Exodus 15:22-18:27, God Provides

Introduction

Good morning! Please open your Bible with me to Exodus 15. We’re continuing our overview study of the book of Exodus. In doing this we want to behold the glory of God according to who He is, what He has done, and what He is doing in the world. This morning we will be looking at Exodus 15:22-18:27. Before we dive in, let's go to the LORD in prayer together.

PRAY

What are you relying on most this morning? You can answer that question simply by asking yourself what it is you need in order to truly be happy. In order to be truly satisfied and content. The answer isn’t found in your bank account. It’s not found in any of your possessions or relationships. Not in any achievements you seek. All of those things are fickle and can fail us. There is only One who is fully trustworthy and all satisfying.

Up to this point in our study, we’ve seen God do incredible things in delivering Israel out of slavery in Egypt. He’s defeated the Egyptians. He’s liberated Israel. They are now journeying toward the promised land. But as we’ll see, the journey will be fraught with challenges that will test their level of trust in the LORD. Despite all they’ve witnessed, the wilderness still lay ahead. In saving His people, He aims to give them more of Himself. That they would know Him, love Him, worship Him, and trust Him. The wilderness wandering aims for these very things in them.

The LORD is going to bring them through certain circumstances that will make plain the condition of their heart. Whether they are trusting Him fully. Whether they are satisfied in Him above all. This of course has a lot to teach us and expose in our own hearts. We are meant to learn from their example and see that God really is trustworthy and true. He knows our frame. He knows our needs. He aims to make perfect provision for our greatest need that can ultimately only be found in Him and Him alone.

Main Point — Trust God in all circumstances for His perfect provision.

God’s perfect provision in…

His Word (15:22-16:36)

His Presence (17:1-7)

His Strength (17:8-16)

His Wisdom (18:1-27)

His Word

First I want us to see that God provides His Word. Follow along as I READ EXODUS 15:22-27.

Back in Exodus 12:37 we saw that Israel departed Egypt as a great multitude. The text tells us that there were about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the women and children as well as a mixed multitude that went with them. We can’t be sure of the exact number, but most scholars estimate they were as large as over 2 million people at the time of the Exodus. A massive assembly of God’s people.

When you consider the vast number of people and consider that they also left with their own cattle and flocks, you begin to understand that their deliverance was no small feat. Something that only a mighty all-powerful God could accomplish. But their challenges are far from over. Now begins the long arduous journey to the promised land. It is over the course of that journey that Israel will need to learn not just that God is all-powerful, but that He is all-sufficient. He can and will meet their every need. They can trust Him.

Not long after witnessing God’s salvation in bringing them out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, they faced the need to trust God for their provision in the wilderness. The first problem arose––the need for water. This is a great need. You cannot live without water. This is a vast number of people along with their animals that will need a lot of water. Will they trust the LORD and His provision after seeing His great power to save?

Unfortunately, their lack of drinkable water led them to grumble, not seek the Lord in confident trust that He could and would provide. But rather than punish them, God graciously made provision as Moses threw a log into the water and it became sweet so they could drink it. It is following this provision that we see the real test being presented to the people. The LORD made for them a statute and a rule and tested them––

“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.”

Israel is being tested as to whether or not they will listen to the LORD. And in listening to Him, thereby trust Him. God has said that He will deliver His people. He has already demonstrated His faithfulness in bringing them out of Egypt. They can therefore trust that He will make a way for them to be sustained all the way to the promised land. This is a test of whether or not the people will trust God’s Word.

Loved ones, God has more fully given us His Word. The entirety of His revealed will is contained in the Scriptures. God’s Word reveals plainly to us who He is in all His infinitely perfect character. He has made known our desperate need of His mercy and grace as those who have sinned against Him. He has made known how we can be recipients of His grace and mercy through faith in His merciful provision of a Savior––the LORD Jesus Christ.

He has revealed how we ought to live as those who have received His mercy and grace. And He has revealed what the end of all of this will be as we worship and enjoy Him forever. And so, the question stands before us just as it did before Israel that day. Will we trust the LORD and His Word? And will God’s Word be enough for us?

When we are tempted to doubt His character because of our difficult circumstances, will we look to His Word to be reminded of and trust what is revealed there?

When we are tempted to think too highly of ourselves and our own strength, will we instead humble ourselves and recognize our utter dependence upon Him in all things?

When we are tempted to question God’s love for us, will we look to His Word and see the certainty of His love demonstrated in the provision of His Son for our salvation?

When we are tempted to go our own way and live for ourselves, will we instead look to His word for guidance in how we should live for and serve Him––both individually and corporately as a church family?

