1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,600 Do you know what the problem with bad breath is? 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,720 The problem with bad breath is everyone can smell your bad 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:12,360 breath except for you. And so it is with complaining. 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,880 Often we're very good at sort sort of detecting the smell of a 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,120 complaint in other people's mouths, but we're very bad at 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,720 realising we're the one who's complaining. 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,480 So today I want you to do something. 8 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,960 Would you do a favour for me with every single one of you? 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:31,520 Now just consider I actually might just be the biggest moaner 10 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,680 in the room instead of thinking to know that message that's for 11 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:37,720 them or him on on that row there. 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,800 He's a real winch bag. No? 13 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,080 This message actually might be for me and I need to sort out 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,640 this this issue of complaining. I've got 4 chunks for you today, 15 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,880 4 headings that I'd like to split this message into. 16 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,480 The first one is this memory is a mirage. 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:59,040 My second heading is manners on the menu, my third heading is 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:05,040 melting the monas and my 4th and final heading is Moses's moment 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,520 of madness. OK, firstly memory is a mirage. 20 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,200 Just look at verses four and six with four to six with me. 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,280 Now the mixed multitude who are among them yielded to intense 22 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,920 craving. So the children of Israel also 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,640 wept again and said, who will give us meat to eat? 24 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,960 We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, 25 00:01:27,960 --> 00:01:30,800 the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic. 26 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,560 But now our whole being is dried up. 27 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,600 There is nothing at all except this manner before our eyes. 28 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:42,640 You see, the Israelites have been delivered, but they hadn't 29 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,400 been delivered. You can take the Israelites out 30 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,720 of Egypt, but you cannot take the Egypt out of the Israelites. 31 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,720 And it is true that memory is a mirage, isn't it? 32 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,760 We're very good at only sort of remembering the the good things 33 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,800 in our past. And and here the Israelites, 34 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,840 here they were, is all they could remember were these leeks, 35 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,480 these cucumbers, the fish. They're acting like back in 36 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,760 Egypt, they were trapped like Princess, like they were looked 37 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,800 after and they were waited on hand and foot. 38 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,800 They've forgotten the baking bricks in the blistering sun. 39 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,400 They've forgotten being battered, being beaten, being 40 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,080 bullied by the Egyptian's whip. They'd forgotten their babies 41 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,120 that were drowned in the Nile. And above all, they'd forgotten 42 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,560 their calling. They'd forgotten their 43 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:30,440 distinction as God's people. These were not to be any man's 44 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,520 slave. No, they had a high calling. 45 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,440 They were God's people. Have you ever heard of the 46 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,000 singer Adele? Just nod your head if you've 47 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,640 heard of the the contemporary musician Adele. 48 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,040 She sung a song. Well, she sung many songs, but 49 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,520 there's actually a quote that I really like that I heard many 50 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,040 years ago and I'd like to share it with you this morning. 51 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:53,200 She once said this turning 25 was a turning point for me. 52 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,720 Slap bang in the middle of my 20s, teetering on the edge of 53 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,200 being an old adolescence and a fully fledged adults. 54 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,920 I miss everything about my past, the good and the bad, but only 55 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:10,440 because it won't come back. When I was in it, I wanted out, 56 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,120 and that's what the Israelites were like when they were in 57 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:15,800 Egypt. They wanted out. 58 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,200 They they called out for a deliverer to save them. 59 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,600 And yet when Moses delivered them, they wanted to go all the 60 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,280 way back into slavery. One of my favorite verses in the 61 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,640 Bible is Ecclesiastes 7, verse 10. 62 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:34,080 And it goes like this. Do not say why were the old days 63 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,840 better than these, for it is not wise to ask such such questions. 64 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,280 I'll say that again. Do not say why were the old days 65 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:49,120 better than these, for it is not wise to ask such questions. 