Take the rod and gather the assembly together, you and Eryn, thy brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes. And. And it shall give forth his water, and you shall bring forth them water out of the rock, so thou shalt give the congregation and their beast to drink. Now, this is the rod. I mean, Moses has used this in the ministry a lot. Now, I really believe that the rod, the Bible says in Psalm 23 that God's rod and staff, that are the shepherd's rod and staff, they comfort and they protect us, they guide us. I think we have the word of God today. But Moses has it. He threw it down, it became a serpent. He took it back up, he touched the river, and it turned to blood. He raised up that rod, and, the Red Sea parted. I mean, Moses and this staff have become almost synonymous. But God says, you know, take the rod and speak to the rock. Here's the thing. And I remember, Bert, I was just a young person. I heard this story, maybe in Sunday school, and it really stuck with me. And Moses gets everybody together, and you see he's losing his temper. In verse 10, he says to the people here, now, you rebels, must we fetch you out of, water, out of this rock? And, I'm going to hand it off to you. I know he's tired, he's frustrated, but I would submit that what's going to happen. And we see it in verse 10. Moses is getting angry. He is angry, isn't he?
Speaker C He is, and it demonstrates that. And he thought he was through with them. You know, that old generation had died out, Miriam died, and Eryn's about to die. And then we find out here, these. This generation comes up and is complaining the same things they had heard before, and I think it brings up anger, that was within him. And he said, I thought I was through with that. they told me, you know, when I showed them the. The rod that budded and almonds were on it, it took care of all that. But no, here they come again. So the anger is there. Is anything wrong with anger? The Bible says, be angry and do what? Sin? Not exactly, but that he does. When he should have spoken, he struck. Okay, the two S's, he struck. That's found in verse 11. When God said to speak in verse eight. And he lifted up his hand, struck the rock twice with his rod, and water came out abundantly in the congregation. Their animals drank. Now, again, God could have withheld the water because he didn't do it the way he did. But in God's grace. I see God's grace and mercy here, Alex.
Speaker B Oh, my goodness. Yes, yes. the mercy of God is very evident here because, all right, he hits it twice. I mean, I think he has full out lost his temper, hits the rock twice. And nevertheless, the water came out abundantly. And the congregation drank. And their beasts also, they. They watered their livestock. But the Lord has a word for Moses here. He says to Moses and Eryn. Now, Moses and Eryn are before the congregation, verse 10. And they. They get angry. We read about Moses, anger. But Eryn is complicit in this, too. Because you believed me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel. See, here's the deal. The view of God held by the people is often by the view they see in the life of the minister. This is very important, folks. Now, you say, well, don't have your eyes on me. Look at the Lord. Well, yeah, but God says, look, you could have sanctified me. The people could have watched the way you carry yourself, and I would have been near and dear to their heart. But you hit the rock, you lost your temper, accused and barked at the people. Therefore, you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I've given them. This is the water of Meribah. Because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them. Now, there's a lot here. Notice in verse three, the people contended with Moses. Moses contends with the lord. And verse 13, meribah, means contention. Now, here's the thing. God was sanctified in the eyes and the hearts of the people. But it was through really, reprimand and, punishment rather than trust and blessing. Now, I'm going to say this. I'll throw it back to you, Bert. God will be God in your life. Even in the atheist, the rejecter, the unbeliever, the communist. God will be sanctified in their life, but it may be through salvation if they would trust him, but more likely if they don't, through condemnation, judgment and punishment.
Alex: Anger disrupts and distorts our hearing and our actions
Either way, Philippians says it this way. Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess. Question is, is it going to be in a state of salvation or a state of condemnation?
Speaker C Alex, when I see this, let me run this by you. Danger is spelled D A N G E R. Anger is a N G E R. The D is added to danger. Now, what happens here? this is what happens. Anger disrupts and or distorts our hearing and our actions and our faith. Here he is. And you did a great job of saying here. Now, you rebels, I think you got to read that with a little bit of an attitude here, you know, because it comes across that way. must we bring water for you out of this rock? Just the whole idea. Anger mismanaged, out of control. And so he heard God, because God made it plain in verse eight, speak to the rock before their eyes. You know, that's pretty plain. Speak. And then we find out he struck. What happened? Well, it had to do with his hearing. It distorted the hearing or he forgot. it also distorted anger, his actions. He hit the rock, not just one time, but what. And I think that was important. Twice. Out of his anger. And what did God say? Because you did not believe me. anger out of control. Will listen. Do damage that cannot necessarily be retrieved from. What's going to happen now? Again, what happened? Not going into the land. You brought them out. I planned on you taking them in, but because of this unbelief, this anger of not hearing me and the actions you've done, you're going to stop short. You're going to stop with the generation that you said couldn't go in. You're going to stay on that side with them. And so I think it says, we better be careful with our anger, Alex. we need to hear God. And, listen, I, know it Sundays count to 10, but there's some truth in that. In other words, you back off. Okay? When anger is there like that, back off and examine it. I see that in this passage, and I think it speaks pretty loudly for us today.
Speaker B Really? Really. well, so they're. They're on their way. I mean, it's, it's a rough journey. I'm Telling you. And it's going to get rougher. So they send messengers. They're. They're traveling, and they need to cross over the land of Edom. And they're not going to get permission to do that. But, here's part of their story. Our fathers went down into Egypt. We have dwelt in Egypt a long time. You have 400 years. And the Egyptians vexed us. And our fathers, we cried to the Lord. And, you know, here's their testimony, by the way. I think that, in this, the messengers that Moses sent to the king of Edom, you know, he makes much of their suffering, you know, and, so we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. Hey, by the way, in verse 16, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border. That's Hebrew for, look, we're out in the middle of nowhere. That's how we say it in North Carolina, Bert. I'm in the middle.
Speaker C Hey, I've been there.
Speaker B It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here. Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country. We will not pass through the fields. In other words, hey, we're not coming here to steal your crops. We just need to walk. It's only 2 million of us. You won't even know we were here. Can we cross over? But the King of Edom, verse 18, is going to say, nope. It's not an easy journey nor leadership assignment Moses has, is it?
Speaker C It is not. Now, who's these Edomites? They're cousins.
Speaker B Cousins.
Speaker C Surely. Surely, our cousins will let us pass through. Family trouble sometimes is. Is not what it needs to be. It's unforgiving. And, we don't like who you are. We don't like where you've been. And you cannot pass through.
Speaker B Bert, I got to say this, you know, verse 20 and 21. Forgive me for jumping in here, but Edom comes out with a hu. Huge army of people.
