A New Provider

Introduction

Israel is now across the Red Sea. Wow! Shew! Now, we can just stay here and enjoy the view of our vanquished enemy by God’s mighty hand. NOPE! Even though there are moments when we are to be still, the Christian should never be idle.

Remember, their deliverance was the power of God propelling them forward for His glory and their growth. Moses led them on a three day journey from the Red Sea into the wilderness. This is where we pick up the Exodus story.

1) A Divine Circumstance

A. They had a new thirst

This was truly a different circumstance than they were accustomed to.

Water of Egypt was not available anymore.

For the first time in a long time, their thirst would not be satisfied by the waters of Egypt.

Their thirst would be supplied by the water God supplies.

Did you find that after Jesus saved you, you had a period of SOUL THIRST?

Philippians 3:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Philippians 3:10 (KJV 1900) — 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

B. They had a new purpose

Their old purpose was to carve out bricks for human pride. NOW, they were being carved into an instrument of service and worship for the ONE TRUE GOD.

WAIT! Are they not on the path to the promised land? Should not the path reflect the land they are heading too?

This was quite perplexing for them. (They MURMURED)

Our hearts truly can’t be fully known! Worship one moment and complain the next!

Quote: The greatest joys and hopes are soon turned into the greatest griefs and fears with those that live by sense only, and not by faith. [Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible]

QUESTION: Haven’t you asked the question, “Why did God allow all this to happen to me?”

John 16:33 (KJV 1900) — 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The path to God’s promised land is designed so that little by little Egypt would be worked out of them.

Bitter waters has a way of x-raying our hearts to reveal what they are filled with.

Quote: “God knows the need because He plans the way!” (Warren Wiersbe)

God provided the means by which to make the waters drinkable.

Now, we should not over spiritualize this tree into something that it is not (Calvary) (there is no NT reference tying it to Calvary like the brass serpent on the staff)

There were no natural properties within this stick to do what it did.

The stick was the instrument, God was the means.

Example: John 9:6 (KJV 1900) — 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

2) A Diligent Obedience

A. Lordship over the believer

Here is an often made mistake:

Now I am saved and supplied for, I can rule my own life. WORNG!

Psalm 116:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds.

Luke 1:74–75 (KJV 1900) — 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, All the days of our life.

God was saying, “His people will not fare any better than Egypt if they rebel.”

He wants them to be well acquainted with His sovereignty.

Quote: God is the great physician. If we be kept well, it is he that keeps us; if we be made well, it is he that restores us; he is our life, and the length of our days. [Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible]

B. Provision for the believer

(Your Marah) As J. Vernon McGee said, “You can’t detour around them, skip over them, or tunnel under them.”

LISTEN, the God who brings you to a Marah is also the one who is bringing you to an Elim.

While you are spending time at Marah, understand, this is not your final resting place!

Let us take some sound advise from the Apostle Paul - Philippians 4:12 (KJV 1900) — 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Examples: Peter/prison, Paul & Silas/prison

Quote: “I trace the rainbow through the rain” (George Matheson)

Conclusion

Where ever God has you camping, remember, there is no circumstance in this life that will ever be permanent. This world is NOT OUT HOME!