1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,760 Don't read the text up front, but being that it's, it's a, 2 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:04,840 quite a long text, I'll read it as I go through it. 3 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,920 So we're going to open in a word of prayer and then we will jump 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,280 into the sermon this morning. So will you, will you pray with 5 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:19,120 me? Our heavenly Father, we, we pray 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,680 and we plead for your grace to be upon us now as we study your 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,680 word. Lord, would Your grace be upon 8 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,400 the preaching of it, that it would be proclaimed in humility, 9 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,560 and in power and truth, and in love? 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,160 And would Your grace be upon the receiving of it, Lord, that ears 11 00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:42,120 would be open, hearts would receive it, and that the 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,920 implanted word would accomplish all that You intend for it to. 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:53,200 Lord Holy Spirit, please come now and awaken our souls to the 14 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,800 glory of Your Word and the truth in it. 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:06,000 I pray this in Jesus name, Amen. When Jesus turned water into 16 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:13,240 wine, he didn't turn a cup of water into a glass of wine, but 17 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,440 rather he transformed 6 stone water jars, each holding 20 or 18 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,600 30 gallons. When Jesus fed the 5000, He did 19 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:27,920 not feed them with one sardine and a small piece of bread, but 20 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,960 rather they ate until they were all so full that they had 12 21 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:37,760 baskets of leftovers. When Jesus told the disciples to 22 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,720 cast their Nets on the opposite side of their boat, they didn't 23 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:46,160 catch just a handful of fish, but it was so much that their 24 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:50,920 Nets were breaking. When God opened up the rock to 25 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,600 yield its water, it was not a trickle. 26 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,680 Person could get one sip, but it was a fountain that satisfied 27 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,640 their thirst, including all their livestock. 28 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,320 When the widow was gathering sticks to prepare her last meal 29 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:13,560 and then die, God did not give her a really good last meal, but 30 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:19,080 instead her jar of flour and her jug of oil did not run empty for 31 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:23,920 three years. And when the Israelites fought 32 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:29,040 the Midianites, God did not give them simply a few sheep and a 33 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,480 few cattle, but he gave them far more abundantly than they could 34 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,720 have ever imagined. That's what the sermon is about 35 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,200 this morning. God's abundant provision. 36 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,000 I want to give the context. We're jumping to the middle of a 37 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:47,840 story this morning. I'll give the context and then 38 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,280 I'll give our application, our exposition and application that 39 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,160 I'll be weaving together this morning. 40 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,800 Here's the context if you were not here last week. 41 00:02:55,880 --> 00:03:01,800 The Moabites and the Midianites have hired, had hired A Pagan 42 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,400 diviner named Balaam to come and curse the people of Israel. 43 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,400 But God used it as an opportunity to bless His people. 44 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:14,360 After 4 failed attempts, it was time for Baylor to go home. 45 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,360 The only problem is, is that Balaam didn't go home. 46 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,120 Instead, he went and lived with the Midianites. 47 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:26,000 And he gives them counsel. He advises them to use their 48 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,480 women as a stumbling block to the people of Israel. 49 00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:33,920 The Midianite women and the Moabite women led the Israelite 50 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:39,080 men into idolatry and immorality, and as a result, God 51 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:45,680 put 24,000 Israelites to death. But they weren't going to get 52 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,720 away with this. God told Moses to enact 53 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,360 vengeance on the Midianites, which is what we looked at last 54 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,440 week. The Israelites sent 12,000 men 55 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,320 into battle, 1000 from each tribe. 56 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,680 They killed every male. They initially let the women and 57 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,920 the children live, but then Moses commanded them to kill 58 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,720 every male child and every woman who had laid with the man. 59 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,760 All of the virgin women were allowed to be kept alive either 60 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,720 for slaves or for wives. And that's where we left off 61 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,079 last week. And now we're going to pick up 62 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:23,680 with the second part of our text this morning and we're going to 63 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,280 look at the rest of the chapter. So let's start by looking at 64 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:31,000 verses 19 and 20. I'll be weaving the exposition 65 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:32,880 and the application together this morning. 66 00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:34,680 So let's look at verses 19 to 20. 