Numbers 21

Before the Throne of God

Before the Throne of God

Ryan & Bethany Reedy - 4/30/2023

Key Passage: Isaiah 6

Method • Questions

What Stood Out To You from Isaiah 6?

  • The overlap between the heavenly and earthly realms

  • Isaiah’s response to a holy God.

What Questions do you have? 

Who is King Uzziah?

  • Uzziah was a pretty good King, but the people of his time were not! 

    • 2 Chronicles 27

Who/What are the Seraphim?

  • Isaiah 6:2

    • The burning ones

  • Numbers 21

    • venomous snakes

  • Ezekiel 10, Revelation 4

    • Other passages that depict similarly strange heavenly creatures 

Shaking and Smoke?

  • Isaiah 6:4

    • The building shakes but doesn’t break at the voices of these beings

    • Both of these things point to God’s glory.

What do we learn about God from this story?

What did Isaiah experience?

  • He saw

    • A high and lofty throne

    • His robe filled the temple

  • He heard

    • Holy Holy Holy

      • Supremely and completely

  • He felt 

    • The shaking

  • He smelled

    • The smoke

A Special Name of God

  • Yahweh Sabaoth

    • Lord of Hosts

    • Lord Almighty

    • Lord of Heaven’s Armies

  • Also seen in Psalm 46

    • This name reminds us of God’s protection. He’s there when we call out in times of need.

What do we learn about people from this story?

  • Isaiah 6:5 - Isaiah’s response to seeing God is complete humility.

    • He is overwhelmed and undone.

  • Isaiah is completely dependent on God’s grace and mercy 

    • Romans 5:6

  • Isaiah doesn’t reject God, He receives God’s gift.

Isaiah’s response

  • Woe is me

    • Isaiah 6:5

  • Here I am. Send Me

    • Isaiah 6:8

What is OUR response to God’s presence and invitation in our lives?

How do the people of Isaiah’s time respond?

  • Rejection (Isaiah 6:9-10)

    • John 12:37-43

  • Remnant (Isaiah 6:11-13)

Before the throne of God

  • Revelation 7:9-10

  • “Missions exist because worship doesn’t”

How do I live out what I learned?

  • I have seen the King

  • Here I am. Send me.

  • Lord, how long will this go on?

Nicodemus - Four Object Lessons

Nicodemus - Four Object Lessons

The Gospel of John - Part 5 - 9/13/20

Key passage: John 3:1-21

Nicodemus - John 3:1-2

  • A Pharisee (3:1)

    • Very strict adherence, in all possible ways, to the rules.

  • A “ruler of the Jews” (3:1)

    • Well educated

    • Wealthy aristocrat

  • He came to Jesus at night (3:2)

    • He, most likely, wanted to be discrete.

  • “These signs must be from God” (3:2)

Four Object Lessons

Birth - John 3:3-7

  • “Unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

    • How can this be?

  • Jesus was using imagery that Nicodemus should have understood as a Pharisee.

  • “Born of the water”

    • Could be a reference to baptism or simply a reference to natural birth.

Wind - John 3:8-10

  • John 3:8 (HCSB): The wind  blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

    • Ezekiel 36:26-27

    • There is some mystery when it comes to this transformation.

  • “How can these things be?”

    • John is using Nicodemus’s density as an ironic foil for Jesus’ wisdom.

    • John 3:10 (HCSB): Are you a teacher  of Israel and don’t know these things?”

Snake - John 3:14-18

  • Just as Moses lifted up the snake... the Son of Man must be lifted up.

    • Numbers 21:4-8

    • In the same way that the Israelites suffered from snake venom, we all suffer from the venom of sin in our lives.

    • In the same way that the snake was lifted up to save the Israelites, Jesus was lifted up on a cross to save all who look to Him.

      • John 3:16-18

      • Romans 8:1 - there is now, therefore, no condemnation for those in Jesus Christ.

Light vs Darkness - John 3:19-21

  • The light came into the world, but the people loved darkness. (3:19)

  • Everyone who does evil hates the light. (3:20)

  • Those who live by truth come to the light (3:21)