66 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,640 I wonder if you've ever heard people say this. 67 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,400 Those were the good old days. I wonder if people ever say 68 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:57,880 that. We can all be tempted to say 69 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,920 that, that those were the good old days once you've ever heard 70 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,400 people say it in a bad way, where they say, oh, I used to 71 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,160 have some good days back then, partying, having lots of fun. 72 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,960 You know, maybe I was a little bit promiscuous. 73 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,920 Everything was so good back then, but were they really? 74 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:13,920 That's the question that needs to be asked. 75 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,079 People who live like that, they forget the hangovers, the 76 00:04:17,079 --> 00:04:20,040 emptiness, the strain that it put on their family, on their 77 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,040 work. They forget how miserable they 78 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,240 were and if that was you. And perhaps sometimes we can 79 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,440 look back and and see Christianity sometimes, and it 80 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,400 might be difficult and tough when we look back and think 81 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,000 those days they were so much better. 82 00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:35,280 But you've forgotten that God delivered you from that, and He 83 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:37,560 brought you to those still waters because you were actually 84 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,840 restless and unsettled in your ways of sin. 85 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,680 But sometimes there can be good reasons why we take a trip down 86 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,000 memory lane. What about this one for 87 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,240 evangelism? I wonder if there's anyone in 88 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,200 the room, Whoever went to a Billy Graham crusade, Just raise 89 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:53,480 your hand. Was anyone who went there? 90 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,440 Or have you ever seen Billy Graham on maybe on YouTube or on 91 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,160 a video? Well, Billy Graham, at the end 92 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,600 of his messages, he used to always say, you know, if anyone 93 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,400 wants to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, you come forward 94 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,120 publicly because Jesus always called people publicly. 95 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,480 And what happens, quite literally, thousands of people 96 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,720 would come forward and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. 97 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,520 And yet now we see an evangelist like Billy Graham and these 98 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:22,160 great numbers coming forward in in our land, in Blackpool, in in 99 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,640 London, when I used to work for young life. 100 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,360 I think, please don't quote me on this, I've got it wrong. 101 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,600 But I think Vinny Commons comes here sometimes, does he? 102 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,680 Maybe he doesn't. But the evangelist of Vinny 103 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,480 Commons and Vinny used to always tell me about a a preacher 104 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,080 called Lance Pipworth who used to preach in the open air in 105 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,800 Llandudno. And one night in particular, 106 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,960 Lance was preaching and you know the promenade in Llandudno. 107 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,640 There was so many people that were listening that half of the 108 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,360 promenade was cut off. And at the end of Lance's 109 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,520 message he said would anyone like to come forward and and 110 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,640 take a Gospel of John? And because so many people are 111 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,760 interested in the gospel, they had to form 2 orderly cues to 112 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,640 receive gospels of John. And now when I preach in the 113 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,960 open air, when, you know, my friend Paul Sparks preaches, do 114 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,120 we have people coming into orderly queues? 115 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,680 Maybe to laugh at us, But we don't have that that same kind 116 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,120 of sort of interest. And the reality is now we're in 117 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,640 a generation of sowing rather than reaping. 118 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,080 Sometimes there might be a temptation to look back at at 119 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,960 better days, when when our health was better, when simple 120 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,040 tasks didn't cause us so much pain. 121 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,960 Or we weren't always living in this state of anxiety, thinking 122 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,720 what's going to happen on this scan or what's going to happen 123 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,240 tomorrow. Perhaps we look back at the days 124 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,800 when the churches were fuller, when there was a morality in 125 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,160 this land, a desire for godliness. 126 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,160 Perhaps you're in a marriage and it's difficult, or a 127 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,560 relationship and no one knows about the pain that you carry. 128 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,120 But God knows. And you might look back and 129 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,040 think, oh, those were better days. 130 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,200 What does a scripture say? It says don't do it. 131 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,240 It's not wise to ask such questions. 