Breathing Lessons for the Dead

Heading for

the Promised Land

The Perfect Religion: A Demonstration of God’s Nature to the World through a Nation

• Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Exodus 19:5-6

The Law and Lawgiver for the Perfect Religion• If you break one of the covenant

commandments you are violating the original design specifications and you are betraying the relationship with the Designer!

• Keep the covenant commandments and you get a triple blessing: God’s provision, protection and presence!

First Violation of the Covenant• Worshipping the Golden Calf. • "I have seen these people," the Lord said to

Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." Exodus 32:9-10

God’s Presence

• “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15-16.

First Crack at the Promised Land• “That night all the people of the community

raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14:1-4

40 Years Wandering in the Wilderness• I have forgiven them, as you asked.

Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times, not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. In this desert your bodies will fall, everyone of you 20 years old or more. I will bring (your children) into enjoy the promised land you have rejected. Numbers 14:20-35

Into the Promised Land

• As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.

• Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:5-9