When we are tempted to doubt God’s goodness, power, and faithfulness amidst the turbulence of life this side of eternity, will we remember that He is sovereignly and providentially working all things for His glory and our good?

As a demonstration of His faithfulness and the reality that His Word is trustworthy, He graciously gave them a foretaste of that reality. We see that as they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water. An oasis in the desert of abundant provision that served as a foretaste of their ultimate deliverance to come. God’s Word can be trusted now for what He promises to come in the future. Will Israel believe that and hold on to that? Will we believe that and hold on to that?

As we come to Exodus 16. We see this same test continue. Will Israel walk according to the LORD’s Word––trusting Him and obeying His voice? Follow along as I READ EXODUS 16:1-36.

We immediately see how fickle Israel’s heart was. They have seen His mighty salvation. They have seen His provision of water––both at Marah and the abundant provision at Elim. Nevertheless, they once again grumbled with regard to their need for food. In fact their grumbling even distorted their memory. They think they had it good in Egypt, even though reality was their circumstances were dire and deadly. Such are the poisonous effects of grumbling.

Loved ones, do not underestimate how sinful grumbling really is. On this topic, Bobby Jamieson notes that “Grumbling is complaining from a heart angry with God. It is blaming God for what you think is wrong with your life. It is experiencing something hard and deciding that God must be bad. Grumbling refuses to see the good God at work behind the hard circumstances. It keeps contentment out and lets bitterness in.”

We also see that all grumbling is ultimately aimed at God (v. 8). Whether you grumble at your circumstances, your family, your friends, those in leadership and authority over you, ultimately your grumbling is no less than an offense against a holy and righteous God. When we grumble it reveals that we are failing to trust a good, wise, and sovereign God who knows our needs far better than we do. A God who has a purpose behind all that He does––in both giving and withholding things from us.

Again, rather than punish them for their grumbling, God mercifully and miraculously made provision for them. But, much like the water, this provision was a test––will they listen to the LORD’s voice? Will they trust and obey His Word? What does that mean––the LORD testing people? God’s testing is purposeful. When God tests you He is teaching you. He is training you for your good to refine your faith. Testing and trials come from a loving God who brings them to us for our good.

James 1 teaches us this where we are instructed to “Consider it pure joy when we face trials of various kinds.” Why? Because we know that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. And we are to let steadfastness have its full effect, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. In this case, here in Exodus 16, God wants Israel to learn to take Him at His Word. To simply trust and obey.

The provision of manna came with certain instructions. They were to only gather what they needed for the day. Not hold any leftovers. Only one day a week were they instructed to gather enough for two days as a provision for the Sabbath––a day of rest they were commanded to observe. And some of them failed to obey the LORD’s instructions in both circumstances. Some gathered and kept leftovers, only to find it rotting and stinking the next day. Then, some went out on the seventh day to gather, instead finding nothing just as the LORD said would happen.

Israel would experience this daily provision all throughout their wilderness wanderings. All forty years. God was faithful and never missed a day of providing their daily bread. Their hunger would always be satisfied, just as the LORD said. His Word was and is trustworthy and true. But that satisfaction for physical hunger ultimately points forward to an even greater satisfaction of spiritual hunger. It anticipates the provision of the LORD Jesus Christ, who referred back to this very event when calling Himself “the bread of life” in John 6.

Jesus is the bread from heaven, the Word made flesh, who came into the world that our greatest hunger would be satisfied. He is the LORD’s provision for our nourishment amidst the wilderness wanderings of life this side of eternity. He alone is the bread that truly satisfies our hungry souls. And all the trials and testing you will face this side of eternity is meant to lead you to that Daily Bread. To seek Him daily in His Word and find satisfaction for your hunger in Him.

What tests are you facing in your life? Where are you tempted to doubt the truth and power of God’s Word in your life? To grumble against Him? Difficulties at home; work; school; relationships with family and friends; finances? Are you seeking relief from those trials according to your own wisdom? According to the wisdom of this world? Seeking relief for relief’s sake? Or are you seeking to endure those trials in such a way that you grow in your trust and dependence upon the LORD who has given you Himself in the person and work of the LORD Jesus Christ?

Are you looking at whatever trials you may be facing and seeing that they have been designed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, good, wise, sovereign Father to give you more of Jesus––more trust in Him and resemblance of Him in your life? May we be a people who never grumble in our circumstances, but instead look to the LORD in confident hope and trust, knowing that He is good and is working for our good in those circumstances. That we would love and trust Him more and be more like Him for His glory.

His Presence

Not only do we experience God’s perfect provision in His Word. We also experience it in His presence. Follow along as I READ EXODUS 17:1-7.