132 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,960 It's not wise to look back because it's all we have is 133 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,600 right now. OK, Secondly, manners on the 134 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,240 menu. Now look at verses at 7:00 to 135 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,520 8:00 with me. Now the manner was like 136 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:19,360 coriander seed and it's colour, like the colour of bedulum. 137 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,760 The people went about and gathered it, ground it on 138 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,800 millstones, beat it in mortar, cooked it in pans and made cakes 139 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,280 on it. And it's taste was like the 140 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,040 taste of pastry prepared with oil. 141 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,080 Manor was actually an incredible substance. 142 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,600 It it wasn't monotonous it, it could yield sorts of different 143 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,120 varieties, you know, there was a flexibility to it, something 144 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,280 that we all appreciate. In the north of England, in 145 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,920 Warrenton, Wigan, it was free. Here they were, you know, at 146 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:50,720 night, you know, they they they slept. 147 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,240 And in the morning the Manor was there. 148 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:56,120 There was no toil to get it. It was pleasant to the eyes. 149 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,280 It was Angel's food. It was bread of heaven. 150 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,080 But you know what really the most wonderful thing about Manor 151 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:03,720 was? It was this. 152 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:09,040 God chose it for his people. That's the beautiful message of 153 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,360 the Bible from beginning to end, that God looks after his people. 154 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,400 If there's something good that the Lord wants you to have, 155 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,320 he'll give it to you. He'll give it to you if you want 156 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,320 it. And yet, what did the Israelites 157 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:21,360 say? No, no, no. 158 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,280 This man, no. We want meat, God. 159 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,840 We want that instead. Well, if meat was the best thing 160 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,480 for you at that specific time, I would have given you the meat, 161 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,520 says the Lord. But no manner is what I've given 162 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,200 you right now and I'm asking you to be content with it. 163 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,240 That's why I don't know if you've heard of the the Word of 164 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,600 Faith movement, this idea of naming it and claiming it. 165 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,680 That's why that can be a little bit dangerous if you don't know 166 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:47,040 what it is. It's basically this idea. 167 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,960 Suppose I'm in my neighbourhoods and I look out at my neighbour's 168 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:55,440 cars and here I am with my, you know, 12 year old car and I see 169 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,160 my my neighbour and he's got a brand new Mercedes-Benz. 170 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:03,240 And I look at it and I think I'd really like a Mercedes-Benz. 171 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:04,560 Oh, I'd love that. On my drive. 172 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:06,360 Do you know what? I'm going to take this to the 173 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,000 Lord. I'm going to pray and I'm going 174 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,000 to say Lord God, I have enough faith. 175 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,720 I have enough faith that one day I'll wake up and a Mercedes-Benz 176 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,880 will arrive on my drive. Can I tell you why? 177 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:20,200 That's not only a little bit silly, but it's also a dangerous 178 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,320 thing to do. I'll tell you why. 179 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,600 Because when we do that, we're telling the almighty Creator, 180 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,960 the God of this universe, what we want instead of being content 181 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,160 with what the Lord has provided for us. 182 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,200 People say I need to be rich gods. 183 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,320 No, no, that would ruin you. I need to be successful. 184 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,520 No, you'd forget me, says the Lord. 185 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,560 I want to marry that person. That's the person for me. 186 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,520 No, no, the Lord says that's not my will. 187 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,240 Can I ask you all a very personal question right now? 188 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:59,120 I wonder what's the one thing that you desire more than 189 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,640 anything else and yet you don't have it right now. 190 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,160 Just quietly think of it in your mind. 191 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,080 What's that one thing you long for? 192 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,200 Because if it's not a a godly thing, if if that makes sense, 193 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,440 can I say this? You won't be content until you 194 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:19,080 finally give it to the Lord and say Lord, I accept your will. 195 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,600 That is one of the hardest prayers in the world to pray, 196 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,120 particularly when we're going for a difficult time to say. 197 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:30,280 Not my will, but yours. Oh God, have you heard of the 198 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,360 Lady Corrie 10 Boom? I'm sure you know that name. 199 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,160 If you don't know who Corrie 10 Boom was. 200 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:39,480 She was a Dutch Christian who ended up in a concentration camp 201 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:44,040 for hiding Jews in her shop. And what you need to know about 202 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:49,280 Corrie 10 boom is she was put in barracks 28 with her sister in 203 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:52,000 this concentration camp and in barracks 28. 