AFR App is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations
World history is just a series of family squabbles, isn't it? Am I right?
Speaker C You are right. And, listen. Get right with God and get right with your family. It's a day of prayer. We put it to today. So that number your questions, your prayer requests. Triple 858-98840.
Speaker A The AFR App is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog Won't pick up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content through the app on your phone, smart device, or Roku.
Don't stop praying. Keep on pounding on heaven's door
Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app.
Speaker E Don't stop praying. Don't stop calling on Jesus name. Keep on pounding on heaven's door. Let your knees wear out the floor. Don't stop believing. Cause mountains move with just a little faith. And your father's heard every single word you're saying. So don't stop praying.
Alex and Bert take prayer requests on Exploring the Word
Speaker B Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Alex and Bert here. You know, yesterday we ran a pre record because it was some rather severe weather there in Mississippi. And, so we weren't live. But we are going to take prayer requests today. And by the way, the number is 888-589-8844 40. That's triple 858-9840. Plus, any and every Bible question we're happy to take. And, Bert, the day of prayer, everywhere I go, you know, I was in Oklahoma City this, past Monday and then Kansas last week. People come up and they say how they appreciate the fact that not only do we do in depth Bible study, but we pray. And we take it very seriously. Don't we, Bert?
Speaker C we do. We try to teach this. Like you were in a Bible study group, A small group, a Sunday school class where we open the Word of God. We studied the Word of God, but we say with prayer, we do everything but take up an offering, Alex. And we do that during Sherithon. So yes, we do. And we love Alex and I and Brent. We all love these, programs.
Gene: Alex made a comment about the Holy Sepulcher
So let's go to Indiana. And Gene, thank you for calling today. Go right ahead, brother.
Speaker F Can you hear me?
Speaker C Yeah, you're on. Go right ahead, man.
Speaker F Okay, I just have a comment. Alex made a comment about the Holy Sepulcher, how that he didn't think that could have been the place where Jesus was crucified. Not that it matters, but I was following JJ Jaster on Facebook and he actually thinks that was because he thinks that the walls were further in back then in Jesus time. That's just a comment I had, which is very interesting to me.
Speaker C I've heard that too, Gene. They said the walls were smaller then. But, Alex just gave me one reason why that was. But there's several others. Alex, make a short comment on this.
Speaker B Yeah, and I Heard that too, when I was there. And ultimately, I mean, we know Christ died for our sins and rose from the did. I bought a book when I was in Jerusalem by, you know, they call the traditional site of Calvary, which I believe, you know, the Gordon's Calvary, because it was a General Gordon that was there. And I bought the book with all of his measurements. And one of the reasons that, that I really think that, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is. Is not the place of the crucifixion, is because the line of the eastern gate and it says he will return through the eastern gate. honestly, if you're looking, from really, from east to west, the straight line runs to what is Calvary. and there's. I know this is a little bit symbolic, and the location of the walls has been a matter of dispute, but even if the walls were in a different place, I mean, the idea he would be crucified outside the city, and there's this straight line of where he comes back from the Mount of Olives through what, was the Garden of Gethsemane at the time of Christ, and to Calvary, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is just outside of this straight line that it appears he's following. And, anyway, that's just a thing that I don't know, that any one of us knows definitively, but the garden tomb seems to fit all the criteria. Certainly the place of the skull. I mean, there's nothing even remotely near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that looks like Golgotha, the place of the skull. but it's not something I would be dogmatic about.
Speaker C It is not what he did there. What he did there is what really matters. Thank you, Gene.
John is asking for prayer for his son Jacob who is battling cancer
Let's go to Michigan and talk to James. James, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Speaker G Hi there. Thank you for taking my call.
Speaker F I would ask for.
Speaker G I'm asking for prayer for my son Jacob.
Speaker F he's in a.
Speaker G In a tough marriage. His wife is, a control freak,
Speaker F and I think she's a little bit
Speaker G envious of the relationship that my wife
Speaker F and I have with Jacob.
Speaker G So he's. He's a very joyful man, and he's starting to lose that joy.
Speaker C Okay.
Speaker F So I just am coveting and asking
Speaker G for prayer for him.
Speaker C Jacob is your son, and we're going to be praying for him. And all of those you out there who are listening, prayer warriors, especially, let's pray for him. Listen, family in Laws, there's five big areas that really can cause confusion in marriage. I'm not going to go over them, but one of them is in law relationships. And that can be jealousy. It can be control. So we're praying for victory there. Alex, is it all right if I pray for James, for Jacob?
Speaker B Please lead us.
Speaker C Father, I thank you for James, A father that loves his son. Sounds like their relationship is strong. And Father, I'm praying for Jacob right now, God where he is. I pray that you'd give him two things that I desperately give him. A peace that you are with him, that you're going to stay with him, you're going to see him through, whether the waters are turbulent or whether they're calm. And he's going to stay with you and obey you. And Father, I pray for his wife that she would come to the place in her life where she would submit, to you. And, I pray God, that in doing so, submitting to you, that their relationship would grow and be strong. Help him with his joy. And Father, to lose that joy is usually hope is coming in and being less. So I pray, Father, you'd give him a vision and clarity of what you would desire for him. And while you're working in Jacob's life, Father, you're also working in the life of his wife. I'm praying and believing this and asking you to do a work of a miracle in their marriage. In Jesus name, Amen.
Speaker B Amen.
Speaker C Amen. We need more fathers that really love their sons and daughters and prays for them that way. Let's go to Arkansas. And it's Jon. Jon. Thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Speaker G Oh, thank you, brother. Guys, I wanted to, just take a moment to just give, praise and honor and glory. there's many things in my life and within members, of my church and, marriages all around the country. I've listened, to the prayer, the prayer services y' all do, the shows y' all do over the last couple of weeks, and Satan is really hammering on marriages in America, and trying to break those down. But I wanted to give a shout of praise, because we had. I had an incident, this last. Or not an incident. I had an event this last. Last week. and very, special individual to me. I, consider him, more than just a brother in Christ. He has become family. And, he's been battling cancer. And he was able to, Friday receive his last treatment, and ring the bell that he was, is Cancer free. but we also. Last Wednesday, he, I was trying to get in Tuesday, and I guess I was in a bad area, and I dropped the call. But I was. We were having a fundraiser event on Wednesday, and I was wanting y' all to pray for that event Tuesday, but God showed up, and showed out in a miraculous way. we sold, about a thousand dollars worth of barbecue sandwiches and stuff. And God said, I'm not done with that. I'm gonna take that thousand and make it two. Blessings have continued to.
