The Wilderness Test
Exodus 17:1 -10:1-6
According to the apostle Paul in 1
Corinthians 10:1-6, we are
admonished to learn from the
Example of the Israelites. We too are
sojourners redeemed by the blood
of the Lamb, we have ‘crossed over’
to the other side by grace, and are
on our way to the ‘Promised Land’.
Do We believe we deserve God’s
Provision….? (Exodus 17:1-2) Do we have the right to
DEMAND God’s provision…?
Jesus said in the model prayer
“….give us this day our daily
bread…” We are told to ASK in
faith, not to DEMAND in
arrogance. GOD’s provision is a
wonderful gift of grace, we must
learn to trust GOD, not test him
with a sense of entitlement and
grumble and complain.
GOING THROUGH THE
‘WILDERNESS’ IS NOT NECESSARY
FOR OUR
SALVATION,
BUT IT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR
SANCTIFICATION…!
QUESTION:
Do difficult circumstances cause us to
have wrong attitudes and actions or do
they merely reveal wrong attitudes and
actions…?
When do we grow in Christ more….
during times of great prosperity, or
great trials…?
Do we believe GOD is good?
(Ex. 17:3-4)
GOD PROVIDES THE MANNA
God did not redeem Israel to forsake them.
God redeems and God provides.
As believers, we should remember God has
brought us through a greater exodus. And if
God would provide the solution for our
greatest problem (our sin problem, through
Christ’s death and resurrection) then we
have no reason to question his goodness
and faithfulness as we face our day-to-day
problems.
GOD IS GOOD, BELIEVE IT
Psalms 73 is a wonderful testimony of GOD’s
goodness…: Asaph wrote…
”Yet I am always with you; You hold
my right hand. You guide me with
Your counsel, and afterwards you
will take me up in Glory. Who do I have
in Heaven but you? My flesh and my
heart may fail, but GOD is the strength
of my heart, my portion forever”
Psalms 73:23-26
Meditate on this Psalm of Promise
Do We Believe GOD is With Us…?
Exodus 17:5-7
He named the place
Massah and Meribah
because the Israelites
complained, and
because they tested
the Lord saying: “Is the
Lord among us or
not….?
3 ways to apply the truths in this Old Testament Story:
Trust in God’s Providence for Daily Needs: God is with His people,
and God will provide for his people. Israel’s experience in the
wilderness is an example of God’s people grumbling and
complaining….does that show God he is trusted…?
Trust in God’s Son for our Deepest Needs: The Israelites grumbled
when they felt a need for bread (manna) and grew thirsty in the
desert. Jesus is the ‘Bread of Life’ and the ‘water that we will never be
thirsty again.’
Trust in God’s Mercy as we offer living water to the world’s thirsty:
The Rock was stricken for our salvation, but we can’t keep this ‘Good
News’ to ourselves, We must tell everyone about the Living Water.
Christ Connection:
Moses struck the Rock instead of the
people, and water flowed for the
people’s salvation. JESUS is the Rpck
who was struck for our salvation, the
Rock whose living water satisfies us
forever.
“It was God, in the person of Jesus
Christ, who stood on the Rock. It was
Christ who was struck with the rod of
God’s justice in the place of guilty
people.”
Nancy Guthrie