(Freedom series) "I Got you!"
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From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”
But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”
So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.
Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some men for us and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”
So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set.
And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a reminder in a book and recite it in the hearing of Joshua: I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
And Moses built an altar and called it, The Lord is my banner.
He said, “A hand upon the banner of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Intro:
God is found in todays text “providing support”............for Israel
.........and I believe that our lives are often times close to being exact replicas of the people in todays text.
(pause)
Because.....
....in spite of our occasional forgetfullness
....in spite of our moments of ungratefullness
God still......
.... steps into the role of “Redeemer” and offers “Provision” into our lives!
(pause and expound)
Look at it....
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
According to the text....
The people of Israel are now pictured travelling through.....
......this desert that stretches all the way across the Sinai Penninsula
(slight pause)
And this desert is described in the text as a Wilderness.....
What is interesting to me is that they are experiencing support directly in the middle of a timeframe of need......
(pause)
Because the text says they have camped in a place called “Rephidim” (Reph - e - deem)
.......which means “To Refresh” or “Support”
And the text also says.....
.....but there was no water for the people to drink.
(pause)
And so Freedom.....
........the people need water
.....in a place that God has led them to that is called “Support”
(pause)
Now.....
.......what’s interesting to me family is how God will help us in one area
.......but because we got a need in another area
We get an attitude with God.......
......as if God has refused to provide us with anything at all!
(pause)
Israel can’t appreciate the fact that.........
God has just brought them across a Labourous Journey through the wilderness of the desert into a Resting Place!
And according to verse 2......
They don’t even realize when they are receiving support....
Look at it.....
The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”
Based on verse 2....
A dispute broke out between Moses and the people........
Moses said:
“Why are you complaining to me?”
and......
“Why are you doubting the Lord’s power to support us?”
(pause)
Because what Moses understands is the fact that.....
.......when we didn’t know where our next meal was going to come from
......Manna fell from heaven in the morning
......and quail was gathered in the evening
(pause)
.....and this did not happen in the place of Rest
.......this happened in the DESERT!
(pause)
And so Moses is saying.....
......How you gonna TEST God in a Resting Place
......when God has proven God’s power to support you in a place that couldn’t give you NOTHING!
(pause)
And Freedom.....
........some of us have the Unmitigated Gall to DOUBT the same God that blessed us in our desert
......as if God is empty handed in our RESTING place!
(pause and expound)
Now....
......you would think that Moses has put up a good argument
(slight pause)
......you would think that the people would have reconsidered their ways
.....and said you know what Moses
.....you right bruh!
(pause)
But.....
.......according to verse 3 that aint what happened!
(pause)
According to verse 3......
......these rascals got indignant!
(pause)
But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”
The people in essence said......
“Moses......you tripping!”
“And we aint trying to hear none of that you talking.....”
We brought our families out here
We got all of our livestock and everything we own with us
(slight pause)
And for what?
.......so you could bring us out here to lose everything we got???
(pause)
And according to verse 4.......
.....Moses felt like this was going to go left
Because......
he prays to God earnestly about the entire situation....
(pause)
“Listen God......
“Your people down here going completely crazy..........
(slight pause)
.......and I don’t even know why they coming at me like this
.....but they trying to take this thing to another level
(slight pause)
And according to the text.....
“Moses says, these JOKERS picking up stones.....
.......and they got bad intentions!”
(pause)
And according to verses 5 and 6.......
......God starts talking back to Moses
.....God starts giving Moses the support that he desperately needs
(slight pause)
Because one thing about God......
Whenever we get in a situation where we have to ask God,
“What shall I do?”
The Redeemer will always Provide an Awnser!
(pause and expound)
The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
God says to Moses......
Go on before the people
and this phrase in the “Hb” literally means:
......to move through or to pass by!
(pause)
And In my spiritual imagination....
God was saying to Moses.....
I need you to move right through them so they can see you!
.....right through their complaints
.....right through their faces
(slight pause)
God could have said.....
“I will support them through a miracle without you”
or
“I will send water to them at a different time once they have calmed down”
(slight pause)
But God says.......
“No.......let me provide support in the middle of everything that’s going on”
And......
Take with you the elders of Israel
.......because I need you to have some of the leaders walking with you to provide moral support
And......