67 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,160 God tells them and camp outside the camp seven days. 68 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,760 Whoever of you has killed any person, and whoever has touched 69 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:50,240 any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day, 70 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,440 and on the 7th day you shall purify every garment, every 71 00:04:55,440 --> 00:05:00,560 article of skin, all work of goats hair, and every article of 72 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,920 wood. So as the soldiers return from 73 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,120 battle, Moses has instructions for them. 74 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,520 He tells them to encamp outside the camp seven days. 75 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,720 Now why do they need to do this? Well, anybody who has killed any 76 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,840 person or even if you have touched a dead person, they must 77 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,400 be purified. They must be purified on the 78 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:26,120 third day and on the 7th day. This rule also applies to all 79 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,280 the captives, all of the virgin women that they brought back, 80 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,680 they also must be purified. The reason for this is that if 81 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,440 you remember back in numbers five that we looked at a long 82 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:40,240 time ago, God said that anyone who is leprous or has a 83 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:45,240 discharge or in contact with the dead, all of these people would 84 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,760 be considered unclean and nothing unclean enter God's 85 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:50,840 camp. It must be terrified. 86 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:55,760 So in addition to all of the soldiers and all of the women, 87 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,960 they need to purify also every garment, every article of of 88 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:04,000 skin, all the works of goat's hair, every article of wood, 89 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:10,560 everything, everything must be clean to enter God's camp. 90 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,040 Now here's what's interesting to me about these instructions. 91 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:24,040 They were victorious in battle, They were obedient in going to 92 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:29,480 the battle, and yet they were still considered unclean. 93 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:38,040 Let this be a reminder to all of us that even in our victories, 94 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:44,880 even in our obedience, we must still be washed clean. 95 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:54,000 We never need the cleansing power of Jesus any more or any 96 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:59,320 less. On our most righteous days, on 97 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:04,280 our most obedient days, we need the cleansing power of Jesus 98 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,720 just as as on our most wicked days. 99 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,040 I think that often when we're not walking well with the Lord, 100 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,360 which is true for for all of us from time to time, maybe we've 101 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,240 been in sin, maybe we've just neglected God. 102 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,960 We feel our need to come to the cross. 103 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,520 We feel our need to come to the cross and be reminded as the 104 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:34,560 apostle Paul says, and such were some of you, but you were washed 105 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,080 on these particular days. We identify with Simon Peter 106 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:44,720 when he said, Lord, wash not only my head, but my, my feet, 107 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,280 but my head and my hands as well. 108 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:55,600 But it is not only our sinful days that we need to be washed 109 00:07:55,600 --> 00:08:00,480 clean. We need the cleansing power of 110 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:05,480 his blood or most righteous days as well. 111 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:14,640 Apart from Jesus, the older brother was just as dirty as his 112 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:19,000 rebellious younger brother working the pen. 113 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:30,320 Brothers and sisters, there is no can wash count of obedience 114 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,480 or morality that can wash us clean. 115 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:40,440 There is only 1 fountain and it is filled with blood and we 116 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:45,280 needed as much today as we did on the day we were born again. 117 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:57,080 We never need me less. The verse 2124 Then Eliezer the 118 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,680 priest said to the man in the army who had gone to battle. 119 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:02,960 This is the statue of the law. The Lord had commanded Moses. 120 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,960 Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin and 121 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,760 the lead, everything that can stand the fire. 122 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,400 You shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean. 123 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,440 Nevertheless it shall also be purified with water for 124 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:18,520 impurity. And whatever cannot stand the 125 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,560 fire, you shall pass through the water. 126 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,000 You must wash your clothes on the 7th day, and you shall be 127 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,640 clean. And afterward you may come into 128 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,760 the camp. So Eliezer, the current priest, 129 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,000 gives the people instructions. He says everything that you're 130 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:35,880 bringing back from the Midianites, everything that can 131 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,280 stand through the fire, you need to pass through the fire. 132 00:09:39,560 --> 00:09:44,960 In other words, the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, 133 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:49,320 the tin, the lead, all of this needs to be put through fire, 134 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:55,760 and the fire will clean it, but in addition, it also shall be 135 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,440 purified with the water for impurity. 136 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:01,960 Now we looked at that back in Numbers 19. 137 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,640 If you remember the ashes of the red heifer, they would take that 138 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,360 red heifer and they would kill it, slaughter, take its blood, 139 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,080 and they made this concoction. It was kind of like a instant 140 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,440 sin offering. All you have to do is add water 141 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,240 to the ashes and then you could use it as a sin offering. 