Tony Dungy, former NFL coach said – “Champions don’t do extraordinary things. They do ordinary things, but they do them without thinking and they do them too fast for the other team to react.”
He believed that the key to winning football games was changing his players’ habits.
In the game, he wanted players to stop making decisions and to react habitually.
Habits are predictable. Simple habits follow a three-step loop
The Cue, the routine, and the reward.
Often, in the NFL the team with the thickest playbook or the most complicated scheme wins.
Dungy rejected this approach. He wanted his team to play without thinking because they have built habits.
After reading the cues, the player reacts with the predetermined routine.
Habits are not shaped in the game, they are shaped in practice. Dungy and his coaches would grill their players verbally over and over. When you see this cue on the field, what will you do? And this cue… and this cue… Now let’s practice. Do it again… and again…
It took a while for Dungy’s teams to adopt his approach but once they did he started winning. First with the Tampa Bucs and then with the Indy Colts.
With the Colts he had one of the best quarterbacks of all time and his teams were winning more and more games year after year. In 2005 they had the best record yet at 14-2.
While his teams experienced success during the regular season, in the high stress games, they would collapse.
What Dungy discovered is that his players did not believe.
They did not trust their training.
He said, “Belief is the biggest part of success in professional football…the team wanted to believe but when things got really tense they went back to their comfort zones and bad habits.”
Things are about to get really tense for Children of Israel. Up to this point in the story they have been staying in an oasis, but soon they will march through the wilderness to the land of Promise. This is where we find them in the book of Numbers.
Last week Aaron spoke about the Day of Atonement. It was a ritual that God provided so that the people could be in his presence.
How does the day of atonement fit into our habit loop and the need to train?
Cue – (Yom Kippur – Date on the calendar) sinful people cannot dwell with God
Routine – follow the Ritual outlined in Lev. 16
Reward – sins are atoned for and we can draw near to God.
Belief – God said that our sin is atoned. We trust him. Why… he brought us out of Egypt protected us in the Passover.
Obviously I left out the theological significance of the day of atonement but all the laws all the rituals point to the same reality.
“I will be your God and you will be my people” Trust me.
God is the most glorious being in the universe. Trusting and obeying the most glorious being in the universe is the highest possible good for every human being.
There is nothing better than being near God, but when being near God becomes a game
“… oh these details don’t matter…” then the people are trusting themselves and think they are smarter than God.
At this point in the storyline there is a sift in direction.
Rescue from Egypt and being led to the land of promise
Egypt is the only home that the people of Israel have ever known. God is preparing his people for a new home.
It is a fruitful land demonstrating God’s sovereign blessing
It is an occupied land, and the people are responsible to take it with military force.
God will go with them if they trust him.
The land is occupied by wicked powerful people who do not value life.
These people practice religious prostitution and child sacrifices.
God has a two-fold purpose in bringing the people into the land – Blessing and Judgement.
Blessing for Israel if the people obey the Lord.
Judgement for the people in the Land
What does this new home signify – It signifies rest and being at home with God.
The land is a temporal blessing. The ultimate reward is always God himself.
So, at the beginning of Numbers there is a military census to prepare for the conquest. The warriors are counted and there are 603,550 fighting men twenty years or older. This is why the book of Numbers is called… Numbers.
Later in NUMBERS 13…
12 scouts are sent into the land, one representative from each tribe. Moses tells them where to go and tells them to bring some fruit of the land back, presumably so that the people will see with their eyes, “this is a good land.”
After 40 days, the 12 return.
10 say. The land is good. The people are too stronger, we should not go.
1 scout, Caleb says – yes the land is good, yes the people are strong, we can defeat them, we should go. Later Joshua sides with Caleb, so there are 2 in favor and 10 opposed.
Next, the people hear the report and they are poised to respond.
This is the high stress moment that they have been training for…
Numbers 14:1-12
14 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite community, “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. 9 Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”
10 While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.
11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people despise me? How long will they not trust in me despite all the signs I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them with a plague and destroy them. Then I will make you into a greater and mightier nation than they are.” [1]
How long will these people despise me?
Such a personal indictment from the Lord.
In Psalm 95 it says that the Lord, loathed this generation for 40 years.
Verse 28-29 As I live—this is the Lord’s declaration—I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. 29 Your corpses will fall in this wilderness—all of you who were registered in the census, the entire number of you twenty years old or more—because you have complained about me.[2]
Is God’s judgement harsh? We could think, maybe God did not do enough to convince the people or could have given them more time or better strategy.
