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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
September 23, 2007
God’s Provision
Exodus 13-18
Review
Turn in your Bible to Exodus 13. This morning we are going to be examining God’s provision for His people, the sons of Israel. God had provided for His people when he had Israel move to Egypt and preserved him and his family from the famine that devastated the region. Under Joseph’s care they multiplied and flourished in the land of Goshen. God had also protected them from the influence of the Canaanites whose sin continued to increase over the years. This was all in accordance to what God had revealed to Abraham back in Genesis 15:13-14 that his descendants would “be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions.” Before Joseph died he reminded them of God’s promise to take them back to the land of Canaan and even had them promise to take his bones with them when they did return. (See: Evil Intent & God’s Mercy)
Last week we saw God’s provision for His people in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. (See: God vs. Egypt) A new king had risen in Egypt that “did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8) and he had enslaved and oppressed them with harsh labor. The people cried out to God for deliverance and God raised up Moses to accomplish that task.
God’s hand had been on Moses from birth in preparing him for this task. First, God preserved his life since at the time of his birth Pharaoh had decreed that all Hebrew sons born were to be cast into the Nile to die. God in His providence not only had him found by Pharaoh’s daughter, who had compassion upon him to keep him alive, but she even paid Moses’ mother to nurse him for her. Second, because Moses was adopted as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he received the best education Egypt could offer in reading, writing, math as well as military and domestic leadership. All skills that would be very useful when he would become the leader of the children of Israel. After spending 40 years in Egypt and finding he could not free his people by his own methods, God had Moses spend 40 years in the wilderness tending sheep and learning to trust Him. God then performed several miracles in calling Moses to Himself and commissioning him to be the deliverer.
God then freed the sons of Israel from slavery in Egypt with a strong and mighty hand by which He demonstrated to both the Egyptians and the Hebrews that He alone is God. In a series of miracles by which He judged Egypt, God proved his superiority to all the Egyptian pantheon of gods and goddesses. Each plague making a mockery of the supposed power of particular Egyptian gods. After the final plague, the death of the first born, Pharaoh forced Israel to leave Egypt. God was fulfilling His promises to Abraham and Jacob to bring their descendants back to the land promised to them at the proper time. The Lord fulfilled His word (Exodus 3:22) and gave the people favor among the Egyptians so that they sent them away with articles of silver, gold and clothing so that they “plundered the Egyptians” (vs. 33-36). It had been 430 years to the very day from when Israel had entered Egypt (Exodus 12: 40-41). There were about 600,000 men not counting women and children, so there could easily have been 1½ to 2 million people that left that day along with all their flocks and herds (Exodus 12:37-39).
Consecration of the First Born – Exodus 13:1-16
In Chapter 12 God gave the instructions concerning the first Passover by which they would be protected from the destroyer that would kill all the first born. First, on the tenth day of that month each household was to select a year old male lamb, either sheep or goat, and keep it until the fourteenth day. On that day at twilight they were to kill the lamb and then use a branch of hyssop and spread some of the blood on the doorpost and lintels of their house (vs. 1-7). They were then roast the lamb and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs and burn up anything left. They were to eat it in haste while having their loins girded and sandals on their feet (vs. 8-11). They were not to go outside until morning (vs. 22). The Lord would then pass through the land to strike down every first born in the land of Egypt, but if He saw the blood on the doorposts and lintel, He would “pass over” that house and no plague would destroy those in it (vs. 12-13, 23). For this reason the meal would be called Passover and it was then commanded that it was to be celebrated as a memorial meal to this event every year afterward. This would be followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread which would be in remembrance of how quickly they would be forced out of Egypt (vs. 14-20, 24-27, 42-49), for they would leave so quickly there would not be time for the bread they took to be leavened.