Speaker C Okay, we don't know what happened. Drop Jon. Praise the Lord. Listen, Alex, let's just do a prayer of praise. But God, man, he is working. And I know Satan is working in marriages and in homes, but let's turn to God. But we praise God for this. The man being better. Amen. But also the. The fundraiser being successful. Alex.
Speaker B Well, we serve a great savior, don't we?
Speaker C We really do. So, Jon, we join that.
Speaker B Jon, God is able, whatever your needs are. And we'll. We'll pray for this in a minute. I want to get as many calls in as we can, but I just want to say to everybody listening, our God is able. Remember that.
Speaker C Amen.
Mark in Texas requests prayer for getting into nursing program
Well, let's go to Mark in Texas. Mark, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Speaker F Yes, sir. I'm, just going to request a prayer for my son in his review for getting into the nursing program.
Speaker C Into which kind of program Mark,
Speaker F he's wanting to become.
Speaker C Okay, did you say?
Speaker G And he wanted to.
Speaker C He's getting into the nursing program. Nursing program. Okay. we'll do that. So we're praying for Jon and praising God for what he's done for his friend. And we're praying for Mark, a son. This is the second son nursing program. let's get one more prayer request, Alex, and then we'll pray. Is that all right?
Bird: Jacqueline in Mississippi needs prayer for her daughter battling alcoholism
All right, let's go to Jacqueline in Mississippi. Jacqueline, thank you for calling.
Speaker H Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. I listen to you all every day. I just want prayer for our daughter that's been dealing with alcoholism for, like, the last 28 years. Say sanctified, feel the Holy Spirit, but the flesh has not been crucified. Going to all these different rehabs. I know that until she turn it over, over to the good Lord and repent and come back to God. I just need prayer that God will lead her back out of darkness into the marvelous light.
Speaker C Amen. Jacqueline, listen, go into these rehabs, if you can get one that is Christian. It really does. But Many times. I'm just telling you this, Jaclyn. I've seen people go through the rehabs. They get information that will help them, that equips them, but they're not ready to practice it and do it. So. But then keep on praying and saying, God, work in her life, that she will come. Just like the prodigal son came to himself and saw where he was. And we're going to pray that for your daughter. Alex. I've seen people healed and even brought out after two or three different rehabs. But then they take it to the Lord and that they learned in the rehab, really under the leadership of the Lord and the word of God. It really brings a difference in their life.
Speaker B Well, it does. And, Bert, you remember you and I taught through the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 28:15, the people said, well, we've made a covenant with death. But God the Savior says, I break that covenant with death. And I've talked to people, even Christians, and they. They say, well, I'm an alcoholic. That's just who I am. I'm a. I'm addicted. that's just what I didn't know in Jesus. The covenant with Jesus, death is broken. You have a new identity. And I think we need to talk about the identity, the new person. We are made new in Christ. And, so, Bird, I think people need to hear Jacqueline's daughter needs to know her true identity.
Speaker C Amen. Amen.
We're praying for John's friend to get his last cancer treatment
Well, let's pray and praise God for what God did, with Jon's friend. And then we're praying for Mark's son as he's trying to get into nursing, that that would happen. And then Jacqueline's daughter that should be delivered. Alex, would you mind leading us in prayer for those?
Speaker B Let's pray. Lord, we pray. Lord, you are so good to us. Not only do you wash our sins away, but you give us abundant life. Jon 10:10. Pray for all these people that they will walk in and experience your abundant life. Lord, we pray for the man who was. He got his last cancer treatment. He got to ring the bell on the floor. And, Lord, we just pray. Help. Continued health. We pray for Jon's son to get into nursing school. What a great ministry that would be. So please enable him to be, a Christian witness in the medical field. And, Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus for Jacqueline's daughter. Lord, we, pray for the chains to be broken. Isaiah 60:1. You came to set the captives free, and the covenant with death is broken. So I pray in the name of Jesus that The taste of alcohol would be just abhorrent to this person and that the desire to be intoxicated, on any sort, that would be gone. Lord, I pray for these people and all to be in the power, the care, the preservation, and even, yes, the protection of your holy spirit. Father, all of us, cleanse us, fill us, keep us, use us. And we thank you for it all. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Speaker C Amen. Let me share this and Brent reminded me, celebrate, recovery is usually at a local church. And a lot of times you're in one church in a community and it is a Christ centered, accountability, and it's not a rehab center. That's not what it is. But after they get out of rehab and they're saying, I'm ready to turn my life around, it's. Accountability helps prayers. So, those of you that are listening, remember that and, and, and just pray for those and also suggest those that they go there. Thank you, Jacqueline. We appreciate you, lady. You've. You've been a listener for a long time and we thank God for you.
William: Jesus spoke about John the Baptist after he was in prison
Let's go to Ohio. William's got a question. William, go right ahead, man.
Speaker F I appreciate y'.
Speaker G All.
Speaker F a quick question. We're in our Sunday school class. We're studying, starting the study of, the harmony of the Gospels. We're just starting. We mentioned, Jon the Baptist. And then in mark or Matthew 11:11, it talks about Jesus speaking about Jon the Baptist after he was in prison and was doubting or questioning if Jesus was the one. He made a comment about Jon the Baptist being the greatest man born of woman. And I was wondering what m. Why was that? And what is your comments on that?
Speaker C Okay, great. men of faith have a crisis of faith. Alex, I'm going to make that statement.
Speaker B Yeah.
Speaker C And you deal with it. And if I have anything to add, I will. But a crisis of faith, they come. and it may not it. Sometimes it's severe on a level from 1 to 10. It can be a 10 or it can be a 2. But you go back and he got his answer. Go ahead, Alex.
Speaker B Yeah, you know, there's something that I want to put up and I'm going to give it to Brent Austin to maybe put up on, Facebook. Now it. Give me, give me a little while, folks. It'll take a few days, but I've got from a long out of print book what might be the most comprehensive, thorough harmony of the Gospels. And you know, there is so much. And this would have really been, not only in Matthew 3 and 14, Mark, chapter 1, Luke 3, and Jon 1. the life of Jon the Baptist in the ministry of Jesus. We want to put that up. but why was he great? Well, he got to say, behold the Lamb of God. I think Jon the Baptist had the greatest proclamation. He did have a crisis of faith. He was one of the first martyrs. You know, he was beheaded, to placate Herod's wife and daughter. But, you know, if for no other reason, the greatest proclamation, he got to introduce and bring onto the world stage the Savior, Jesus.
