Few In Numbers

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you few in attendance?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To prove that GOD has given us inheritances upon inheritances with His Divine Protection upon us although we are few in numbers.

IV. TEXT:

1 Chronicles 16:19-21 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.

They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:

Parallel verse:

Psalms 105:12-14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.

They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:

V. THESIS:

GOD has given us inheritances upon inheritances with His Divine Protection upon us although we are few in numbers

VI. TITLE:

Few in numbers

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: uncertain, thought to be edited by Ezra

B. Date written: Between 450 B.C. and 430 B.C.

C. Distinctive features: Deals almost exclusively with the history of Judah

D. Purpose: Provide spiritual perspective of events from David's reign to the decress of Cyrus in 538 B.C.

E. Intended audience/reader: Nation of Israel

F. Main theme: Sovereignty of GOD

G. Key verse:

1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.

He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.

I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’”

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Few in numbers/attendance

"He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan."

Genesis 34:30 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have ruined me! You’ve made me stink among all the people of this land—among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!”

Deuteronomy 7:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

“The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!

1 Peter 3:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.

Luke 13:24 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

Revelation 3:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

B. Inherited nations upon nations and kingdoms upon kingdoms

"They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another."

The Hebrew bible says "walk" instead of wandered. It's the same "walk" that was used in Genesis 13:17 because everywhere the Israelites "walked", GOD also gave it to them. They inherited lands from GOD. They inherited not only nations upon nations but also kingdoms upon kingdoms from our GOD.

Genesis 13:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

John 1:16 (Amplified Bible)

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

Like father Abraham, we are the spiritual Israel/Israelites, we inherited from our GOD:namely: (a) spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessings, (b) favor upon favor, (c) and gift upon gift.

1. Their inheritance from GOD, some samples:

a. Egypt

Genesis 12:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

b. Land of Gerar

Genesis 20:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”

c. Canaan

Genesis 13:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”