In Exodus 13 the instructions are again repeated concerning the yearly celebration of Passover on every 14th of the month of Abib with Feast of Unleavened bread observed for the seven days following. The emphasis this time is that it was to be a sign to the generations that would follow for they were to tell their children that the reason for the rituals was a reminder that God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt with a powerful hand (Exodus 13:3-8). They could then recount the story.
Exodus 13 also gives God’s instructions concerning the sanctification or redemption of all the first born of both man and beast for the first born belong to God (Exodus 4:22; 34:19). The first born of males of clean beasts such as ox, sheep and goats would be sacrificed to the Lord, but the first born of unclean animals such as a donkey would be redeemed with a lamb (Exodus 13:13; 18:15). All first born sons of that generation were redeemed with the Levites that were set apart to the Lord’s service with the excess redeemed at a cost of 5 shekels of silver per person (Numbers 3:11-48). The Lord was to be their God and they were to be His people.
Provision of Safety from Egypt – Exodus 13:17-15:21
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him when he left Egypt in keeping with the promise made that they would take them back to Canaan (vs. 19). God lead the children of Israel out of Egypt by the miracle of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night which gave them light (vs. 21-22). Exodus 13:17 specifically tells us that God did not lead them directly to the land of the Philistines though that was the shortest path “Lest the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt. Instead God led them from Succoth
to Etham which is on the edge of the wilderness. From there they turned back and camped before Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Then they camped in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. This wandering was used by God to bring about one final judgement against Egypt. God would provide safety to that generation and many generations to come from any threat by the Egyptians.
When Pharaoh heard about the seemingly aimless wanderings of the sons of Israel it seemed they had been shut in by the wilderness. God then hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he changed his mind would pursue the Israelites in order to bring them back into slavery (Exodus 14:1-5). God’s purpose was to bring honor to His name and so that the Egyptians would know that God is the Lord. Pharaoh then prepared his chariot and army. It included not only the regular army but also his elite group of 600 select chariots (vs. 6-7). The Lord again hardened Pharaoh’s heart to chase after the sons of Israel and they caught up to them at Baal-zephon (vs. 8-9).
As can be imagined this was a frightening site to the sons of Israel, so they cried out to the Lord. Exodus 14:11,12 record the first of what would become many complaints to Moses. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
Moses was not afraid and told the people to not fear for they would see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord was going to fight for them while they kept silent and they would never see these Egyptians again forever (vs. 13-14). The Lord then told Moses to tell the people to quit crying out to Him and go forward (vs. 15). The angel of God that had been going before the camp moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud then split so that it stood both before them and after them so that it kept the Egyptians and Israelis separated while also giving them light (vs. 19-20).
The Lord then had Moses stretch “out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea [back] by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 And the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters [were like] a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” This is not slight of hand or some meteorological anomaly pushing already shallow water to one side. This is a miracle of the first order with the water forming “walls” on both sides so that they were able to pass through on “dry land.”
Pharaoh thought he could do the same thing so sent all his horses, chariots and horsemen in after them into the midst of the sea” (vs. 24). God then brought the army into confusion by causing their wheels so swerve and drive with difficulty so that they said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians” (vs. 25). But it was too late. God had Moses stretch his hand back over the sea so that the waters returned to their normal state so that the entire army drowned, not even one of the remained (vs. 26-29). When Israel saw the Egyptian dead on the seashore and the great power God had used against them “the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses” (vs. 31).
Exodus 15 records the song Moses and the people sang about it while Miriam, Moses’ and Aaron’s sister who was a prophetess, lead the women in dancing with timbrels. The Lord magnified His name by breaking the power of Egypt in that generation. He provided Israel safety from Egypt, for it would be many generations before it would again be a military power and a threat to Israel.
Liberal scholars would have you believe that Moses and the people crossed a marshy area called the Sea of Reeds instead of the Red Sea. They think this is a more credible story, but in denying the miracle of crossing the Red Sea they have to create another miracle, for then the entire Egyptian army drowned, horses and all, in the same marsh a bunch of runaway slaves had just crossed. The Egyptian bodies then floated so well on the surface that they washed up on the banks that same morning.
