Water for Thirsty Travelers Exodus 15:22-27
1. Aim: To lead the people to understand how the Lord guides, provides and corrects us during our journeys of faith.
Illustration:F.E. Marsh has enumerated some of God’s blessings:
An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6).
An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Ephesians 2:13).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A salvation that can never be canceled (Hebrews 5:9).
F.E. Marsh.
2. Explanation of the Aim: As Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea and into the Shur Desert, the masses became thirsty. Instead of stopping to pray and ask God for a solution to their problem, the people found the water at Marah too bitter to drink. Immediately the people complained to Moses saying,
What are we going to drink? They demanded a quick solution to their problem with a belligerent attitude. In effect the grumbling against Moses and Aaron were complaints against the Lord. Paul wrote, Do not grumble as some of them did B and were killed by a destroying angel. (I Cor. 10:10)
The Lord urges us to do everything without complaining or arguing so that we may become blameless and pure. (Phil. 2:14,15) The people who God uses are those who trust God for His guidance, provision and corrections with a submissive heart.
3. The Bible Story: It is not uncommon for the Lord to lead us to places where we face physical, emotional or mental inadequacies. Similarly, the people of Israel had gone three days in the wilderness without a drink of water. Even though they found water at Marah, it was too bitter to drink. God has the right to do whatever He wants in our life. Sometimes the Lord allows conditions to get worse so that we can learn to trust Him to make things better. Instead of asking the Lord for a solution to their problem, the people of Israel complained bitterly to Moses. God dislikes people to demand immediate answers to their problems with a belligerent attitude. Graciously, God gave Moses a solution to the problem. He instructed Moses to take a branch and throw it into the water. Instantly, the water became pure, fresh and healthy to drink. The Lord uses bitter times in our lives to test our faithfulness. Allow the Lord to make you better rather than bitter from every trial.
4. Help people think about their reaction to difficult circumstances. Ask the people what do they do when they get hungry and thirsty? Ask the people if they complain to their parents when they do not get what they want? Find out if they people know what God thinks about complainers who demand satisfaction? (Phil. 2:13,14)
5. The BIBLE STORY teaches us how the Lord provides for the needs of His people in His way, in His time and through His servants. Help the people learn how to avoid complaining against God when they face various difficulties. Show the people how to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let their requests be made known to God.
6. Give the people an opportunity to make applications from the lesson. Ask the people what they should do when they face hardships? Find out if the people know how to advise brothers or sisters who make a habit of complaining? Find out if the people can explain the meaning of Phil. 2:13,14 to other members of the class.
7. Help the people to think about their reaction to difficult circumstances. Ask the people what do they do when they get hungry and thirsty? Ask the people if they complain to their parents when they do not get what they want? Find out if they people know what God thinks about complainers who demand satisfaction? (Phil. 2:13,14)
8. There are times when we will have to make a choice between complaining or thanking God for our predicaments. When the people of Israel had walked for three days without water they chose to complain against God for their trial. Many of the people demanded that Moses do something quickly about quenching their thirsty lips. When the people discovered water at Marah they found the water to be so bitter that they could not drink it. Many of the people panicked. People who are controlled by their fear, worry or anger are not able to be led by the Spirit of God. The mind set on fleshly appetites is opposed to God’s will in everyway. The Lord wanted the people to learn to trust Him in little things so that He could make them responsible for bigger tasks.
9. God has the right to make some things bitter that we often take for granted so we can trust Him in everything. If we can learn to trust God in the desert experiences then the Lord will know that we will trust Him when conditions improve. He cannot promote people who fail to show themselves obedient in all situations. God is looking for faithful people who will teach others also about yielding to His will in all occasions. Allow the Lord to use your wants, needs and disappointments to drive you to the all sufficient Gracious God.
10. Instead of growing better from their trial, the people allowed their feelings of distress to complain and argue with Moses. They shouted, What are we going to drink?
A harsh word often stirs up strife, but a soft answer turns away wrath. (Prov. 15:1)
Insincere people may show zealous affections and appear earnest in religious services, but in the time of temptation they fall away. Even true believers, in seasons of sharp trial, will be tempted to fret, distrust, and murmur. But in every trial we should cast our care upon the Lord and pour out our hearts before him. We shall then find that a submissive will, a peaceful conscience, and the comforts of the Holy Spirit, will render the bitterest trial tolerable even pleasant.
11. Moses did what the people had neglected to do, he cried to the Lord. Do not forget to take time to cast your burdens on the Lord in every situation. He will sustain, comfort and supply you with whatever is needed. The Lord directed Moses to a tree branch that he threw into the waters of Marah. Instantly, the Lord changed the bitterness to sweetness. He will do the same for you, if you will ask Him in faith. God has a way of turning the bitter pills of life into sweet memories of His sustaining grace. Remember that a rebellious Christian will suffer just as much as a belligerent non-christian if they choose to complain, bicker and argue against God. Let the Lord be your great physician who can heal your emotional, physical and mental pain. It is always well with the soul who finds their solutions in Jesus Christ and His promises.
12. Do not forget that we are kept from destruction, and delivered from our enemies, to be the Lord’s servants. If you are not willing to serve Him, you will suffer internally if not externally. When God supplies you with bitter experiences choose to give thanks in anticipation for the good times ahead. There will be a Elim experiences of sweet times ahead, if you will only trust and obey Him. Weeping may last for a night, but a shout of joy will come in the morning. Be willing to pass through the university of tears so God may promote you to sweeter places of usefulness. Remember, Jesus said, In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world.(John 16:33) Go in His name because His power has been given to you to overcome any problem you will encounter.
Memory Verse: Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, people of God without fault. (Phil. 2:13,14)
The Meaning for Our Lives
What should we do when we face hardships? How should you advise brothers or sisters who make a habit of complaining?
Response:
Song: In everything give thanks for this is the will of God, pray without ceasing for this is the will of God. Rejoice evermore for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you to be more thankful, cheery and prayerful whenever you encounter difficulties
At Home: Ask your family and friends how they overcome the tendency to complain against God?
Conclusion:"We fought that day," writes Gilbert, "as men fight for their lives... We entered Sheria station on the heels of the reteating Turks. The first objects which met our view were the great stone cisterns full of cold, clear, drinking water. In the still night air the sound of water running into the tanks could be distinctly heard, maddening in its nearness; yet not a man murmured when orders were given for the battalions to fall in, two deep, facing the cisterns" He then describes the stern priorities: the wounded, those on guard duty, then company by company. It took four hours before the last man had his drink of water, and in all that time they had been standing twenty feet from a low stone wall on the other side of which were thousands of gallons of water.
From an account of the British liberation of Palestine by Major V. Gilbert in The Last Crusade, quoted in Christ’s Call To Discipleship, J.M. Boice, Moody, 1986, p. 143.