Once again, Israel was in need of water and, once again, they demonstrated that they haven’t learned their lesson. And here there is a shift. Before, it was the LORD testing His people. Seeking to refine them and lead them to greater trust and dependence upon Him. But now, as they continue to fail that test, the people are testing the LORD. And where the LORD’s testing of His people is meant for good, the people’s testing of the LORD is sinful rebellion against Him.

Loved ones, when we put God to the test, we are withholding trust from God. Withholding trust until He provides what we think we need when we think we need it. When we test God we are saying to Him, “prove yourself” even though He already has. That’s exactly what’s happening with Israel here. God has delivered them from Egypt. He’s given them food and water. He’s with them manifestly in the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, leading and guiding them. God has fully demonstrated that He is trustworthy and true. The people have no right to test Him.

In what ways are you testing God? Demanding that He prove Himself? I’ve heard unbelievers say they will believe God if they see Him or see a miracle that proves His existence. It’s like a fish demanding someone prove the existence of water. The evidence is all around you in creation. But even Christians are prone to testing God in our own ways. We seek to barter with Him amidst difficult circumstances. We withhold trust unless He delivers us from difficult circumstances. Failing to realize He Himself is our provision to endure those times in faith.

Now, here’s the amazing part about this. Once again, God has every right to just be done with them. Yet, he mercifully provides them water. But don’t miss the bigger picture presented here amidst the provision of water. Notice in verse 6 that the LORD stood before them on the rock as Moses struck the rock. The people of Israel are accusing God and testing Him and thus they deserve to be struck down themselves. Yet God puts Himself in the position of being struck for them so that they would thirst no more.

One day, Jesus would be struck for His people so that we too would thirst no more and be satisfied. In John 7, he said “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Then John follows that up with commentary to explain saying, “Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 10, Paul identifies Christ with the rock which gave the people water to drink. He goes on to say that these things were written for our example that we would not desire evil as they did. Loved ones, Jesus was struck down, raised up, and glorified, so that we would believe in Him and receive His Spirit. That in Him, by the power of His Spirit at work in us, we would be satisfied and never thirst again.

The Spirit cleanses us and makes us new through the new birth in regeneration, making us alive together with Christ. He convicts us of sin and leads us in the way we should go. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. He seals us for the day of redemption. He is the guarantee of our inheritance. He testifies to the reality that we truly are sons and daughters of God through Christ. Pretty good for a drink of water, I’d say?

Loved ones, as we navigate life and ministry in this often dry and parched land, we would do well to remember God’s presence with us through the journey. We have no need to test God. He has demonstrated Himself to be trustworthy and true. That He is with us for our good and we have all we need in Him to endure the journey fully satisfied in Him. We really will never thirst again as we drink deeply from that infinite well found only in Christ alone. That naturally leads to our next point.

His Strength

Follow along as I READ EXODUS 7:8-16.

Along the journey toward Sinai, Israel came under attack from Amalek. The text doesn’t give us any detail as to why. But it does draw our attention exactly where it needs to be. In the midst of this danger, God provided His people with His strength to fight the battle and win. Back when they crossed the Red Sea, they witnessed the LORD fight for them. Now, Israel would witness God fight in and through them for His own glory.

We’re introduced to Joshua here. He will eventually succeed Moses and lead Israel into the promised land. He apparently at this point was already a military leader among the people of Israel. But Israel’s strength was not in any man. Not in Joshua. Not even in Moses. Their strength was in the LORD. We see this as Moses took the staff of God in his hand and went on top of the mountain overlooking the battle as it unfolded.

Remember, the staff in Moses' hand is a visible expression of God’s presence with Moses and Israel. And so, as Moses held up his hand the battle went well for Israel. When his hands were down, the battle didn’t go well. And so, as Aaron and Hur propped up Moses' hands, it was ultimately the LORD who fought for Israel.

Loved ones, the same is true today. If you are in Christ you need to remember that God fights for you. He is your strength. Any effort to live in your own strength is foolish. This relates so closely to what we considered before in the LORD’s presence through His Spirit. This is how the LORD fights for you in and through you. The power of His Spirit at work in you. The LORD has given you His strength by giving you Himself.

This is welcome news in a world that is so full of temptation that seeks to devour us and keep us from following the LORD. When you face the relentless assault of temptation to sin, remember that God has given you His Spirit so that you can withstand such temptation. You can win the fight against temptation and sin, not because of anything in and of yourself, but because of God’s Spirit at work in you. This is good news because we know that the battles we fight this side of eternity are no small conflict.