Provision of Water – Exodus 15:22-27
Moses had a overwhelming task ahead of him. He was to take 2 million or more people to the land of their forefathers. The logistics of providing food and water for such a large group of people would be immense itself, but add that they were going through a desert and it becomes incredible. It did not take long for the people to run out of their own resources and in doing so also their belief in the Lord and Moses. They were going to have to learn to trust the Lord and their attitude and stubbornness would make that lesson long and difficult.
They journeyed three days from the Red Sea and into the wilderness of Shur where they did not find any water. When they did arrive at the waters of Marah they found the waters to be bitter and they could not drink it. Marah means “bitterness.” At that point they began to murmur in complaint against Moses, “What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:11-24). The question is legitimate, but the manner in asking it was sinful for it was disrespectful of Moses as their leader and without trust that God would provide.
God graciously answered Moses prayer showing him a tree which Moses threw into the waters which then made them sweet. Again, the Lord performed another miracle by Moses in their sight. But there the Lord also made a statute and a regulation by which He would test them saying, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”
They were put on notice that the same God that had provided for them so that they were released from their bondage in Egypt, that destroyed the Egyptian army so that they would no longer fear them, and Who provided them with sweet water would treat them well and not put any of the diseases upon them that the Egyptians had suffered if they would hear, heed and obey the commands of the Lord to do what was right in His sight. They then came to Elim were there were 12 springs of water and 70 date trees.
Provision of Food – Exodus 16
From Elim they traveled into the wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai. On the fifteenth day of the second month after they left Egypt they began to grumble against Moses and Aaron because of the food. They said, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (vs. 3). God had provided water, but now they complain because they do not have the food they used to have in Egypt. How soon they forgot their suffering there and were now longing to have been left alone to die as slaves because of fear they would not have enough food to eat.
The Lord told Moses that He would given them meat in the evening and “rain bread from heaven” for them in the morning, but it would come with specific instructions on gathering it as a test whether they would walk in His instructions or not (vs. 4, 12). God would provide enough for each day for five days, then on the sixth he would give them enough for two days for none would be given on the seventh day which would be a Sabbath (vs. 5).
When Moses and Aaron told the people God’s instructions they not only informed them that God would give them “bread to the full” in the morning (vs. 8), but they also said that the Lord would glorify Himself in doin
g it. Moses and Aaron pointed out one more important thing telling the people, “for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord” (vs. 8). They both recognized that the complaining of the people was due to the combination of their selfishness and lack of faith. They were not getting what they wanted and they did not trust the Lord to provide what they needed and so they grumbled against Him. This was also a warning because complaining against God is a dangerous activity. God is patient with them at this point, but when we get to Numbers we will see how seriously takes grumbling when He starts judging them for it.
Grumbling is a serious matter for the Christian as well. 1 Corinthians 10 states that one of the reasons the history of Israel in the wilderness was recorded was as an example to us not to repeat their sins. Grumbling is listed along with craving evil things, idolatry and immorality as specific sins for which they were judged. Philippians 2:14-15 make it clear that grumbling is never appropriate for the Christian. 14 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” All leaders know by experience that people are going to grumble and complain. It is something you have to learn to deal with in leading any organization. When that happens in the church it reveals the great spiritual immaturity of those doing the complaining. A few years ago when I was preaching through Philippians and reached this passage, (See: Without Grumbling or Disputing) it coincided with a period when there was a great amount of grumbling in this church. It became so bad that a couple of months later I went back and preached on the passage again. (See: Rejoicing, Not Grumbling) Within a year all those who were part of the group of grumblers were gone. A few matured out of it. Some went other places where they continue their practice. One couple had to be disciplined and disfellowshiped. One of the tragedies of it happening here was that all of our church leaders, including myself, are always very open to hearing both the ideas and concerns of anyone attending the church. When the grumblers and complainers do not come to us but whisper to one another, or if they reject the counsel and decisions of the church leadership, then it reveals they have proud, stubborn and rebellious hearts. They are on dangerous ground with God. That is not to imply that our church leaders are infallible, but they are godly men whom God has given the responsibility to shepherd and oversee this church.