Speaker C Amen. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Hallelujah. What a savior. We'll be back tomorrow. Read ahead. Finish chapter 20, go into 21 of the book of Numbers.
Speaker G The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word
Speaker A The Bible. It's the word of God, sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Speaker B I'm very glad that we serve a redemptive God, A, God that makes provision for purification of that which is unclean. In the Old Testament, there was purification animals and purification of ground. There was purification of people and getting right before God. And there was a way prior to the birth of Christ that the Lord made it possible for sinners to be redeemed. And I'm so glad Christ came. He arose from the dead. And even to this day Here in the 21st century, the purification of that which is unclean, the redemption of that which was lost, the forgiveness of those who were guilty, that is still God's heart and that is still possible today. And we'll talk about this in numbers 19 and much more. Well, Bert, welcome, to the program. I say welcome. You and I have done this show together for a long time, but we welcome the listeners to join in with us as we look at God's word in the Old Testament book of Numbers. Aren't you glad that we, we serve a seeking, saving God who purifies the unclean?
Speaker C Amen. He does. And it made me think of when God ran that song and it was taken from the prodigal son. Yeah, the prodigal son had to come to himself and head home and, repent. Turn around saying, God, I have sinned against you and God. And then the Father, though he was watching for him, waiting for him, and then he ran to meet him. And our God loves you today. I just want to tell everybody out there, our God cares, he loves, and he wants to bring you into the greatest relationship there is. And Alex has already talked about that, how God is a forgiving God and how God can come into your life and make a difference. Alex, chapter 19 is an interesting, and it's an interesting way to look at it.
Bert says Romans 19 is very clear on sin and redemption
we get a lot of questions about the red heifer and the future concerning the temple, but here we find out how it was used in the Old Testament. And yet we find out. Two things that came to my mind, and I'll throw it back to you. One was again that it was, without defect, no defect in it, no blemish. And then it was to be taken outside the camp. you know, some of the sacrifices they were to be at the temple, or in this case, in the tabernacle, but this outside the camp, I think there's some pictures there of a beautiful thing about how God takes care of her sin, don't you?
Speaker B Absolutely. and, you know, to be outside the camp was, you know, ceremonially to be, estranged from God and from the people of God. One of the reasons that I just as an aside, and I was talking to an archaeologist last week, one of the reasons that the church of the Holy Sepulcher in the old city of Jerusalem could not be the place where Christ was crucified. I believe it was Golgotha Calvary, because he was crucified outside the walls of the city. And the church of the Holy Sepulcher. And some say that had to be where Christ was crucified is well, well inside the city. Now, we get words like this, outcast, you know, outsized, ostracized. And so, to be outside of the fellowship of the people and outside the presence of God, that was very pictorial of what sin is. But the bottom line, Romans 19 is 22 verses. And it's the provision, the means to cure uncleanness in the sight of God. And you mentioned the red heifer. God was very, very particular, very precise about how it was to be done. verse four says Eliezer, the priest shall take of her blood with his finger. It's a female cow. Sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times. That's God's number of perfection. And one shall burn the heifer in his sight. Her skin, flesh, blood, dung, shall he burn. sin is all encompassing. And in a similar way, God's cleansing and redemption is all encompassing. And the priest shall take the cedarwood, the hyssop and scarlet, cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer, then wash his clothes. let me say this in verse nine, all of these intricacies, which I would urge people to read, it is a purification for sin. Bert. sin and our cleansing from it is a little more complicated than people really give it credit for, isn't it?
Speaker C It really is, Alex. That is a good point that we just want. Okay, I'm sorry. Let's go on. No. Ah. Sin separates. Okay. Sin separates us from God. And so to be made right with God, that sin must be dealt with. And then we come into, relationship with him from that separation. And here you see this outside the camp. Now, it hit me most of the work of the priest was at the tabernacle, later at the temple. But this was outside that, Alex, you know, and it hit me, okay, this is what Christ has done. Yes, he did the work that was necessary when he ascended to the Father's throne, but he came outside of that throne. He came to earth, the Incarnation, and dwelt among us. And as it says in Jon, we beheld his glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And so, after he had done his work outside the throne room of God, he goes back, Alex, and again I see this picture of Christ. You see it, and you bring attention to it so well. And, you've helped me to see it more times. I say, okay, I see that now, but I saw that here, Christ taking care of our sin. Now, I know it's a red heifer, but it's still picture of what Jesus does for us in dealing with our sin and bringing us back into relationship with him and what Jesus has done for us in order to do that.
Speaker B Amen. Amen. Well, it's very intricate. And, you know, frankly, it was expensive. I mean, really. And by the way, you know, when I read about the. The rituals of the Old Testament, as they would, in faith, look to the Savior that would come. You know, I've often thought of this, Bert, why weren't they turning cartwheels of joy? Oh, my goodness. Jesus paid it all. He died once and he's risen. And now all we have to do is put our faith in Jesus. Hallelujah. the yoke of the law has been lifted. do you remember, Paul wrote to the Galatians, and he said, I'm marveled that you're so quickly once again ensnared with the yoke that you had been set free from. and Bert, we could talk about this. legalism is a puzzlement to me when we have grace as close by as a prayer. But let me say this. What's really amazing, if you read like, 11, through 22, all right, even the priests that perform the cleansing rituals, the purification rituals, and it talks about if somebody touches a dead body, he's considered unclean. Really is unclean. Seven days. But then there were things that people were to do. Whether it's burning the ashes or verse 18, a clean person shall take hyssop. And that. That's, ah, an herb that was associated with purification and even medicine. dip it in water, sprinkle it upon the tent on the vessels, sprinkle it on the persons that were there, sprinkle it upon him that touched a bone or a. Or a corpse. and the clean person can sprinkle on the unclean person the third day. On the seventh day, he shall purify himself. Now, here's my point, and maybe there's an analogy here. Even the clean person performing priestly duties, and they weren't guilty of a sin. they were helping other people get ritualistically cleansed. But then once they perform the ministry, they have to go purify themselves. And verse 21 says, it shall be a perpetual statute to them. He that sprinkles the water of separation shall wash his clothes. He who touches the water of separation shall be unclean until evening. Whatsoever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and the soul that touches it shall be unclean. Bert, even in the ministry, we're in a fallen, sinful world, aren't we? And even, I'm telling you, sin is serious. Maybe. Maybe the takeaway here is this, that in a fallen world, not only is it not possible to be unscathed and untouched by guilt and sin, but it's impossible to resolve it without salvation. God's way through. God's Messiah.
