Testing in the wilderness 2

Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →
State:
We looked at all the promises God made to Adam & Eve, Abraham, Issac, Jacob about God giving them a nation, land, that they would be a blessing to the nations and that a righteous King would come to them.
After centuries in Egypt they needed to learn about their God (The I AM)
They had learned through the plagues and exodus that God could “care” for them
But
“DID” God care for them? Would he continue to care for them?
State:
Through a series of experiences, all designed by God
We see how God teaches his children what they need to know
We see how God puts tests in our path for for us to fail- but to learn
State: preparation
Before they entered the promised land to drive out the inhabitants
Before they could face the battles of their promised land
They needed to learn that God “DID” care for them and “WOULD” provide their needs
State:
Thirst was used in the first test.
3 days in and no water!
Exodus 15:24–26 NLT
24 Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. 25 So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. 26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”
State:
Two things are shown here
The water is miraculously turned from bitter to sweet
God orchestrated this whole thing
The Lord “showed” (Torah) Moses a piece of wood
"Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law"
The type of wood was not important
The act of ebedience to obey was
God used something that would seem foolish and Moses obeyed and it provided the life necessity of water
Sometimes obeying God can seem counter-intuitive or foolish
While people were thirsting, God was trying to teach them about trusting and depending on him
State: Obeying may not always make sense
How many times has God told you to do something that made you say “ Is this really God?”
1) Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and the King of Edom fighting against Moab
When they asked Elisha the prophet what to do
God told them something that did NOT seem like the answer to their quandry
2 Kings 3:15–18 NKJV
15 But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 17 For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ 18 And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
State:
Instead of fighting - God said Dig Ditches!
State: The widow and her son
2) God met the need of the Widow and her son by asking her to do something counter-intuitive through the prophet Elijah
1 Kings 17:10–13 NLT
10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.” 12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” 13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.
State: After her act of obedience - her food never ran out until the rains came
State:
Who knows how God will meet your need
This story of the waters at Mirabah show that God lead them to bitter waters to:
Show that even though they failed the test...HE would meet their needs
Show that HE was faithful
Show the HE meets our needs in ways we could never expect
Just because YOU see no solution…does not mean there is none!
State:
Israel and Moses were on a journey that was designed by God to transform all of their ideas about God and their relationship with them.
Designed to make them a people of trust, obedience and reflecting God’s character
Our Journey with Jesus is very much the same...
Paul says about our Journey
Ephesians 4:13 NLT
13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Romans 8:29 NLT
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Colossians 3:10 NLT
10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
State: Regardless of the challenges that come at us
Whether it is God refining and teaching us or the enemy trying to stop us
God gives us promises to encourage us
2 Corinthians 1:21–22 NIV
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:13–14 NIV
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 4:30 NLT
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more