Ultimately, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” How quickly do we forget that? Everything––all the temptations you face––to doubt God’s Word; to doubt His character; to seek joy and contentment in His gifts rather than in Him; to love other things and other people more than Him; to love yourself more than others. All spiritual warfare.

We see this in our marriages. Our spouse disappoints us or fails to live up to our expectations and we’re suddenly fighting the temptation to go our own way. We see this in our own hearts and minds when we choose to live for ourselves rather than dying to ourselves (then we just call it self-care). Or when we assign wrong motives to others actions and choose to be hurt by something that has nothing to do with us. We see this in our life and ministry together when we see things differently and are tempted to insist on our own way.

This is all of life, particularly the Christian life, is it not? And God has given us His Spirit enabling us to fight this good fight in His strength. Making us men and women who display His character and His image more and more each day with each battle we face in every sphere of life. And when we get weary, he has given us each other. That we would hold each other up and press on together. Teaching, encouraging, and admonishing one another in all wisdom.

His Wisdom

That’s the last thing we’ll see together this morning. We see God’s perfect provision in His Wisdom. Follow along as I READ EXODUS 18:1-27.

We’re reintroduced to Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro. He had shepherded Jethro’s flock before going back to Egypt. Apparently, at some point in the events of the Exodus, Moses had sent his wife and kids back to safety with Jethro. Now, having heard all that the LORD had done, Jethro brought Moses’ family back to him. When they met, Moses spent time recounting in detail all that God had done in delivering Israel from Egypt.

Having heard all that God had done, Jethro blessed the LORD, confessing that the LORD is greater than all other gods. He was converted! And he, along with Moses and the elders of Israel, worshipped God. In his mighty acts, God made Himself known to the nations (see Exodus 9:16). We see that here in Jethro the priest of Midian. He now worships the LORD along with Moses, his son-in-law. But there’s more that happens.

It seems that Jethro spent some time with Moses and Israel. Long enough to see Moses wearing himself out leading the people and judging their disputes. And so, like a good and godly father-in-law he offered wise counsel to Moses. Though Moses had the great privilege of hearing directly from the LORD, the LORD graciously gave him wisdom through the wise counsel of others. Here, through Jethro, who now knew and worshipped the LORD.

Isn’t it true that we all have access to God’s Word in the Scriptures? We can read and search the Scriptures and better know God and His ways. But like Moses, it is also true that we will not always see and know clearly all that we ought to do in accordance with God’s Word. And He graciously provides His wisdom through the wise, biblical counsel of His people who also know His Word. Who also know us and love us.

Proverbs has a lot to say about seeking out wise counsel. It is foolish not to. Just a few examples to remind us of this truth:

Proverbs 11:14, Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 12:15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 15:22, Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

There’s a lot more that could be said on this. Suffice it to say, the Scriptures are clear that we ignore godly wisdom and counsel from others to our own detriment. God has given us His Word and He has given us one another. Such that, as we fill up our minds with His Word and His Spirit is at work in each and every one of us, He will also give us His wisdom through each other in accordance with His Word.

Wives, you know that you are to submit to and respect your husbands. And God has surrounded you with godly women who know you and can give you that wisdom. Husbands, you know you are to love your wives and give yourself up for her as Christ did the church. And God has surrounded you with godly men who can give you that wisdom. Parents, we know we are to raise our children to know, love, and follow the LORD. And He has given us godly men and women who can help teach us to do that.

Beloved, we need one another. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. Life is full of challenges and difficult decisions. We don’t have to figure it all out on our own. In fact, we shouldn’t even try to figure it out on our own. Don’t hide your struggles and concerns from one another. Ask the questions. Seek counsel. Go to those who love God and His Word and will love you enough to tell you hard things for your good with godly wisdom saturated and formed by God’s Word. You won’t regret it if you do.

Conclusion

God saved His people. He made perfect provision for them to sustain them amidst their journey through the wilderness––His Word, His presence, His strength, His wisdom. Next week we will see Israel arrive at Mount Sinai. There we will see a demonstration of God’s ultimate provision ––Himself. The giving of the law and the instructions for the tabernacle will answer the great conundrum of how this holy God can dwell with a sinful people. All enabling the provision of Himself to His people. That He would be their God and they would be His treasured people.

Perhaps this morning as we’ve seen Israel’s failure to trust the LORD and His perfect provision, you’ve recognized ways in which you too need to learn to trust the LORD. We all need to be reminded of His perfect provision for us in Christ. He saved us and He has given us all that we need to make it through this journey. In Christ, we really can trust God for His provision through the journey. The journey all the way to the new creation where we will one day dwell with Him and enjoy Him forever. Until then, Trust God in all circumstances for His perfect provision.