Speaker C There is no other way, as you said, Alex.
The red heifer cleanses us from all sin through Jesus Christ
And two things that I wanted to bring up when we get through a chapter. The red heifer. Why red? I was reading that. Why couldn't a white heifer, a black heifer? and there's two observations, and I, you know, one, of course, the color of blood. And the other, though, Adam, made from the what? Earth. you know, the ground. And red man, you know, that's kind. of. So I looked at that, and I said, I don't think it can separate either or. On the red and the color and the. I think it was purposeful. It wasn't just any. It wasn't any colored heifer. It was a specific colored heifer. And there's meaning behind that. I think it is the earth and other. All men, are sinners, and we need to be made right with God. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from. From all sin. And so that does it. The other thing, when you see this, how far away. Sin removes us from God. And as you said earlier, the intricate part of this, how they did it, was this person to this person, to this person. a person just couldn't do it on his own. He had to go through the priest, the red heifer. So that lets us know we can't just have salvation on our own. It is through Christ and Christ Alone through. There's no other way. there's no. No sufficiency in your goodness. There's none good. No, not one. there's no price that could be paid because we don't have that much or what it takes. So when I read chapter 19 of. Of Numbers and the red heifer, the severity of sin, the furthers that takes you away. But how God in his mercy, made a way for even sinners like you and me to come to know him. that is. That is praiseworthy. And in chapter, 19, I see that. Of what Christ has done and also what we must do to know Him. Alex.
Speaker B Amen. Amen.
Preborn Network aims to have 11,000 gospel conversations in Preborn clinics
Well, we're coming up on some very famous part of the Book of Numbers and pretty well known in all the Old Testament, actually, in numbers, chapter 20, of course, it begins with the death of Miriam. And she, was, buried there, I believe, at Kadesh, in the desert of Zin Z I n is how my Bible says it. But then the people cry out because they need water. And, Bert, I've got the old King James here, and it's talking about, there was no water. The congregation gathered themselves against Moses and Eryn. And verse three, the people chode or content C H O D E. They contended against Moses and said, would to God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord. This is so amazing. Now, Bert, I want to cover this about Moses and the rock and a lot in 20 and 21. But you remember when the rebellious sons, of course, horror fell into the earth. The earth swallowed them up. Ah, they're saying, they wish they had died when all that happened. Isn't that just a terrible, terrible. Numbers 20, Verse 3. The unbelief of the people.
Speaker C It is. And we're going to get back to this. You, don't want to go away. Chapter 20 is a pivotal chapter in the Book of Numbers. You need to study it and wait and see.
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Speaker C But I refuse to be silent.
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Speaker E and even when I ran he didn't run away he came and put that back in its place Friday on a cross broken from my shame Sunday morning rose up from that grave ticket look at those scars on his hands and feet he said, set our souls for eternity Worthy is the lamb Glory to the king oh, let all the saints in the angels sing Our God is
Speaker C an awesome God Amen. We had to get to that part about God's awesomeness. He really is. We hope you know him that way.
There's a gap of time between end of chapter 19 and the beginning of chapter 20
Well, let me share this with you. We were started in chapter 20, and Miriam dies. But this is a good bit later. I checked it out with several, commentaries, and everybody agrees there's a. The ones I read, I'll put it that way. There's a gap of time between the end of chapter 19 and the beginning of chapter 20. As Alex said, they're back at Kadesh. You know, they kind of went around in circles in that area for years. 38 years after the two years they'd spent here, there, and the other. And then they started. So they're back at Kadesh. I know this is not exactly right, but they're back where they started. They're back where they went astray at Kadesh Barnea. And I think it is appropriate that there. That Miriam dies and was buried there. And, so they're there. And Alex was talking about how they contended with Moses. Well, the reason, Korah. But we're talking about 38 years, possibly different, 37. Could be that they are forgotten. Also, it's a new generation. If it's 30 years, 38 years later, most of the older generation has died. And this is the generation that's going into the land, most of them. And, but they still did the same thing. It seems like the sins of, the father was passed down. Now, what does that mean? Well, not just the effect, but I think also, committing some of the same sins. If we're not careful. And here they are. They're contending with Moses. And if only we had died when our brethren did. But they remember it. But they were sitting on the side. And so here it is in verse six. Alex and I want to read this. And there's something here. I've got a whole message on it. And so Moses and air. But I'm not preaching it today. Relief here. Brent looked at me like, you gonna preach it? No, but let me share it with you. Verse 6. So Moses and Eryn, now lotus, this word went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of Meeting and fell on their face, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. Now, again, the reason I preach this and teach that preachers and teachers, yes, we do spend time in the presence of the assembly where the people are. We need to know they're hurting. We need to know their pains. We need to know that. But what do we do? Do we just stay there with them? No, we go from that place to the tabernacle of Meeting to the presence of God. And, Alex, I think this is something that we really need to do. Did you ever remember the name Jack Hiles? a pastor.
Speaker B Yes, actually. Met him once, many, many years ago. Heard him preach one time. And so, yes, I'm familiar with who that was.
Speaker C Well, he. I heard him preach, but I remember him saying, this is when most of the pastors set up on the pulpit platform area, and they'd sit in the chair. And that's when he did. And he said, what I tried to do to get my ready to preach. I would sit there and I would look at the congregation, and I would see one family that was hurting so bad because, they had lost some family member, another family that had. They were struggling financially. And he said, it broke my heart. But then I would open the word of God and say, okay, I can't stay in the presence of the people and help them. I can bring. I can go to God and then bring God's word to them. When I read verse six, and I see Moses and Eryn went from the people to the very presence and, you know, help of God, Alex, that's what I need to do. That's what I want to do. I want to be the man that takes all these issues, whether they're mine or if I'm interceding for someone, I take, from that. But I take them to the Lord. Is that a fair use in verse 6 as a comparison to that?
Speaker B absolutely. Absolutely.
