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    The Ways We Sin

Images to the right are some scenes similar to what Moses may have seen when he looked over into the promised land.  These are Weebly stock images, and it is unlikely that they were taken in the Middle East.  It is also unlikely that current day Middle Eastern pictures can accurately illustrate what Moses saw when he looked over into the promised land.

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The Ways We Sin
And God's Response to Them
by Dave Brown
Return to the Pilgrims' landing page

Preface: This article references a number of Old Testament passages.  Please do not infer that we are teaching that we are still under the Old Testament law.  (There are some religious groups that do teach this.)  If you have questions on the New Testament teaching on this subject, see the Difference between the Old and New Testaments.  Despite the fact that we are not under the Old Testament laws, the Old Testament scripture is true, and as such, it has considerable use for us today.  See what Paul said about Old Testament events in the context of 1 Corinthians 10:11: “Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.”  A similar admonition if given in Romans 15:4.  These passages essentially incorporate the spiritual principles of the Old Testament into our faith system today.  The Old Testament is totally true, and it tells us much about the nature of God.  And while the specific laws we are under today have changed, “Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday and today , (yea) and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).  Let us use these examples to better learn how God responded to different types of sin.

Speaking of revelation under the Old Testament, the writer of Hebrews gives a stern warning in Hebrews 2:1-3: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away (from them).  For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?”  No response is required to this rhetorical question – obviously if we (Christians) neglect our salvation we will be subject to a far worse fate than those who neglected God’s word under the Old Testament law.  So, let us examine the ways that they sinned to see its application to us today.  It should be noted that most of the examples given have to do with efforts thought to serve God that missed the mark.

1.   Refusing to Obey Commands

This is the most commonly understood way that we sin, but for completeness, let’s consider an example and see how God responded to it.

Jonah 1:2-3 “ ’Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.’  But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”

We are familiar with this story, although most do not realize that Jonah’s motivation was that of racial/nationalistic hatred.  Jonah clearly did not want the people of Nineveh to repent and be blessed by God.  God’s response was immediate, and we all know the story of how Jonah suffered in the belly of a great fish until he repented saying (Jonah 2:8-9): “They that regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.  But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”

A bit off the subject, but do we have a command similar to Jonah’s today?  Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: …”  If you are a Christian, this command applies to you.  Each of us has a way that we can be promoting the preaching and teaching of the gospel.  In what way are you obeying the Great Commission?  Food for thought as our article continues.

2.  Adding to God’s Commands

While most religious people understand that refusing to obey a direct command is sin, they often take liberties by adding teachings to God’s commands that are not to be found in the New Testament.  It is sinful to add such things and teach them as part of a church organization’s doctrine.  Think about this: can we add to God’s word without “playing God,” i.e., usurping His authority?

2 Timothy 3:16-17: “Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.  That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.”

If the scriptures are sufficient to provide us every good work, what can be said about works that bind people to do things in addition to those given in the scriptures?  Recognize that the burden of proof is on those who are teaching and binding these things – it is their responsibility to show you the scriptural basis for that teaching.  You have no responsibility to prove them wrong (the passages given here do just that).  If they get mad at you for asking, that says far more than their inability to respond; in fact, they should be ecstatic that you are seeking biblical authority for everything practiced even if it leads to holding their feet to the fire.

Revelation 22:18: “I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: …”

2 John 9: “Whosoever goes onward and abides not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abides in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.”

1 Corinthians 4:6: “Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not (to go) beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.”

Now for an example.  Shortly after the establishment of the Levitical/Aaronic priesthood, the priests Nadab and Abihu had been given strict instructions that they were not to act presumptuously (e.g., see Dt. 18:20-22)  or do things their way as opposed to the details that God had instructed.  And yet we read …

Leviticus 10:1-2: “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.  And there came forth fire from before the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.”

1 Corinthians 10:11: “Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, …”  If you have faith in the same word of God that Jesus believed and quoted, you will take these examples seriously.  See Acts 5: 1-11 for a comparable New Testament example very shortly after the Lord’s church was instituted on Pentecost recorded in Acts 2.  Respect for God’s word matters.  Using the Lord’s church to satisfy our own desires is not taken lightly by our God.

3.  Taking Away from God’s Commands

Of course, this is very  much akin to just refusing to obey.  The difference in this type of sin is the choice of the individual to be intentionally ignorant of God’s word, so as to believe (pretend) that the commands were never given in the first place.  This is an extremely common sin today in that there is a general willful ignorance of the word of God by most people claiming to be Christians, and of course, total ignorance by others.  In fact, some go so far as to teach that the bible cannot be understood by the common person.  God’s word is everywhere; ignorance is no excuse.  But so many isolate themselves from God’s word so that they can do what they please with regard to religion or anything else.

But taking away from God’s commands is sinful per se:

Revelation 22:19: “… and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.”

An excellent example is that of Uzza:

1 Chronicles 13:9-10: “And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the Ark; for the oxen stumbled.  And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzza , and He smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God.”

To touch the Ark of the Covenant was forbidden under the penalty of death (Numbers 4:15-20).  It is  highly probably that Uzza had no idea of this law or the consequences of his actions, although clearly he and the entire company with him should have known.  But who knows when they heard it last?  It seems clear that many of the edicts with regard to the Ark of the Covenant were  not known. and thus for all intents and purposes, they had been removed from God’s law.  For example, the Ark was not even to be carried on a cart; it was to be carried by the appropriate Levites.  Apparently this was made known to David shortly after this event, since he makes a strong statement to this effect in 1 Chron. 15:2.

This example makes it very clear how critical it is for God’s people to know His laws.  It should give us pause and even strike fear in our hearts if we are not  making it our business to learn God’s will with the intent of using this knowledge to shape our lives and to do the work of the Lord’s church.  I am sure Uzza was a good man, and he acted with the best of intentions.  His ultimate fate is in the hands of a just and loving God.

