See The Glory Of The Lord

SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD (Outline)

EXODUS 16:2-15 - July 3, 2005 - PENTECOST 7 / NATION

INTRO: Seeing is believing. That statement implies it takes more than faith to be convinced of certain truths. The weatherman promises rain but seeing is believing. The Savior, Jesus rose from the dead. When he appeared to the disciples Thomas was not there. Thomas wanted to see the nail prints and wounds in Jesus’ hands and feet before believing. Seeing Jesus face-to-face Thomas did not need to fur-ther see the wounds caused by the nails. By grace you and I and every believer have been given a great spiritual sight, divine insight. Without seeing God face-to-face we are still privileged to see the glory of the Lord day after day. "The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned"(MATTHEW 4:16). Today we will study what it means for us to have seen a great light. In the words of today’s verses we will concentrate on Moses words as re-minds believers of God’ many promises. In doing so, we will

SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD.

We see the glory of the Lord in the simple truths that

I. Our Lord listens.

II. Our Lord provides.

I. OUR LORD LISTENS

A. The Lord God almighty had delivered the children of Israel from the cruel hands of the Egyptians.

1. They had camped at an oasis after crossing the Red Sea. The Israelites were going to travel.

2. But in verse 2 we hear a repetitious theme. The people begin to grumble and complain.

B. Verse 3 provides the complaint. They wanted to be back in Egypt. How soon they forget slavery.

1. How soon they forget that they were not free in Egypt. They felt former slavery was better.

2. Verse 4 the Lord listens. They would have bread, food every day. They need not worry.

C. Aaron and Moses bring this good news to the people in verse 6. They would know it is the Lord.

1. Sadly, verses 7,8,9 repeat the attitude of the Israelites. It is grumbling and complaining.

2. Gladly, in spite of all of their grumbling and complaining the Lord listened – and answered.

D. Our land and our nation is a very blessed land. One might even say it is much like the Promised Land – a land flowing with milk and honey. We simply do not have an abundance of blessings but a super abundance. There is hardly anyone in our great nation who does not only have enough, but very often more than enough. Opportunities abound. God’s blessings are everywhere. But is it enough?? In the midst of seeing the Lord’s glory all around us we are all too often discontent. Our society has us looking so much ahead and preparing for the future that we often find it very difficult to live in the present. This is not a new problem. Moses also wrote in Deuteronomy these words. "In the morning you will say, ’If only it were evening!’ and in the evening, ’If only it were morning!’--because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see"(DEUTERONOMY 28:67).

E. Much like the children of Israel our sinful nature finds it necessary for us to grumble and complain. In the midst of our grumbling and complaining we come to see that the only who can help is the Lord him-self. In the midst of despair, trouble and tribulations we soon see that we are not the ones to change our lot in life. We turn to our Lord who listens to our cries and calls for help. Even in the midst of grumbling and complaining our gracious God listens. Over and over the Lord invites us to call on him. "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy"(PSALM 130:1,2). (See also PSALM 17:6; 18:3; 55:16,17; 61:2)

F. Miracle of miracles is the fact that our loving Lord listens to our cries for help. God never turns away from the pleadings of the believer. The fact is the Lord our God is anxious to hear all our needs. The Lord God almighty invites us to call so that he might listen. Isaiah even says that the Lord our God hears us before we even finish our prayers and thoughts (see ISAIAH 65:24). "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I’"(ISAIAH 58:9).

TRANS: SEE THE LORD’S GLORY. The Lord’s glory is seen in his willingness to listen to our cries, even grumbling and complaining. The glory of the Lord is also seen because II. Our Lord provides.