142 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:22,120 That's the water for impurity. But whatever cannot stand fire 143 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,000 is only going to pass through the water. 144 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,280 So some things will go through fire and water, and some things 145 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:33,280 will only go through water. Interesting that when John spoke 146 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,760 of Jesus's baptism, remember what he said to the people. 147 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:41,240 I baptize you with water for repentance, but He will baptize 148 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:47,360 you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 149 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,880 You see, we all desire to be baptized with the Spirit part of 150 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,600 that equation. Everybody wants the Spirit. 151 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,000 But the fire portion is a bit more difficult, isn't it? 152 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,240 Nobody likes to be put through the fire. 153 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:13,480 So why does God do it? Why does God put us through the 154 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,240 fire? I'll give you 2 reasons #1 155 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:21,160 because God has given us the ability to take it. 156 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,320 God has given us the ability to take it. 157 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,880 Just as the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin 158 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,080 and the lead are put through the fire. 159 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:39,520 Why? Because they can take it, so we 160 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:44,240 too are put through the fire. Because we can take it. 161 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:51,400 When you put gold and fire, you may think that you have ruined 162 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,360 it. Here you had precious metal and 163 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,040 all of a sudden it's melted down and it's become this liquid. 164 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,200 You're like, Oh no, it's ruined. But in fact, it has not been 165 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,480 ruined at all. In fact, it has been purified. 166 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,800 In the same way God puts us through the fire. 167 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,440 And sometimes we feel wrecked by God. 168 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:25,560 We feel like he has ruined us. You ruined my life, God, you 169 00:12:25,560 --> 00:12:33,200 ruined my dreams. But the refiner knows what he's 170 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:38,040 doing. He has not ruined us at all. 171 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:48,280 In fact, He is purifying us. He is burning off all the dross 172 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,520 that sits like sediment at the basement of our hearts. 173 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,360 Second reason? God puts us through the fire now 174 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:05,040 so that our work will not be burned up later. 175 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,680 God puts us through the fire now so that our work will not be 176 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:13,520 burned up later. Just as God would not allow 177 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:18,080 anything that was unpurified to enter His camp, likewise when we 178 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,680 stand at the gates of heaven, God will not allow anything that 179 00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:26,520 is unpurified to enter His camp. The apostle Paul writes. 180 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,520 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, 181 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:36,200 precious stones, wood, hay, and straw, each one's work will 182 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,280 become manifest for the day. We'll disclose it because it 183 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:45,840 will be revealed by what? By fire, and the fire will test 184 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,160 what sort of work each one has done. 185 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,360 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation 186 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,640 survives, he will receive a reward. 187 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:01,840 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he 188 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,400 himself will be saved only as through. 189 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:12,200 What Paul is saying is that everybody's life, everybody's 190 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,320 fruit of their labor, gets put through the fire. 191 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:21,560 Everybody goes through the fire, either in this life or the next. 192 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:30,600 If it this life, it will not be burned up, it will be purified, 193 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,800 and it will last into eternity. But if it is not in this life 194 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:42,880 and it is in the next life, it will be burned up. 195 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:49,600 We may have our salvation, but we will not have the fruit of 196 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:55,920 our labor. Brothers and sisters, it is far 197 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:03,240 better to be put through the fire now than to stand before 198 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:11,360 the wall. Now whatever could not stand the 199 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,600 fire must be washed with water. Their clothes had to even their 200 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:19,440 own clothes had to be washed with water on the 7th day, and 201 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:22,360 only after that would they be considered clean. 202 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,000 So think about this. When they came home from a 203 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,560 victorious battle, they're coming home, they're excited, 204 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:33,080 they're ready to rejoin their family and, and, and celebrate. 205 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:34,160 But they can't. Why? 206 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,160 Because they have to stay outside the camp for seven days. 207 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,200 And only after they purify everything themself, every 208 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,880 metal, every article of clothing, every done to every 209 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,000 little trinket that they had, it all had to be purified. 