As we read our Bible we must remember, the Bible is a story of rescue.
God is a rescuer. He is not a lawyer. He is not a salesman.
God is not making a case for himself. He is revealing himself.
“Man I wish these people would love me… I’m just so nice and kind and we could have so much fun together.”
He is completely and forever satisfied within himself. Because we are needy people, it is hard to get our minds around the fact that God is 100% ok without us, but he is 100% committed to making a way for us to be with him.
Most of you have been rescued by God. You have trusted in Christ, so today’s message is primarily about us training to trust God our rescuer.
Phil 3:12 I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Believe or not, Numbers was written so that we might take hold of what Christ took hold of for us.
1 Cor 10:11-12 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.
We can learn from this generation, but let’s heed Paul’s warning – whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.
What can we learn from the rebellion of these people?
Primarily the people did not trust their training which meant they did not trust their rescuer.
- The people trained to trust the wrong leaders.
10 scouts came back and gave a bad report, and the people listened to them rather than Caleb and Joshua.
They complained about Moses and Aaron. Let’s appoint some other leaders.
They picked up stones to stone Joshua and Caleb.
The book of Numbers has several stories in which the people despise God’s appointed leaders.
Ch 11 Aaron and Miriam think why is Moses so special. God confirms Moses.
Ch 15 Korah and his followers oppose Moses. God confirms Moses.
Failing to trust God’s leader is not a new habit.
Exodus 16:3 You (Moses) brought us into this wilderness to die.
Exodus 14:11 You (Moses) have taken us to die in the wilderness.
The leadership of the 10 was motivated by fear. Their lack of faith filled leadership led to their own death in verse 37 it says the Lord struck them down.
Followers suffer tragic consequences when led by faithless leaders.
Not only were the 10 scouts killed and a whole generation sentenced to death, but the children of this generation would also suffer.
Verse 33 Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and bear the penalty for your acts of unfaithfulness until all your corpses lie scattered in the wilderness.[3]
Your children will watch you die in the wilderness and for 40 years their blessing will be delayed
Spiritual leader, parents, elders – we should take this to heart – our choices as leaders have consequences for those following us.
Spiritual leaders as Hebrews 13:17 says we are people who will give an account. We have an awesome responsibility.
Let’s train to lead with faith and not fear.
Let’s train to trust our leaders by praying for them and being grateful for God’s provision.
- The people did not develop the habits to act in faith over fear.
In a high stress situation, they reverted to old habits of fear and the desire to retreat to the comfort zone of Egypt.
If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?[4]
Let’s run this statement thought out habit loop.
Cue – Fear (We are going to die & our and wives will be taken)
Routine – Let’s go back to Egypt… It was so nice there!
Reward – Better to die in a familiar place than here.
Belief – If we appoint new leaders they will care for us, because God is not.
A longing for Egypt is nothing new. They have been rehearsing this script over and over in their minds.
Exodus 16:3 If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”[5]
Numbers 11:4-6 Who will feed us meat? 5 We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. 6 But now our appetite is gone; there’s nothing to look at but this manna!” [6]
Fear is a normal feeling but it does not have to be your boss.
Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
In a world broken by sin, in the face of a wicked foe, fear is a normal feeling.
Could the people have trained to not be bossed around by their fear?
Cue: I feel fear
Routine: I will look at the pillar of cloud
Reward: I know God is with me
Belief: He has promised us this land, I can trust him.
Train to face your fears by going to God’s word and his people for help.
Do you acknowledge your fears to your small group? If not, you should.
Sometimes I struggle with fear, mostly related to the future.
My routine: I pray Psalm 25 Lord, I appeal to you… my God I trust in you… do not… do not.. let me be disgraced. Do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one… no one who waits for you will be disgraced… You are the God of my salvation. I wait for you all day long.
Fear does not need to boss you around. Take your fear to Jesus. Acknowledge your fear before God’s people.
- The people were motivated by self-protection rather than God’s glory.
“If we go in…
WE will die
OUR children will be taken
OUR wives will be taken
WE had it better in Egypt
WE should choose new leaders
After the people rebel, they change their minds. They say – we were wrong, let’s go.
Right heart, wrong action. Moses says don’t go, God is not with you.
WE got this. WE are going.