204 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,360 It's it sounds a bit strange when I say this, but barracks 28 205 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:59,320 for some reason the Nazis didn't go in there as much and bully 206 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,960 those who lived in there in all the other barracks around. 207 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,880 They gave them a really hard time, but for some reason, they 208 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:09,800 didn't enter into Barracks 28. And one day, Betsy Corrie's 209 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,560 sister, is leading them both in prayer. 210 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:13,360 And you can sort of picture it in your mind's eye. 211 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:14,440 Here they are. They're praying. 212 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:19,720 And And Betsy says, Lord, God, thank you for giving us food. 213 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:21,480 And here's Corrie. She's sort of non. 214 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:26,200 Yes, Lord, thank you for food. Lord God, thank you for your 215 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,240 words. And Corrie's nodding ahead. 216 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,960 Yes. Yes, Lord, thank you for your 217 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,160 word. Lord God, thank you that we have 218 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,560 clothes on our back now. Sorry. 219 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,680 Yes, Lord, thank you for the clothes on our back. 220 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,200 And Lord God, thank you for flees. 221 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,080 In Jesus name. Amen. 222 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:48,440 And at this point Corrie looks up and says, I'm sorry, Betsy. 223 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:50,600 No, I'm sorry. I can't say Amen to that. 224 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:52,760 How can I thank the Lord for these fleas? 225 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:54,560 They they bite us, they irritate us. 226 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:57,360 They cause us so much mystery. How can I thank God for them? 227 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,040 And Betsy? Said Corrie. 228 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,840 The Bible says that we are to give thanks in all 229 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:08,040 circumstances. So we give thanks for the fleas. 230 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:13,200 And Corrie sort of dwelled on it for a moment and said, yes, I 231 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:17,360 suppose you're right. Thank you God, for the fleas in 232 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:19,360 Jesus name. Amen. 233 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:25,040 Now, years later, after Betsy passed away, Corrie found out 234 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,240 why those Nazis didn't enter into Barracks 28. 235 00:12:29,560 --> 00:12:32,800 They had a problem with fleas and those Nazis didn't want to 236 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:37,000 get bitten by the fleas. And my dear friends, you and I 237 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,360 have fleas. I hope not literally, but we all 238 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,000 have things, don't we, That biters, the irritators that we 239 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:44,920 see no good for. And we say, Lord, why have you 240 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,480 put this in my life? And sometimes it's only when we 241 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,880 take a step back. Sometimes it might only be when 242 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,200 we get to glory with the Lord that will only understand. 243 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,800 Oh, that's why the Lord gave me fleas. 244 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:01,120 Now I see why that's hit me and hurts me and causes difficulty. 245 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,920 OK, thirdly, melting the moaners. 246 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,400 Just jump over to verse one with me. 247 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,200 Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord, for the 248 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,880 Lord heard it and his anger was aroused. 249 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,760 So the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some in 250 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,680 the outskirts of the camp. Now twice we see Israel 251 00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:25,800 murmuring and the first time is here in in verse one. 252 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,840 So if you've got a Bible in front of you, just have a look 253 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,280 in verse one. See. 254 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:34,160 Can you see what is the reason why they were complaining? 255 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,040 It doesn't say. In other words, it was so 256 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,200 trivial. It was so minor that it wasn't 257 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,560 worth the ink to write in Scripture. 258 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,000 And isn't that kind of a bit like you and me? 259 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,640 You know, sometimes we we can be complaining about things that 260 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:52,400 are so trivial. Like, I can't believe that I had 261 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,920 to, you know, walk a little bit further to get to church today 262 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,720 with these runners or and then by tomorrow we've completely 263 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,480 forgotten about it. We can so often complain about 264 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,800 little things, but then notice this. 265 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,240 It says they're complaining. It turns into combustion. 