New Testament Reading: Acts 1:1-11

“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:1–11, ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 18:1-12

“Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, ‘I have been a sojourner in a foreign land’), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, ‘The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh’). Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. And when he sent word to Moses, ‘I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,’ Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.’ And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.” (Exodus 18:1–12, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

The theme of the previous passage is warfare. The theme of the passage that is before us today is witnessing. From warfare to witnessing – isn’t that an interesting transition? 

In the previous sermon, I said that Christian sojourners must engage in spiritual warfare. In this sermon, I will say that Christian sojourners must witness. At first glance, these two activities seem to be very different and unrelated, but upon closer examination, we will see that the two things are tightly linked in the outworking of God’s plan of redemption. Victory in warfare must result in witnessing. 

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not speaking of ordinary warfare here. I’m not talking about the kind of warfare that is fought between the common nations of this earth – but spiritual warfare – warfare that has to do with the spiritual conflict between Satan and those who belong to him by birth, and Christ and those who belong to him by faith. There is a battle that rages in the spiritual realm. Yes, it does manifest itself on earth. But it is, in the end, a battle for the souls of men and for the glory of God.  

The story of scripture may be described as a story about this spiritual war. It began with the temptation of man in the garden. The treason of Adam was the spark.  The declaration of war was made by God himself when he declared to the Serpent that one would arise from the offspring of the women who would crush his head. Until then – until the full and final defeat of the Evil One – there would be conflict, or warfare, between those who belonged to God by faith, and those whose allegiance was with Serpent.

Old Covenant Israel’s wars, as earthly and natural as they were, must be viewed as spiritual wars. They were holy wars, for they were divinely sanctioned. They were fought, not for selfish gain, but for the glory of God. They fought, not for the expansion of borders, nor for the procurement of personal wealth, but for the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth and for the accomplishment of his program of redemption. The wars of Old Covenant Israel were holy wars, for in those days the LORD was fulfilling the promises that he made to Abraham concerning his offspring possessing the land of Canaan to become a great nation with kings to govern them. And we know that the purpose of this was to prefigure the kingdom of God on earth until the promised Messiah would emerge from this people to atone for sins, to defeat the Evil One, and to usher in the Kingdom of God with power. 

Here I am reiterating what was said in the previous sermon. When we consider the wars of Old Covenant Israel we must see them as unique and as holy, for the LORD commanded these wars. He fought for his people in a special way. These wars, unlike all other wars, had something to do with the accomplishment of God’s plan of redemption in Christ. From this nation, the Messiah – the skull-crushing seed of the women – would be brought into the world. And until then, this nation would be preserved in Canaan. There the kingdom of God would be prefigured. There the Israelites would guard the precious and very great promise of God. There they would worship the LORD as they lived in covenant with him. They were God’s holy people. The wars that they fought were holy wars, for these wars, unlike all other wars, were about the advancement of God’s kingdom, the accomplishment of his plans and purposes, and were for his glory. It is no wonder then, that victory in warfare gave way to witnessing. After the Exodus, and after the victory that Israel won over Amalek, Moses witnessed, or testified, concerning the mercy and grace of God towards Israel, and of his greatness.

Brothers and sisters, if Moses was moved to witness, or to testify, concerning the grace and greatness of God after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and Joshua’s victory over Amalek at Rephidim, how much more so ought we be moved to witness, or to testify, concerning the grace and greatness of God now that he has delivered us from the domain of darkness, bondage to sin, and the fear of death through Jesus’ victory over the Evil One on the cross?

I alluded to this in the previous sermon. Now would be a good time to state it explicitly. Jesus is the Greek pronunciation of the Hebrew name, Joshua. Joshua was a type of Christ. It was through Joshua that God worked the victory for Israel over Amalek. It would be Joshua who would lead Israel into the promised land. I am saying to you that Joshua and the victories won by him, foreshadowed the Joshua to come, his victory over Satan himself, and the leading of his people, the Israel of God, into The Promised Land, the new heavens and earth – it was Jesus the Messiah who accomplished these things. 

Again I ask, if Moses was eager to witness concerning the earthly deliverance and victory that God had worked for Old Covenant Israel, how much more should we be eager to witness concerning the eternal deliverance and victory that God has worked for his elect through Jesus Christ?

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Witness

So then, the first and main point of the sermon is this: Christian sojourners must witness. 

In verse 1 we read, ​​“Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 18:1, ESV)

We were introduced to Jethro for the first time back in 2:18. In that passage, he is called by the name Reuel. After that, he is called by the name Jethro. Moses married Jethro’s daughter after he took refuge with him after fleeing Egypt as a relatively young man. Moses lived in Jethro’s clan for a very long time. He tended his flocks. In fact, this was what Moses was doing when then the LORD spoke to him in the burning bush and called him to act as the deliverer of his people. 

Undoubtedly, Moses had told Jethro about the LORD God. I’m sure he communicated to him the same truths that are contained for us in Genesis. He testified that the LORD was the creator of heaven and earth, that he had created man upright and entered into a covenant with him, but that man fell. Surely Moses told Jethro, along with his wife and children, about the promises made to his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And certainly, Moses reported to Jethro about the call of God that was upon him after his encounter with God in the burning bush. But up to now, there is no indication that Jethro believed in YHWH. The scriptures say that Jethro was the priest of Midian. He was concerned with matters of worship, therefore. He was viewed by his people as a spiritual leader. What exactly were his beliefs? Just how pure or false was the religion he promoted? We do not know for sure. But here it seems that the LORD got his attention. “Jethro “heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 18:1, ESV).