As Moses and Aaron were talking to the people, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud (vs. 10), and that evening the Lord had quail come up so that they covered the camp (vs. 13). God had provided the meat. In the morning there was a layer of dew that left a “fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground” when the dew evaporated (vs. 14). When the people saw it they asked each other, “What is it?” and Moses explained that it was “the bread which the Lord had given [them] to eat” (vs. 15). They were to gather an omer (about 2 quarts) for each person and God superintended it so that both those who gathered a lot and those who gathered a little each ended up with an omer (vs. 16-18).
Moses also told them that they were not to leave any of it until morning. This was part of the test. Would they trust God for daily provision or would they tried to hoard it? Some did not follow the instructions and the next morning they found it had bred worms and become foul (vs. 19-21). They also had to gather it in the morning for it would melt when it became hot (vs. 21).
On the sixth day they were to gather twice as much and prepare it for that day and the following because the seventh day would be a Sabbath and there be none found in the field. But unlike the previous five days, that which held over would not spoil. They would have to obey God. Those who followed the instructions found it did not spoil and there was enough for the Sabbath, yet there were some who did not obey and went out to gather it on the Sabbath. The Lord had Moses rebuke them for refusing to keep His commands and instructions and then explain it one more time (vs. 22-30). The Lord was still longsuffering and patient with them despite their disobedience.
They named the food “manna” which means “what is it?” and described it as being like coriander seed, white, and tasting like wafers with honey (vs. 31). One omerful of it was put into a jar to preserve before the Testimony as an example to show throughout their generations what they ate in the wilderness. They ended up eating it for 40 years until they came to the border of Canaan and were able to eat of the produce of that land (vs. 32-36).
Provision of Water – Exodus 17:1-7
The Lord had already provided them water and food despite their grumbling, yet the Lord’s grace upon them did not change them. They continued to travel through the wilderness of Sin until they camped at Rephidim where once again they did not have water to drink. Once again we find that instead of praying and seeking the Lord’s favor, they quarreled with Moses and complained, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” (vs. 2). They continued to grumble against Moses, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
Moses was getting frustrated with them and cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me” (vs. 4). The Lord instructed Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink” (vs. 5-6). Moses did as the Lord commanded and then named the place Massah and Meribah, which means “temptation” and “contention” because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (vs. 7). Once again the Lord provided despite their grumbling.
Provision of Military Victory – Exodus 17:8-16
While they were at Rephidim they were attacked by Amalek. Moses had Joshua choose men to go fight them while he went to the top of the hill overlooking the battleground with the staff of God in his hand (vs. 8-10). Verse 11 -13 describes this unusual battle. 11 “So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”
The manner in which this victory was won once again demonstrated that it was the Lord that watched over His people and determined their future, both immediate and distant. They did not win this battle in their own might but in the Lord’s intervention as demonstrated by Moses having to keep his hands held up. They built an altar there and named it Jehovah (Yahweh) -Nissi, “the Lord is My Banner,” as a memorial to the victory brought about by God.
Amalek lost the battle and a lot more. Because they had come out to fight against Israel the Lord judged them and swore to “have war against Amalek fr
om generation to generation” and “utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” (vs. 14-16). They lost the battle and gained the Lord as their adversary from then on. 1 Samuel 15 records their final destruction at the hands of King Saul.
