Jehovah Rophe - The God Who Heals Series

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Jehovah Rophe – The God Who Heals – Ex. 15

Insert: Embarrassing Moments

Trans: We’ve all had embarrassing moments, but today we find the nation of Israel red-faced b/c of their response to the greatness of God.

Note: Isn’t funny in a sad kind of way how our lack of faith and poor attitude can reveal the quality of who we are and what we really believe. Well… it can. How you act and react to a given situation reveals much about who you are and whose you are.

Trans: Two weeks ago we talked about how God gives us test to bring out our best. He also gives us test to expose the truth of who we are and what we really believe.

Poem: There once was an oyster whose story I tell, Who found a grain of sand had got under his shell; Just one little grain, but it gave him much pain, For oysters have feelings although they’re so plain. Now, did he berate the working of Fate, Which had led him to such a deplorable state? Did he curse out the Government, or call for an election? No; as he lay on the shelf, he said to himself, "If I cannot remove it, I’ll try to improve it." So the years rolled by as the years always do, And he came to his ultimate destiny – which of course if clam stew. And this small grain of sand which had bothered him so, Was a beautiful pearl, all richly aglow. Now this tale has a moral – for isn’t it grand What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand; What couldn’t we do if we’d only begin With all of the things that get under our skin.

Intro: We introduced the truth that God gives us test to humble and mature us – to bring us under His authority and care. God is looking to take a grain of sand and use it to turn us into a pearl for His glory. In looking at today’s name for God (Jehovah Rophe), we find God at work again to test us to prove Himself as the One who heals.

Name: Rophe – occurs 60x in the O.T., – means to restore, to heal, or to cure. God is able to meet us at the point of our human needs and provide complete healing. It refers to physical healing, but can refer to emotional and spiritual healing.

Text: Exodus 15:22-27 (God intros himself as healer in test where there is no healing)

Setting: Israel has just crossed over the Red Sea – they are out of Egypt and in pursuit of a land of promise. After witnessing the greatest miracle known to mankind – they gathered together and worshipped God. They’d been redeemed – rescued from the bondage of Egypt. You’d think that life would be a bed of roses, but you’d be wrong. After a great victory the children of Israel rejoiced and then set out on a (3) day journey into the wilderness where they literally hit the wall. But there is much significance in the journey.

I A Place of DELIVERANCE

Note: As previously mentioned, the Israelites had just experienced a great victory over their enemy and had personally experienced the salvation of God. They were overjoyed and overwhelmed by the God of their forefathers and praised Him.

Verse: Exodus 15:1-7, 13

Note: The Israelites had been delivered miraculously by the hand of God while simultaneously their enemy was conquered. They were set free from the tyranny of Egypt w/ no threat of their return.

Truth: Whether in salvation or in everyday life, God will provide a means to deliver His people from the enemy.

Verse: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able to bear. But when you’re tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cr. 10:13

Greater is He that is w/in me than He that is in the world. 1 Jn. 4:4

Verse: In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rm. 8:37-39

Note: Our God Delivers – He sees His people through and is faithful to His promises. He delivers us from evil, sin, and self into an eternal relationship w/ Him.

II A Place of DRYNESS

Trans: While our God is a God of deliverance, He’s also a God who longs to bring us to wholeness and health. As His people begin the journey to promise, God sometimes has to take them on a detour to turn them from sand to pearls.