Epiphany Lutheran Church
807.683.6621
  • Home
    • Location
    • Staff
  • Belief
    • We believe, teach, & confess
    • What is the "Epiphany"?
  • News
    • Calendar
  • Cool Stuff
    • Messages
    • Catechism Memory Songs
    • Stuff We Like
    • Hacienda Haberstock

The 12 Spies---7th Sunday of Easter

5/17/2015

0 Comments

 
20150517_105414.mp3
File Size: 4596 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

Picture
Readings: Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33; 14:1-24, 31-34; 2 Corinthians 5:7; John 20:28-31

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Christians walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7) The world says seeing is believing. But it’s not. Seeing is a way of knowing, and “knowing” is not believing. Our eyes and our five senses show us all sorts of things. In the kingdom of the Left Hand (of God), which is ruled by law, by government (Rom. 13:1-7), we ought to trust our eyes. We need to see the facts on the ground. We need to make sensible choices. But in the kingdom of the Right Hand—God’s kingdom ruled by the Man who sits on His right hand, Jesus Christ our ascended saviour—we walk by faith and not by sight. For faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1) How can you have assurance about what you can’t see? Well, faith comes by hearing, hearing the word about Christ. (Rom. 10:17) So faith does come from the eyes, by seeing. But from the ear, by hearing. Which is why St. Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel—that good news I’ve heard about Jesus—for it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Rom. 1:16) Remember that Paul before believing in Jesus persecuted believers in Jesus. He forcibly entered their homes. He threw them in prison. (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2) He stood by smiling after inciting a mob to stone to death Stephen (Acts 7:58-8:1), one of the first seven pastors of the Church. (Acts 6:1-6) And then Paul was converted by what He heard. (Acts 9:4-6, 17-18) He couldn’t even see it. (Acts 9:8) But the Holy Spirit called him by the Gospel (Acts 9:15-16), enlightened with His gifts (Acts 9:16-17), sanctified and kept him in the true faith. When this happened Paul was literally blind. It was hearing the Gospel that converted him. That opened his eyes. (Acts 9:17-18)

Picture
So we walk by faith—by what we hear from Jesus. For His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. (John 10:27-28) He shepherds them by His voice leading them to green pastures and still waters. He did it by hand/voice of Moses of old (Exod. 16:11-12; 17:5-6) when He led them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. (Exod. 13:21) They couldn’t see Him. He was hidden in cloud and fire. They could only hear Him as He spoke to Moses and Moses relayed His word.

But like the Egyptians they tested the Lord. The Lord spoke by Moses to Egypt. He said, “Israel is my first born son. Let my people Israel go, my son whom you are enslaving and killing. If you won’t I’ll kill your first born son.” (Exod. 4:22-23) Pharaoh wouldn’t believe. So the Lord gave nine more chances to let Israel go. (Exod. 7-10) Nine great signs to prove His power, might and intention to carry out His Word of freedom for His people. But faith comes by hearing, not by sight. So the signs didn’t create faith in Pharaoh, just as signs don’t produce lasting faith in you either. When you are called by the Gospel there is no explaining it. It seems to defy your common sense, your experience, what your eyes tell you. For your faith clings to the word of Jesus, the God-man, who saved you by His death. It clings to His forgiveness flowing from His cross to you through His Baptism and Supper.

So the Lord judged Pharaoh. He made good on His promise. He killed His firstborn son. (Exod. 11; 12:29-32) Finally Pharaoh let God’s people go. Then the Lord led people out doing mighty works all along way. And yet, having seen miracle upon miracle, having been saved time and again, having been preserved miraculously from mighty armies, from starvation and dehydration in the desert, a year into their freedom, being fed daily, and miraculously by the Lord, they’ve grumbled against Him not once, but 10 times. (Num. 14:22) Ten. Just like the plagues of Egypt. Just like the commandments of the Lord. Ten times. A full number. And it brings judgement.

Picture
Now the book of Numbers which we heard from today is so called because it starts with a census, an enumeration of all the men of Israel freed from Egypt who were 20 years or older and able to fight. (Num. 1:1-3) They numbered over 600,000 (603,550 to be exact, Num. 1:46). That didn’t count the tribe of Levi, because they were not to fight. (Num. 1:47-53) They were to be a tribe who belonged to the Lord, who tended to His tabernacle, so that His people could receive His grace, mercy and holiness. If they didn’t have His constant forgiveness through this ministry of grace in the Tabernacle the people would be devoured by the holiness of the Lord. (Exod. 33:3)