Bert: Moses is getting angry about the need for water
That I'm always impressed and blessed by you, Bert. How you notice these words that Moses and Eryn went from the presence of the assembly. Hey, by the way, I know we've got to move forward, but I was just thinking about something. you know, we don't see that Moses had a long time to grieve. Miriam, you know, and Numbers 14, I believe it was Verse 30, had said that other than Joshua and Caleb, none of the people would enter the land, you know, that they would die in the land. God only promised Joshua and Caleb would survive from that generation. And so the death of Miriam is one of the examples of numbers 1430, that Miriam, Eryn, and even Moses himself would die in the wilderness. And Miriam did. Now they've got this need for water, a legitimate need. So, God tells Moses, look at verses 7 and 8. Take the rod and gather the assembly together, you and Eryn, thy brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes. And. And it shall give forth his water, and you shall bring forth them water out of the rock, so thou shalt give the congregation and their beast to drink. Now, this is the rod. I mean, Moses has used this in the ministry a lot. Now, I really believe that the rod, the Bible says in Psalm 23 that God's rod and staff, that are the shepherd's rod and staff, they comfort and they protect us, they guide us. I think we have the word of God today. But Moses has it. He threw it down, it became a serpent. He took it back up, he touched the river, and it turned to blood. He raised up that rod, and, the Red Sea parted. I mean, Moses and this staff have become almost synonymous. But God says, you know, take the rod and speak to the rock. Here's the thing. And I remember, Bert, I was just a young person. I heard this story, maybe in Sunday school, and it really stuck with me. And Moses gets everybody together, and you see he's losing his temper. In verse 10, he says to the people here, now, you rebels, must we fetch you out of, water, out of this rock? And, I'm going to hand it off to you. I know he's tired, he's frustrated, but I would submit that what's going to happen. And we see it in verse 10. Moses is getting angry. He is angry, isn't he?
Speaker C He is, and it demonstrates that. And he thought he was through with them. You know, that old generation had died out, Miriam died, and Eryn's about to die. And then we find out here, these. This generation comes up and is complaining the same things they had heard before, and I think it brings up anger, that was within him. And he said, I thought I was through with that. they told me, you know, when I showed them the. The rod that budded and almonds were on it, it took care of all that. But no, here they come again. So the anger is there. Is anything wrong with anger? The Bible says, be angry and do what? Sin? Not exactly, but that he does. When he should have spoken, he struck. Okay, the two S's, he struck. That's found in verse 11. When God said to speak in verse eight. And he lifted up his hand, struck the rock twice with his rod, and water came out abundantly in the congregation. Their animals drank. Now, again, God could have withheld the water because he didn't do it the way he did. But in God's grace. I see God's grace and mercy here, Alex.
Speaker B Oh, my goodness. Yes, yes. the mercy of God is very evident here because, all right, he hits it twice. I mean, I think he has full out lost his temper, hits the rock twice. And nevertheless, the water came out abundantly. And the congregation drank. And their beasts also, they. They watered their livestock. But the Lord has a word for Moses here. He says to Moses and Eryn. Now, Moses and Eryn are before the congregation, verse 10. And they. They get angry. We read about Moses, anger. But Eryn is complicit in this, too. Because you believed me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel. See, here's the deal. The view of God held by the people is often by the view they see in the life of the minister. This is very important, folks. Now, you say, well, don't have your eyes on me. Look at the Lord. Well, yeah, but God says, look, you could have sanctified me. The people could have watched the way you carry yourself, and I would have been near and dear to their heart. But you hit the rock, you lost your temper, accused and barked at the people. Therefore, you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I've given them. This is the water of Meribah. Because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them. Now, there's a lot here. Notice in verse three, the people contended with Moses. Moses contends with the lord. And verse 13, meribah, means contention. Now, here's the thing. God was sanctified in the eyes and the hearts of the people. But it was through really, reprimand and, punishment rather than trust and blessing. Now, I'm going to say this. I'll throw it back to you, Bert. God will be God in your life. Even in the atheist, the rejecter, the unbeliever, the communist. God will be sanctified in their life, but it may be through salvation if they would trust him, but more likely if they don't, through condemnation, judgment and punishment.
Alex: Anger disrupts and distorts our hearing and our actions
Either way, Philippians says it this way. Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess. Question is, is it going to be in a state of salvation or a state of condemnation?
Speaker C Alex, when I see this, let me run this by you. Danger is spelled D A N G E R. Anger is a N G E R. The D is added to danger. Now, what happens here? this is what happens. Anger disrupts and or distorts our hearing and our actions and our faith. Here he is. And you did a great job of saying here. Now, you rebels, I think you got to read that with a little bit of an attitude here, you know, because it comes across that way. must we bring water for you out of this rock? Just the whole idea. Anger mismanaged, out of control. And so he heard God, because God made it plain in verse eight, speak to the rock before their eyes. You know, that's pretty plain. Speak. And then we find out he struck. What happened? Well, it had to do with his hearing. It distorted the hearing or he forgot. it also distorted anger, his actions. He hit the rock, not just one time, but what. And I think that was important. Twice. Out of his anger. And what did God say? Because you did not believe me. anger out of control. Will listen. Do damage that cannot necessarily be retrieved from. What's going to happen now? Again, what happened? Not going into the land. You brought them out. I planned on you taking them in, but because of this unbelief, this anger of not hearing me and the actions you've done, you're going to stop short. You're going to stop with the generation that you said couldn't go in. You're going to stay on that side with them. And so I think it says, we better be careful with our anger, Alex. we need to hear God. And, listen, I, know it Sundays count to 10, but there's some truth in that. In other words, you back off. Okay? When anger is there like that, back off and examine it. I see that in this passage, and I think it speaks pretty loudly for us today.
Speaker B Really? Really. well, so they're. They're on their way. I mean, it's, it's a rough journey. I'm Telling you. And it's going to get rougher. So they send messengers. They're. They're traveling, and they need to cross over the land of Edom. And they're not going to get permission to do that. But, here's part of their story. Our fathers went down into Egypt. We have dwelt in Egypt a long time. You have 400 years. And the Egyptians vexed us. And our fathers, we cried to the Lord. And, you know, here's their testimony, by the way. I think that, in this, the messengers that Moses sent to the king of Edom, you know, he makes much of their suffering, you know, and, so we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. Hey, by the way, in verse 16, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border. That's Hebrew for, look, we're out in the middle of nowhere. That's how we say it in North Carolina, Bert. I'm in the middle.
Speaker C Hey, I've been there.
Speaker B It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here. Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country. We will not pass through the fields. In other words, hey, we're not coming here to steal your crops. We just need to walk. It's only 2 million of us. You won't even know we were here. Can we cross over? But the King of Edom, verse 18, is going to say, nope. It's not an easy journey nor leadership assignment Moses has, is it?
Speaker C It is not. Now, who's these Edomites? They're cousins.
Speaker B Cousins.
Speaker C Surely. Surely, our cousins will let us pass through. Family trouble sometimes is. Is not what it needs to be. It's unforgiving. And, we don't like who you are. We don't like where you've been. And you cannot pass through.
