Sermon Tone Analysis

A wrong turn becomes a right turn.... God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”

They had never seen war.

They had lived in relative peace, albeit as slaves , for all those 430 years.

Equipped for battle is not with armaments, it means in a marching fashion.

Hundreds of years earlier, Joseph made his brothers promise to bury him in the promised land.

God led the people not by the nearest way, but on the way that was best for them.

The truth is, God was correct about Israel turning back.

In Numbers 14.4, even though they went the desert way, they wanted to turn back… but the distance was too far.

That seems pretty bad, doesn’t it?

But I want you to fast forward.

Across the desert wilderness… and I want you to come to the Promised Land, the land that flows with milk and honey.... the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… the land that was Israel’s.

In Numbers 13 Israel arrives on the edge of that fabled land… and listen to what happens.

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And what was the response?

Joshua’s report: Numbers 14.5-10

Then ALL the congregation said to stone them with stones...

God speaks Numbers 14.11-12

Moses prays for forgiveness for the people...

God forgives, but Numbers 14.20-38

Note… the men who brought up a bad report of the land- died by plague before the Lord.

This is so important, because of what happens next...

The reason this is so important is that they spies who brought out a bad report still didn’t die… remember , they died by a plague (which means they went back out into the desert to die)..... these were the people, the day to day joe’s who decided to go up to Canaan.... and died in the process....

Let’s take a breath.

A deep breath.

Let’s ask ourselves where is the pastor leading us today?

I’m talking about dead men talking.

Who’s the dead man in this story?

joseph.

REmember, he was in the original text that we read… Exodus 13.19

When Dead Men Talk

By the time Israel marched out of Egypt in the Exodus, Joseph had been dead over 400 years.

Let that sink in.

Joseph.

Coat of many colors Joseph.

Beloved by his father Joseph.

Sold into slavery by his brothers Joseph.

Rises to Power in Egypt Joseph.

Delivers his family (including his brothers) from famine Joseph.

Dies in Egypt Joseph.

That Joseph.

They carried his bones out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, through the desert, back out into the desert.

But men who have died already can’t die again.

So they carried those bones.

A reminder.

So what happens.

Josh 24.32

Remember.... Gen. 50.24-26

And Joseph was rememberd in Hebrews 11.22 because of what?

His faith in having his bones carried into Canaan land.

Faith.

By Faith Joseph.

Joseph believed God would one day give the land of Canaan to his people.

So he was sold into slavery.

And rose to power.

And saved his family.

And saved all of Israel.

And continued to say that, albeit as a dead man, until his own body arrived in the Promised Land.

Those bones were a message of faith that perseveres and speaks even in death.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

There is an obvious parallel in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived, died.... and then rose again.

Behind locked doors Jesus appears to the disciples, but one still did not believe.

Thomas.

Thomas would ahve been a great spy.

He would have said they are too big, let’s go back, let’s jsut get on with life.... but a dead man spoke.

Jesus says, “Thomas, put your hand here.

Your fingers, here.

Thomas, believe.”

Thomas says, “My Lord and My God.”

And Jesus says, “Have you believed because you see me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.”

Bottom Line:

If Dead Men Speak, Living Men Should Shout.