“Flattering God”Psalm 78:36

Israel: An Example to Christians•Israel began, but failed (I Cor. 10:1-5)•A warning (I Cor. 10:6)•Sins of Israel (I Cor. 10:7-10)•We could fail too (I Cor. 10:11-12)

The Journey Begins•God would not let them starve (Deut. 2:7)

•Weak faith (Exod. 14:10)•Belief and godly fear (Exod. 14:31)

▫If only they would keep it (Deut. 5:2)

Grumbling•Grumbling – thirst (Exod. 15:22-25)

▫Bitter water made sweet – Marah•Grumbling – hunger (Exod. 16)

▫Distorted memories (Exod. 16:3; 1:13-14)

▫Manna for the entire journey (Exod. 16:35)

•Grumbling – thirst (Exod. 17)▫Water from the rock▫Meribah & Massah @ Rephidim

Camp at Mt. Sinai•Conditional blessings (Exodus 19:5-6)•“We will obey” (Exod. 19:8; 24:3, 7)•Short-lived devotion (Exod. 32:1-6)

▫Made to drink their idols▫Levites kill 3,000▫Plague

•“Eating, drinking, playing” (I Cor. 10:7)

More Grumbling•“Misfortunes” (Num. 11:1-3)

▫Punished with fire @ Taberah•The “craving” (Num. 11:4-6)

▫Quail and a plague (Num. 11:31-34)@ Kibroth-hattaavah

•Giant enemies & fortified cities (Num. 13-14)▫Bad report discourages people▫All will die except Joshua & Caleb (Num.

26:65)▫Evil spies died by plague

Grumbling & Moses’ Mistake•Grumbling – thirst (Num. 20)

▫Moses sinned (Num. 20:10-13; 27:14)▫Israel partly to blame (Psalm 106:32-33)▫Meribah @ Kadesh

•“Worthless manna” (Num. 21)▫Punishment of serpents (Num. 21:4-6)▫Regret and prayer (Num. 21:7)▫Tested God, destroyed by serpents (I Cor.

10:10)

Sexual Immorality & Idolatry•Sins at Peor (Num. 25:1-3)

▫Mixing with Gentiles▫Sexual immorality: prostitution, adultery▫Idol worship▫Punishment: plague – 24,000 dead▫Indulged in sexual immorality (I Cor.

10:8)

They Flattered God•Believed, praised, forgot (Psalm 106:12-15)

•Israel’s cycle (Psalm 78)▫Praised God for mighty works▫Forgot God’s works and sinned▫Punished for sins▫Plead for mercy▫“Returned” to God (Psalm 78:32-41)▫False repentance is just “flattery” (Psalm

78:36)

A Lesson for Christians•We are vulnerable too (I Cor. 10:11-12)

▫Baptism is the beginning; we must continue•God will protect us (I Cor. 10:13)

▫He watched out for Israel (Exod. 13:17-18)•Israel was often insincere (Isaiah 29:13)

•Don’t attempt to flatter God•Be truly devoted!