CHAPTER 17 Lesson # 14
PRESSURE AGAIN
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
Note: Years ago my college friend asked me to take him to the airport so he would not have to leave his car there for several days. I agreed, but forgot!!! My friend was not a “passive sufferer”, he told me what a jerk I was. What he said hurt, but really helped, I did not want to be someone who forgets things, especially for friends. So I slowly learned how to develop a system of writing things down so I did not forget…. (I am a bit better, but not perfect).
Q Have you ever forgotten something that embarrassed you?
Q Has someone ever forgot something on you that really ticked you off?
Q Let me get personal…have you ever forgotten something your parents or a coach taught you but forgot and it was important?
RQ Do ever forget things that God has tried to teach us?
Note: You already know, or soon will, that the majority of work places do not forgive you if you forget or neglect key things. Only those who are patient or who care about you will be patient when you forget. The Bible says God is patient, slow to anger, full of mercy and compassion. That sounds sweet, but God is so much more….
III. Attempted Trust Lesson Number…???: Water Again. Exodus 17:1-7
Q Have ever screwed something up and wanted another chance to make it right? Anyone want to share such an experience?
Note: Let me show you how God is giving Israel another chance. I believe the Bible is written in patterns, even repetitions, because it is a mirror of life. There are two “water crises” and I believe their is spiritual reasons for recording two. It could be this is a second chance.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 17:1-3
Q How do the people do with the second chance?
Q Did the people see God bring water by miracle before?
An = Yes, in chapter 15:24.
>>>> Have four different people look up the following passages: Exodus 5:21, 14:10-12, 15:24, 16:3.
Q What habit have the people of Israel developed?
Q What causes their complaining, what are the outward circumstances in the four instances?
An = In Exodus 5:21, it was making bricks without straw. Life was made harder by Moses speaking to Pharaoh. In Ex 14:10-12, it was the approach of the Egyptian army that caused the panic. In Exodus 15:24, it was the lack of water, and in 16:3 it was the lack of bread.
Q Are all of these good causes to be uncomfortable mentally? Is worse working conditions, military slaughter, lack of water or lack of food good causes to be concerned?
Q Whose fault was this, who brought about all of these crises?
An = It was God. God could have miraculously supplied the straw, just as He miraculously did the plagues. God could have blocked the Egyptian army back in the Egyptian cities as easily as He blocked them near the Red Sea and the Israelites would never have seen their approach. God could have made sure there was good water before they arrived in Marah and started to bring the bread just as they left the edge of the Red Sea, before they could have even thought of their need. It was God’s fault they were in crisis four times before chapter 17.
Q Why did God do this? Does it not seem to you to be deliberate?
Q If God acted that way back then, does He act that way now?
Q What is God after? Is God only concerned with saving us from our Egyptian captivity?
RQ It seems that the Lord is willing to let Himself and His servants take an awful lot of heat to accomplish was He is after.
RQ Would not the people love God (and Moses for that matter) more, if He did not stress them?
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 17:4
Q Is Moses worried?
Q If God is consistent in handling his servants, what could this mean for you if someone goes into ministry?
An = It seems that God does this to all of His true servants. Just keep reading in the Bible about Joshua, Samuel, David, Hezekiah, etc. If you keep reading about Paul and the great leaders in church history, you will see the same “stressing” going on.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 17:5-7.
Q What does God do?
Q Does God take revenge?
An = No, He provides for the people, as He did in all of the above four cases. God loves His people.
Q Did God accomplish His goal of developing faith?
Q How can God fail? Is not God all powerful?
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 17:8-13.
Note: The Amalekites were seemingly a roving band of bandits. Kind of an ancient “Hell’s Angels”, but worse. They lived on the edge of the cultivated lands and raided the settlements. It seems that they did not try to attack the main camp, but picked of the ends of the Israelite procession.
Q How did an inexperienced group of “former slaves” defeat experienced warriors?
An = Moses prayed for them and as long as He was aided in holding up his hands, the Israelites were victorious.
Q What does this mean for leaders, when their people are attacked?
Q What does it spiritually mean to “hold-up” a “Moses'” hands.
Q What affect does this holding up of a leader’s hands have?
An = It helps the people. We hold up a leader, or aid their prayer life, so that the people can be blessed. Leaders are helped to help the people.
Note: Notice that Moses did not ask God for direction like he did in the previous verses. He saw a problem and then made plans to solve it.
Q Did God come through for Israel? Did God respond to Moses’ efforts?
Q Was God pleased with Moses’ leadership in this regard? What is the proof?
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 17:14-16.
Q Was God happy with Amalek?
Q What does this teach us about God?
Note: Notice this story about a military crisis, by-the-way it is the only such story, does record Israel complaining. Perhaps, the people needed a break from being taught to have faith.
Q In these two stories, does God validate Moses’ leadership? If so, how?
An = They received the water, when Moses’ staff (the same one used in the plagues in Egypt) struck the rock. They received victory in battle when Moses’ arms were lifted up in prayer.
Q What would validate our ministry today?
An = God would have to act in miraculous ways to truly validate our ministry. It is not our education, position, titles, reputation. “If God guides, God provides.”
Q Does Moses love these people?
Q What is the proof?
An = One is what one does. Moses lifts his hands in prayer.