And yet, now just over a year into the wilderness, having celebrated their 1st Passover as free people (Num. 9:1-3), they’ve already complained against Lord—disbelieved Him—10 times. (Num. 14:22) This from the people who have seen some the mightiest acts the Lord has ever shown on the face of the earth. All within a period of less than two years. Clearly, faith does not come by seeing. And so, because they would not believe Lord, or listen to His word, this 10th time the Lord says, “Fine. You get what you want. You don’t want to listen to Me? You don’t want to receive My good gifts? You don’t want to get the land I am about to give you? Fine. You won’t. You get to die out here in the wilderness. You won’t become slaves in Egypt again, but you won’t be My blessed people established in the wonderful land I promised you either. Instead, I will raise up your children. You know, those who weren’t counted who are under 20. Every single one of you who was numbered will die—all except Joshua and Caleb who trusted My promise (Num. 14:20-24), who said, ‘What an awesome amazing land. Not only do honeycombs gush with honey, and cows’ udders drip with creamy milk, but look at these grapes! A bunch as big as a man, it needs Caleb and I to carry it. Imagine the wine! God said it. God promised it to us. Because of His promise to our father Abraham He delights in us. Let’s go take the land! (Num. 13:30; 14:6-9) Moreover, we know that Noah cursed the inhabitants of the land (Num. 13:29; Gen. 9:20-25; 10:15-19) and their religions are full of unbelievable wickedness. The Lord will drive them out before us. (Exod. 33:2) So let’s go up. Remember how we didn’t have to lift finger at the Red Sea? How the Lord crushed Pharaoh and his army? (Exod. 14:13-14, 21-29) How much easier is this going to be?’”

But the other 10 spies walked by sight, not by faith. Their eyes told them that the cities of land were huge fortresses. The people of the land were giants. How could they fight that? For that matter, how can we an aging, tiring congregation possibly be able to keep going? Our eyes tell us it is impossible. But what does faith say? All things are possible for God. (Mark 10:27) Even the saving of those who can’t see past themselves to ever believe that there is more than they can see.

Picture
But what did the 10 spies do? They gossiped. They spread a story. “Not only are the people giants, but the land itself devours people. That’s why only the biggest survive! We can’t go up. It will eat us alive!” (Num. 13:32-33) Meanwhile, Joshua and Caleb can’t believe it. “It won’t devour us. In fact, because the Lord delights in us and has promised to give us the land, these giants will be like bread to us. We’ll eat’em alive.” (Num. 14:9)

But the poor, poor Israelites won’t believe. They want to listen to the gossip. They want to listen to the 10 not the 2. So the Lord says, “Fine. You get what you want. Only those 2 of all this generation who were counted will go into the land. 40 years for 40 days of spying and unbelieving.” (Num. 14:22-24, 29-34) So over next the 40 years one generation perished while a new generation was being raised up to believe in the Lord and follow Him. (Num. 14:31, 33)

And you’ve gotta wonder these days if that’s not what is going on now. Have you noticed that problems of Church in North America are linked to a generation? The biggest gen that ever born. The majority of them were raised in the Church so that churches being planted and growing and popping up everywhere till that generation grew up, got out of mom and dad’s house and turned their backs almost enmasse on the faith of their fathers. So that like Caleb and Joshua only a tiny fraction of that generation stayed in church. Now their kids and grandkids have hardly had any contact with the Church so it’s no wonder they aren’t here. They’ve never really heard about Jesus. And faith comes by hearing.

So this section of Numbers teaches us two things: faith comes by hearing. So like faithful Joshua and Caleb keep speaking of Jesus, your saviour, to your kids and grandkids. And like faithful Moses keep praying, keep interceding (Num. 14:13-19) for your kids and grandkids that their names not be blotted out of Lambs book of life. For the Lord Himself baptized them. He called them by name. He granted them His gifts. So pray that He stir up in them the gift of the Holy Spirit. That He call them to renewed faith, to increased zeal for their Lord and His salvation. That they might find in Him a refuge from their weary, heavy laden worldly ways. (Matt. 11:28-30) Rest for their souls. And that enmasse a whole gen might not go to hell. For the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. (Ps. 24:1) Jesus knows what He’s up to. He is working to save His people. He did it in the wilderness. He did it for you and me at the cross. Though the Church seems to be walking through a wilderness right now, He will sustain us. And He will bring us home, across the river to our heavenly home. But let’s not shut doors of our church and abandon our town and community to be buried in the wilderness quite yet. Let’s keep praying that the Lord will call them unto faith and save them by the words of our mouths.

In +Jesus’ name, Amen.



—Pastor David Haberstock
Epiphany Lutheran Church
Thunder Bay, ON


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Listening

    If audio is available, you may listen to it by clicking the play button.  

    Downloading

    If audio is available, you may download it by "right clicking" on the "Download file" button and choosing "Save link as..."

