New Life New Questions
The Israelites wanderings are illustrations of our lives with Christ in many ways. Just because they are "saved" from Egypt doesn't mean they are totally changed and faithful to God. In fact, the opposite is true. God saves former slaves who have serious issues of trust and confidence. They don't know where they are and they often forget whose they are.
Exodus 17:1–3 (ESV) All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
Exodus 17:7 (ESV) And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Exodus 17:1–3 (ESV) All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
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Exodus 17:7 (ESV) And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Notice the aspects of their complaint:
They were demanding of God, "Give us water!"
They were denouncing God, "Why did you bring us up to kill us?"
They were doubting God, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
Don't we do the same?
Aren't there times we believe God should act the way we want Him to act when we want Him to act? There are many people who make bargains with God. They expect Him to live up to His end of an unsigned agreement because in their minds He owes them something. This I believe is the default state of mind for Americans.
And don't we feel as though God has the worst of intentions for us? This is what keeps many away from God altogether. They don't really think He's for them. They believe life with God is the end of life.
And aren't there finally times when we just doubt God's presence? The situations of our lives that God allows where we do not have what we think we need in the moment or we suffer a major set back and the first thing we do is doubt God's presence or even His goodness.
Do you know what our underlying problem is? It's a failure of discipline. God brings Israel into this wilderness to teach them that He is enough for them and He is good to them and He has not abandoned them even when the situation looks that way. This process is what some refer to as sanctification. The word comes from the Latin "sanctus" which means to be holy. God is making His people holy.
What does sanctification look like for Israel?
1. They were to be a people who confidently pray to God with gratitude knowing He hears them.
2. They were to live with utter confidence that no matter where they were in life - in the parched lands or the 12 springs, God was going to work on their behalf.
3. They were to believe and know God is with them at all times. They were the blessed people of God, His possession.
Other nations were to look at Israel and be inclined toward them. A nation that was confident not in what they had but in who had them, a nation that could live by a higher law with confident trust that God was for them, a nation at peace in any situation because of the protective caring nurture of their God over them.
This is the same for a Christian. Christian, you don't need to grumble when life seems dry and you have needs. You need to pray confidently. You mustn't give up either, because God is working on you in those times. And finally, you need to remember that with Christ you can do all things, whether its with plenty or want. He has the strength you need. He's making you holy.
And that's good news.
And don't we feel as though God has the worst of intentions for us? This is what keeps many away from God altogether. They don't really think He's for them. They believe life with God is the end of life.
And aren't there finally times when we just doubt God's presence? The situations of our lives that God allows where we do not have what we think we need in the moment or we suffer a major set back and the first thing we do is doubt God's presence or even His goodness.
Do you know what our underlying problem is? It's a failure of discipline. God brings Israel into this wilderness to teach them that He is enough for them and He is good to them and He has not abandoned them even when the situation looks that way. This process is what some refer to as sanctification. The word comes from the Latin "sanctus" which means to be holy. God is making His people holy.
What does sanctification look like for Israel?
1. They were to be a people who confidently pray to God with gratitude knowing He hears them.
2. They were to live with utter confidence that no matter where they were in life - in the parched lands or the 12 springs, God was going to work on their behalf.
3. They were to believe and know God is with them at all times. They were the blessed people of God, His possession.
Other nations were to look at Israel and be inclined toward them. A nation that was confident not in what they had but in who had them, a nation that could live by a higher law with confident trust that God was for them, a nation at peace in any situation because of the protective caring nurture of their God over them.
This is the same for a Christian. Christian, you don't need to grumble when life seems dry and you have needs. You need to pray confidently. You mustn't give up either, because God is working on you in those times. And finally, you need to remember that with Christ you can do all things, whether its with plenty or want. He has the strength you need. He's making you holy.
And that's good news.
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