The Exodus – Part 26
Complaining Begins
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
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SERMON TIMELINE
· The Book of Genesis
· The Book of Exodus
· The First Three Miracles
· The Ten Plagues
o Passover & Feast of Unleavened Bread
§ Instructions for Passover Feast
§ Instructions for Feast of Unleavened Bread
§ The Exodus Begins
o Passover Restrictions
o Consecration of Hebrew Firstborn Sons
o Cross the Red Sea
o The Complaining Begins (continues)
INTRODUCTION
Over the last year or so looking at the Book of Genesis, verse by verse, as well as more recently breaking down the Book of Exodus, verse by verse, I have mentioned that God’s plan of redemption through Christ Jesus, the why, the how, and the results of, are all explained by God in these Books of the Bible.
Today we look at the Complaining of the Israelites
SCRIPTURE READING
Exodus 15:22-27
“Then 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. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. [meaning bitter]) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
25 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. 26 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.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.”
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I. THE COMPLAINTS BEING (CONTINUE)
a. In Egypt
i. Remember in Egypt the Hebrews complained about
1. Moses talking to Pharaoh
2. Pharaoh taking away the straw supplies
3. Moses making Pharaoh angry
4. Complaints will consume us when our focus is anywhere but on the Lord
b. Now
i. The Hebrews are complaining about bitter waters
1. But they are missing what God is doing…
2. Because they are too busy complaining about how terrible everything is
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-12
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
The Israelites are (and will continue to be throughout Exodus) focused more on what they don’t have, rather than what God has done for them, which is proof He will continue to take care of them!
c. In the Future
i. They will continue to complain
ii. And grumble
iii. And whine…completely missing what God is doing with them and for them
iv. They are missing the blessings of belonging to God because they are too focused on themselves and the situation around them
v. They are looking at everything but God
What the Israelites see:
We are homeless running through the desert
We are wandering through the desert
The water is bitter
What God is doing:
He freed you from slavery and bondage to Egypt
He is leading you to the Promised Land flowing with Milk and Honey
If He saved you from Egypt, is leading you through the desert, will He not provide for your basic needs for your survival?
Don’t miss out on what God is doing because you are too focused on them past
II. GOD IS STILL TEACHING THEM (AND US)
a. In Egypt
i. The Lord revealed to them the plagues upon Egypt for enslaving the Hebrews
ii. The Lord instructed the Hebrews about the first Holy Day, as well as the Calendar the Lord wanted them to keep
iii. The Lord instructed them about Passover
iv.
Afterwards,
instructed them about keeping the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread as
well as sanctifying their Firstborn
b. Now
i. During the Exodus, the Lord is still teaching them
ii. It was no accident the Lord allowed them to find bitter waters
1. This is what the world has to offer us
2. And they complained…surprised?
iii. But God provides for His people!!!
1. The Lord instructs Moses to throw a certain piece of wood into the water and it was no longer bitter!
iv. Are there really trees that can purify water quickly in this way?
1. One tree being used to purify water today is Moringa oleifera.
2. This tree has been used successfully to cleanse muddy, murky, cloudy, dirty waters from the River Nile and other areas.
3. It is used all the time in Sudan
4. When moringa seeds are crushed and poured into a pot or bottle of dirty water, the water turns transparent within seconds. The seeds’ anti-bacterial properties can turn low, medium, and high turbidity waters into tap-water quality in an hour or two.
v. The Lord is trying to teach the Hebrews, when the world only offers bitter waters, turn to Him, trust in Him, He will provide!
c. For the Future
i. Everything the Lord has done to this point is not just for the good of His people, but a teaching aid
ii. Most important lesson here, the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread!
In Genesis when the covenant between God and man was broke because of sin, the Lord immediately responded.
The first thing the Lord did was give Adam and Eve the opportunity to confess! He asked them what they had done.
Instead of just confessing to the Lord, they chose to lie. So, the covenant was broken, and they no longer had access to the Garden or the tree of life which sustained us. Without it, we will eventually succumb to death, either by old age, or disease or some other calamity which plagues the now fallen world.
DO NOT MISS THE LORD AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO HEAR A CONFESSION!
Remember, the Lord even went to Cain and spoke with him before he allowed his unfounded hatred to consume him into acts of violence against his brother.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Daniel 9:9-10 “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us…”
The Lord is quick to forgive! He wants you to take advantage of His love and kindness!
It is the very reason He paid the price at the cross, so that we, you, could call on His name, confess to Him, and be forgiven and adopted into His family as if you were always His!
III. THE PROPER RESPONSE TO TROUBLES
a. Anti-Grumbling
i. Grumbling leads to stumbling
ii. “Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.” – John 6:43
We can miss out on so many things the Lord is trying to do in our lives if we grumble.
iii. If we focus on ourselves, or what is going on around us more than the Lord, we will miss out!
1. There are blessings, benefits, protection, teachings, so many things made available to us, if we just ask!
b. Thankfulness / Gratefulness
i. We should not focus on ourselves or others
1. Mistakes can be made
2. We fail and fall
3. We are not perfect!
ii. But the Lord is!
1. He will never fail, falter, fall
2. If your self-worth comes from God (as it should) then no one can ever take that away!
iii. If we get our self-worth from others
1. We want to please them to get our worth
2. We want them to be happy so we can get what we need emotionally
3. If our self-worth comes from anywhere other than God who is unchanging and never failing, when our source dries up, when the person or place (job/community/position) we get our worth from no longer gives us worth, we then lose who we believe we are.
4. However, if we realize our worth comes from the Lord alone, no one can ever take that away!
c. Trust in God
i. Who are you? What is your worth?
ii. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. – Luke 12:6-7
iii. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. – Psalm 139:13-14
iv. He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, - Titus 3:5
v. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8
The biggest mistake I made in my life was thinking I had to “be better” or stop sinning before the Lord would love and want me. I could not have been more wrong!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
CONCLUSION
The Hebrews failed to see Who they were in the Lord
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
The Lord is teaching us, leading us, guiding us to a greater kingdom in His name!
We need only to trust in Him, confess to Him, and allow His Holy Spirit to work within us.
Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
And be sure, as 1 Thessalonians 5:19 states, “Do no quench the Spirit”
NEXT WEEK
We will look at the latest Israelite complaint, Manna and Quail
.
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