Exodus 17-18

Review…

• The Journey to the Promised Land…
  • Chapter 15 – Momentary confidence – the victory song of Israel…
    • God had defeated Egypt – it was not even very hard – He just blew His nose…
    • The Israelites thought they could take on any challenge – take the Promised Land
  • Chapter 16 – Quickly followed by LOTS of doubt…
    • THREE days after the crossing – no water – Israel began to complain…
    • ONE month later – no food – better to have died in Egypt!
    • The answer from God – MANNA from heaven – a picture of Jesus Christ – John 6:31-35
    • Our daily bread that keeps us strong in the Lord!

Coming to the Mountain… (4 points)

• 1^st – Water from the rock… vs. 1-7
  • 1^st – No Water… vs. 1-2
    • God led Israel from – wilderness of Sin (thorn) to Rephidim (rest) …
    • Israel finally arrives at Mount Sinai – which is in Horeb – Exodus 3:1
    • This is the very same PLACE where God met Moses in the burning bush!
    • Absolutely NO [אִין]water – therefore they complained (sequential imperfect) to Moses…
    • They demanded Moses give (imperative) them water…
    • But they were not complaining against Moses – why do you TEMP (piel) the Lord!
    • Because it was GOD who LED them in where they were!
    • Often when God leads us – we are not sure of where we are going – and it is HARD…
    • Following the commands of the lord – means trusting in the Lord…
    • We may not know where – or what we are doing – but we trust God does!
  • 2^nd – Testing the Lord… vs. 3-4 / 7
    • Yet they thirsted (sequential imperfect) – which caused them to complain (hiphil) even more…
    • Why have you brought us here to kill us – our kids – our animals!
    • Moses cried out to the Lord – Israel was ready to stone him…
    • But in truth – Israel complained against (Meribah) and tested (Massah) the Lord!
    • When life does not go the way we want – when things get hard…
    • Often our go to response is to COMPLAIN about our CIRCUMSTANCES
    • But we FORGET it is God who brough us to where we are…
    • Therefore – when we COMPLAIN – we are actually TESTING the Lord!
    • Israel tested the Lord – by saying was God REALY with them or not [אִין] …
    • They had seen God reign down TEN plagues on Egypt – drown them in a sea…
    • They had a cloud by day and a PILLAR of fire by night to lead them…
    • They had seen God part an OCEAN – so they walked through on dry land…
    • They walked out every morning to see MANNA – so they had food to eat…
    • Yet still they DOUBTED – still they QUESTIONED if God was with them!
    • It seems no matter how much the Lord has done for us – we forget when trials come…
    • As if somehow God has changed – He took care of us before – but maybe not this time!
    • When we face the challenges of life – we only need look back to see…
    • God has always been faithful to take care of our needs – and He always will be!
    • Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
  • 3^rd -Strike the Rock… vs. 5-7
    • God commanded Moses – go (imperative) and stand before the Rock of HOREB…
    • HOREB – desert – another name for Mount Sinai…
    • Bring with you the rod – the one used to turn the Nile River into blood (first plague) …
    • Bring with you the elders of Israel – who should have been a good example to Israel!
    • People are like sheep – they tend to follow the crowd – follow the leader…
    • If a sheep sees another sheep jumping into a pit – they will jump in too!
    • To often in life we blindly follow the examples of others…
    • We do what others do – because everyone else is doing the same thing…
    • It is always a wise question to ask – whom am I following – where are they going!
    • Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
    • Moses was to strike the ROCK…
    • By striking the ROCK – life saving water flowed out and rescued Israel from death…
    • This was not the only time the ROCK would give Israel water in the wilderness…
    • But the Rock only had to be struck once – the next time you only had to ask!
    • Numbers 20:8 – “Speak to that ROCK before their eyes and it will pour out its water.”
    • Who was this ROCK that followed Israel in the wilderness and gave them water – Jesus!
    • I Corinthians 10:4 – “All drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that ROCK was Christ.”
    • Jesus is our ROCK – who was beaten (the cross) so that we could have life!
    • Now He is available to us anytime – freely giving the water of life to those who ask!
    • Living water…
    • John 7:37-38 – “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
    • Jesus attended the feast of Tabernacles – remembering the wilderness wandering…
    • The priests would take SEVEN golden jugs of water from the Gihon spring…
    • They would pour it down the Steps of David – remembering the water from the ROCK!
    • The water that Israel drank only satisfied for a moment – they would be thirsty again!