266 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,720 A fire breaks out to consume them in the camp. 267 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:11,880 It's almost as if God said, OK, if you're going to complain 268 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,200 about these little things, we'll give you something now to 269 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,320 complain about. And again, can you relate to 270 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,520 that? Sometimes we can be complaining 271 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,000 about the price of milk or the buses late or or this and that. 272 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:28,120 And then something big hits US, something hot hits US right 273 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,320 between the eyes and we see now I'm starting to feel the heat 274 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:33,920 and it just puts everything into perspective. 275 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,840 And you think I've lived so long, so negatively, and yet the 276 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,360 Lord has been so good to me. The second time we see them 277 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,920 murmuring is is over this miracle of receiving manner from 278 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,240 above. You see, they wanted meat 279 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,000 instead. And this is the interesting 280 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,040 thing in Exodus 16 verse four. You don't need to turn there. 281 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,400 It says this. Then the Lord said to Moses, 282 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,840 Behold, I will reign bread from heaven. 283 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:03,400 For you and the people shall go out and gather a certain quote 284 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,760 every day that I may test them whether they will walk in my law 285 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,880 or not. So in one sense I know I keep 286 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:12,320 pointing at that as if there is manner there. 287 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:14,960 But in one sense it wasn't about the manner. 288 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,560 It was about the fact that the manner represented the word of 289 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,680 God. And by them rejecting the manner 290 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:25,120 they were rejecting the word of God, they were rejecting God 291 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,840 himself. And that's what hurts so much. 292 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:32,040 And then what did God do? He answered their call and he 293 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,560 gave them what quail. He gave them quail. 294 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,400 Now what happened to the quail? Did they enjoy the quail? 295 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,200 No, it was it was cursed. And we don't actually know what 296 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,120 the curse was. But what we do know is this. 297 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:48,000 If we twist a situation to try and obtain what we want, we 298 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:52,080 actually have a reason to fear. Because God didn't give this 299 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,160 quail from a place of his generosity where he gives often 300 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,640 to us, He gave it from a place of anger. 301 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,880 And that's why the the people of Israel, they soon came to 302 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,360 despise it. And that's also something that I 303 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:08,800 think reminds us of ourselves. Again, I'm asking you very 304 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,360 personal questions today, but I wonder if there's a a lust or a 305 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,560 craving or a desire that isn't wholly at all. 306 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,720 And and you long for it. You you set your mind on it. 307 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,320 Maybe it is. You want that Mercedes-Benz. 308 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,280 Maybe you're in a perfectly wonderful house, but you want 309 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,360 that bigger house because the Joneses down the road have it. 310 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,280 Or maybe it's something more secretive, something more 311 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,840 shameful, and you chase after it. 312 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,160 You know what it's like when we get these things, As soon as 313 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,720 it's in our mouth like that, quail, it becomes rottenness. 314 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,320 And we think, why did I chase that so much? 315 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,160 Why did I leave the Lord so much? 316 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:46,840 Why did I become so obsessed with that? 317 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,280 Because once I had it, it left me more empty than when I began. 318 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,960 Or maybe there's someone in this room right now and you don't see 319 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,120 that about lust. Lust is very precious to you. 320 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,360 Well, there's a word for you here because in verse 34 we see 321 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,720 what's at the end of the road of lust. 322 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,319 What does it say? Death. 323 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:12,520 They called those those graves. They called it Kibrov Hatavar. 