This past week we began to look at two very unfortunate situations. One was that Israel after putting God to the test 10 times, was finally rejected. God finally put the hammer down! As what was part of a compromise between Him and Moses, God instead of annihilating the entire nation and starting over chose instead to let the unbelieving and rebellious die outside the promised land. At that point what was done was done and there was no going back. Rather than seriously turning to God, the nation grew more resentful and bitter. Israel, like many today, when they feel God has jaded them, openly or subconsciously turn in their hearts and minds away from Him. Israel would go from singing after crossing the Red Sea and praising God for the manna which fell from heaven to worshipping Baal and living immorally among the pagans at Baal Peor and calling the manna that fell from heaven “worthless bread!” 
There was also another unfortunate incident and that was after wandering for some 38 years Moses and Aaron would blow it! Moses because he had to wait an additional forty years to enter the promised land due to the rebellion of the people grew weary, and they got the best of him, so, he struck the rock and God once again put the hammer down. So how did Moses respond? What was the attitude and heart he had after hearing such tragic news? That will be the subject of this week’s sermon!

"What do you do when what’s done is done?” Pt.2

This past week we looked at the nasty habit of complaining all the time. This would become the trademark of the nation of Israel. Fueled by ingratitude the Israelites focused on all the things they didn’t like all the time, and ultimately in the end, it would be their downfall. As we discussed, if we believe God is sovereign in our lives, then as it was with the Israelites, all complaining is really against God Himself. God and God alone had brought the Israelites to the place they were in and the circumstances they found themselves in, and ultimately it was to teach them to trust and obey Him. Instead of seeking God for answers and reflecting on His goodness toward them thus far, they chose to complain! Sadly, here we see only 45 days since passing through the Red Sea God begins to express His concern and displeasure with the nation...within two years, He will reject them completely. On this occasion after leaving Elim, God will prescribe what they should eat, when, and how. God will put together a menu for the Israelites to feast on and it is this menu that describes for us the elements of a happy and healthy life. So, join us this week for the next in our series on The Wilderness, entitled “God’s Menu.”

The Wilderness

The Wilderness Part 6 "God's Menu"

The Wilderness Part 7 "Is the Lord Really With Us?"

This past week we saw that once again a familiar word appears in the story, which is complain! This would become the mantra of the nation throughout all its days until those who left Egypt were no more. Even though God on two previous occasions had proven Himself faithful the people remained faithless and ungrateful. Though God had fed them the day before, they were quick to tempt Him again by asking if He was really with them or not. The reason this occurred was not because they wondered if He was with them or not, but because the God they wanted was not the God who had delivered them from Egypt. You see they wanted a God who would keep them happy, healthy, and full, not a God who would test their faith, cause them to obey, and compel them to be Holy as He was Holy. The God they wanted was a God that catered to their selfish and sensual desires and the God who delivered them was a God all about changing their sinful hearts! So, they tempted Him a third time and God graciously complied, hoping to teach them another lesson. That is where we pick up this Sunday...So join us for the next in our series on The Wilderness, entitled “What’s With the Rock?”

The Wilderness Part 8 "What's With the Rock?"

This past week we saw that once again the Israelites were a people that always griped and complained. God had made the waters sweet and sent manna in the mornings and quail in the afternoons, but as soon as they got a bit thirsty as they continued on their journey, they were ready to kill Moses and suggested that God was no longer with them. This time God would do something quite unusual and that is He would tell Moses to strike a rock so water could gush forth and the Israelites could drink. There at Sinai where Israel would camp for a year or so, water would flow continually until it puddled like lakes and created streams providing living water. The question is why?  As we saw, the rock was a picture of the people's stoning heart, the Christ God would crush, and the living waters that would flow as a result! In Moses’s hand was the rod he used to perform the miracles in Egypt, a picture of the power and presence of God upon which everything relied. While at Rephidim, Israel was attacked by the Amalekites and that will be the subject of this week's message entitled “Learning to Lift Your Hands!”

The Wilderness Part 9 "Learning to Lift Your Hands"

Last week we saw that even though God had delivered the Israelites from bondage and through all their complaining still came to their rescue, He did not prevent the Amalekites from attacking them in Rephidim. This was because even though God provides everything but our willingness for our deliverance, He does not, and will not, fight our daily battles for us. Interestingly enough, Moses knew instinctively to prepare to fight. Moses would go up on the mount and lift his hands to heaven as he had done many times before.  With hands lifted to the heavens, he prevailed, when his hands became weary, and they fell the Amalekites prevailed. Such a picture seems ridiculous until you understand its meaning. Moses won that battle in the same way all battles are won. In one hand was the rod of God which represented God’s power and presence, the other hand lifted was a picture of prayer as Moses had done in Egypt. This was a picture of the prayer of faith James would speak of. God was showing us all that as we do all we can in our daily struggles, the power of God and prayer are inseparable and indispensable for victory! This week we join the Israelites as they arrive at Sinai. So, join us this week for the next in our series entitled “Sign Here.”

The Wilderness Part 10 "Sign Here"

Last week we looked at an important but mostly overlooked incident that occurred as the Israelites arrived at Sinai. Before God did anything at all, before giving the Law, before instituting the priesthood, before building the Tabernacle, or anything else, God told the Israelites what He expected from them. Moses is told to tell the people, you will only be my people if you obey, be holy, and serve me! It is short and to the point. God tells Moses before we do anything else I want to make sure they understand what this is all about. After communicating it to the people they acknowledged they understood and promised to do all that the Lord had commanded. History bears witness that they did not do what they promised and the overwhelming majority of all who promised that day perished because of their stubbornness and disobedience. The lesson was clear, all whom God will bring to the promised land will embrace their part of the journey, to obey, be holy, and serve, or they will not enter! This week they will meet the big guy Himself and that will be the subject of our next in the series entitled “Preparing to Meet the Big Guy.”

The Wilderness Part 11 "Preparing to Meet the Big Guy"

It Is Finished

The Wildreness

The Wilderness Part 12 "First Day of School, Sinai Univeristy"

Sometimes things happen in the Bible that defy explanation. This week we will look at something that defies all logic and reason. If we didn’t read it, we wouldn’t believe it! We are left with the question of why it happened and more importantly, whether we are guilty of the same. This week we will look at one of the most memorable occasions related to the Israelites, long before they were rejected by the Lord. So, join us this week for the next in our series on The Wilderness entitled “You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me.”

The Wilderness Part 13 "You've Got To Be Kidding!"

This past week we looked at the practical considerations when thinking about why the Israelites would fashion an idol only 43 days after telling God they would not and God instructing them not to. As we observed, the Israelites did what people do every day of their lives without giving it a second thought. They made promises to God they never even really thought about or considered at the time, they were caught up in the idea and spectacle of God but weren’t listening to what He was saying, and like always, it is much easier to say you are going to do something than to do it. With all that being said, it still doesn’t explain why they specifically did what they did, and that will be the subject of this week's sermon. So, join us this week for the next in our series on The Wilderness entitled “It’s Not What You Think.”

"What do you do when what’s done is done?” Pt.2

Rev. Joel McDuffie

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