    • Did you ever notice how things in this world never seem to satisfy for long…
    • If we only look to be satisfied by things from the world – we will be thirsty again!
    • But the water that comes from our ROCK – Jesus – is LIVING WATER…
    • When we drink deeply from Jesus – the LIVING WATER – we will find contentment…
    • Because we were created by God to know Him – worship Him – John 17:3
• 2^nd – Overcoming sin … vs. 8-16
  • 1^st – War with AMALEK… vs. 8
    • AMALEK was the grandson of Esau – the brother of Israel (Jacob) – Genesis 36:12
    • AMALEK became a powerful – but pagan nation – they came to FIGHT (niphal) Israel…
    • They wanted to keep Israel from Mount Sinai – where God would give Israel the Law…
    • They wanted to keep Israel from HEARING from God – becoming His chosen people!
    • AMALEK is a type / picture of our flesh (sinful desires / sinful nature) …
    • Our flesh does NOT want to listen to God – it desires to keep us from the Lord…
    • There is a battle inside of us EVERY day – between our sinful flesh / and our Spirit…
    • It is the battle between what I KNOW God wants – and what I WANT!
    • Romans 7:15 – “I do NOT understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I do NOT do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.” [NLT]
    • Why do I do what I know is sin – because I WANT to – no one forces me…
    • Why do I NOT do what I know is good and right – because I do NOT want to…
    • My problem is my heart / desires – I am the problem – I sin because I want to…
    • And the challenge is I cannot change my heart – how can you change what you want!
  • 2^nd – STAND in the battle… vs. 9
    • Moses called for Joshua (first mentioned here) to go to battle for Israel…
    • Moses would STAND – and Joshua would FIGHT the battle for Israel…
    • The name Joshua – is JESUS – Jesus is the key to overcoming the FLESH…
    • We do NOT have to fight the battle – we just STAND – and He fights for us!
    • Ephesians 6:10-11 – “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might…. that you may be able to STAND…”
    • God does NOT expect us to fight a war – He just tells us to STAND…
    • And when we STAND – we SEE Jesus – and FIGHTS the battles for us!
    • There is no condemnation in Jesus – in Him we have forgiveness – Romans 8:1
    • And Jesus can do what we cannot – He changes the desires of our heart!
  • 3^rd – HELP for the battle… vs. 10-13
    • As Moses kept his hands raised – Israel prevailed…
    • But when Moses let his hands down – AMALEK would begin to win the battle!
    • What part do we play in overcoming our SIN – lift up our hands – PRAISE the Lord!
    • We fight the battle by worshiping the Lord – looking to Jesus!
    • Ephesians 5:19-20 – “Speaking… in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    • The arms of Moses grew heavy – he was EIGHTY years old…
    • Aaron and Hur had Moses sit – and they STOOD at his side and lifted his hands…
    • AARON – light brining – the older brother of Moses…
    • HUR – from the root word WHITE – first mentioned here as an assistant to Moses…
    • Redwood trees are the tallest in the world – over 120m…
    • Yet their roots are not very deep – they STAND – by being connected to one another!
    • We also do not STAND alone in the battle – God has given us a HUGE family…
    • It is so important to have Godly brothers and sisters at our side…
    • Lifting our arms when we grow tired and weary – pointing us back to Jesus!
    • Hebrews 10:25 – “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other…”
  • 4^th – NEVER forget… vs. 14
    • God told Moses to write down – and to tell Joshua (next generation) …
    • He would completely destroy even the memory of AMALEK from under heaven…
    • AMALEK was defeated that day – but they would be back!
    • 400 years later King Saul was commanded to completely destroy Amalek – I Samuel 15:2
    • But Saul kept alive the best of their animals – and the King of Amalek – Agag…
    • His failure to completely wipe out Amalek would cost him his life…
    • Saul was later killed by an Amalekite – II Samuel 1:8-12
    • We do not overcome our flesh in ONE day – it is a battle we fight EVERY day…
    • But we must NOT compromise with our flesh – give in to our sinful desires…
    • When we give in to the flesh – the flesh desires more – and then more…
    • We end up on a slippery slope that quickly draws us away from the Lord!
    • Because Amalek was not wiped out it almost destroyed the entire nation of Israel…
    • In the book of Ester – we read that Haman and Agagite – almost killed every Jew!
