Recap:
Last week, I talked about the sound of the resurrection — and we traced it all the way back to Numbers 10.
The Israelites had just been delivered — rescued out of brutal slavery in Egypt. Hundreds of years of oppression… of backbreaking labor… of being stuck in despair.
And yet, God heard their cries.
He brought them through the Red Sea — a powerful picture for us:
God delivers us from shame, from sin, from addiction — He brings us through the waters of baptism and into freedom.
But freedom is just the beginning.
When the Israelites took their first steps toward the Promised Land, God gave them a command:
“Make two silver trumpets. And whenever you blow them, I will remember you, and I will rescue you.”
The sound of the trumpet — it wasn’t just noise. It was a call for rescue.
When you lift up the sound of praise — even in your hardship — God hears you. God moves to deliver you.
But here’s the warning:
What you crave after freedom determines your destiny.
The Israelites craved the wrong things.
Numbers 11 says, “Soon the people began to complain about their hardship.”
Can anybody relate?
You’ve gone through the waters. You’ve committed your life to Christ. And yet — here comes hardship.
Real life hits. Bills pile up. Stress weighs down. Unexpected pain comes at the worst times. And before you know it — crankiness creeps in.
The Israelites began to complain. And God heard every word.
Not only did they complain — they began to crave Egypt again.
The Bible says, “They remembered the fish, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, the garlic…”
— But they forgot the slavery.
They said, “Our appetites are gone.”
Caught between two cravings —
— No longer fully craving their old life,
— But not fully embracing the life God had for them either.
Maybe that’s some of you today.
You’ve left Egypt — but Egypt hasn’t fully left you.
You’re standing in freedom, but craving the past.
Craving the wrong things can derail your destiny.
And that word crave — the same Hebrew word used when Eve craved the forbidden fruit in the Garden —
It’s not just about food. It’s about longing for the old life. Longing for what God delivered you from.
The enemy wants you to look back.
He whispers: “Remember how fun that was? Remember how easy that felt?”
But it’s a trap. It’s chains.
And if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself longing for the very things God set you free from.
Here’s the good news:
Appetites can change.
My wife — when she first started night shifts as a nurse — she needed caffeine.
She started with sugary, milky espresso.
Fast forward? Quad shot espresso, no milk, no sugar.
Appetite changed.
You can train your appetite.
You can retrain what your soul longs for.
The Psalmist said:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)
Taste and see.
Try it. Test it.
You might just find joy like you’ve never known.
For some of you, you’re still straddling the middle.
You’ve tasted a little bit of God’s goodness, but you’re still craving the world.
God is saying: Come all the way in.
Train your soul to hunger for Me.
Peter put it this way:
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2)
Don’t starve yourself on Egypt’s leftovers.
Cry out for the nourishment of God.
Feed on His Word. Surround yourself with people who are running hard after Him.
What you crave today determines where you’ll stand tomorrow.
Closing Invitation:
Maybe you’re here today — and you’ve never truly tasted the goodness of God.
You’ve been trying to fill your hunger with everything else — and it’s left you empty.
Today, you can start fresh.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
Just pray:
“God, if You’re real, reveal Yourself to me.”
And I promise — He will.
Group Questions:
Icebreakers (Choose 1–2 to open with)
- If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- What’s something you used to love but now you can’t stand? (Food, show, hobby, etc.)
- What’s a craving you have a hard time resisting — silly or serious?
- Have you ever bought something you craved… only to regret it later? Share!
Discussion Questions
- Looking Back at the Message:
- What stood out to you most from the message this week?
- How did the idea of the silver trumpets deepen your understanding of prayer and praise?
- God’s Rescue and Our Response:
- The Israelites were freed from slavery, but their cravings pulled them back toward Egypt.
- In your own life, have you ever experienced a pull back toward something God freed you from?
- Why do you think “freedom” can sometimes feel harder than “familiar”?
- Appetites and Cravings:
- The sermon mentioned that cravings can shape our destiny.
- What are some “old cravings” you see people struggling with after coming to faith?
- How can small compromises (even innocent-seeming ones) slowly draw someone back toward “Egypt”?
- Changing Our Cravings:
- “Appetites can change.” How have you seen your spiritual appetite grow over time — or shrink?
- Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
- What are practical ways we can “taste and see” God’s goodness daily?
- Craving the Word:
- 1 Peter 2:2 encourages believers to “crave pure spiritual milk.”
- What are some things that help you crave more of God?
- What are some things that numb or weaken your hunger for Him?
- The Danger of Looking Back:
- What do you think makes “the past” seem so tempting, even when we know it wasn’t good for us?
- How can we encourage each other to keep moving forward when nostalgia for the “old life” creeps in?
Deeper Reflection
Optional Questions for Journaling or Personal Reflection:
- Where am I still craving “Egypt”?
- What new appetite is God trying to form in me?
- What practical step can I take this week to feed my hunger for God?