210 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:52,120 It all had to be put to the appropriate fire and water. 211 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,880 And only after that were they allowed to enter the camp. 212 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:03,560 Praise God that we don't wait anymore to enter the camp. 213 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,440 There is no purgatory after death. 214 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:16,520 To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 215 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:23,560 There will be no season of of burning off like I've got to 216 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,880 achieve my way through fire after death. 217 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,760 When you die, you enter the camp clean. 218 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,600 We enter the gates as clean sons and daughters. 219 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:43,560 Likewise we enter these doors as clean sons and daughters. 220 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,960 If you are in Christ, here's why this matters. 221 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,560 I sweat very easily whenever I work out. 222 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,920 I sweat when I play basketball. I will sweat off anywhere from 3 223 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,200 to 5 lbs. I weigh myself after and I I 224 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:04,720 love it. I love weighing myself after 225 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:06,240 playing because I weigh like 5 lbs less. 226 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,800 It's just water weight. That's how much I sweat. 227 00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:12,520 Even if I'm vacuuming my house, I will sweat vacuuming my house. 228 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:18,680 I'm sweating right now. Because of this. 229 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:23,720 I feel the need to get a shower. Often before I go to meet up 230 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,599 with anybody. I feel the need to get a shower 231 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,640 before I go to bed every night. I need to get a shower. 232 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:30,800 I have to get a shower. Why? 233 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:37,720 Because I feel dirty. This mentality can all too 234 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,640 easily creep into the Christian's heart and mind, and 235 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,280 especially a lost person's heart and mind. 236 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:50,480 I have talked to many, many people through the years who 237 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,640 miss church. They miss church one week, they 238 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,360 miss it two weeks, they miss three weeks. 239 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,880 I reach out to them and often when I ask them what's going on, 240 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,400 they say something along the lines that they did something, 241 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,720 they said something, they engaged in something, or they're 242 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,640 just not doing well spiritually and as a result, they just stay 243 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,360 away from church. Why? 244 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:13,400 Because they feel unworthy. They feel unclean. 245 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:24,760 Brothers and sisters, if you are in Christ, you are always clean. 246 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:32,080 Always. You may be dirty, but you are 247 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:36,800 never stained. Dirt washed away. 248 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:42,160 Stains are perfect cause the garment to be thrown away. 249 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:48,480 The cross removed all stains and it prevents any new ones from 250 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:54,720 forming as well. Don't stay outside the camp 251 00:18:55,760 --> 00:19:01,960 because you feel dirty. I don't care what you did. 252 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:08,240 I have talked to people who have said if I they I've been asked 253 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,240 this question for if I wake up on Sunday morning and I look at 254 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,200 pornography, should I come to church? 255 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:20,480 Yes. And I have had people confess to 256 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,440 me that they've done that on Sunday morning. 257 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:40,960 You should still. Spirit remind you that you have 258 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:49,760 been made clean. We come here to be reminded that 259 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,720 we are clean. He's made us clean. 260 00:19:59,380 --> 00:20:04,540 Look at verse 25 to 31. The Lord said to Moses, Take the 261 00:20:04,540 --> 00:20:08,300 count of the plunder that was taken both of man and a beast. 262 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,320 You and Eliezer, the priests, and the heads of the Father's 263 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,440 houses, of the congregation, and divide the plunder into two 264 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,400 parts, between the warriors who went out to battle, and all the 265 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,080 congregation and levy for the Lord a tribute from the men of 266 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:25,880 war who went out to battle. One out of 500 of the people, of 267 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,360 the oxen, and of the donkeys and of the flocks, take it from 268 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:31,800 their half and give it to Eliezer the priest, as a 269 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,760 contribution to the Lord. And from the people of Israel's 270 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,440 half you shall take one drawn out of every fifty of the 271 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,120 people, of the oxens, of the donkeys, of the flocks, of all 272 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:44,440 the cattle, and give them to the Levites, who keep guard over the 273 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,360 Tabernacle of the Lord. And Moses and Eliezer the priest 274 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:53,440 did as the Lord commanded Moses. Now, when the Israelites 275 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,640 defeated the Midianites in battle, God allowed them to 276 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,560 plunder their enemies. And so the Lord gave them 277 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,080 instructions. He says, when you're coming 278 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,400 back, I want you to take a count of all the plunder. 279 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:05,160 I want you to count how much it is. 280 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,520 So they do that. Moses and Eliezer and all the 281 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,080 heads of the Father's houses, they count all the plunder. 