    • Esther 3:9 – “Let a decree be written that [Israel] be destroyed…”
    • The parent who does not follow the Lord – whose example their children follow…
    • The friend who encourages others to drink / gamble – rather than grow in the Lord…
    • When we fail to overcome our flesh – it also affects others – our family / friends!
  • 5^th – The Lord is my BANNER… vs. 15-16
    • Moses built an altar – the Lord is my BANNER [יְהוָה נִסִּֽי] – Yahweh Nisi…
    • Because the Lord has sword I will have WAR with AMELEK – in EVERY generation!
    • A BANNER is used to identify – to label someone or a people – show their allegiance…
    • What is the BANNER over us – who are we identified with – our flesh or our spirit!
    • Galatians 5:16-17 – “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
    • As long as we live – we will fight a daily battle with our flesh…
    • If we feed our flesh – it becomes stronger – if we feed the Spirit – it becomes stronger!
    • How to strengthen the Spirit…
    • I John 2:14-17 – “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you… Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
    • If we love (agape) the WORLD – the love of the Father is not in us…
    • If we choose to dwell – seek after – the things of this world – we feed our flesh…
    • It is as we abide in the WORD that we do the will of the Father – we feed our Spirit!
    • Take the time – make the time – to feed the Spirit – so our BANNER becomes the Lord!
• 3^rd – Healthy family… vs. 1-12
  • 1^st – FIRST ministry… vs. 1-6
    • JETHRO (abundance) – the father-in-law of Moses…
    • He was the PRIEST of Midian – descendants of Abraham through Midian son of Keturah…
    • Perhaps emphasizing he was not a PRIEST of God – he did not YET believe in Yahweh…
    • Even the wife of Moses may not have believed at FIRST in the Lord…
    • She did not want to circumcise their son – bloody husband – Exodus 4:25
    • JETHRO came to the Mountain of God…
    • JETHRO heard what God had done with Moses for Israel…
    • God had used Moses to redeem the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt / Pharaoh…
    • He led Israel through the Red Sea – and brought them to meet with Him at Sinai!
    • JETHRO came to bring BACK the family of Moses…
    • The Family had come with Moses to Egypt – Exodus 4:20
    • But perhaps for their safety – TEN plagues – Moses them back to Midian!
    • But now the Pharaoh was dead – JETHRO brought the family back to him!
    • GERSHOM was born while Moses was in exile in Midian (strife) – hiding from Pharaoh…
    • He was a stranger in a strange land – so he called his son FOREIGNER!
    • ELIEZER was perhaps a newborn when God called Moses – burning bush…
    • Since he knew God was with him – he called his son GOD IS MY HELP!
    • It is easy to FORGET Moses had a family…
    • Moses was the first OFW in the Bible – busy working abroad to provide for the family…
    • But it was NOT healthy – JETHRO came to remind Moses of his FIRST ministry!
    • I have met many a father who thought his main purpose was to make money…
    • Believing if he put food on the table – and a roof overhead – he was a good Dad…
    • God does NOT call us to provide for our families- He provides for us – Matthew 6:33
    • Too many Dads work SIX or even SEVEN days a week – from morning till night…
    • Or work far away – ONLY coming to visit every couple of years…
    • Their wives and kids never get to see them – never spend time with them!
    • Or like King David – a might man used by God – the greatest king of Israel…
    • But his family – and his kids – were a complete catastrophe!
    • Absalom betrayed and tried to kill his father – II Samuel 18:33
    • Amnon lusted after his half-sister Tamar and raped her – II Samuel 13
    • Adonijah tried to take the throne of his father in his old age – I Kings 1:5
    • We are given insight why – King David was NOT there for his sons – I Kings 1:6
    • It is easy to get caught up doing a GOOD thing – but FORGET what is most important…
    • Whether it is providing for the family – or serving the Lord – it is not an excuse!
    • Two commands – LOVE your wives / TEACH your kids…
    • Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church.”
    • Husbands – the one thing our wives needs from us is the LOVE of Jesus…
    • God provides the food – clothing – house / He calls us to share His LOVE!
    • Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers… [your children] up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
    • Dads – God calls us to be the EXAMPLE to our children of how to follow the Lord…
    • Take the time – make the time – to be with our kids – TEACHING them about Jesus…
    • Do NOT miss the most important ministry God has given to us – our family!