Speaker B Bert, I got to say this, you know, verse 20 and 21. Forgive me for jumping in here, but Edom comes out with a hu. Huge army of people.
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World history is just a series of family squabbles, isn't it? Am I right?
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Speaker E Don't stop praying. Don't stop calling on Jesus name. Keep on pounding on heaven's door. Let your knees wear out the floor. Don't stop believing. Cause mountains move with just a little faith. And your father's heard every single word you're saying. So don't stop praying.
Alex and Bert take prayer requests on Exploring the Word
Speaker B Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Alex and Bert here. You know, yesterday we ran a pre record because it was some rather severe weather there in Mississippi. And, so we weren't live. But we are going to take prayer requests today. And by the way, the number is 888-589-8844 40. That's triple 858-9840. Plus, any and every Bible question we're happy to take. And, Bert, the day of prayer, everywhere I go, you know, I was in Oklahoma City this, past Monday and then Kansas last week. People come up and they say how they appreciate the fact that not only do we do in depth Bible study, but we pray. And we take it very seriously. Don't we, Bert?
Speaker C we do. We try to teach this. Like you were in a Bible study group, A small group, a Sunday school class where we open the Word of God. We studied the Word of God, but we say with prayer, we do everything but take up an offering, Alex. And we do that during Sherithon. So yes, we do. And we love Alex and I and Brent. We all love these, programs.
Gene: Alex made a comment about the Holy Sepulcher
So let's go to Indiana. And Gene, thank you for calling today. Go right ahead, brother.
Speaker F Can you hear me?
Speaker C Yeah, you're on. Go right ahead, man.
Speaker F Okay, I just have a comment. Alex made a comment about the Holy Sepulcher, how that he didn't think that could have been the place where Jesus was crucified. Not that it matters, but I was following JJ Jaster on Facebook and he actually thinks that was because he thinks that the walls were further in back then in Jesus time. That's just a comment I had, which is very interesting to me.
Speaker C I've heard that too, Gene. They said the walls were smaller then. But, Alex just gave me one reason why that was. But there's several others. Alex, make a short comment on this.
Speaker B Yeah, and I Heard that too, when I was there. And ultimately, I mean, we know Christ died for our sins and rose from the did. I bought a book when I was in Jerusalem by, you know, they call the traditional site of Calvary, which I believe, you know, the Gordon's Calvary, because it was a General Gordon that was there. And I bought the book with all of his measurements. And one of the reasons that, that I really think that, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is. Is not the place of the crucifixion, is because the line of the eastern gate and it says he will return through the eastern gate. honestly, if you're looking, from really, from east to west, the straight line runs to what is Calvary. and there's. I know this is a little bit symbolic, and the location of the walls has been a matter of dispute, but even if the walls were in a different place, I mean, the idea he would be crucified outside the city, and there's this straight line of where he comes back from the Mount of Olives through what, was the Garden of Gethsemane at the time of Christ, and to Calvary, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is just outside of this straight line that it appears he's following. And, anyway, that's just a thing that I don't know, that any one of us knows definitively, but the garden tomb seems to fit all the criteria. Certainly the place of the skull. I mean, there's nothing even remotely near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that looks like Golgotha, the place of the skull. but it's not something I would be dogmatic about.
Speaker C It is not what he did there. What he did there is what really matters. Thank you, Gene.
John is asking for prayer for his son Jacob who is battling cancer
Let's go to Michigan and talk to James. James, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Speaker G Hi there. Thank you for taking my call.
Speaker F I would ask for.
Speaker G I'm asking for prayer for my son Jacob.
Speaker F he's in a.
Speaker G In a tough marriage. His wife is, a control freak,
Speaker F and I think she's a little bit
Speaker G envious of the relationship that my wife
Speaker F and I have with Jacob.
Speaker G So he's. He's a very joyful man, and he's starting to lose that joy.
Speaker C Okay.
Speaker F So I just am coveting and asking
Speaker G for prayer for him.
Speaker C Jacob is your son, and we're going to be praying for him. And all of those you out there who are listening, prayer warriors, especially, let's pray for him. Listen, family in Laws, there's five big areas that really can cause confusion in marriage. I'm not going to go over them, but one of them is in law relationships. And that can be jealousy. It can be control. So we're praying for victory there. Alex, is it all right if I pray for James, for Jacob?
Speaker B Please lead us.
Speaker C Father, I thank you for James, A father that loves his son. Sounds like their relationship is strong. And Father, I'm praying for Jacob right now, God where he is. I pray that you'd give him two things that I desperately give him. A peace that you are with him, that you're going to stay with him, you're going to see him through, whether the waters are turbulent or whether they're calm. And he's going to stay with you and obey you. And Father, I pray for his wife that she would come to the place in her life where she would submit, to you. And, I pray God, that in doing so, submitting to you, that their relationship would grow and be strong. Help him with his joy. And Father, to lose that joy is usually hope is coming in and being less. So I pray, Father, you'd give him a vision and clarity of what you would desire for him. And while you're working in Jacob's life, Father, you're also working in the life of his wife. I'm praying and believing this and asking you to do a work of a miracle in their marriage. In Jesus name, Amen.
Speaker B Amen.
Speaker C Amen. We need more fathers that really love their sons and daughters and prays for them that way. Let's go to Arkansas. And it's Jon. Jon. Thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Speaker G Oh, thank you, brother. Guys, I wanted to, just take a moment to just give, praise and honor and glory. there's many things in my life and within members, of my church and, marriages all around the country. I've listened, to the prayer, the prayer services y' all do, the shows y' all do over the last couple of weeks, and Satan is really hammering on marriages in America, and trying to break those down. But I wanted to give a shout of praise, because we had. I had an incident, this last. Or not an incident. I had an event this last. Last week. and very, special individual to me. I, consider him, more than just a brother in Christ. He has become family. And, he's been battling cancer. And he was able to, Friday receive his last treatment, and ring the bell that he was, is Cancer free. but we also. Last Wednesday, he, I was trying to get in Tuesday, and I guess I was in a bad area, and I dropped the call. But I was. We were having a fundraiser event on Wednesday, and I was wanting y' all to pray for that event Tuesday, but God showed up, and showed out in a miraculous way. we sold, about a thousand dollars worth of barbecue sandwiches and stuff. And God said, I'm not done with that. I'm gonna take that thousand and make it two. Blessings have continued to.
Speaker C Okay, we don't know what happened. Drop Jon. Praise the Lord. Listen, Alex, let's just do a prayer of praise. But God, man, he is working. And I know Satan is working in marriages and in homes, but let's turn to God. But we praise God for this. The man being better. Amen. But also the. The fundraiser being successful. Alex.