3.  Substituting Man’s Will for God’s Commands

The sin of substitution is a compound sin – it involves both taking away what God wants and adding in its place what some men want to do instead.  Thus, the New Testament passages given above for adding to and taking away apply doubly when it comes to this type of sin.  Further, substitution is a particularly deceitful device of Satan because those who do it usually believe they are actually worshipping or serving God by their actions.  The fact that we say, or even believe, that we are doing something in the name of God does not make it so.

An excellent example involves one of the greatest and most righteous men who ever lived: Moses.  Let us begin by surveying the example, and then we will discuss it in detail.  It occurred during one of the many times that the Children of Israel strove with Moses because of their discomforts in the desert.

Numbers 20:2-11:
2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3 And the people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!
4 And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?
5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
7 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.
9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.

Before getting into detail with regard to Moses, let us consider the sin of Aaron.  Most of us will never be a Moses, but perhaps we will be in a position someday to influence someone who exercises significant power.  Before heaping our condemnation upon Aaron, let us apply some introspection in connection with these circumstances.  Put yourself in Aaron’s place.  The people were extremely thirsty, probably far beyond anything that we have ever experienced.  They were hot and dusty, contemplating their own miserable deaths and those of their children within the next few days.  They positively believed that they were, at this point, without hope.  Let us feel what they felt …

“Look – WATER!!!!!!  We are not going to die after all.  Our children and the cattle are wading into it and scooping up as much as they can.  This abundance of water gushing forth from the rock is cool to wash in, and it tastes so good.  The kids are splashing each other.   Someone speaks up:  ‘Let us honor and glorify Moses and Aaron for what has to be one of the greatest miracles we have ever seen – getting water out of a huge dry rock in the middle of the desert.’ “

“What’s that?  Did I hear you right?  You say that Aaron is rebuking Moses because he did not talk to the rock exactly like God told him to?  Are you crazy?  How could it be wrong if he got the water to come out of it?”

“Oh well, you know that Aaron guy – always was jealous of his younger brother.  He has always been against everything.  Maybe he will let up if we just accuse him of being anti-water.  Seems like he does not want us to have anything good – that’s Aaron for you … he just wants us all to suffer and die.”

Does that give you a slightly different perspective?  If I were Aaron would I have the guts to rebuke Moses under these circumstances?  Being honest, I really doubt it.  I would just rationalize that it is not going to do any good, too late now, so why bother?  I guess Aaron should have warned Moses before he took matters into his own hands to be very careful and not to let his emotions carry him away.  (That is what this article is all about, right?)  But my lack of courage does not justify Aaron’s sin.  Let us read on …

Numbers 20:12: “And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Let me pause to ask – what does it mean to “believed not in God?”  What was the evidence that they “believed not in God?”

As we turn to a consideration of Moses, let us continue to contemplate this situation with great sobriety.  Be careful in condemning Moses.  We are dealing with someone who is among the most faithful people who ever lived.  Consider:

Hebrews 11:24-27:
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

And consider the final words of the book of Deuteronomy …

Deuteronomy 34:10-12:
10 And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
11 in all the signs and the wonders, that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,
12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.

No, we dare not stand in judgment or diminish the memory of such a great man.  And yet, God’s judgment upon him is for our learning – to teach us a lesson about the respect we need to have for His word.  So let us meditate upon the judgment meted out to Aaron and Moses:

Numbers 27:12-14:
12 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, and behold the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered;
14 because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes.

Can you join me now in your mind’s eye as we follow Moses up to the top of Pisgah?  It is desert here and very hot, but when we get up there we will be able to see the promised land along side of Moses.  Please keep up – it is a steep climb.  I am out of breath already.  You would think that at Moses’ age that he would be having difficulty.  But not so … Deut 34:7: “And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.”   No, I am having trouble in this heat staying up with Moses, and I know you are as well.  Moses is gradually leaving us behind.

Deuteronomy 34:1-4:
34:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the hinder sea,
3 and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar.
4 And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

As we get to the top we see the view and it takes our breath away -- what little breath we have left.  It is an amazing view of lush green countryside, much of it already planted with crops that are overflowing in their abundance.  We see the deer and the other wildlife in great profusion.  We have never seen anything like this before – and neither had Moses.   

There he is.  He left us behind for a few minutes, but as we reach the top we see him slowly looking over the Jordon and surveying the promised land slowly from north to south.  Our heavy breathing startles him.  As he turns to look at us we see his eyes are filled with tears.

Let us not waste this opportunity to ask this greatest prophet that has ever lived to this day some questions.  I am sure he can tell us some things …

“Moses?  Moses.  It really does not matter what we believe, does it?  Just so we are sincere?  Just believing that we are saved … isn’t that enough?”

“Baptism is not important, is it Moses – after all, it is just an outward symbol of something that has already taken place inside … isn’t that right Moses?”  (Maybe Moses can tell us where it says that in the bible.)

“Moses?  It does not matter if we turn the local church into a social club, does it?  After all, we cannot teach people unless we get them in the door.”

I am sure you have lots of questions you want to ask Moses.  But I am also sure that at this point you actually KNOW the answers to your questions, and you would not dare to disturb Moses for such things while he is contemplating the end of his life on this earth.

No, Moses will not answer us, but the bones of Moses speak louder than Moses ever could …

Deuteronomy 34:5-6: “So Moses the servant of Jehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.  And they buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor: but no man knows of his sepulcher unto this day.”

We do not have to know exactly where Moses’ bones are in order to know where they are not – they never made it to the promised land.  But from Moab his bones scream out to us the words of the Holy Spirit through the writer of the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 2:1-3: “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?” 
 
AMEN.



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