Take the Rod with you
........so that they can watch my consistency when they see you use the same Rod you was holding
....when you stretched it out towards the Red Sea.
(pause)
Then God says.....
“When you get to the rock at Sinai, I will be standing on it!”
....and I want you to break the rock with the Rod
......and water is going to start flowing out for the people to drink!”
(slight pause)
Freedom......
......when I researched this text I discovered that this same rock now that Moses struck with the Rod was:
15 feet long
10 feet wide
12 feet high
and it has holes and channels in it that were formed by bursting and water running out
(slight pause)
And just in case you can’t see the total picture....
it looks like.....
.....water was provided for over 6,000,000 people or more including their livestock.
(pause)
And the one thing I need you to see Freedom is that....
.......even the doubters could not limit God from providing!
(pause and expound option)
Look at it....
He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Massah: meaning testing God to prove support
Meribah: meaning strife with Moses
Because....
They said,
“Is the Lord among us, or not?”
(slight pause)
And.......
......this very question challenges Yahweh to prove that God is indeed with them.
(slight pause)
“....Is God in our midst or not?”
(slight pause)
And I know it’s easy to see Israel’s shortcomings.......
.......but the real question is,
“Do we ever fall into the same situation of
......questioning God’s support?”
(pause)
and......
.......Freedom
......there is nothing wrong with being concerned over a true need
but.....
.......one thing we should never do
.....is convince ourselves that God has stopped supporting us!!
Because......
......once you come out of one thing
.......there’s always another one waiting somewhere right behind it!
(pause)
And in my spiritual imagination......
....its almost as though while the miracle is happening in the front
.....the enemy is attacking in the back
(pause and expound)
Can I keep going?
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.
The bible says.......
.......in this same resting place named “Rephidim”
....they are being attacked by Amalek
(pause)
And watch this......
.....because Amalek is attacking the weak stragglers at the back of the people of Israel.
Those individuals who are probably more worn out from the journey through the desert. (those who are barely making it)
(pause)
And according to the text....
.....while they are recovering
......they are under attack!
(pause)
And in verse 9 Moses tells Joshua to.....
Go get some supporters that he trusts enough to go into battle with.....
(pause)
Freedom here’s my question:
“Who do you trust enough to support you go up against what’s attacking you?”
and not only that......
“But who are you willing to go help win a battle?”
(pause)
And in my spiritual imagination....
Moses tells Joshua....
“We’re depending on your actions”
and.....
“We’re also depending on God’s power for support!”
(pause)
So.....
While you’re down in the valley fighting
…I’m going to be standing over there on that hill
....holding up the staff that Elohim gave me!
(pause and expound)
But now......
.....here’s what I need you to see
Because....
.....this time God is not fighting for Israel like God did at the Red Sea
(slight pause)
But.....
......this time God is providing a different type of support
(slight pause)
And according to the text something remarkable starts happening....
....because the battle that Joshua is fighting in the valley
.....is responding to what Moses is doing on the top of the hill
(pause)
Moses’s hands are.....
.....tightly gripping the staff
and.....
.....every time his hands start dropping below his chest
.....the battle starts tilting favor towards the Amalekites.
(pause)
But everytime.......
Moses regains his strength
......it triggers the nuances of victory to move into Israel’s direction!
(pause)
And that’s when God shows us something amazing.....
......because this is the first time we see humanity’s weakness
......play a role in the Redeemer’s provision!
(pause)
God could have said.......
“Moses, I’m going to do this without you!”
(pause)
But for some reason God says,
“I’m not going to give you FULL support in a way that does not allow you to be involved.....
......but instead I’m going to teach you a lesson on how I can provide through you when you don’t have nothing lelft
and not only that
......but I got to get yall to see how much you need one another
.....especially when I am providing the support you need!
(pause)
And.....
.....everytime Moses’s hands are raised they experience the advantage.
and.....
.....everytime his elbows start burning with fatigue they start losing the advantage in the valley.
(pause)
Freedom......
........your consistency to win is directly connected to your support!
(slight pause and optional expound)
Look at it now...
But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set.
The text says.....
Even though Moses realizes what’s happening.......
Even though he is doing the best he can to keep his hands up.....
Even though he understands that Joshua and the others are depending on him.....