282 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,200 They're to count both man and beast. 283 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,240 They're going to divide this plunder into two parts. 284 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:22,280 All right, Part A, Part B, Part A is going to go to all the 285 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:26,800 warriors who went into battle. Remember it's 12,000 men, 1000 286 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,520 from each tribe. So half of the plunder is going 287 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:33,240 to go to the 12,000 men who fought in battle. 288 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,240 The other half of the plunder is going to go to the rest of the 289 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,680 congregation. Half goes to the soldiers, half 290 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,040 goes to the rest of the congregation. 291 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,920 For the half that was given to the warriors, the soldiers who 292 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:51,280 went to battle there to take up a levy or a tax, and this is to 293 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:55,040 be given to God. This amount was to be one out of 294 00:21:55,040 --> 00:22:01,360 every 500 or .2%. So whatever their half was, .2% 295 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:04,680 of that was to be given to the Lord as a contribution. 296 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:10,720 So 2%, a .2% of the warrior's people, their oxen, their 297 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:15,600 donkeys, their flocks, was given to Eliezer the high priest. 298 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,720 Now Eliezer there is being used as an autonomy. 299 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:20,880 Like this is not just Eliezer, it's the priesthood. 300 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:24,400 Everybody all right? It served as a contribution to 301 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,400 the Lord. That's part A from the half that 302 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,120 went to the people. So all the congregation from 303 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:37,120 that half, one out of every 50 or 2% was to be given to the 304 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:42,000 Levites. So their half .2% goes to the 305 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,360 priesthood. From their half 2% goes to the 306 00:22:46,360 --> 00:22:48,320 Levites. If you remember why you say why 307 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,240 they why did the Levites get it? If you remember the Levites are 308 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:55,280 a tribe of Israel, but they don't fight in war. 309 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,960 God's instructions were you don't have any land and you 310 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,680 don't fight in war. But God made a way that they too 311 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,400 could receive the blessing of the Lord. 312 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,160 So this 2% was to be given to the Levites and Moses and 313 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,840 Eliezer did as they were instructed. 314 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:16,160 They, they told the people, you give .2% soldiers .2% of 315 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,800 everything you have. You people give 2% of 316 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:21,680 everything. You have Priest Levites. 317 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:29,000 Now, what we learned from this text, this giving here is that 318 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:36,000 in the Old Testament, tithes were a minimum, not a maximum. 319 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,120 Tithes were a minimum, not a maximum. 320 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:45,200 One of the questions that every pastor gets asked every year, or 321 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:49,880 I've never met a pastor who was not asked this question, is 322 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,560 this. Do we have to tithe? 323 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:59,480 And if so, how much, right? How much should I give? 324 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:02,760 How much do I have to give? Now of course that is a fair 325 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,760 question, but it is the wrong question. 326 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,040 Implied in the question is another question. 327 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:16,440 What's the minimum I can give and still be obedient? 328 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:18,920 That's really what the question is asking. 329 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:23,720 What's the minimum I can give and still be considered obedient 330 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:28,240 in God's eyes? Often what is taught is 10% you 331 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:29,400 say? Why 10%? 332 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,120 Because tide literally means 10th. 333 00:24:31,120 --> 00:24:32,680 That's what tithe means. It means 10th. 334 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,000 If you read the Old Testament though, you learn that actually 335 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,320 the Israelites actually gave not just one tie. 336 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:43,720 They gave some 12 to 14 different ties over A7 year 337 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:47,720 period. They had 12 to 14 different ties 338 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,800 over A7 year period. If you do the math on that, 339 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,640 depending on how you do the math, the amount that the 340 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,680 Israelites were actually required to give was actually 341 00:24:56,680 --> 00:25:01,760 somewhere between 20 and 30%. That's how much they were 342 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,960 required to give an audience. I'm routine 20 and 30%. 343 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:09,520 Now, I want to be clear on this. I am not sharing any of this to 344 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:13,920 get you or anyone to try to bump up their giving to 20 and 30%. 