Patterns In Scripture by Brother Curtis Hansen

         This morning we are going to be in a couple of places for our scripture reading. We will be spending some time in the book of Numbers from the Old Testament and then we will be in Luke from the New Testament.

        I wanted to begin this by saying that you can see parallels and patterns repeat in both testaments of the bible. What we are going to do is look at one example this morning. Turn to Numbers 11. We will be reading from verse 10 to 17.

      10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses was also displeased.

      11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

      12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?

      13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

        You can twist and pervert God's calling on your life. It is quite easy for your flesh to do. Holiness is your key to communicate with God.

        

      14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

      15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

        In this scripture, Moses is at his end with the people as he speaks to the Lord. The people had already angered God and Moses as well. Moses was overwhelmed by his work and he needed structure implemented. You may already be called, anointed, and chosen for the job, but it doesn't mean you are not righteous or holy. One can look at the reign of King Saul as an account of caution.

      16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

      17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

        My first point to this message is that leading is a burden. You have to not only manage people but also all of their issues. It doesn't matter how many people you're managing. Moses reached a breaking point with leading the people out in the wilderness. God asked for 70 elders to bestow his spirit upon them.

        This group would be known in the New Testament as the Sanhedrin. It was comprised of 70 men and 1 high priest. Are we using our position in life to carry a burden or to create them? God gives leaders to carry burdens. Leadership isn't about having people under you. Leadership is about carrying others burdens.

        We read over in Luke 10 on how Jesus appointed and sent 70 disciples 2 by 2 ahead of him to towns and place he was about to visit. Let's read that shall we?

        After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

        2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.

        3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

        God gives you positions, influence, and opportunities so you can be a witness of him. A good leader shouldn't have people to want them so much they can't independently work. God gives us a direction but needs our attention to move.

        It cannot be stressed enough regarding this walk, but sin kills your authority.

        Be careful of having a position without the right heart. Look at King Saul and his reign. You have the pharisees in the gospel of Matthew 23 verses 2-4 which reads.

        2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

        3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

        4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

        Verse 4 has more weight in the context of Numbers 11. The burdens the Pharisees carried were put on others.

        The last point I want to give is position without passion. What worked in your life then may not work now. You lose empathy in life. With the absence of passion for the truth, you can slip into legalism and lose all grace.

        Jesus came to carry the burdens. 70 elders in Numbers 11. 70 disciples in Luke 10. 70 members and 1 high priest in the Sanhedrin. 3 examples. Patterns point to one question. You have authority. Are you using it correctly?