Sermon Tone Analysis

*/Complaining - Exodus 15.22 - 18.27 (Part 7 in a Series of 11)/*

October 12, 1008

 

Introduction:  “A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of oxen.

The axles groaned and creaked terribly, when the oxen turning around thus addressed the wheels, "Hey there, why do you make so much noise?

We bear all the labor, and we--not you--ought to cry out!"

Those complain first in our churches who have the least to do.

The gift of grumbling is largely dispensed among those who have no other talents, or who keep what they have wrapped up in a napkin.”

- Charles Spurgeon

/Transition:  The noisy axels and wagon wheels succinctly summarize the next section in our study through the Book of Exodus.

It all begins near the end of the fifteenth chapter with… /

1.

The Bitter-Sweet Life (15.22-27)

Exodus 14:10-12 takes us back to the Egyptian side of the Red Sea:  “…When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them.

So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

11Then they said to Moses, ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?

Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?

12Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’?

For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.’”

Moses led Israel from the banks of the Red Sea into the Wilderness of Shur.

Three days later, they hadn't found water save the bitter waters of Marah.

The children of Israel complained against Moses and Moses did what they should have done; he took it to the Lord.

The Lord directed Moses to cast a tree into the waters and the bitter waters were made sweet.

Marah is a significant landmark in the history of Israel.

Here, God tested (15.25)

His children.

If they would diligently heed the voice of the LORD, do right, give ear to His commandments, and keep His statutes, the LORD would keep away the diseases which had been brought upon the Egyptians.

When leaving Marah, Israel found Elim, a place of twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees.

It was here Israel camped and found a respite.

In the song of Moses (recorded in the early part of Exo 15) the people expressed their faith and worship.

They had experienced God’s deliverance in a most miraculous way.

But the Promised Land would be gained through the wilderness as is often the case.

Acts 14:22 records the activity of two missionaries, Paul and Barnabas, who strengthened “the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”

While it is true that we will enter the Kingdom of God; it is also true that we will do so through many tribulations.

James put it this way:  “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (1.2-3).

That Israel was in dire straits is not really up for contention.

They were.

The problem is they complained instead believing God would save them again.

Psalm 106:7 gives us the reason why they so oft complained:  “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, but rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.”

They simply did not remember.

They were self-centered, ungrateful, immature, and rebellious. 

1 Corinthians 10:10 warns us not to repeat their poor example.

We should not complain about our circumstances in life “as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”

·         One conservative commentator on the radio said this week that our society was built upon the attitude of ‘living beyond our means.’

That may be true to some extent; but it is not a good thing.

The real problem many face in our world today is a spirit of dissatisfaction.

·         When dissatisfaction gives voice to verbal complaining, relationships break down and people no longer see Jesus in us.

·         The bitter waters of Marah remind us of the bitter difficulties that come our way.

God could bring sweet waters but often chooses to test us by allowing the bitter.

·         What should we do?

In this case, it’s what we shouldn’t do - complain.

Because when we complain, we bring into question the goodness of God.

God is good even when the waters of life are bitter!

·         Moses’ prayer of dependence turned bitter waters sweet.

He evidenced spiritual maturity and the spiritually immature reaped the benefit.

What is amazing about all of this is the grace that God manifested to such a discontent people.

·         When you have great needs in life, rejoice because this is a test of your faith.

Wait for God, don’t be anxious, and see His gracious hand of provision.

Isaiah 30:15-18 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.

But you would not, and you said,

 

No, for we will flee on horses—

 

Therefore you shall flee!

And,

 

We will ride on swift horses—

 

Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

One thousand shall flee at the threat of one,

At the threat of five you shall flee,

Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill.

Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;

And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

 

/Transition:  Our bitter-sweet lives may be met with a quietness and confidence even when the Lord waits.

Blessed are those who wait for Him.

Exodus 16 demonstrates…/

2.      The Crux of Contentment (16.1-36)

When they left Elim for the Wilderness of Sin, complaints arose again because of their hunger for the pots of meat and bread in Egypt.

God met this complaint with a gracious provision of bread from heaven for them (16.4).

Note that this is the second time that God responded to their complaining with a gracious provision.

Again, He tested Israel in the Wilderness of Sin.

They were to gather a certain amount of this heavenly bread each day.

God gave such instructions to see who would obey.

Fridays were special because Israel was to gather twice as much as they normally did to provide for the Sabbath.

Morning and evening (16.6-7) marked the faithfulness and mercy of God as He continuously provided for the children of Israel during all the years they wandered in the Wilderness.

God heard the complaints and took them personally.

Moses knew that complaining against his leadership turned out to be a fruitless endeavor for Israel.

In fact, they were really complaining against God.

When Israel looked toward the wilderness, they beheld the glory of the Lord in the cloud.

The Lord addressed them through Moses and promised meat at twilight and bread in the morning.

Israel would learn that He is the LORD their God.

Then, the supernatural appearance of quail in abundance along with the small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground, confirmed God’s faithfulness.

Israel did not obey the Lord.

They left part of the manna in their camps overnight as evidence of this disobedience.

The manna bred worms and stank (16.20).

They were also to gather and prepare the manna for the Sabbath on Friday.

Some of them went out on the seventh day (Saturday) in order to gather manna.

Again, this was contrary to the Word of God.

Of course, they found none.

The LORD said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?"

This indicated God’s displeasure over their lack of obedience.