    Archives

    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    1 Chronicles 21
    1 Corinthians 1
    1 COrinthians 10
    1 Corinthians 13
    1 Kings 3
    1 Kings 6
    1 Samuel 1
    1 Samuel 12
    1 Samuel 13
    1 Samuel 16
    1 Samuel 17
    1 Samuel 2
    1 Samuel 3
    1 Samuel 8
    2 Corinthians 10
    2 Corinthians 5
    2 Samuel 11
    2 Samuel 12
    Acts 2
    Acts 8
    Advent 1
    Advent 2
    Advent 3
    Advent 4
    All Saints Day
    Ash Wednesday
    Baptism Of Our Lord
    Baptism Of Our Lord
    Bathsheba
    Cantate
    Christmas 1
    Christmas 2
    Christmas Day
    Christmas Eve
    Confirmation
    David
    Easter
    Easter 2
    Easter 3
    Easter 4
    Easter 5
    Easter 6
    Easter 7
    Ephesians 2
    Ephesians 5
    Epiphany 2
    Epiphany 3
    Exaudi
    Exodus 1
    Exodus 11
    Exodus 12
    Exodus 14
    Exodus 16
    Exodus 17
    Exodus 2
    Exodus 20
    Exodus 3
    Exodus 32
    Exodus 33
    Exodus 4
    Exodus 5
    Exodus 6
    Exodus 7
    Ezekiel 2-3
    Funeral
    Genesis 1
    Genesis 11
    Genesis 12
    Genesis 14
    Genesis 15
    Genesis 17
    Genesis 18
    Genesis 2
    Genesis 21
    Genesis 22
    Genesis 25
    Genesis 27
    Genesis 3
    Genesis 32
    Genesis 37
    Genesis 39
    Genesis 4
    Genesis 41
    Genesis 6-7
    Good Fridy
    Hebrews 10
    Hebrews 11
    Hebrews 2
    Hebrews 4
    Hebrews 7
    Hebrews 9
    Holy Cross
    Holy Thursday
    Holy Trinity
    Installation
    Invocabit
    Isaiah 52
    Isaiah 55
    Isaiah 66
    James 1
    Job 1-2
    Job 19
    John 1
    John 10
    John 12
    John 13
    John 14
    John 15 16
    John 15-16
    John 16
    John 18-19
    John 2
    John 20
    John 3
    John 4
    John 6
    John 8
    Joshua 1
    Joshua 2
    Joshua 3
    Joshua 4
    Joshua 5
    Joshua 6
    Jubilate
    Jude
    Judges 13
    Judges 16
    Judges 2
    Judges 6
    Judges 7
    Judica
    Laetere
    Last
    Lent 1
    Lent 2
    Lent 3
    Lent 4
    Lent5
    Luke 10
    Luke 11
    Luke 12
    Luke 14
    Luke 15
    Luke 16
    Luke 17
    Luke 18
    Luke 19
    Luke 2
    Luke 21
    Luke 5
    Luke 6
    Luke 7
    Luke 8
    Mark 16
    Mark 7
    Mark 8
    Matthew 1
    Matthew 11
    Matthew 15
    Matthew 17
    Matthew 18
    Matthew 2
    Matthew 20
    Matthew 21
    Matthew 22
    Matthew 24
    Matthew 25
    Matthew 26
    Matthew 27
    Matthew 28
    Matthew 3
    Matthew 3
    Matthew 4
    Matthew 5
    Matthew 6
    Matthew 7
    Matthew 8
    Matthew 9
    Misericordias Domini
    New Year
    Numbers 13
    Numbers 14
    Numbers 17
    Numbers 21
    Numbers 22
    Numbers 24
    Oculi
    Old Testament
    Palm Sunday
    Pastor And Confessor
    Pentecost
    Psalm 2
    Psalm 25
    Psalm 43
    Psalm 91
    Purification Of Mary
    Quasimodo Geniti
    Quinquagesima
    Reformation
    Reminiscere
    Rogate
    Romans 10
    Ruth
    Septuagesima
    Sexagesima
    Solomon
    St. Bartholomew
    St. Matthew
    The Epiphany
    Titus
    Transfiguration
    Trinity 1
    Trinity 10
    Trinity 11
    Trinity 12
    Trinity 13
    Trinity 14
    Trinity 15
    Trinity 16
    Trinity 17
    Trinity 18
    Trinity 19
    Trinity 2
    Trinity 20
    Trinity 21
    Trinity 22
    Trinity 23
    Trinity 24
    Trinity 25
    Trinity 3
    Trinity 4
    Trinity 5
    Trinity 6
    Trinity 7
    Trinity 8
    Trinity 9

    RSS Feed