345 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:19,680 That is not the point of this. I'm sharing this to help us put 346 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,840 into perspective what God required of His people in the 347 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:28,440 Old Testament and what God may be calling us to do in the New 348 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:33,160 Testament. We see right here in this text 349 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:40,200 that God had blessed them with abundant plunder, but it wasn't 350 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,360 theirs to keep. It wasn't all theirs to keep. 351 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:46,480 God required them to give 2.2% back to Him. 352 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:51,200 That 2.2% is in addition to their ties. 353 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,240 Now I want you to imagine. Imagine if a soldier came back 354 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,800 home and upon hearing the news that you need to give .2% of 355 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:04,120 what you got back to the Lord. Imagine he said, I already give 356 00:26:04,120 --> 00:26:07,200 my ties and offerings. You want more. 357 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:14,480 I shouldn't have to give more. Besides, we're the ones who went 358 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,320 and fought the battle. We're the ones who fought this 359 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:21,160 war and got this. Imagine if that was That would 360 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:27,720 be shocking, wouldn't it? And Christians and churches all 361 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:33,360 across America think I worked for this. 362 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:39,840 I went to school for four, 6-8 years for this. 363 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:46,160 I worked 40506070 hours a week for this. 364 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:54,200 You want me to give up 10%? You know how expensive gases? 365 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:03,600 You know how expensive milk is? Not to mention bubble tea. 366 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:14,920 When you read the book of Numbers, you realize God gave 367 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:22,120 the Israelites this victory. He gave them the victory. 368 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:26,680 Therefore all the plunder belonged to God. 369 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,920 All of it. God could have said, Devote all 370 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:38,040 of it to me. We must never lose sight that 371 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,720 God has given us the education we have. 372 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,840 God has given us the jobs that we have. 373 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:51,240 God has given us the assets that we have. 374 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:56,320 We did not earn it and it was given to us. 375 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:59,840 Therefore, it all belongs to God, all of it. 376 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:07,640 Look at verse 32 to 35. Now the plunder remaining of the 377 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:12,760 spoil that the army took was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 378 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:17,200 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 persons in all. 379 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:21,080 Women who had not known man by lying with him. 380 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:25,920 If you remember from numbers 28 and 29 that we looked at a few 381 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,320 weeks ago, we looked at all the sacrifices that God required 382 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,480 them to make. They had to make sacrifices 383 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,920 every day, every week, every month, and every year. 384 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:38,200 And when I went through that, those two chapters, I counted it 385 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:45,400 all up and in total they were to sacrifice every year 1051 lambs, 386 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:51,080 male lambs, 101 bulls, 31 Rams, and 24 goats. 387 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,280 And that was that. That was nowhere near as much as 388 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,920 they were required to sacrifice. That was just one portion that 389 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:01,840 was recounted there. Here are these Israelites. 390 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:03,240 They are wandering in the desert. 391 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,480 They don't have a lot. They haven't been like building 392 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,280 up their portfolio in the desert. 393 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:12,240 They are nomads in the desert wandering for 40 years. 394 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,080 And God says to them, hey, you're going to need to offer 395 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:22,240 all of this every year, 1051 male lambs, 101 bulls, 31 Rams, 396 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:26,120 24 goats, and that's not even close to all that you're going 397 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:30,320 to be required to give. Imagine if they thought, where 398 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:34,440 are we going to get all that? Where are we going to get all 399 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,960 these animals, not to mention God? 400 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:38,480 We still need to feed our families. 401 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:41,800 Have you seen how much meat these four boys eat? 402 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,680 We still need animals to work our farmland. 403 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:51,760 Who's going to plow our ground? Where are we going to get all 404 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:56,000 that? And God says, guys, I'm not 405 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:01,440 going to give you 1051 male lambs, I'm not going to give you 406 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:04,840 101 bulls. I'm not going to give you the 31 407 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:07,200 Rams. I'm not going to give you the 24 408 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:15,560 goats. I'm going to give you 675,000 409 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:25,960 sheep and 72,000 cattle and 61,000 donkeys and 32,000 virgin 410 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:31,120 women. And that's just the beginning. 411 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:39,240 That is just one battle. They haven't even started 412 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:43,200 conquesting the promised land. This is not the conquest of the 413 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:49,720 promised land. This is just against Midian, as 414 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:55,960 the Apostle Paul writes now to him, who is able to do far more 415 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:00,200 abundantly than all we can ask or even think. 416 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:09,160 I know that many of you are in a season where you feel hopeless. 417 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:13,720 It's one of the reasons that our retreat thing this year is 418 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:20,360 abounding in hope. Perhaps you feel hopeless that 419 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:27,800 you will ever find a spouse, or that you will get a job, or be 420 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:33,360 able to change jobs, or get a promotion, or that you will 421 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:39,280 finish school, or that you will be able to get pregnant or get 422 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:42,760 pregnant again. Or that you will be able to 423 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:47,440 reconcile with someone, or that your children will turn out all 424 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:51,760 right, or that someone you love will be saved. 