Exodus 15-16

Review…

• Chapters 1-19 – The deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt!
• Chapters 20-40 – The FIRST giving of the Law of God as the Lord makes Israel His nation!
• Israel and the life of the believer…
  • Israel was in bondage to Egypt and Pharaoh – we were slaves to the world and satan…
  • God sent Moses to deliver Israel – just as God sent Jesus to deliver us…
  • Pharaoh did not want to let Israel go – just as satan did not want to let us go…
    • God sent the TENTH plague – those covered by the blood of the lamb were safe…
    • Jesus is the Lamb of God – if we believe in Him – we are saved from death!
  • God led Israel along the long road to the promised Land – they were not ready for war…
    • God wants us to learn to depend on / trust in Him – He takes us down the long road!
    • God led Moses and Israel to the shores of the Red Sea – no way out…
  • Pharaoh heard – regretted letting Israel go – and send his whole army after them…
    • When Israel saw Egypt coming – Moses told them to STAND STILL – God would fight…
    • God parted the Red Sea – with a wall of water on both sided – Israel crossed on dry land!
    • When the armies of Egypt followed – the sea returned – drowning them all…
    • The baptism of Israel – their old life of slavery was gone – new life as the nation of God!
    • We also were baptized – our old life in the world is gone – we have new life in Jesus!

Bread of life… (4 points)

• 1^st – Song of Moses… vs. 1-21
  • 1^st – Israel began to worship… vs. 1-2
    • The immediate result of the parting of the Red Sea / death of Egypt – was WORSHIP…
    • Moses and all of Israel with him began to sing a SONG…
    • I will SURELY sing (cohortative) to the Lord – for him has triumphed…
    • triumphed – 7x in OT (2x here) – exalted in victory – permanent TRIUMPH (perfect) …
    • Because the horse and rider of Egypt were thrown (perfect) into the sea!
    • Israel worshiped knowing they would NEVER see Egypt again!
    • The Lord is my STENGTH and SONG…
    • Because of what God did to Egypt – He has become (sequential) my SALVATION…
    • SALVATION – [יְשׁוּעָה] – where we get the word Jesus!
    • He is NOW my God – and I will PRAISE him…
    • PRAISE – 2x in OT – (hiphil) – to dwell at home – we might say ABIDE!
    • He is the God of my Fathers – and I will EXALT Him!
    • Israel was EXCITED – they just saw an OCEAN part…
    • And the greatest army on earth drown – in the display of the power of God…
    • But how long would that worship last – how long would Israel sing praises to God!
    • If someone gave you 1000P – you would be ecstatic – but for how long…
    • What happens when the 1000P runs out – and you need money again!
    • When God does something AMAZING in our lives – we do tend to respond in worship…
    • The question is – how long does that thankful heart last – for how long do we worship…
    • Who would not worship the Lord if He poured out His blessings on them…
    • But do we ONLY worship the Lord – get excited – when God does amazing things…
    • What do we do – what happens – during the hard times of life – do we still worship!
  • 2^nd – God had won the victory… vs. 3-10
    • The Lord is a man of WAR – the Lord is His name…
    • God cast (perfect) – violently threw – the chariots of Pharoah into the SEA…
    • The captains of Pharaoh he DROWN (pual – intensive / passive) in the Red SEA!
    • The DEPTHS covered (piel) them – they sank like ROCKS to the bottom (heavy armor)!
    • The right hand of the Lord – had dashed / SHATTERED the enemy…
    • In the ABUNDANCE of YOUR excellency – YOU sent (piel) YOUR wrath – consumed them!
    • Note – the Lord is the one who did it ALL…
    • Israel could take no credit for destroying Egypt – the SUPERPOWER of the day…
    • Slaves – unarmed / untrained – beat the best armed / trained nation on earth…
    • Not because they fought so well – Israel never raised a finger in battle…
    • God swallowed up Egypt by the depths of the sea! God fought the battle for Israel!
    • Do NOT miss how God defeated Egypt…
    • With a BLAST [רוּחַ] (wind) of His nostrils – the SEA stood up / the depths congealed!
    • Egypt followed saying – I will PURSUE / OVERTAKE / PLUNDER / and DESTORY Israel…
    • Then God BLEW his WIND [רוּחַ] – the water COVERED (piel) – and they sank like LED!
    • Do NOT misunderstand – the point is not that God sneezed – the point is it was no effort…
    • Defeating the SUPERPOWER of the world – was as easy for God as taking a breath!
