Exodus day 16
Transcript
00:00God's Very Odd Ways Exodus chapters 13-18 record the initial
00:06stage of the great Exodus pilgrimage, from Egypt to Sinai, and contain many suggestive
00:12lessons for us as we encounter the unexpected twists and turns of life's pathway.
00:18The Unexpected Roundabout The pillar of clouds seems to lead the Israelites
00:23in the opposite direction to the way they expect.
00:26But this is purposeful, the obvious way is too dangerous, and could prompt backsliding.
00:33The Need to Turn Back Israel is given precise map readings for their
00:37retreat, but look where it brings them, seemingly right into an impossible trap.
00:43But Exodus 14 verse 13-14 and 30-31 explain that the Lord wants His people to know how
00:49total and irreversible their salvation is.
00:52It is a completed salvation from a truly defeated enemy.
00:57Disappointment Along the Way Why are the Israelites led to a place of
01:01disappointment with no water and then undrinkable water?
01:06What a blow!
01:07But then they discover the Lord has been there long before and has made preparation for their
01:12need a tree, planted as long before as it takes a tree to grow.
01:17This is an anticipatory providence, the Lord's forward planning.
01:21He knows His people will pass this way, so He prepares for their need.
01:26We see the same in Exodus 17 verse 1 and 6.
01:30The water producing rock is as old as creation itself.
01:35Why is it there?
01:36Because one day Israel will pass that way and need water another anticipatory providence.
01:43Provision comes with obedience.
01:45The Lord is just as competent at providing Israel with food as with water.
01:50In Mara the Lord uses His provision of water as the occasion to call His people to obedience,
01:56and in the wilderness He uses the provision of manna to test their obedience.
02:01In the case of the manna, as long as they walk in the way of obedience, they walk in
02:06the way of provision gathering what they need each day from an unfailing supply.
02:11When they forsake obedience, the supply is withdrawn.
02:15The Lord's ways frequently seem odd, but they are always purposeful and merciful.
02:20They guard us from dangers He foresees and we do not from hazards and temptations that
02:25would lure us to turn back, bring us experiences and lessons that drive home the wonder and
02:31reality of a full and final salvation, and call and entice us to obedience to His word
02:37by the sheer wonder of His grace and His thoughtfulness for our welfare.
02:42As God declared, My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.