Speaker B Well, we serve a great savior, don't we?
Speaker C We really do. So, Jon, we join that.
Speaker B Jon, God is able, whatever your needs are. And we'll. We'll pray for this in a minute. I want to get as many calls in as we can, but I just want to say to everybody listening, our God is able. Remember that.
Speaker C Amen.
Mark in Texas requests prayer for getting into nursing program
Well, let's go to Mark in Texas. Mark, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Speaker F Yes, sir. I'm, just going to request a prayer for my son in his review for getting into the nursing program.
Speaker C Into which kind of program Mark,
Speaker F he's wanting to become.
Speaker C Okay, did you say?
Speaker G And he wanted to.
Speaker C He's getting into the nursing program. Nursing program. Okay. we'll do that. So we're praying for Jon and praising God for what he's done for his friend. And we're praying for Mark, a son. This is the second son nursing program. let's get one more prayer request, Alex, and then we'll pray. Is that all right?
Bird: Jacqueline in Mississippi needs prayer for her daughter battling alcoholism
All right, let's go to Jacqueline in Mississippi. Jacqueline, thank you for calling.
Speaker H Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. I listen to you all every day. I just want prayer for our daughter that's been dealing with alcoholism for, like, the last 28 years. Say sanctified, feel the Holy Spirit, but the flesh has not been crucified. Going to all these different rehabs. I know that until she turn it over, over to the good Lord and repent and come back to God. I just need prayer that God will lead her back out of darkness into the marvelous light.
Speaker C Amen. Jacqueline, listen, go into these rehabs, if you can get one that is Christian. It really does. But Many times. I'm just telling you this, Jaclyn. I've seen people go through the rehabs. They get information that will help them, that equips them, but they're not ready to practice it and do it. So. But then keep on praying and saying, God, work in her life, that she will come. Just like the prodigal son came to himself and saw where he was. And we're going to pray that for your daughter. Alex. I've seen people healed and even brought out after two or three different rehabs. But then they take it to the Lord and that they learned in the rehab, really under the leadership of the Lord and the word of God. It really brings a difference in their life.
Speaker B Well, it does. And, Bert, you remember you and I taught through the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 28:15, the people said, well, we've made a covenant with death. But God the Savior says, I break that covenant with death. And I've talked to people, even Christians, and they. They say, well, I'm an alcoholic. That's just who I am. I'm a. I'm addicted. that's just what I didn't know in Jesus. The covenant with Jesus, death is broken. You have a new identity. And I think we need to talk about the identity, the new person. We are made new in Christ. And, so, Bird, I think people need to hear Jacqueline's daughter needs to know her true identity.
Speaker C Amen. Amen.
We're praying for John's friend to get his last cancer treatment
Well, let's pray and praise God for what God did, with Jon's friend. And then we're praying for Mark's son as he's trying to get into nursing, that that would happen. And then Jacqueline's daughter that should be delivered. Alex, would you mind leading us in prayer for those?
Speaker B Let's pray. Lord, we pray. Lord, you are so good to us. Not only do you wash our sins away, but you give us abundant life. Jon 10:10. Pray for all these people that they will walk in and experience your abundant life. Lord, we pray for the man who was. He got his last cancer treatment. He got to ring the bell on the floor. And, Lord, we just pray. Help. Continued health. We pray for Jon's son to get into nursing school. What a great ministry that would be. So please enable him to be, a Christian witness in the medical field. And, Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus for Jacqueline's daughter. Lord, we, pray for the chains to be broken. Isaiah 60:1. You came to set the captives free, and the covenant with death is broken. So I pray in the name of Jesus that The taste of alcohol would be just abhorrent to this person and that the desire to be intoxicated, on any sort, that would be gone. Lord, I pray for these people and all to be in the power, the care, the preservation, and even, yes, the protection of your holy spirit. Father, all of us, cleanse us, fill us, keep us, use us. And we thank you for it all. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Speaker C Amen. Let me share this and Brent reminded me, celebrate, recovery is usually at a local church. And a lot of times you're in one church in a community and it is a Christ centered, accountability, and it's not a rehab center. That's not what it is. But after they get out of rehab and they're saying, I'm ready to turn my life around, it's. Accountability helps prayers. So, those of you that are listening, remember that and, and, and just pray for those and also suggest those that they go there. Thank you, Jacqueline. We appreciate you, lady. You've. You've been a listener for a long time and we thank God for you.
William: Jesus spoke about John the Baptist after he was in prison
Let's go to Ohio. William's got a question. William, go right ahead, man.
Speaker F I appreciate y'.
Speaker G All.
Speaker F a quick question. We're in our Sunday school class. We're studying, starting the study of, the harmony of the Gospels. We're just starting. We mentioned, Jon the Baptist. And then in mark or Matthew 11:11, it talks about Jesus speaking about Jon the Baptist after he was in prison and was doubting or questioning if Jesus was the one. He made a comment about Jon the Baptist being the greatest man born of woman. And I was wondering what m. Why was that? And what is your comments on that?
Speaker C Okay, great. men of faith have a crisis of faith. Alex, I'm going to make that statement.
Speaker B Yeah.
Speaker C And you deal with it. And if I have anything to add, I will. But a crisis of faith, they come. and it may not it. Sometimes it's severe on a level from 1 to 10. It can be a 10 or it can be a 2. But you go back and he got his answer. Go ahead, Alex.
Speaker B Yeah, you know, there's something that I want to put up and I'm going to give it to Brent Austin to maybe put up on, Facebook. Now it. Give me, give me a little while, folks. It'll take a few days, but I've got from a long out of print book what might be the most comprehensive, thorough harmony of the Gospels. And you know, there is so much. And this would have really been, not only in Matthew 3 and 14, Mark, chapter 1, Luke 3, and Jon 1. the life of Jon the Baptist in the ministry of Jesus. We want to put that up. but why was he great? Well, he got to say, behold the Lamb of God. I think Jon the Baptist had the greatest proclamation. He did have a crisis of faith. He was one of the first martyrs. You know, he was beheaded, to placate Herod's wife and daughter. But, you know, if for no other reason, the greatest proclamation, he got to introduce and bring onto the world stage the Savior, Jesus.
Speaker C Amen. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Hallelujah. What a savior. We'll be back tomorrow. Read ahead. Finish chapter 20, go into 21 of the book of Numbers.
Speaker G The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
A Day of Prayer & Sin And It's Consequences In The Wilderness: Numbers 19 - 20:21
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