CHALLENGING THE CHALLENGES
EXODUS 17:1-16
INTRODUCTION
Throughout their journey to the promised land the Children of Israel would face challenge after challenge to their faith. We still face challenges today in our lives. 1 Peter 1: 6-7 “ In this you greatly rejoice though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine.”
ILLUSTRATION... Sinking Ship, Steve Templeton in Woodmen of the World Magazine
Left on a sinking ship were the captain and three sailors. The captain spoke first. “Men, this business about a captain going down with his ship is nonsense. There’s a three-man life raft on board and I’m going to be on it. To see who will come with me, I will ask you each one question. The one who can’t answer will stay behind. Here’s the first question: ‘What unsinkable ship went down when it hit an iceberg?’
The first sailor answered, “The Titanic, sir.”
“On to the next question: How many people perished?”
The second sailor said, “One thousand five hundred and seventeen, sir.”
“Now for the third question,” and the captain turned to sailor number three. “What were their names?”
Now there is a real challenge! My desire as your pastor is that you be able to look at Scripture and apply it to your life. Life and its challenges have not changed that much since these Holy Words were written. Scripture is relevant to our lives today. God and His way of life is relevant to each of us. The passage this morning shows a progression in some of the challenges that Israel faced and how they challenged them in return.
READ EXODUS 17:1-16
I. THE CHALLENGE OF NO WATER (verses 1-7)
I guess when I think of Israel in the Old Testament I always think that they were falling away and disobedient. There is good reason for that. The whole books of Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, and the many of the prophets show how they worshiped God and then fell away, worshiped God and then fell away. They really had a hard time following God’s instructions and keeping their part of the covenant.
One of the most important things to note here is that Gods people where going in the exact path and direction that God wanted them on and in. They had left Egypt and were following the exact commands of God. Being where God wants you to be is called being in God’s will. Doing what God wants you to do is called being in God’s will. This is most important for you and I also. For if you and I travel on life’s journey as God commands, then we too will be in God’s will.
We see in verse 1 one of the many challenges this people will face. They face the problem of being camped in an area with no water. Can you imagine 2 million people camped with little or no water?! They had no water. But what they did have was God with them no matter what they faced. It is the same for us. What we have to realize about this no water situation is that it was not new. In Exodus 15:22-27, after the crossing of the Red Sea, we are told that Israel was in a place where there was no edible water. Yet God provided for them and they had plenty of water. You and I might think I’m sure they have learned their lesson to trust God from the last time this happened but sadly we would be wrong. They were faced with challenges and did not remember that God could and would provide.
ILLUSTRATION... The effects of heat and no water, http://www.aircav.com/survival/asch13/asch13p02.html
Heat Cramps
The loss of salt due to excessive sweating causes heat cramps. Symptoms are moderate to severe muscle cramps in legs, arms, or abdomen. These symptoms may start as a mild muscular discomfort. You should now stop all activity, get in the shade, and drink water. If you fail to recognize the early symptoms and continue your physical activity, you will have severe muscle cramps and pain.
Heat Exhaustion
A large loss of body water and salt causes heat exhaustion. Symptoms are headache, mental confusion, irritability, excessive sweating, weakness, dizziness, cramps, and pale, moist, cold (clammy) skin. Immediately get the patient under shade. Make him lie on a stretcher or similar item. Loosen his clothing. Sprinkle him with water and fan him. Have him drink small amounts of water every 3 minutes. Ensure he stays quiet and rests.
Heat Stroke
A severe heat injury caused by extreme loss of water and salt and the body’s inability to cool itself. The patient may die if not cooled immediately. Symptoms are the lack of sweat, hot and dry skin, headache, dizziness, fast pulse, nausea and vomiting, and mental confusion leading to unconsciousness. Immediately get the person to shade. Lay him on a stretcher or similar item. Loosen his clothing. Pour water on him (it does not matter if the water is polluted or brackish) and fan him. Massage his arms, legs, and body. If he regains consciousness, let him drink small amounts of water every 3 minutes.
