The Wanderers Part 2: Healed Waters
Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years, and the moment came at the Red Sea when he delivered his people from the bondage of Egypt. God literally parted the waters allowing his people to pass through on dry ground. Today we rejoin the children of Israel in Exodus chapter 15, just a few days after this event, facing yet another challenge. This time the enemy was not in the form of chariots, but in the form of dehydration. They had no water in the desert…Exodus 15:22-27Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Three days from the red sea, from one of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind- you would anticipate them ready to face any battle, right? Confident that God can do ANYTHING for them after what they just saw right? They won’t forget that fast, will they? How could they? I don’t know about you, but it’s about right here in the story I sense the Holy Spirit asking me these same questions…You remember those battles I have fought and won for you, right? You’re not going to forget, are you? How could you after all I have done for you? In a moment of reflection, 3500 years of history are bridged by a common human experience of doubt in the face of difficulty. As we re-enter the story today, rather than finding the people of God triumphantly trusting, we see them returning to the already common motif of doubting and grumbling. How will the Lord find you today? Grumbling or trusting?Exodus 15:24So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink? ”This moment of frustration and disappointment serves to reveal what had already been taking root in their hearts. Their tendency to gripe and complain against Moses and the Lord, rises to the surface again. Somehow, they forget in the middle of these circumstances that it was in fact the Lord who had led them there. But that was lost in those moments. The question of what to drink was not the issue at hand, rather, their attitude of contempt for the circumstances they were facing. They did not have what they expected, and they failed to trust God to provide it. A recipe for sin. The truth is, every complaint we make against our circumstances, is really against the Lord.Exodus 15:25Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. Rather than crying out against the Lord, Moses cried out to the Lord for help. The proper response in those times of trouble. Remember, Moses was thirsty too- he was experiencing the same hardship as everyone else in those moments, yet he didn’t allow bitterness to take root in his heart. Look at the sequence in this verse- Moses Cried out to the Lord- And the Lord showed him…A humble heart receives a gracious response from the LordExodus 15:25-26Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” For the first time in our storyline, the Lord lays out his expectations of obedience upon his people In these moments the test has already happened, and it was revealed that their hearts were not committed. The Lord then invites them into a deeper level of trust, commitment, and obedience. This new trust comes with the promise of blessing and protection. In these moments, the people have a choice The places of trial in our lives are always faithful to reveal what’s really in our hearts. What are some of those stories in your life? Perhaps you are living one right now? Maybe at work- or at home, or with someone in your family. One thing we know is that these places of bitterness can come with deep pain and grief. They may be places of desperation and confusion. But beyond what you feel in these moments, what Is God trying to show you? Have you been quick to forget all he has done? Has the urge to grumble against God overtaken you? While trials are quick to reveal what’s inside of us, they also reveal the nature and character of God. God knows exactly where you are, because he has bought you there, and he wants to bring you through there. He knows exactly what you need- even more than you do- and he is the one who will provide. As God’s people in the middle of the trials we all face a choice We will either fall into seeing God as the one to blame for the situation we are in-Or we will cry out to him in belief that he is able to provide the way forward, the rest we do desperately need. The choice is yours Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E