| Lesson 3: The Law Of The Old That Is Covered In the New Testament: The Chiding And The Tempting Of God 1/25/2014 by turtle Exodus 17:1-7 KJV (1) And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. (2) Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? (3) And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? (4) And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. (5) And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. (6) Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. (7) And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? To Chide is to complain to God and tempt is to test God with words. Israel had not learn to trust God and so they murmured against God to Moses. How often times we murmur to ourselves or to others of what we hope God will do, because we believe God owes us in some way or should intervene in our trouble, or because we are upset, because God just does not instantly provide for our needs. The other day I was snowed in and could not get to the store I was wanting some Reesee cups. I was wanting God to deliver some because I was wanting something sweet to eat. Did I really want someone to bring me Reesee cups or even God to deliver, no not really, but it the point I am trying to make, our wants and desires are often on hold for God will deliver them in due time. Yet our needs are something else. People in Hurricane Katrina down in New Orleans were thirsty without water, and their children were almost dead because of a lack of water and they began to complain to our government after five days. Cops began to do the only thing they knew to do was to break store windows so that need of water and food was taken care of. Everyone watching thought this disaster would be over quickly but it turned into months. Many thought water would be delivered by a truck quickly but they were not allowed into certain areas because of the flooding damage to roads and highways. People were looking for normal humane way of supply not the breaking of store windows for deliverance. Society quickly changed to looting and survival mode from the normal reserved humane way society was use to functioning. Moses had taken a people into the desert and there was no water where they were. They began to complain, they were not use to modern convinces of our day, it was normal for their society to dig wells and to haul water as a way of life. Indoor plumbing had not been thought of. Being without water was different to these people. Yet there were thousand s of people looking to one man named Moses. It was not just a small crowd. A cactus would not have enough water within to quench that many people. The people realized their trouble and began to complain/rebuke/chide Moses. Moses was who they could see and visibly lay blame too for this problem that had occurred. Moses then goes to God and says they going to kill me, because there is no water Lord. Lord tells Moses go and strike a rock. And Moses with no other choice, hit’s the rock once. This is not the time in which he hit the rock twice out of disobedience. This is the time in which Moses obeyed hoping for deliverance. Hoping has in time past God miraculous power would be performed and quiet those grumbling multitude who sought his life enough to stone him. A father caring for a baby has no milk to feed from the breast, but hopes to locate the formula for the screaming crying child only to find the cupboard bare at five in the morning, only to have to now run to the store quickly or improvise. Well Moses could not even improvise for water himself. There was no human solution it would take and act of God. Yet the people did not seek God for the solution at this time, they were still looking to this man who did miracles before the Pharaoh. Moses had become a demigod. Yet he had no power of his own to do these miracles. The people were not yet convinced of the power of God to provide and so with their grumbling they began to ask for proof that He would. The government in New Orleans provided the only way they new how with what they had before them so they did not prevent the looting. Moses did not have a store to turn to, a miracle was going to have to be provided. God delivered one to Moses, supplied the need to get the people further in their journey. The people had to learn to trust in God and not in Moses, but they were not there yet. They had to come to a place of not saying if God with us water should already be supplied, but saying Lord I know you will provide the water, what must I do to receive it. Are you in a place you still grumbling against God and testing whether God is real or not. Are you still looking to your teachers and ministers for those solutions and not seeking God for His provision in your life. Just because there is no human possibility does not mean provision can not be made. Trust God today. Do not mock God or grumble against God for what you think He should supply of your needs, but trust him for those needs. Dear Heavenly Father help us to trust in your supply. Knowing your provision is available as we make our request known to you. In Jesus precious name, Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com - |
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