324 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,480 Now again, don't want to put you on the spot here, but imagine 325 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:17,760 your gravestones in front of you. 326 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,160 It's not a pleasant thought to think about on Harvard, but 327 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,440 imagine your gravestones in front of you and there's a title 328 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,079 on the top of it. What would you like your title 329 00:17:26,079 --> 00:17:29,360 to be? Maybe a wonderful grandmother, 330 00:17:30,360 --> 00:17:33,000 someone who loved the Lords. Well, I'll tell you one thing I 331 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,480 wouldn't like on my gravestone. I wouldn't like this title that 332 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:38,600 they had. And it was the graves of 333 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,240 lusters. And one of the most terrifying 334 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,600 thing about all of this, as we look at the Israelites after all 335 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,880 these warnings, after the Lord sent a fire in into the camp, 336 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,080 After he cursed the quail. After his fire was kindled, 337 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:55,360 after the Lord was so angry, did the people of Israel learn their 338 00:17:55,360 --> 00:17:57,640 lesson? No. 339 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:04,800 Psalm 78, verse 32 says this. In spite of all this, they still 340 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,520 sinned. They were slow to learn the 341 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,520 lesson. And that's been my story so 342 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:12,840 often. There's been times when God 343 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:14,560 really has. He's chastised me. 344 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,400 Sometimes the Lord may, even if we're living in willful sin, 345 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,600 make us crawl. He smashes us right down to the 346 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,080 ground, not in a in a horrible way but because he wants us to 347 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,120 walk with him. Because he knows the dangers of 348 00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:28,120 sin. And sometimes God can do these 349 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,800 things and and we can say in a knee jerk reaction, Lord, I'll 350 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,480 never return to these sins. I'll follow you, I love you, 351 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,960 I'll commit myself to you. And then the months go by and 352 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,920 what happens just like that, that that proverb. 353 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,200 Just like you can take the pig you can wash it clean but it 354 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,160 will run straight back to the mud just like the dog returns to 355 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,040 its vomit. So often we are so quick to 356 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,560 returning back to our foolish ways. 357 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,880 OK, fourthly, Moses's moment of madness. 358 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,960 Just look at verses at 14 to 15 with me. 359 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:07,440 I am not able to bear all these people alone because the burden 360 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,520 is too heavy for me if you treat me like this. 361 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:16,640 This is Moses speaking. Please kill me here and now if I 362 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,400 found favour in your sights. And do not let me see my 363 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:25,000 wretchedness here. We see Moses at his lowest 364 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,400 point. This is a broken man. 365 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,920 This is a man who loathes his calling, who laments the work 366 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,600 that God has called him to, and he wants to release from it. 367 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,080 And friends can I say this. There are very few things that 368 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:41,080 will discourage God's messengers more than to be criticized, to 369 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,600 be nagged by God's people. To always, you know, always 370 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,040 laying into the the preacher, or always laying into the 371 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:51,160 leadership or or whoever. That would break any man, even 372 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,080 the patriarch Moses. And that's why we're to 373 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,720 encourage one another. Not just the leaders, but all of 374 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,120 us. We all need encouragement. 375 00:19:57,120 --> 00:20:00,320 We all need to build one another up and say kind things, because 376 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,160 none of us know the kind of week that that we've had. 377 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,400 And then what did Moses do? How did he respond to all this 378 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,320 complaining? Well, not only was Moses 379 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,000 suicidal, but he also complained too. 380 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,720 So Moses complaints, right? So if Moses complaints, why is 381 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,320 it that God wasn't angry at Moses? 382 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,760 I'll tell you why. Because when Moses complained, 383 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:29,960 he took his complaint to God. Now, this is so crucial because 384 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,240 in the moment of a crisis, in the moment of a difficulty, it's 385 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,560 almost as if God is asking us this very vital question. 386 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:43,040 Why did you become a Christian? Did you become a Christian so 387 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,480 that I would serve you, or so that you would serve me? 388 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,520 Because in the moment of a difficulty, when all the 389 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,680 blessings are stripped away, when we're left with just the 390 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:57,040 Lord Jesus Christ, God wants to see, is Christ Jesus enough? 391 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:00,520 Will you hold fast to him? Or will you run to the world, 392 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,720 Francis? Or will you wait on the Lord and 393 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:05,760 walk with him through this difficulty? 394 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:08,400 You see, some of the godliest Saints in history? 