    • Too often we get caught up in our problems – and we forget the power of our God…
    • No circumstance is too difficult – no enemy to powerful – nothing is impossible…
    • The creator of heaven and earth – God almighty – can handle any problems we have…
    • We see an overwhelming challenge – God sees the opportunity to blow His nose!
    • Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
  • 3^rd – Complete confidence in the Lord… vs. 11-13
    • Who is like the Lord among the gods (referring to the god of Egypt) …
    • Glorified (niphal) in Holiness / feared (niphal) in praise / doing His WONDERS (plagues) …
    • He stretched out His hand – and the earth swallowed the armies of Egypt!
    • YET – you LED the people you REDEEMED – guiding them to Your holy habitation (Sinai)!
    • God had led Israel to the Red Sea – to teach them to depend on Him…
    • If you had asked the Children of Israel before the Red sea – could God part an ocean…
    • They likely would have not believed it possible – they had never seen God do that…
    • But after seeing God part an ocean – they believed God could do anything!
    • If I told you that 400,000kg of metal could fly – you might not believe me…
    • If I told you it was a 747 plane – then you would believe – because you have seen it!
    • Having FAITH to believe God CAN do the impossible – comes though seeing the impossible!
    • If we saw God move a mountain – we would NOT worry about our food for tomorrow…
    • If we saw God raise the dead – we would NOT worry if we caught a cold…
    • The way our faith grows is by spending time with Jesus so we can SEE…
    • We can see Him provide – see Him heal – see Him do the impossible!
    • It is not that we have great faith – we just learn that Jesus is faithful!
  • 4^th – Ready for the fight… vs. 14-21
    • The people will hear (perfect) – FEAR and SORROW will take hold of Palestine [פְּלֶשֶׁת]…
    • The dukes of Edom – mighty men of Moab will TREMBLE (niphal) …
    • All the inhabitants of the land of Canaan (Canaanites) will melt away (niphal) …
    • FEAR and DREAD will fall – by the greatness of YOUR arm – they will be like STONE…
    • Till YOUR people PASSOVER – till YOUR people are planted in YOUR land!
    • Then the Lord will REIGN for EVER an EVER!
    • Israel knew that word of what God had done would spread – the nations would hear…
    • Their enemies in Philistia / Edom / Moab / all the Canaanites – would be trembling…
    • Joshua 2:10 – “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea…”
    • Rahab – I know the Lord has given you this Land – the terror of you has fallen on us all…
    • The people had heard about the parting of the Red Sea…
    • It caused the hearts of the people melted in fear – there courage evaporated!
    • The world hears about Jesus – hears the Word of God – sees God work in our lives…
    • It causes them to tremble in fear – because they are convicted by Jesus of their sin…
    • And they know that one day there will be a judgment for sin – their judgment!
    • The inhabitants of Canaan would FEAR because…
    • Pharaoh and his armies were DROWN by the Lord in the RED sea…
    • While the children of Israel went on dry ground through the midst of the SEA!
    • At the conclusion of the SONG – Miriam (sister of Moses) – went out with the ladies…
    • Answering – SING (imperative) unto the Lord for He has TRIUMPHED!
    • Israel felt invincible – undefeatable – ready to take on anyone for the Lord…
    • But their confidence would only last for a moment – it would remain for very long!
• 2^nd – looking to the past… vs. 22-27
  • 1^st – Hitting the WALL… vs. 22-24
    • Moses led Israel into the wilderness of SHUR – WALL…
    • After only THREE days – they could not find ANY water…
    • They came to the springs of MARA (bitterness) – but could not drink the water…
    • MARA – could mean the water was stagnant – or it could have been brackish water!
    • The people began to complain (niphal) against Moses – what shall we drink…
    • We can survive for weeks without food – but only a few days without water…
    • Especially in a DESERT with small children and large flocks of animals!
    • The concern was REAL – but one must ask where the FAITH was…
    • You would think the CONFIDENCE of Israel would have lasted longer than THREE days…
    • All it took was ONE trial – and Israel hit the WALL…
    • God had parted an OCEAN for them – but now they DOUBTED He could give them water!
