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Hope for the Hard Cases. The Case of the Vicious Vipers. The Case of the Vicious Vipers.
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Hope for the Hard Cases The Case of the Vicious Vipers
The Case of the Vicious Vipers Numbers 21:1-9 – “nd when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah. And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
The Case of the Vicious Vipers wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”
The Case of the Vicious Vipers I. Israel’s Sin – vs.4,5 A. They rejected God’s person Numbers 11:1 – “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord.” Numbers 14:2 – “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses & Aaron.” Numbers 17:12 – “And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.”
The Case of the Vicious Vipers I. Israel’s Sin – vs.4,5 A. They rejected God’s person B. They rejected God’s promise • God had promised Israel that He would bring them into the Promised Land
The Case of the Vicious Vipers I. Israel’s Sin – vs.4,5 A. They rejected God’s person B. They rejected God’s promise C. They rejected God’s provision • They didn’t appreciate God’s provision
The Case of the Vicious Vipers I. Israel’s Sin – vs.4,5 A. They rejected God’s person B. They rejected God’s promise C. They rejected God’s provision D. They rejected God’s prophet • They had His Word • They had His presence • They had His promises • Yet they turned their backs on God & rejected Him
The Case of the Vicious Vipers II. Israel’s Sentence A. The serpents were deserved B. The serpents were dreadful • They were called fiery serpents because of the pain they would inflict on their victims Proverbs 13:15 – “The way of the transgressor is hard.”
The Case of the Vicious Vipers II. Israel’s Sentence A. The serpents were deserved B. The serpents were dreadful C. The serpents were deadly • Sin thrills and then it kills Ezekiel 18:20 – “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death”
The Case of the Vicious Vipers III. Israel’s Sorrow – v.7 A. There was conviction B. There was confession • True conviction is always followed by true confession
The Case of the Vicious Vipers III. Israel’s Sorrow – v.7 A. There was conviction B. There was confession C. There was contrition • The final step is when you realize that God is your only hope
The Case of the Vicious Vipers IV. Israel’s Salvation – vs.8,9 A. There is a picture of guilt • The serpent symbolizes sin • Brass in the Bible is a symbol of judgment
The Case of the Vicious Vipers IV. Israel’s Salvation – vs.8,9 A. There is a picture of guilt B. There is a provision of God • The plan of salvation is God’s idea
The Case of the Vicious Vipers IV. Israel’s Salvation – vs.8,9 A. There is a picture of guilt B. There is a provision of God C. There is the power of grace 1. It was infallible – Everyone who looked, lived 2. It was individual – Everyone had to look for themselves 3. It was instantaneous – The moment you looked was the moment you got saved 4. It was invaluable – It was free, readily available, sufficient, and for anyone
The Case of the Vicious Vipers Isaiah 45:22 – “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.”
Hope for the Hard Cases The Case of the Vicious Vipers