Obedience in the Wilderness

Introduction of Wilderness

Things I have learned during COVID:

I depend too much on a routine

Eating at home is not that bad (though I am tired of turkey sandwiches)

Bored toddlers are terrorists, there is no negotiating

I still cannot grow a beard

I deeply need community

I depend too much on church for Jesus

What are you learning during this time?

Wilderness series

Background and Scripture

Where we are in the narrative.

Read Exodus 19:1-8

Pray.

Salvation story:

What is your salvation story. If someone were to ask you how you became a Christian, what would your answer be. For me, I know by now you have heard it time and time again. Grew up in a home that was Christian but marginal at times. Soccer and really just life began to get in the way. Big questions of the faith that I did not know how to process. went to college, partied my face off. Quickly found all the things I was giving myself to were leaving me empty. All my dreams and pursuits were empty. After a night in jail and some humiliating days trying to get by and recover from dumb mistakes…the church found me. Really grace found me. I could tell you about the mission trip I went on where I finally felt forgiveness and restoration. I could tell you about the walk to Emmaus where prophetic words were spoken over me that would be the beginning of the call.

What would you say?

Well if you ask a Jew, even today, but definitely any Israelites for generations and generations after the Exodus story....what is your salvation story? They would stand up and give you this narrative. About how he rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. Brought them across the red sea and bonded a covenant with them. It is the place that they gave their heart to God.

Exodus 19:3–8 NIV

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

This is their salvation story. When “they gave their lives” to him. The exodus story is integral to the whole narrative of Scripture and to our Christian story. Christ has dawned a second exodus…a greater one. For all those in Christ they are led through the waters of baptism and into the family of God. Our salvation story is their salvation story.

This is the moment where he establishes what it means to be the people of God in the world and this is the moment where he establishes his unending presence with his people. First in cloud of smoke and fire on the mountain, soon tabernacling with them in the tent. Soon they will have their place.

Still up to this point the Israelites have been in a wilderness, in a desert if you will, for three months since they left Egypt. They have already felt the pressure of the wilderness and running short of supplies. They have already experienced the growing tensions of being with each other too much on the road…spouses annoying spouses, kids fighting because they are bored, tired of the same old manna to eat each day, cannot go to church, three whole months....

wait am I talking about the pandemic or the exodus? Exactly.

This morning I want to talk about obedience in the wilderness.

Obedience in the Wilderness

What you see here is the beginning of the covenantal contract…it is the introduction verbiage and it is the main point of it all. Before the next several chapters get into it all this is the foundation for the agreement.

“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself.”

Brought you to myself physically but also in the family.

This is the root of it all right here:

“If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

Let’s look at these three elements again here:

Treasured possession

kingdom of priests

holy nation

Treasured Possession

The Israelites, first, would be God’s treasured possession. A special group of people from among all the nations belonging to God.

Today, If I call Lauren, my special possession, people get all messed up about me objectifying Lauren. But this is not what is happening in the text. This is not a power move on God’s behalf, though he has the power....he is saying they will have special relationship. Chosen above all the others. The first thing that is put forward in this covenant if for Israelites to have a special access to God.

Kingdom of Priests

Secondly, they are to be a kingdom of priests. They are to be a mediatorial role between God and other kingdoms. They are the go between for the whole world. Even in choosing one nation, God is already choosing all nations.

I love that one commentary puts it this way, “they were to be a servant nation instead of a ruling nation.”

We as God’s people are called to be a kingdom of priests.

How can you be a priest this week? Praying for others, serving for others....rocks on the green belt. Chalk on the sidewalk. Food for a neighbor.

Holy Nation

Third, they are to be a holy nation. A people set apart, not simply from other nations, but for a purpose. Israel is to embody God’s own purposes in the world.

These are not just for Israel anymore but are a calling for all of us. We are God’s special possession in Christ, we are a kingdom of priests in Christ, we are a holy nation in Christ. Embodying God’s purposes in the world.

One last point here....there is a condition here. “If” you will obey me fully and keep my covenant.

Let me be clear here. The people are already God’s people, they have already been rescued by God. The “if” condition is not about their salvation....the “if” condition of obedience is about whether or not they will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Will they live out the purposes of God in the world.

“there is not interest in warning Israel that its status as God’s people will be taken away if it is disobedient. It is more about how they will live. To be this kind of people in the world is to keep the covenant and be obedient to God.

Church, obedience is not about trying to maintain possession of the love of God, obedience is about loving God and loving the world.

Said in another way:

Obedience to God is not about avoiding condemnation primarily, obedience to God is for the rest of the world.

Plainly put, a disobedient people will not be a light to the nations.

So my question to you is how are you being obedient to God in the middle of this wilderness? How do we as individuals be obedient? How do we as a community be obedient?