  • 2^nd – God our HEALER… vs. 25-27
    • Moses CRIED out to the Lord – and God showed him a tree…
    • He threw it into the WATER – and the water became SWEET so the people could drink it…
    • God MADE a statute / ordinance – there to TEST (piel) Israel…
    • IF – they ALWAYS diligently LISTENED (imperfect) to the voice of the Lord …
    • AND – ALWAYS did (imperfect) what was RIGHT in His sight…
    • It would CAUSE them to give ear (hiphil sequential) to His commands / keep statutes…
    • THEN – the Lord would NOT bring the plagues of Egypt – on the Israelites…
    • The first plague of Egypt was NILE into BLOOD – no WATER to drink!
    • I am the Lord that HEALS [יְהוָה רֹפְאֶֽךָ] …
    • The Lord tested Israel there – to see if Israel would listen – follow His commands…
    • The problem was Israel was living in the PAST – what God had done at the Red Sea…
    • They were not following the Lord in the PRESENT – listening to His Word!
    • Too often in life we try to live in the PAST – what God DID in our lives…
    • I have met many Christians who talk about how they USED to serve the Lord…
    • It does NOT matter what we USED to do for God – what is He DOING in our life today…
    • When we focus on the PAST- it usually means we are doing nothing in the PRESENT…
    • We become BITTER – like Mara – complain about the hardships in our life…
    • The solution is to go back to Jesus – to the cross (wood) – to make life sweet again…
    • Diligently LISTEN to the Lord – so we can do what is RIGHT…
    • Then we will find Yahweh Rapha – God who is our HEALER!
    • Then Israel came to Elim (70 palms) where there were TWLEVE wells of water!
• 3^rd – Not looking to the Lord … vs. 1-12
  • 1^st – Into the THORNS… vs. 1-3
    • Israel left Elim – into the wilderness of SIN (thorns) – halfway between Elim and Sinai…
    • It had been FIFTEEN days since leaving Egypt – and they complained AGAIN…
    • There was not enough food to eat – and they remembered the PLENTY of Egypt…
    • They wished they had died in Egypt – with pots full of meat and lots of bread to eat…
    • They would rather be slaves with food – then free and trusting in the Lord to provide!
    • Mark 4:18-19 – “These are they which are sown among THORNS; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
  • 2^nd – A TEST from the Lord … vs. 4-5
    • The Lord said to Moses – God would rain down the BREAD of HEAVEN…
    • They were to gather what they needed every day – but on the SIXTH day gather double…
    • God Did this to PROVE (piel) them – to see if they would walk in His LAW!
    • Why did God let Israel go hungry – certainly God could have provided sooner…
    • Deuteronomy 8:3 – “He humbled you, allowed you to hunger… that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”
    • The Children of Israel were only concerned about food – they cared nothing about God!
    • God will let us go through hardships / no food / no money / sickness…
    • So – we learn that life is not about food / money – life is about knowing Jesus!
    • When we become consumed only with the physical needs of life – we doubt God…
    • Because then we do not understand the trials of life – and we complain against God…
    • Only when we understand Jesus is the reason for life – we rejoice in the trials of life!
    • Romans 5:3 – “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us…” [NLT]
  • 3^rd – The Lord heard… vs. 6-12
    • Moses said to Israel – in the evening you will SEE – the Lord brought you out of Egypt…
    • And in the morning you will SEE – the GLORY of the Lord…
    • He will give you MEAT at night – and BREAD in the morning till you are FULL…
    • Because God hears your COMPLAINTS – they are not against us – but against Him!
    • Therefore COME (imperative) near the Lord – for He has HEARD (perfect)!
    • As Aaron spoke – the GLORY [כְּבוֹד] of the Lord appeared in the cloud…
    • And the Lord spoke to Moses – SPEAK (imperative – piel) to Israel…
    • You will eat MEAT at night – be filled with BREAD in the morning – SEE I am the Lord!
    • It is easy in life to get upset with the people around us – blame them for our problems…
    • But if we do – we MISS the point – God ALLOWED us to be in those problems…
    • So – if we complain – it is REALLY the Lord we are COMPLAINING about!
    • Better to run to the Lord – and SEE what it is that He desires us to LEARN!
• 4^th – Manna from Heaven… vs. 13-36
  • 1^st – Daily bread… vs. 13-15
    • That night QUAIL filled (piel) the camp – and in the morning there was a DEW…
    • When the DEW lifted – it left behind a small round thing that looked like ICE (frost) …
    • When the people saw it – they asked what it is [מָןהוּא] – MANNA!
    • It was the bread God had given them to eat – it tasted like honey wafers…
    • It was the food that would sustain them during their 40-year wilderness wandering!