Provision of Wisdom – Exodus 18:1-27
The Lord not only provided for the sons of Israel, he also provided Moses the help he needed. Exodus 18 records the visit of Jethro, the priest of Midian, who was Moses’ father-in-law. He came out to meet Moses in the wilderness at the mount of God and brought with him Moses’ wife, Zipporah, and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Moses had sent her and the boys back to be with Jethro sometime earlier (vs. 1-6). After Jethro arrived and they exchanged their greetings and asked about each other’s welfare Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done in Egypt in bringing them out of slavery as well as the Lord’s deliverance from the hardships that had already befallen them on their journey (vs. 7-8). Jethro’s response was to rejoice and praise God saying, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, [and] who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people” (vs. 10-11). Jethro then made burnt offerings and sacrifices for God.
The next day Jethro observed Moses’ activity in judging the people from morning until the evening. He then asked Moses about it and Moses explained that the people would come to him to inquire of God so he would judge disputes between people and make known to them the statues and laws of God. Jethro then gave Moses some very sound advice. Wise men still follow the principles of his advice given in vs. 17-23. 17 “And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 “You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 “Now listen to me: I shall give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20 then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk, and the work they are to do. 21 “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place [these] over them, [as] leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 “And let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear [the burden] with you 23 “If you do this thing and God [so] commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”
Moses was smart enough to follow the advice and so he choose able men to set over the people as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. This was the origin of what would later become the Sanhedrin. They would judge all the minor disputes and only the difficult cases would be brought to Moses. Sometime after Jethro returned to his own land having been encouraged by what God had done for Israel and being an encourager to Moses.
A trap that gifted people can easily fall into thinking is that they have to do it all and/or that they even can do it all. Even for the most talented and intelligent individuals there are limits to what they can do. Work must be reduced to what is reasonably feasible or a person will wear out. The best way to do that is to organize other people to take on part of the load. Not only does it give relief to the one who is overburdened, but it also trains them up to take on greater responsibilities in the future.
Conclusions
God is good, gracious, merciful, patient and longsuffering. There is a false accusation made against Him by skeptics and the ignorant that He is a God of anger and wrath in the Old Testament and one of love in the New Testament. Some even say they are two different Gods, yet the continual provision by God for His people though they were rebellious, disobedient, faithless and stubborn speaks strongly of His attributes that arise out of His love. God would have been just to have wiped Israel out, yet He was patient with them as He taught them the lessons needed so that they could learn to trust Him. In the future we will see that He will eventually judge some because of their sin, but overall it is actually His mercy that shines the brightest.
God still deals with people today in the same manner even with those that accuse Him, grumble against Him and even deny Him. He would be just to exterminate all the unregenerate immediately, yet in patience and longsuffering He endures them granting them mercy and even grace for the present time. As 2 Peter 3:9 puts it, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” However, take note that the particular promise spoken of in that passage is His return to judge the world. Do not presume upon the Lord’s endurance of you. In the coming weeks we will see His judgement eventually did come upon Israel. It will eventually come upon you too. Romans 2:4-5 tells us that God’s kindness, forbearance and patience should lead a person to repentance, but those who remain stubborn with an unrepentant heart store up wrath for themselves in the day of God’s righteous judgement.
Are you like Jethro who praised God when he heard all God had done in providing for Israel? Are you like the people who despite the many, many miracles they saw God perform continued to complain and grumble against Him when they did not get what they wanted? God is still patient with you but you are on dangerous ground. Or are you like Pharaoh who continued in his stubbornness until God sealed him with a hardened heart and he became a vessel for God’s wrath. I pray it is the first, if not, then today is the day to get right with God. Do not delay. You may not have time.
KIDS CORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help.
Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Write down all the verses mentioned in the sermon and look them up later. 2) Write down each place Israel camped and their responses to their needs. Talk with your parents about the proper way to let them know your needs.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others.