They go and they are defeated. The people suffer because they rely on themselves
The people are motivated by a desire to self-protect – Protect their lives at first and in the second disobedience to protect their ego.
In this high stress moment what does Moses do?
He Prays.
He prays to God for the people who want to fire him from his job.
What motivates his prayer – God’s glory.
“Lord for the sake of your name, because of your faithful love, pardon these people, because of your reputation, because of your commitment to your covenant promise, Lord because of who you are do not blot them out.”
God’s response – I will pardon them but they will suffer the consequences for their rebellion.
Moses is motivated by a desire for God to be glorified.
The point of trusting your training is so that in high stress situations – we will trust our trainer – trust our rescuer – trust in the Lord.
Training is a process. We are not trusting a process – We are trusting a person, the one who put the process in place.
Tony Dungy realized that his players did not believe in their training.
Building habits was always going to work, Cue-routine-reward… it was a good plan.
The players had to learn to trust their coach.
In 2005 the Colts had their best season ever.
Then tragedy struck.
Days before Christmas in 2005, Dungy received a phone call. His oldest son had committed suicide.
Tony grieved and went back to work. The team lost another playoff game and the 2005 season was over.
When Dungy came back the next season something had changed.
After this tragedy, the team seemed to believe MORE in the coach’s strategy.
One player said… “I spent a lot of the previous seasons worrying about my contract and salary… When coach came back after the funeral I wanted to give him everything I could to take away his hurt… I kinda gave myself to the team.
Another player “I don’t hug… but when coach came back I walked over and hugged him as long as I could, because I wanted HIM to know I was there for HIM.”
What changed?
Give our all for the coach. Give myself to the team.
Stop playing for a pay check and playing for our ego.
The players had a new motivation which strengthen their belief and their commitment to train.
They wanted to play for their coach!
I imagine them in September, they are on the field, sweat dropped from the forehead.
They are thinking… “man is this worth it… I get paid a lot of money… and I already have lots… I could be taking in easy at home.”
Then they look up and see their coach, who just lost his son and he is giving is all to the team.
I’m going to give my all for the coach. I’m going to give my all for this team.
What motivates us to train to trust God?
1 Cor 10:31 Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Train because he is worthy
Train to trust God so that God would be glorified.
Where do you need to train? What are the high stress situations in your life?
As you read Numbers you will see some themes – Marriage & Sexual Purity
My marriage is hard. It is not working. Train to build habits. Get help. Do the work
What if she doesn’t love me back. What if he doesn’t change?
What if… What if.. your faithful effort to strengthen your marriage brings honor and Glory to the God of the Universe! Is there anything better than that?
My marriage is great – Awesome keep training to enjoy what God has given to you.
My fight for sexual purity is hard. I’m building habits. It’s not working.
What is driving your fight for sexual purity?
What if you gave maximum effort to a life of purity so that – God would be exalted in your body! How great would that be?
Another theme from Numbers – Complaining.
Complaining about God’s provision of Leadership and God’s provision for daily needs.
Gratitude is a powerful training tool. Use it.
My job is boring – School is annoying
God is using these things to provide for you and to provide for others. Give thanks for his provision.
Train to see these challenges differently. Why? For God’s glory.
We all live under spiritual authority – God the great designer gave spiritual leaders to us for our good and his glory.
Train to see spiritual authority as a gift and a solemn responsibility.
Give thanks for your leaders. Give thanks for the privilege to lead.
Another theme of Numbers… is Numbers.
In Chapter 26 you will read about another Census – 601,730 fighting men preparing again to go into the land of promise.
Let that remind you that you have training partners you are not alone. Your best training partners are the ones you sit and sing with every Sunday morning.
Let that Census remind you that God is faithful. God is 100% committed.
He is leading his people.
Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
We are training to trust him by reading his word in community. Reading is not just gathering facts and numbers. Dates, data, and names. We are reading his word to know him, to honor him.
As we train… we are experiencing God. He is our great reward.
If you are behind in reading don’t sweat, it.
Tomorrow:
Cue: Set your alarm
Routine: Ask God for help, Read Numbers 6-9
Reward: Knowing God
Belief: God rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Motivation: The Glory of God.
For your good and for the glory of God keep training to trust.
[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Nu 14:1–12.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Nu 14:28–29.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Nu 14:33.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Nu 14:2–3.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 16:3.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Nu 11:4–6.