Exodus 17: And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? 4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?
The children of Israel came out of Egypt. Moses was sent by God to deliver them. The Lord had brought them from the rule of the world’s most powerful leader at that time. They came through the barrier of the Red Sea. When they came to water that was bitter, God made it sweet. The times are bitter now and hasn’t God made our water sweet! God doesn’t change. His will doesn’t change.
God sent manna in their wilderness of sin. When our first ancestors sinned they were expelled from their Garden paradise. Every one since has sinned against God. We were born in sin. We’re all God’s creation and here for the purpose of God. Even at conception God had a plan. Any “rewiring” has been on our part and we need help. At the age of accountability—when we know right from wrong—I like all of us chose the devil not God. I chose the lie not the truth. The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Before we accepted Christ as Savior we were in a wilderness of sin. Sin is not just in D.C.; it’s in Adwolfe too. None of us made it this week without sinning.
God wants to turn our wilderness of sin into Sinai. Sinai is Horeb, the mountain of God. In the midst of the wilderness there is a Sinai. God came down and established a relationship with us. There a rock on that mountain and his name is Jesus Christ. The wilderness was a hot place with no water to drink. Many sources claim to help you in this life. People turn to religion—false ones. Some turn to atheism, even progressivism thinking they can make a god of themselves. Television can make you think all sorts of things can be done to and for you but only God can make you saved. Chasing goals of money and liberalism? Do whatever you want. You can’t blame God for the ending. If you die lost it won’t be God’s fault. Suicide rates are very high. People are deluded and deceived. Right now we hear promises and more promises. Presidents don’t save people. Quit murmuring and searching for water where there is no water. Go to the mountain of God. You’re going to die and face the judgement of God if you don’t come to the mountain of God.
In a do-what-you-want-society the first curse word on too many lips is too vile to mention. The second one is the name of Jesus Christ. We have no business using his name except to give him glory. They don’t use the name of Buddha or some other religion; they use God and Jesus. That’s enough to prove the supremacy the true and living God. Don’t say it; don’t murmur against God. Don’t ask where God is.
Israel said it. God gave them water and bread, yet they asked is the Lord among us. Nowadays mankind sees no spiritual problem with itself. People run to psychologists and psychiatrists. Problems are with the soul. Before you go elsewhere for help you need to take your soul to the mountain. You can find water from the Rock. Israel fussed at Moses because God had brought them out there. God is not your enemy. Your worst enemy is yourself. You can’t trust your own heart. You can trust the heart of God. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Instead of murmur and question where God is, call on him. I didn’t save myself. God did. You can blame no one for your condition but yourself.
Don’t ask if God is among us. Ask if you’re still following him. Being saved doesn’t mean you have perfect homes and perfect bodies. The devil will promise it but the best he can do is destroy and take your soul to hell. God placed judgement on his Son. Jesus took it so that if we trust him judgement would pass over us. Instead of judgement we are now justified by faith. God has never given reason to doubt him. We give him plenty to doubt us. Praise God we’ve been set free! Instead of complaining, stop! Don’t ask if the Lord is among us. Turn it around. Repent. Ask yourself if you’re trusting God and if you’re right with him.
This country is falling flat on its face but the kingdom of God is still there and the Rock is on the mountain. God took Mt. Calvary and all the wickedness—past, presence, and future—met him there. Jesus bled out saying it is finished. When he died other rocks rent. Lots of things are falling apart yet God has never chipped or eroded. The mountain of God is solid. Instead of scolding the Lord and getting swallowed up by the wilderness of sin come and humble yourself before God.
The children of Israel had God; he would provide. How can water come from a rock? God. He’ll quench the thirst of your soul. When God provided the water for Israel there was plenty of it. All that is between you and God is coming to him and asking. If you believe on Jesus he’ll give you living water. The devil can’t promise that. Politicians can’t promise it. God can. Come to the Rock of your salvation.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 