  • 2^nd – A GODLY family… vs. 7-12
    • Moses recounted to Jethro all the Lord (Yahweh) had done in delivering Israel…
    • How the Lord had delivered them from Egypt – and all the provided in the wilderness…
    • When Jethro heard it – he BLESSED the Lord – who was greater than all the gods…
    • Jethro recognized that Lord was ABOVE – the PROUD gods of the Egyptians – 10 plagues!
    • Now I KNOW [יָדַע] the Lord…
    • The thought here is Jethro was not a believer in Yahweh up till this point…
    • But because of what the Lord had done to the false gods of Egypt – be believed!
    • If we have family / friends who are in bondage to the world – the best thing we can do…
    • Is to show them all the Lord has done in our lives – saved us from bondage…
    • Show them what Jesus has done in our lives – that He is the GREATEST GOD!
    • We show them – by letting them see the Love of Jesus in our lives!
    • If you see a family that always argues – never gets along – divisive – you stay away…
    • If you see a family full of love – caring – united – you want to know why!
    • One of the most powerful examples of the Love of God – is a Godly family!
• 4^th – Healthy ministry… vs. 13-27
  • 1^st – Burnt out… vs. 13-18
    • The next day Moses sat to JUDGE the people from morning till evening…
    • If the people had any problems – Moses was the one to settle their disputes…
    • The ministry of Moses was to teach them the command and law of God!
    • Can you imagine the problems 5 million people would have on a daily basis…
    • On average there are 115 crimes committed every year per 100k people in the PI!
    • If we use that as a base line – multiply that for roughly 5 million Israelites…
    • 5750 crimes committed every year Moses had to JUDGE!
    • That does not take into account the simple disputes / disagreements and questions!
    • The bottom line is there must have been a HUGE line to get to Moses!
    • When Jethro saw this – he told Moses – this is NOT GOOD [לֹא־טוֹב] …
    • What you are doing is – NABEL / NABEL [נָבֹל תִּבֹּל] – this is complete foolishness!
    • Moses was going to BURN OUT – it was too much for one man to do…
    • The people were going to BURN OUT – they were there because something was wrong…
    • Then they had to wait ALL day – just to hear from Moses the solution to the problem!
    • I knew a girl who – no matter what you asked her to do – she would say yes…
    • She meant well – but the reality was – there was no way she could do it all!
    • There are only so many hours in a day – so many days in a week – so much we can do!
    • Maybe it is because of pride – we think we are the only ones who CAN do the work…
    • Maybe it is trying to please men – THINKING if we say no – they will be upset…
    • When we try to do too much – we end up getting into a lot of trouble…
    • We end up BURNED OUT – tired – frustrated – unable to get anything accomplished…
    • Because when we are trying to juggle TOO MANY THINGS – nothing gets done at all!
    • We end up upsetting others – because we SAID we will help them out…
    • But we spread ourselves so thin we end up NOT doing what we said we WOULD!
    • We keep OTHERS from being able to HELP – because we said we would DO IT…
    • Therefore – other people DO NOT have the opportunity to step out and serve!
  • 2^nd – Share the BURDEN… vs. 19-27
    • LISTEN (imperative) to my counsel – and God be with you…
    • STAND before God – to bring the difficulties of the people before Him…
    • Then TEACH the people His laws and rules – so they know HOW to WALK before him…
    • But – SHARE the burden – so you will not BURN OUT – and neither will the people!
    • Find men who are God FEARNING / TRUTHFUL / NOT greedy (take bribes) …
    • And let them rule over the 1000 / 100 / 50 / 10 – delegate the responsibility…
    • Leave the BIG issues to Moses – let these men handle all the smaller issues!
    • And Moses heeded the voice of Jethro – and did all that he said!
    • If you neighbor borrowed your shovel and did not return it – not for Moses…
    • If there was a serious crime (murder) – difficult problem – take it to Moses!
    • We see the same idea in Acts 6…
    • Acts 6:2-4 – “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
    • There was a dispute over how food was being distributed to the widows!
    • If they ran around all day dealing with all the problems in the church…
    • There would be no time to study the world – and feed the flock of God!
    • We need to be wise with our time in life – God only gives us so much to work with…
    • Choose wisely how we fill up our day – what we make a priority…
    • If we spend our whole day / every day working – we sacrifice time with family…
    • If we spend our day being entertained – we sacrifice time with the Lord…
    • We need to work – II Thessalonians 3:10 – and it good to laugh – Proverbs 17:22
    • But we find we are the best witness – and the least stressed – when we have balance…
    • Balance comes when we put Jesus FIRST – family SECOND – then everything else!