Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP 5 April 2025
Text: Numbers 14:39-45
Title: “They presumed to go up to the mountaintop”

INTRODUCTION

1. Israel’s rebellion Numbers 14:1-10

a. Refusing to enter Canaan

b. Rejecting the LORD and His Word

2. Repercussions Numbers 14:11-38

a. Almost disinherited by the LORD had not Moses interceded on their behalf

b. The LORD’s punitive judgment concerning the rebellion

i. Israel would wander in the wilderness for 40 years

ii. This generation would not enter Canaan

iii. Death of the 10 spies who sparked the rebellion

THE PERSISTENT PROBLEM OF THE PEOPLE

39 Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned!”

Numbers 14:39-40

1. Moses Numbers 14:39

a. He told the people

b. All that the LORD has said

2. The response of the people Numbers 14:40

a. They mourned greatly

b. They rose early in the morning to seek out Moses

c. They confessed their sin

d. But they also changed their mind and wanted to enter Canaan now

3. Moses’ rebuke of the people Numbers 14:41-43

a. The LORD had already given His Word concerning this matter

i. The people could no longer enter Canaan at this point of time

ii. This was recompense for their rebellion

iii. Attempting to enter Canaan now would be further disobedience to the LORD’s Word!

b. The presumption on the part of the people

i. They thought that the problem was resolved if they just simply apologised

ii. They had failed to understand the LORD and how He works

c. Failure forewarned

i. To not go ahead as they would only face defeat

ii. The LORD would not be with them

iii. Because they had turned away from the LORD

THE PRESUMPTUOUS DECISION TO GO UP THE MOUNTAINTOP

But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp.

Numbers 14:44

1. The presumptuous decision of the people

a. That they could reverse the LORD’s judgment

b. That the warning from the LORD’s servant, Moses, could be disregarded

c. That their human efforts would be sufficient without the LORD’s presence and approval

2. Going up to the mountaintop

a. To attack and claim the land from the Amalekites and the Canaanites

b. A significant notation

i. “Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp” Numbers 14:44

ii. The people did not have the approval of the LORD nor the support of Moses for their decision

A PAINFUL OUTCOME FOR THE PEOPLE

Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah.

Numbers 14:45

1. Israel had once triumphed over the Amalekites Exodus 17:8-16

a. Because the LORD was with them

b. Because the LORD was their Banner

2. Defeated by the Amalekites and the Canaanites

a. Experiencing a huge defeat without the LORD with them

i. Instead of the people going up as they planned

ii. The Amalekites and the Canaanites came down and attacked them

b. The painful outcome of their presumptuous decision

i. People fell by the sword as Moses forewarned

ii. Humiliatingly driven as far back as Hormah (meaning: “destruction”), out of the region of Canaan entirely

IMPORTANT LESSONS FOR US ALL

1. Problems will persist if not dealt with properly

2. Vital features of relating to the LORD to be borne in mind
(Lessons from Family Camp 2025 – “Seek the LORD”)

a. Retrospection

b. Recompense

c. Repentance and Returning to the LORD

d. Restoration

3. The danger of being presumptuous

a. Thinking we know better

b. Thinking we can simply take matters in our own hands

c. Thinking we can determine our own outcomes without the LORD

d. There may be painful consequences that would result

4. Our challenge

a. To deal with problems in our lives properly

b. To relate to the LORD meaningfully

c. To guard against presumptuous sins

i. Obedience to the LORD’s Word and Will

ii. With prayer Psalm 19:13

iii. With godly counsel Proverbs 15:22