425 00:31:55,240 --> 00:32:00,960 Brothers and sisters, let me remind all of us, God didn't 426 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:10,840 give them 1000 lambs. He gave them 675,000 lambs. 427 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:23,320 Don't lose hope, church family. God will give you what you need 428 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:29,720 when you need it. And if He doesn't give it to 429 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:38,120 you, you didn't need it. You didn't need it. 430 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:48,160 Look at verse 36 to 47, and the half the portion of those who 431 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,200 have gone out in the army #337,500 sheep. 432 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:55,240 And the Lord's tribute of the sheep was 675. 433 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:58,840 The cattle were 36,000, of which the Lord's tribute was 72. 434 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,680 The donkeys were 30,500, of which the Lord's tribute was 61. 435 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:05,960 The persons were 16,000, of which the Lord's tribute was 32 436 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,600 persons. And Moses gave the tribute which 437 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:11,720 was the contribution for the Lord to Eliezer the priest, as 438 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,760 the Lord commanded Moses from the people of the of Israel's 439 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,080 half, which Moses separated from that of the man who had served 440 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,360 in the army. Now the congregation's half was 441 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:25,800 337,500 sheep, 36,000 cattle, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000 442 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,440 persons from the people of Israel's half. 443 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,520 Moses took one of every 50 both of the persons and of the beast 444 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,320 gave them to the Levites, who kept guard over the Tabernacle 445 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:36,360 of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. 446 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:39,240 So again, as I mentioned earlier, this is just recounting 447 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,200 numbers. Half of the plunder went to the 448 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:47,560 warriors who went into battle. 300,000 sheep, 36,000 cattle, 449 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,960 30,500 donkeys, 16,000 virgin women. 450 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:56,600 Of that amount, .2% went to the priesthood as a contribution to 451 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:02,000 the Lord. 675 sheep, 72 cattle, 61 donkeys, 32 virgin women. 452 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:04,640 Now if you're wondering why does the priesthood need these virgin 453 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:06,240 women? These women would have either 454 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:10,080 become wives of the priest or possibly were employed in the 455 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:14,000 sanctuary. Now the congregation's half was 456 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,400 exactly the same. It was exactly half. 457 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:22,520 They got 50% as well. 330 thirty 7000 cattle, 30,000 donkeys, 458 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:27,639 16,000 virgin women. From this half, Moses took 2% 459 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:30,360 and told them to give it to the Levites. 460 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:33,440 The text doesn't specify the amounts on that, but if you do 461 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:40,360 the math, it's 6750 sheep, 720 cattle, 610 donkeys, 320 women. 462 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,280 Now if you're 1, because I had this question initially, if 463 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,120 you're wondering, wait a minute, why do the soldiers get half 464 00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:48,920 even though they're only 12,000, right? 465 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:52,600 There's 12,000 soldiers. There's like 600,000 Israelites. 466 00:34:53,199 --> 00:34:56,920 So 12,000 get half and 600,000 get half. 467 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:00,480 Why is that? I believe it's because of the 468 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:02,600 risk associated with going to war. 469 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:07,040 I think that the amounts are given to be commensurate with 470 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:10,240 the risk taken. So the soldiers went to war, 471 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,240 they get half, and those who went home, they get half. 472 00:35:13,240 --> 00:35:15,280 And I think that's why it's half and half. 473 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:20,560 Look at versus 48 to 49. Then the officers who were over 474 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:22,760 the thousands of the army, the commanders of the thousands and 475 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,720 the commanders of the hundreds came near to Moses and said to 476 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:29,560 Moses, your servants have counted the men of war who are 477 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:37,720 under our command, and there is not a man missing from us. 478 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:41,520 So after they get back home, the commanders, they go through the 479 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:45,400 army and they begin to count how many returning soldiers that we 480 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:47,920 have. We started with 12,000, let's 481 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:52,800 see how many we have so we know how many died in battle and it's 482 00:35:52,800 --> 00:36:04,960 our county. 1-2 Three 9732 Eleven thousand 911,999 12,000 483 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:11,600 Did we count right? The commander say there is not a 484 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:18,520 man missing from us, meaning no Israelites died in battle. 485 00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:20,400 Now how are we to take this statement? 486 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:24,880 Is this meant to be literal? Are we to believe that Israel 487 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:28,640 actually went into a battle with 12,000 soldiers and not a single 488 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:34,400 one of them died? I see no reason not to take this 489 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:38,720 statement at face value. If it is true, it would clearly 490 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:41,000 be a miracle. You don't ever go into battle 491 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:42,880 and you don't lose a single soldier. 492 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:45,760 If this is true, this would clearly be a miracle. 