(slight pause)
....the truth of the matter is
.....he’s tired!
(pause)
Freedom......
What do you do when your support brings the advantage.......
.....but you feel yourself getting tired?
(pause)
Optional Barrels:
......Your children are depending on you
......but you’re tired!
......Your spouse is depending on you
.......but your’re tired!
(pause)
You’re sitting there watching things turn for the worst....
.....but as the supporter if you don’t get some help
.....everything is about to fall down!
(pause)
The bible says......
two men are standing next to him.....
One being Aaron......and the other being Hur
(pause)
They look over towards Moses.......
.....and begin seeing what’s happening
.....and they immediately recognize how important it is for Moses’s hands to be raised!
(pause)
And in my spiritual imagination I see them saying......
......There’s got to be something we can do!
because.....
.....we can’t just sit here and watch everybody struggle!
Moses can’t keep his arms raised
Joshua and the others are fighting for their lives
(slight pause)
Freedom.......
.....you need some supporters that refuse
.....to just sit back and watch you while you struggle!
Especially.....
.....when you’re holding the advantage in your hands!
(pause and expound)
Now watch this...
Because Joshua didn’t choose Aaron or Hur to go with him down in the valley.
and....
Moses is the only one primarily responsible for holding the staff.
(pause)
So.....
....if we telling the truth about it,
the only role it looks like belongs to these two fellas is to stand back and watch!
(pause)
But I hear God saying.....
“You didn’t just come to watch!”
....I know that’s what everybody thought
....I know that’s what you thought was going to happen
(pause)
But I’m getting ready to show you your role.......
......in the Redeemer’s provision for Israel!
(slight pause)
And I don’t know who I’m preaching to.....
…but you can’t just sit back and watch while
....your Moses is getting weaker
....and your Joshua is losing the advantage
(pause)
And so according to the text......
....these brothers slid over closer to Moses and said,
“Aaron you get on his right side.....
.......and I’ll get on his left!”
(slight pause)
“Ok.....cool
......now push this stone up under him so he can sit down and recover!”
(pause)
And the text says....
“They held up his hands!”
…and the Hb meaning for that phrase held up
.....is to “Prop up with support”
(pause)
And so that means.....
.....they did something to stop something from falling!
(slight pause)
Freedom....
.....they grabbed Moses’s hands in a way to let him know,
“We’re stepping in.......
......to stop you from struggling!”
(pause and expound)
And watch this......
…because real support doesn’t leave until Progress transitions into Victory!
(pause)
Freedom.....
....if you notice
....Aaron and Hur stayed on each side of Moses until Sunset!
(slight pause)
and as a result.....
......Joshua defeated Amalek and the Amalekites with the sword!
(pause)
and so...
........the reason things are different now versus earlier in the valley is because
......Aaron and Hur said,
“We saw you needed help!”
(pause)
And....
.....if you don’t remember anthing else I said
....remember that
You never know who’s watching!!
(pause)
God knew.......
Moses was going to need some support
.....so God provided some strength next to him!
(pause and expound)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a reminder in a book and recite it in the hearing of Joshua: I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
God tells Moses.....
“You got to write this down for everybody.....
.....and make sure Joshua hears it too!
(slight pause)
In other words.....
Make sure everybody recognizes what SUPPORT looks like in battle!
(pause)
Because.......
I need yall to remember what it looks like when I provide what you need to raise your hands in the middle of your fight!
(pause and expound)
And Moses built an altar and called it, The Lord is my banner.
He said, “A hand upon the banner of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Freedom....
Moses names this altar.....
“The Lord is my Banner!”
which means......God is Jehovah Nissi
(pause)
And in Israel’s context......
A banner is a flag, or a signal that armies would carry flying high into battle
(pause)
And so.....
.....what Moses is really satying is that when we go into battle
.....our Victory is being supported by a provision that is God sent!
(pause)
And I see Moses saying.....
When we show up....
.......Our Support shows up!
(pause)
And I wonder if there are any Supporters in here...
....that realize your life is the provision
.......that God wants to proveide in order to ensure VICTORY!
(pause)
And if you believe that......
.......I dare you to look at somebody
....and just point at them and say,
“I GOT YOU!”
As long as I’m here........you got a SUPPORTER!
I refuse to let you struggle on my watch!