The people of God grumbled against God and against Moses. They had seen the plagues of Egypt. They had seen the parting of the Red Sea. And yet they grumbled. The people grumbled and complained about their predicament yet again, yet again they asked ungratefully why they were not left alone in Egypt. They wanted to be slaves! How upset were they? They were so upset that Moses felt that his life was in danger and that they would stone him.
II. THE CHALLENGE OF THE AMALEKITES (verses 8-16)
ILLUSTRATION... http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/History/Amalek.html
This nomadic nation was, in ancient times, Israel’s eternal foe. Shortly after the Israelites left Egypt and were wondering the desert, the Amalekites attacked the weary nation, slaughtering the weak and elderly. That was their tactic, lightning strikes that picked off goods and the weak. The Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, later avenged the attack and defeated the Amalekites, but failed to completely eradicate the nation.
Verse 8 of this chapter outlines another challenge facing the people of Israel... the Amalekites The Amalekites were descendants of Esau and were fierce fighters. The people of God had enemies. I hope that you know that the People of God still have enemies. We live in a world where our faith is under attack by Satan and those who want to leave God out of their lives. Those who have weak faith are sometimes picked off.
* The identity of family and the definition of marriage is under attack
* The belief in Absolute Truth, such as the Bible, is under attack
* The idea that God is relevant to our lives is under attack
* The priority of Jesus in life is under attack
You and I need to be aware that our Christian life and belief may mean that we defend and fight for good and for God at times.
The people then prepared to fight the Amalekites. Moses directed Joshua to prepare the men for battle. Moses organized and prepared the people for the battle. He actually did this in two ways. First, practically, the fighting men were armed and readied for battle. Second, spiritually, Moses committed himself to prayer. Moses would stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in his hand this symbolized the fact that while the army fought Moses would be seeking Gods face in prayer. Just the same when you and I are involved in the battle for God we will need to prepare practically and Spiritually.
III. GOD’S SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES: PRAYER (verses 1-16)
The Israelites faced a challenge about water. They grumbled and moaned and wished they were again slaves in Egypt. All this was done rather than coming to God as His people and praying to Him about it. Many times you and I behave in the same way; we grumble and complain when challenges come. Yet, we as believers should pray rather than complain because God was the only one who could solve their water problem.
God stepped in and provided water for the people as a direct result of Moses seeking Him in prayer; we find this in verse 4. Moses was busy praying and communicating with God while the complaining, grumbling, and questioning was going on. That is how we as believers should challenge our challenges... take it to God in prayer. That is how we live our lives. No matter what others are doing, we look to God for help and guidance. The wonderful Truth is that God answered Moses’ prayer and He will answer ours as well.
The Israelites faced a challenge with the Amalekites. Moses stood until sunset and the victory was won on top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand and his arms outstretched seeking God in prayer. Victory in our lives can be the same when we pray and persist in prayer. There is also another lovely picture here because when Moses hands grew weary and began to lower Aaron and Hur drew alongside they stood with Moses and helped by holding up Moses hands in doing so they sought to help by shouldering some of the responsibility themselves. When faced with challenges, do not face it alone but gather other believers around you to pray with you and for you. Galatians 6:2 admonishes us to “bear one another’s burdens.” James tells us that we should call the elders of the church to pray for us when we are in need. Prayer is essential.
CONCLUSION
At the end of this chapter, we see Moses praising God and saying, “The Lord is My Banner.” Moses was giving God the glory and praise for the provision of water. Moses was giving God the glory and praise for the victory over the Amalekites. He recognized that these two victories were in response to prayer. The banner always went before a people and that is what they would follow. It was the same with God. He was the One who went before them and guided them in the way they should go.
Moses and the Israelites challenged the challenges in their lives by persistent prayer and petition before God. Let us do the same!