493 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:48,680 But I see no problem with that. We we serve a God who works 494 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:53,240 miracles. If you can raise the dead and 495 00:36:53,240 --> 00:36:57,080 walk on water and turn water into wine and feed a widow for 496 00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:00,600 three years without you can, you can save these 12,000 men. 497 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:10,680 Brothers and sisters. There are no missing persons in 498 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:15,840 heaven and there are no bald people in heaven. 499 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:25,200 What are you talking about? This life is a war. 500 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:31,360 We go to battle every single day. 501 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:35,520 We fight the world, we fight the enemy, the devil, we fight our 502 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:38,680 flesh, we fight our sin, temptation. 503 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:42,400 Every day we are at war. And on the day of judgement, 504 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:49,880 every single person who is in Christ will be there with every 505 00:37:50,040 --> 00:38:02,120 hair of there Jesus says of those whom you gave me, I 1 John 506 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:16,720 18-9 And Jesus says not a head for called life. 507 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:27,360 And the king takes roll call. Everyone will be there with 508 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:33,480 every hair of their head. Look at verse 50 to 54. 509 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:39,080 And we have brought the Lord's offering, what each man found, 510 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:42,080 articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, 511 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:45,480 earrings and beads to make atonement for ourselves before 512 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,040 the Lord. And Moses and Eleazar the priest 513 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:51,600 received from them the gold all crafted articles, and all the 514 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:53,920 gold of the contributions that they presented to the Lord from 515 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:55,760 the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the 516 00:38:55,760 --> 00:39:01,000 hundreds was 16,750 shekels. The men in the army had to each 517 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:04,240 take and plunder for himself. And Moses and Eleazar the priest 518 00:39:04,240 --> 00:39:06,840 received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of 519 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:10,720 hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial 520 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:14,160 for the people of Israel before the Lord. 521 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:17,920 So the people bring the Lord additional offering. 522 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:20,920 Now this doesn't appear to be required. 523 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:22,880 Maybe it is, but it doesn't appear that way. 524 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:26,480 It's an offering they had when they collected the pleasure from 525 00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:29,480 the Midianites. They collected articles of gold 526 00:39:29,720 --> 00:39:33,680 armlets and bracelets and signet rings and earrings and beads. 527 00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:37,480 The purpose of this offering, according to them, was to make 528 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,200 atonement for them before the Lord. 529 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,400 Make atonement for what it could be. 530 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,960 This is 1 theory that when they counted the people that was 531 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:50,480 considered a census and anytime you took a census you had to 532 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:54,440 make a payment for atonement. Maybe it was authorized, maybe 533 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:56,360 it wasn't. That's all speculation. 534 00:39:56,480 --> 00:39:57,920 That's possibly what this is for. 535 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,120 It may have served another purpose, we don't know. 536 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:04,520 But Moses and Elias, they receive all the gold. 537 00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:09,280 Now how much is this 16,750 shekels? 538 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:15,760 If you do the math on that, that's about 420 lbs of gold, 539 00:40:16,360 --> 00:40:19,400 420 lbs of gold in today's money. 540 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:23,400 If you do the calculation, that's about $20 million worth 541 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:28,520 of gold, $20 million. That's a lot of gold. 542 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:34,240 Moses and Eliezer bring the goal to the tent of meeting. 543 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:39,240 Imagine like go into a church and be like, I got a gift, $20 544 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:44,360 million for you guys. Moses and Eliezer bring the gold 545 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:47,000 to the tent of meeting to serve as a memorial for the people 546 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:48,960 before the Lord. What does that mean as a 547 00:40:48,960 --> 00:40:51,360 memorial? It was to serve to remind the 548 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:55,880 Lord to remember Israel, that when he saw this memorial, God 549 00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:58,200 would remember his people. And it was to remind the 550 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:00,880 Israelites of the victory that God had given them. 551 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:10,520 Now what is our memorial? We too have a memorial. 552 00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:17,600 But God no longer looks at gold to remember his people. 553 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:26,000 He instead looks at blood. This gift of gold may have been 554 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:31,120 worth $20 million, but does not compare with the gift of His 555 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:36,880 Son's precious blood. Before God ever looks at us, 556 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:42,560 before God ever remembers us, before a thought about us ever 557 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:49,200 enters the mind of God, God sees the blood of His Son and it 558 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:52,000 perfectly colors His perception of us. 559 00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:57,720 This memorial is forever planted in the mind of God. 560 00:41:59,040 --> 00:42:04,040 It will never be torn down. 10,000 years from now the cross 561 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:07,240 will still be standing and still stained Crimson red. 562 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:15,560 Praise God for His abundant provision through the cross of 563 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:18,680 His Son Jesus Christ. Let's pray.