Untitled Sermon (2)

Intro: Have you ever went from praise to panic in a New York minute? Well that's exactly what happened to the estimated that 2-3 million people were led out of slavery in Egypt. They had just witnessed miracle after miracle and perhaps the most breath taking one had just happened 3 short days before this when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and pharaohs and his army were completely destroyed, in what was the lopsided victory in history. Yet 3 days later, we come to this.

King James Version Chapter 15

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. 27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

PRAY!!

Here they face their first test, thirst.

3x days w/o water, then when they did find a significant body of water, they cant drink it. That is a hard situation.

So what did they do?

They Grumbled and complained

Ex 15:24 “And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?””

Just 3 days before, they were celebrating on the shores of the Red Sea, now 72 hrs later, they grumbling. This presents lack of faith. Regrettably it sometimes doesn’t take much to expose our “little faith.

Well, that's a hard fail!

3x days w/o water, then when they did find a significant body of water, they cant drink it

Marah means “bitter”

The wilderness will always test our faith and expose any weaknesses, but we have to understand that God always has our ultimate good in mind.

Rom 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Ex 15:25 “And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

Moses set the example, and God showed him an example of the cross of Christ.

If we put the Cross into every problem in our life, the “bitter"waters will be made sweet

God made them a deal.

Ex 15:26 “saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”” Jehova Ropha- The God who heals us

IF you will listen to my voice

IF you will do what is right

IF you will keep His commandments and statutes

Then He will put none of diseases He brought upon the Egyptians. Not just physical ones, but emotional and spiritual ones too.

Ex 15:27 “Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.”

God meets our needs,abundantly meets them. They were brought to a oasis in the middle of the wilderness, that had “more than enough” water and shade to give them rest and abundant provision.

2 Cor 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Eph 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”

12 Springs of water. 1 for ea tribe of Israel.

3 Lessons from the bitter waters:

God will take the bitter experiences of our lives and “sweeten” them.

The Wilderness in this story represents our lives down here on Earth, and Marah represents our bitter trials.

Ps 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

2. God will enable you to bear them all.

Is 41:10 “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.”

1 Cor 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Peirasmos(Greek)= Experience or Adversity.

3. God will strengthen us to conquer and walk through them all victoriously

Rom 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

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In Closing. Wilderness experiences can take unsuspecting turns, and can last longer than we want. The Israelites stayed there 40 yrs, because of their near constant failures and sin.Do you want to flourish in the wilderness? Jesus and cross are the definitive answer to surviving the desert experiences and “bitter waters.” Call on El Ropha to heal you, call on El shaddai to lead you to Elim, where He can nourish and provide for what your lacking.

Pray!!