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Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Numbers: God as Provider

Sermon by: Kathy Larson
Date: May 1, 2016
Text: Numbers 20-21
Sermon Audio (link)


The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel, c. 1511-1512, public domain

below is the handout referred to in the sermon: 

God As Provider
They who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Psalm 34:10b


THE MARRIAGE METAPHOR
Promise to Abraham (Gen 15)
Betrothal
Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 1-15)
Wedding
Numbers 
Conquest (Joshua – Samuel)
Marriage
Exile (Prophets)
Divorce
New Covenant (Prophets - New Testament)
Remarriage

What does God Provide?
·         Sustenance for all His Creation: Psalm 104; 65; 147; Jer 10; Matt 5:43-45
·         Supernatural water, bread, meat – for His chosen people and the not-chosen: Num 11; Gen 21; Exod 15-16; 1 Kings 17; John 6
·         Physical healing/miracles: Num 12; 21; Gen 20; 1 Kings 13; 17; 2 Kings 4; 5; 13; Job 42; all over the Gospels and Acts
·         Protection and victory: Num 21; 31; 2 Kings 6; Joshua-Kings; Eph 6
·         A substitute for our death: Num 21 || John 3; Gen 22
·         A way of escape from temptation: Numbers || 1 Cor 10:6-13  

Numbers 11: (also Num 12, 14, 16, 20, 21; Exod 14, 15, 16, 17):
·         Why did the people grumble? How did God respond?
·         What does this tell us about God?  What does it tell us about our relationship to God?

Me as The Provided For:
·         He is the Husband; I am the Wife: Deut 10:12-22; Hosea 2; Eph 5:22-33
·         I belong to God: 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Pet 2:9; Titus 2:14; Col 1:21-22; Eph 5:27
·         I don’t have to worry: Matt 6:25-34; Phil 4:6-13; 1 Tim 5:3-8; Rom 8:28  
·         I can trust Him to provide all that I need: same as above
·         And more: Eph 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:14-21
·         What does Paul pray for God to grant the Ephesians? 

·         What should our prayers to God our Provider be like? 

Daily Devotion Follow Up

Monday: Read Psalm 103:1-12
·         What are all the things this Psalm says God has provided/done for us?
·         Why has God not dealt with us according to our sins? If He were to do that, what would He have to do?
·         Why has God removed our transgressions from us?
·         Are you thankful for it? Do you show Him through the way you live?

Tuesday: Read Psalm 104:1, 10-17, 24
·         How does the Lord provide for all that He created?
·         Where you get your food? Why don’t we always remember this food actually comes from God? Do you believe that everything you have comes from God, even the basics?
·         Why does God provide more materially for some people than for others? Does this make Him unfair? This Psalm says that God can provide you with everything you could ever want. Why doesn’t He?

Wednesday: Read 1 Kings 17:1-6
·         Why would YHWH cause a drought during Ahab’s reign (see 16:33)?
·         Why did God provide for Elijah and the widow during the drought? Does this prove God will always provide for those who follow Him?
·         Do you trust that God will provide for you even if there is a ‘drought’ in your life? How might a drought bring you closer to Him?

Thursday: Read Numbers 21:6-9; John 3:14-16
·         Why did God send fiery serpents upon the Israelites (see v. 5)? Did they know they deserved it (v. 7)?
·         Why did they humble themselves? Out of love or fear?
·         Who does John compare this serpent to? Did you accept Jesus out of love or fear? What about now?

Friday: Read Genesis 22
·         Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son when later in the law, He would say that child sacrifice was a sin?
·         Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice the child of promise?
·         Could you have the faith to do that? In what ways is God calling you to trust Him, even if it sounds crazy?

Saturday: Read 1 Corinthians 10:6-13
·         Why is it important that we study how the Israelites reacted to God’s providing for them in the wilderness?
·         Why is it easy to crave evil things, act immorally, test God or grumble and complain in difficult times in our lives? How would believing that God is your Provider change how you acted in those times?
·         Why does God let us go through difficult times? What should we look for when we are tempted? 


The video referenced in the sermon is from The Bible Project.

Text Box

"God As..." 

links to all of the sermons in this series: 


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