Why were the sons of Israel in Egypt? How was God’s hand seen in preparing Moses for God’s calling of him as the deliverer? How did God bring them out of Egypt with a “strong & mighty hand?” What was the relationship of the miracles to the pantheon of Egypt? About how many people left Egypt? What was required in the first Passover? How often and when is Passover to be celebrated? What Feast follows it? Why did the first born have to be sanctified or redeemed? Why didn’t God lead them directly to the land of the Philistines? What effect did their initial wandering have on Pharaoh? What did God do to Pharaoh? What was the reaction of the people when Pharaoh’s army caught up with them? How did God preserve Israel? How did He destroy the Egyptian army? What effect did that have in the years to come? Why is the idea that they crossed at the shallows of the Sea of Reeds wrong? How did the people respond to the destruction of the Egyptian army? What was the reaction of the people when they got to Marah?
How did the Lord provide for them there? What was the reaction of the people in the wilderness of Sin? How did the Lord provide for them there? How did the method of God’s provision require them to trust and obey Him? What was their reaction when the arrived at Rephidim? How did the Lord provide for them? The people complained against Moses, but who were they actually grumbling against? Why is grumbling a serious sin? What does it demonstrate about the person? Why did God curse Amalek? How did Israel defeat Amalek? When was Amalek destroyed? Who was Jethro? What was his reaction to hearing what the Lord had done for Israel? What problem did he identify in how Moses was dealing with the people? What advice did he give him? What principle from that advice can you apply in your own life? Does God behave the same way in the Old Testament as in the New Testament? Explain? Which are you more like – Jethro? The children of Israel in the wilderness? Pharaoh? Which do you want to be like? What needs to change?
Sermon Notes – September 16, 2007
The Lord Provides- Exodus 13-18
Review
God provided for Israel & brought them out of the land of ____________
_____________________ adopted Moses as her son
God freed Israel from slavery with a strong and mighty _____________
The miracles made a ___________ of the Egyptian pantheon
About _______________ people left Egypt
A roasted _______ is eaten on Passover along with ___________ herbs
Passover is to be celebrated _____________ followed by the Feast of ______________ bread
The first born of man and beast belong to __________
Provision of Safety from Egypt – Exodus 13:17-15:21
God lead the people by a ___________ of cloud by day and ________________ by night
God lead them into the ____________ instead of the land of the ______________
Pharaoh pursued them with his army including ______________ select chariots
The people were to be ___________ and watch the Lord fight for them
Israel crossed on _______ land with water as ___________ both sides of them
_______ of Pharaoh’s army _______________ in the same place the Israelites crossed the Red Sea
Provision of Water – Exodus 15:22-27
The people began to ____________ when the waters at Marah were found to be bitter
God had Moses make the waters sweet by throwing a ___________ into them.
The Lord would put none of the ___________ on them if they would heed and obey Him.
Provision of Food – Exodus 16
The people grumbled against _____________ & _____________ because of the lack of food
Their grumbling was actually against ________________ because they were selfish & lacked faith
Grumbling is listed in 1 Corinthians 10 as an example of Israel’s ______________
A person who grumbles proves themselves to be:
(Phil. 2:15) A Christian who does not grumble or dispute proves themselves to be:
Moses prayed and God provided meat in the form of ___________ that evening
God gave them _______________________ in the morning with the dew
They would have to __________ God for daily provision
They would have to __________ God for Sabbath provision
Provision of Water – Exodus 17:1-7
When they reached _________________ they quarreled against Moses because of a lack of water
God had Moses get water from a ______________ by ________________ it
Provision of Military Victory – Exodus 17:8-16
Israel defeated ______________ by Moses ___________________ his hands
Israel built an altar there and named it ______________________ in memorial of the victory
Provision of Wisdom – Exodus 18:1-27
Jethro came with _____________ & _______________ to meet Moses in the wilderness
Jethro _______________ when he heard what the Lord had done for Israel and he worshiped Him
Jethro ________________ Moses activities and __________ him to share the work load with others
Conclusions
God’s response to Israel in the wilderness shows that He is the___________ in Old & New Testaments.
God is patient, but He will eventually __________ the world
God’s kindness, forbearance and patience should lead to ____________.
Those who do not _________ store up wrath for themselves in the day of judgement
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