Moses - An Unlikely Choice: Arresting Anger (Numbers 20:7-12)

Series: Moses - An Unlikely Choice

Sermon: Arresting Anger

Scripture: Numbers 20:7-12

Date: September 22, 2019

 

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; you and your bother Aaron gather the congregation together.  Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals."  So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels!  Must we bring water for you out of this rock?"  Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.  Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."  (Numbers 20:7-12)

The sin that kept him and the rest of the people out was unbelief.

I want us to see three things that will help us to allow God to arrest our anger, that will help us to give our anger to God:

1. Heart
   • Exodus 11:8
   • Exodus 32:15-16
   • Exodus 32:19
   • Exodus 32:16
   • Exodus 32:20
   • Exodus 34:1
   • The unbelief here is manifested as anger.  The outcome of unbelief is anger.
   • We get very self-centered when we are angry.
   • This sin tainted God's glory (v. 12).
   • "The opposite of this anger is not self control...[it's] humility."  -Tim Keller
   • Anger is being released because you, in your pride, are trying to control an uncontrollable universe.
   • I'm either a moral failure or I am loved; I can't be both.  The gospel says you can be both.
   • "Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one."  -Ben Franklin
   • "Anger is actually a form of love.  Anger is love in motion to deal with a treat to someone or something we truly care about."  -Tim Keller
2. Harm
   • Anger is harmful to your health.
   • Anger is harmful to the people around you.
   • Sin can be forgiven but often leaves consequences; this is especially true with anger.
   • There are 6 deadly steps of anger:
     1. Bitterness
     2. Rage
     3. Anger
     4. Brawling
     5. Slander
     6. Malice
3. Help
   • A few practical helps:
     • count to 10
     • take a breather (10 deep breaths)
     • take a walk
     • talk to a friend
   • Admit and analyze it
   • Repent
   • Forgive
     • Forgiveness doesn't mean it wasn't a big deal, they will get away with it, or you were not hurt.
     • It is not forgetting; it is not saying it didn't matter; it is not pretending it did not happen; and it is not the same thing as reconciling.
     • Forgiveness is letting it go and saying "You don't owe me anything."
     • Forgiveness is canceling the debt of one who has sinned agains us by promising not to bring it up to the offender, to others, or to ourselves.
     • Forgiveness is treating that person like God wants you to treat them.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE: When you are tempted to get angry this week, ask yourself if you are loving something more than God and His glory.