395 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,400 They really did mess up. Job was also suicidal. 396 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,320 David, if you've read the Psalms at times, David spoke to the 397 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,320 Lord in ways you and I would never dream of. 398 00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:21,320 And Moses, as we've just seen here, he forgot his calling. 399 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:26,160 But what was Moses's title? He was called the what? 400 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,160 The meekest man on earth. You're right. 401 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,680 Yeah. And what was David called? 402 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,240 He was called a man after God's own hearts. 403 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,280 And then Job, Right at the end of Job, God actually said to Job 404 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,560 only You have spoken rightly about me. 405 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,240 So why were these men so blessed even though they they said all 406 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,000 of these things? I'll tell you why. 407 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,720 Because they waited on the Lord and they directed their cry. 408 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,040 So Lord God. And that's why it's OK at times 409 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,960 for us to be confused. That's why it's OK at times to 410 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,360 be frustrated and even to ask questions to God. 411 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:02,640 Because in those times, God is saying to us, I don't love you 412 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,240 because you put on a happy face. I don't love you because you say 413 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,880 the right things, or because you try to live a moral life. 414 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:13,200 I love you because I am God and because I bought you with my 415 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,480 son's Precious Blood. That is why I love you. 416 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:21,200 Perhaps there is someone here today who is frustrated. 417 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:25,040 Perhaps there's someone who's struggling quietly behind the 418 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,960 scenes. Maybe you're confused. 419 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:28,320 Maybe you've got so many questions. 420 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:33,040 What would I say to you? I'd say come to Christ as you 421 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:35,240 are. He may not take the pain away 422 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,920 from you, but he does promise that he'll hold your hand 423 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,480 through the pain through those trials. 424 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:44,760 Just like you know Moses. There was there was many times 425 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,440 when Moses, he interceded for the people. 426 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,200 He stood in the gap. Here was God's wrath and here 427 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,920 was the people of Israel, and they were moaning and God's 428 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,360 wrath was coming for them. But Moses, he, he interceded. 429 00:22:56,360 --> 00:22:58,600 He pleaded with God. There was once when when Moses 430 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,400 actually cried out. If you will not forgive this, 431 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,160 people blot out my name from the book of life. 432 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,760 In other words, I'm prepared to lay down my own salvation for 433 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:10,800 this people and friends. You and I have a great high 434 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,720 priest. You and I have a Moses. 435 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,440 You and I have a man who intercedes for us. 436 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,320 The Lord Jesus Christ stands in the gap. 437 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,920 Here we are our sin, our rottenness, our failures. 438 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:23,800 Here's the wrath of God. It's coming. 439 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:27,120 But Christ, if you like, takes the bullet for us. 440 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,160 The Bible says he's the propitiation for us, and that's 441 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,200 a big word. But in other words, it means he 442 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,120 turns it away. He absorbs that wrath, all the 443 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:38,040 punishment on the cross, it was absorbed and he turned it away. 444 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:39,280 Just like a miracle took it away. 445 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:43,080 He took it himself for us. That is the most wonderful 446 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,000 message. And that's why I sleep well at 447 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,640 night, knowing that I have a high priest who's not dead. 448 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,760 For on the third day he rose from the grave, and right now 449 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:53,520 he's in heaven forever, pleading forever. 450 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,160 He's praying right now. When you pray a prayer, do you 451 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,880 know this? The Lord Jesus Christ prays with 452 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,280 you. He takes your requests to the 453 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,160 throne. And when you came to him, if 454 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:07,200 you've come to him and said, Lord God, forgive me, wash me, 455 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,920 and I shall be whiter than snow. The Lord Jesus Christ took that 456 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,240 request, and with a covenant and blood it was sealed. 457 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,840 And you're saved because Jesus died on that cross for you. 458 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,160 Do you know that? For yourself, friends, Have you 459 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:25,240 met the risen Lord and let him turn your life upside down? 460 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:29,360 As I as I finish, I didn't know which. 