Let me ask you how are you being obedient?

I was meeting with a friend the other day and she was sharing about how their small group or sunday school has been so focused on the circumstances and no one was able to really reflect on what God was teaching them in this season.

When you only see the circumstances in the desert that surrounds you then you will fall victim to them. When you only see scarcity, then it will become your reality.

How are you obeying God? What is the state of your soul? What is God teaching you about obedience?

God has taught me challenging things and beautiful things. Can I just give you an example from my life…God has shown me that I lack self-control. I struggle with anger. I am loud and quick to speak. He has spoken into my life this word and it hurts but it is a good word.

He is also teaching me about moment by moment obedience.

Bread illustration. Man another pastor helped God bring something to my heart that I have not been able to let go of since. Pastor was talking about Matthew 4 when Jesus goes into the desert and after 40 days the devil comes and tempts Jesus. Jesus is hungry and the devil tempts him to turn stones into bread and eat. Jesus quotes this passage from Deuteronomy 8 that says:

Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

And what this pastor pointed out to me was this was not about scripture....the word of God but this was about all the words that God speaks and the way he is teaching the Israelites with manna in the wilderness to trust in God. See Jesus in the desert is saying that even if I ate bread right now, it would not satisfy me unless the Father speaks a word into the bread. Mu sustenance is from God.

In the wilderness the israelities are taught “with bread” to trust that God is always speaking and we trust in every word.

Plane illustration:

The other day we were in the middle of a rough stretch of days. Doctorate, kids, toddler, showing our house etc. We decided to find anything to do and go for it. They were doing those plane flyovers so we decided, let’s go picnic on the route. Show luke the planes, he will love that. So we do it. Find that they will be at national cemetery. We get there, eating, watching our watches....nothing. Finally someone comes by and tells us they are not coming. Plan B. get a pool from Target. they dont have one.

Eventually, lauren runs in, holding her breath. grabs water balloons, water guns, and we had the most epic water fight in our backyard. It was spiritual.... I mean it, God filled my heart with joy for my family and gave us an oasis in the middle of our wilderness. It was the word of God i needed.

Man does not live on bread alone, but every word from the father.

The word of God is the mountains and the oceans that he spoke into creation

the word of God is in a passing friendly interaction that nourishes our soul

the word of God is in a loving rebuke reminding me that I am proud and not loving my family fully

the word of God is a watergun fight

the word of God is breath in your lungs

the word of God is having a roof over your head, job, income, or the provision even when these things are not guaranteed

the word of God is just enough patience to survive another day of homeschool

the word of God is the delivery from Egypt

What is the word of God being spoken into your life? How is your soul? Where are you being challenged? If you cannot answer that then something needs to change.

Because these words are invitations to obedience

Their Wilderness and Our Wilderness

What does the Exodus story and this segment at Mt. Sinai tell us about obedience in the wilderness? Well first two warnings, and then three truths:

Warning: On the other side of this text Moses is gone so long as God gives the covenant. The people get tired of waiting and they begin this weird idol worship with the golden calf. You know the story....well they make two mistakes here that prove as warnings for us in the wilderness:

In the wilderness, the temptation is to not wait on God.

The people get impatient. When you are in the wildernesses in this life. Obedience is sometimes about walking patiently.

2. In the wilderness, the temptation is to manufacture what we are looking for.

In the wilderness we turn to idols, we turn to drugs, we turn to sex, we turn to anything that will help us retreat a little, to numb a little.

Two temptations, but look at these promises and be encouraged

1. This is not blind faith

God is not calling you to blind faith or blind obedience just because that is what you are supposed to do. God says.... “you yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt.” We know because of what he has already done that obedience is appropriate and possible.

“Faith in the biblical sense is substantive, based on the knowledge that the One in whom that faith is placed has proven that He is worthy of that trust. In its essence, faith is a confidence in the person of Jesus Christ and in His power, so that even when His power does not serve my end, my confidence in Him remains because of who He is.” ― Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message

2. Relationship with God is defined in the wilderness

It is where we learn to trust and depend on him. This is where it is forged. Where we learn to trust in God and experience the power of that trust as God provides. I know, in the middle of the wilderness it is odd to be excited about it....but at the same time…we will come out better on the other end if we are obedient.

3. The promise on the other side of obedience in the wilderness

There is a promise on the other side of obedience in the wilderness. If we will be obedient in the wilderness then we will be a “kingdom of priests” and a holy nation shining to the world.

I know there are many things we are missing right now. Many ways that we are accustomed and dependent on to be shaped by the promises of God, but he is not absent in the wilderness.

Friends, listen for the word of God that is all around you. Consider this day where you might be called into obedience, walk in faith in this time and you will be a light to the nations....

Benediction:

1 Peter 2:9 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.