UnStuck Part 5 MORE

Recap:

Israel are slaves

Moses is sent

Egypt is judged

Israel is released

God takes the Israelites the long way

To a place where they are stuck

We are not the main character and that is ok

And the point of all of it is Jesus

The Exodus story is pointing us to the cross

Jesus does for us what we can’t do for oursevles

He saves and delivers

All we need to do is stand firm, be still and let Him fight for us

God parts the Red Sea

He wipes out the Egyptian army just like He said He would

So, the Israelites are on the other side of the Red Sea victorious and free

And there response to all of this is an admirable one

Exodus 15:1–21 (NIV)

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. 2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy. 7 “In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’ 10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 12 “You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies. 13 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. 14 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. 15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; 16 terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, Lord, until the people you bought pass by. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established. 18 “The Lord reigns for ever and ever.” 19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”

The Israelites see victory over their enemy and rightfully so they begin to glorify and worship the Lord

For 21 verses they declare of the Lord’s might and provisions

His power and authority

That there is nothing that He can’t do

Then the very next verse here is what happens

Exodus 15:22–24 NIV

22 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.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

They have this major triumph and victory over the Egyptians

They’ve crossed the red sea

They worship the Lord

All of these good things are happening

We talked about how Israel had made it out of Egypt at this point, but Egypt hadn’t made it all the way out of Israel

They saw Egypt as something to go back to instead of something they have been saved from

Anyone have a story of time where God had clearly saved you?

So the Israelites had a choice moving forward. They could be a grumbling people who occasionally worship or a worshipping people who occasionally grumble.

The first question will be rhetorical for you to just think on. The second will be one I want us to discuss.

Are you a worshipping person who occasionally grumbles?

Or are you a grumbling person who occasionally worships?

How do we change that?

So the Israelites had, I think by human nature, decided to grumble and complain when things didn’t go there way.

And I think there’s a common misconception that if you follow Jesus that everything is always going to be great.

And that message may put people in the seat on a Sunday morning but it won’t satisfy a soul.

Because you can believe that until it’s just not true.

That’s not the gospel message. So....

And how do we respond during those times when it’s not?

When life isn’t fair, it isn’t easy, it’s not great?

If you remember the message last week, why was it that the Israelites were a grumbling people who occasionally worshipped?

They viewed God, as a means to an end.

What are the things in your life that cause you to treat Jesus most like a spiritual santa claus?

Psalm 51:12 NIV

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

What are some ways we restore the joy of the Lord’s salvation?

What was the main take away last week?

We might get stuck, but God doesn’t

After this series, what are some reasons we might get stuck?

How does the truth of God sovereignty, help in the middle of your difficult or stuck seasons?