461 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,320 I had two illustrations, but I'll just share one of them with 462 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:34,440 you. I'll be honest, I'm not going to 463 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,600 go into details, but I've had a very, very tough week this week. 464 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,560 In fact, here's a big secret I nearly asked. 465 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,000 Well, I did. I ask Paul Sparks. 466 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,320 Just just write another message, just in case. 467 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:46,440 I can't make it this week because it's been a tough week. 468 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,320 It was something that's actually kind of, it sounds really weird, 469 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,600 but helped me get through this week is some friends of ours 470 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,720 lent us the the DVD box set of Little House on the Prairie. 471 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:58,840 Have you seen that? OK, I've never seen it before, 472 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,320 so don't tell me what happens. We're only up to season Season 4 473 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:06,360 now, so no spoilers. And it was really helpful. 474 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,000 And I was kind of interested as I'm watching these, knowing that 475 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,520 this was filmed back in 1974, which I know none of us were 476 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:17,520 born around back then in 1974. But back in 1974, I was 477 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,400 thinking, I wonder where this cast is now. 478 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:22,080 I wonder what's happened to them. 479 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,200 And so the little girls who are in that, they're in their 50s. 480 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:30,200 One of the, the lady who played Carolyn, she's, she's 77 now and 481 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,440 I'm watching it. And then the main man, the man 482 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,360 who plays Charles Ingalls, Michael Landon, who actually 483 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:40,280 directed it, he produced it. Where's he, do you know what 484 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:44,080 happened to him? He died of pancreatic cancer. 485 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,520 And so I I looked at it a little bit more and I I heard an 486 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,400 interview with him and it was just when he heard about the 487 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,720 diagnosis and this is what Michael Landon said. 488 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:58,440 He said when you get that diagnosis, it's not as if you 489 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:02,520 suddenly love your family more because you've always loved them 490 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:07,800 to pieces, but you do start to notice things more. 491 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:12,480 And you want to be there to notice those little things that 492 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:15,360 you'd missed. And friends. 493 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:17,960 That's really the heart of this message. 494 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,400 The Lord gives us little things, little things to look at, little 495 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,320 things to notice. You know, just walking around 496 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,480 Sainsbury's might seem mundane, but it's a gift, isn't it? 497 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,720 To have breath. You know, watching my little son 498 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,920 yesterday playing football, just watching him run around after a 499 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,560 ball, he's not very good. But it's a gift, isn't it? 500 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:42,200 That big oak tree outside your house is beautiful. 501 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,200 The conquers on the floor, all these little gifts, and God 502 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,720 gives them every single day to us. 503 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,160 So I'm just saying, I'm a moaner. 504 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:55,240 I complain, but let's just take time to just give thanks to this 505 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,320 wonderful God. And let's notice these little 506 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:02,440 things and praise the one who saved us and put a smile on our 507 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,640 face because we're redeemed in Him. 508 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,000 Let me say a little prayer and I'll. 509 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:16,600 I'll pass back over to Robert. Gracious God, we mean this when 510 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,160 we say it, but we truly do love you. 511 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:23,520 We really do. We thank you that you have given 512 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:27,640 us life today. You've given us food, clothes on 513 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:31,160 our back. You've saved us with your own 514 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,920 son's blood, and we have so much to be grateful for. 515 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:39,440 Lord, if perhaps we are given to a negative spirits and 516 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:43,960 complaining, please would you be patient with us and help us to 517 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:48,920 turn from this sin, help us to have love and help us to notice 518 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,480 all these little things that you give us every day and to be 519 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,480 present in the moment in this life right now. 520 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,840 For we do not know what will be around the corner, what will 521 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:02,160 happen tomorrow. Thank you for being with us this 522 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,280 morning. We prayed you would be and you 523 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,920 have been. Thank you, Lord, we pray these 524 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,120 things in Jesus name. Amen.