    • What was the MANNA – it was a picture of the true bread from heaven…
    • John 6:31-35 – “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert… Then Jesus said to them…Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven…. I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger…”
    • After the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 – the people came to Jesus…
    • Like Moses – they wanted Jesus to feed them EVERY DAY…
    • But He told them that Moses MANNA – was not the TRUE bread of heaven…
    • So – they asked Jesus to always / DAILY give them this TRUE bread of heaven…
    • Jesus revealed to them – I am the bread of life!
    • Those who ate the manna in the wilderness – all died…
    • John 6:50 – “The bread which comes down from heaven… one may eat of it and not die.”
    • I have heard people say – going to Bible studies does not put food on the table…
    • The problem is people are looking for the wrong kind of FOOD!
    • We must choose what we live for – this life / or eternal life!
    • Our DAILY bread (or rice if you prefer) …
    • If we miss a meal – do NOT eat rice – we feel like we are starving – we become weak!
    • In the same way – if we miss our DAILY bread – the true manna from heaven – Jesus…
    • If we do not get to spend time with Jesus in His WORD – our spirit is starving…
    • If we do not want to become spiritually weak – we need the Bread of Life!
  • 2^nd – Instructions (piel) for the MANNA… vs. 16-36
    • How much to gather… vs. 16-18
    • Each man was to gather (imperative) an OMER (two liters) of MANNA each day…
    • Some gathered a LOT – some gathered a LITTLE – but all ended up with just TWO liters!
    • It did not matter how much they collected – if they went out – they had enough!
    • How many chapters / verses of the Bible should we read – when should you read…
    • We are not more FULL if we read TWENTY chapters a day / or less FULL if we read ONE…
    • It is not about HOW MUCH of the Bible we read – it is that we read our Bible!
    • Can it be stored… vs. 19-20
    • Let no man choose to LEAVE (hiphil – jussive) it until the next day…
    • But some did NOT listen – and kept it anyways – and it grew WORMS – and STANK!
    • If we ate dinner last night – does that mean – we are not hungry in the morning…
    • If we are THREE meals yesterday – does that mean – we do NOT need to eat today!
    • People think because they went to church – they got their FILL of Jesus for the week…
    • Or they do NOT need to read their Bible today – because they read it yesterday…
    • Day old manna stinks! Take the time to spend with Jesus EVERY day!
    • When was it to be gathered… vs. 21
    • The MANNA only lasted in the morning – it would MELT in the heat of the day!
    • There is wisdom in seeking the Lord early in the morning – Psalm 63:1
    • It is a good way to START our day – before we get BUSY and find we have NO more time…
    • But it is not about WHEN we seek– the key is THAT we consistently seek the Lord!
    • Psalm 55:17 – “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”
    • The SABBATH day… vs. 22-31
    • They were not to work on the Sabbath – it was a day of rest…
    • On this day alone – there would be no manna to gather…
    • On this day alone – the manna would not grow worms or stink – lasted for TWO days…
    • Still there were those who went out to WORK. – collect manna on the SEVENTH day…
    • The Lord said – how long will you REFUSE (piel – perfect) keep my commandments / laws!
    • Therefore – the people RESTED – on the SEVENTH day!
    • I have met so many who insist they need to work on Sundays…
    • They CANNOT go to church – because they NEED more MONEY…
    • Like Israel they miss God will hold those things back to teach us what life is about!
    • Take a day – ONE day a week – to NOT worry about food / money / or work…
    • Take a day – to FOCUS on the Lord – a day to spend with Jesus – church…
    • We will find God takes care of ALL our physical needs – and more than that…
    • Through spending time in His Word – DAILY BREAD – spending time with Him…
    • We will grow in the Lord – be able to worship Jesus – no matter what the circumstances!
    • TWO liters of MANNA were preserved… vs. 31-36
    • People called it MANNA – it looked like white coriander seeds – tasted like honey wafers…
    • Moses had Aaron preserve an OMER of MANNA in a pot…
    • It was to be a TESTIMONY – WITNESS for future generations…
    • Then they also could see how God provided for Israel in the wilderness!
    • The MANNA Israel ate for 40 years – until they came to the border of Canna!
    • Because it is not enough to walk consistently with the Lord – share it with others…
    • Show our children – grandchildren – those we care about…
    • Give them the bread of life – so they can also worship the Lord!