How did Jethro hear it? I suppose it could be that Moses sent messengers to him. But it may also be that word had spread to him concerning what the LORD had done to the Egyptians and to the so-called gods of Egypt. We know that word spread to the surrounding nations for other passages say that they trembled as Israel drew near to them. Jethro came to Moses having heard of what the LORD had done for Israel to deliver them and brought his daughter and grandsons, that is to say, Moses’ wife and children, with him. 

Why was Moses separated from his wife and children? Commentators debate this. So think that there was some sort of break in the relationship between Moses and his wife. That would mean that perhaps even she was unconvinced that Moses was called by God, and then convinced when she heard the news of the deliverance of Israel. Others think that Moses had sent his wife and children back home for their safety, and called for them once things were settled. I lean towards the second of these two opinions.

Here we learn the name of Moses’ two sons along with their meaning. Verse 3: “The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, ‘I have been a sojourner in a foreign land’), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, ‘The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh’).” Gershom sounds like the Hebrew word for “sojourner”. Eliezer means “my God is help”. 

So then, Jethro journeys to Moses as they encamped at the mountain of God, this is, near Sinai, and he brought Moses’ wife and children with him. The scene is very sweet. It is a blessed reunion after a long time of separation. Moses must have been very pleased to see his wife and children, but the story focuses upon his interaction with his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. I think this is very significant. The point is not to downplay the joyousness of the reunion between Moses, his wife, and children, but to emphasize the interaction between Moses, the prophets and priest of Israel, and Jethro, the priest of Midian. “Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.” (Exodus 18:7–8, ESV)

In other words, Moses witnessed to Jethro. He testified concerning the redemption that the LORD had accomplished for Israel. Notice these things: 

One, Moses’ witness was not forced but was natural. He greeted his father-in-law in an honorable way. He invited him into his home and spoke to him naturally while sitting around the table, as it were. 

Brothers and sisters, we should be eager to testify concerning the redemption that Christ has accomplished for us, and in my experience, it is best when the testimony is delivered in a natural, instead of forced, way. Be friendly. By kind and hospitable. Develop relationships with others. “[H]onor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

Two, Moses told the story of redemption. What exactly did he say to Jethro? We do not know for sure, but there is good reason to believe that what he said was set against the backdrop of the story of Genesis. As I have said, I think it is safe to assume that Moses had already communicated the message of creation, fall, and the promise of redemption to Jethro. And now as they met together in the tent near Sinai, I assume Moses told Jethro a story similar to the one that is now contained for us in Exodus 1 through 17. Are you following me? Moses is the author of both Genesis and Exodus (not to mention Lev., Num, and Deut.). And yes, we confess that he wrote the scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But this does not mean that these stories were not near and dear to his heart while raised in Egypt, while exiled in Midian while standing before Pharaoh, and while leading the people out of Egypt towards Sinai. These stories were in Moses’ mind and heart before he wrote them down, and here we see that they were on his lips too. He told Jethro all about what “the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake… and how the LORD had delivered them.”

Brothers and sisters, do you know the story of redemption? It is treasured in your mind and heart so that you can tell it to others? If we hope to be an effective witness to others regarding the redemption that is ours in Christ Jesus, we must know the story of redemption. And may I suggest to you that it is best to start at the beginning when speaking of the redemption that is ours in Christ? It is very difficult if not impossible to understand the truth about who Christ is and what he has accomplished without the backstory. And so testify to the hope that is in you by starting with creation and the fall. After that, you may tell people about God’s gracious plan of redemption. Moses had the promises of God concerning Christ. And he witnessed God’s redeeming power displayed before his very eyes. But we have something greater. We have the fulfillment of those promises. We have received the good news about the accomplishment of our eternal redemption through the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, Christ Jesus our Lord. Tell that story, friends. Tell people about creation, fall, and redemption. Our redemption was prefigured in the Exodus but realized in the cross of Christ. Tell people about that and urge them to repent and believe upon the Messiah. 

Three, Moses told Jethro about “all the hardship that had come upon them in the way…” What hardships? Well, they must be the hardships that are recorded for us in the pages of Exodus! I am thinking of the lack of faith regarding water and food, the grumbling, and even the threats against Moses’ life from the people of Israel as they grew discontent and angry. Included in these hardships must also have been the assault of Amalek. “The LORD had delivered” Israel from Egypt and from all of these hardships. It was the LORD who did it, despite Israel’s weakness, and here Moses testifies to the LORD powerful provision. 

Brothers and sisters, when you witness, do not be afraid to highlight the hardships that you have endured and to place emphasis upon your weakness and your failings. The truth is this: we are weak, but he is strong. And when we testify concerning the salvation that is our in Christ Jesus, we must tell the truth. Moses told the truth about Israel’s lack of faith, their fear and his, the weakness of their military, and the weakness of his own arms. We ought to give glory to God by doing the same – by telling the truth regarding our weakness and God’s strength, our unworthiness, and God’s abundant grace.

Will you witness? We must.

Old Covenant Israel was to witness. They were to call the nations to repentance as the glory and power of God was manifest in and through them. 

New Covenant Israel is to witness too. But New Covenant Israel does not have a land of their own from which they call the nations to come and worship. No, the church is to go to the nations. This is what Christ said to his disciples at his ascension: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV)

We must witness, brothers and sisters. We must be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us. We must pray for opportunities, look for opportunities, and take them when they come. We must tell the truth about creation, man’s fall into sin, and the redemption that God has accomplished for us in Christ. We must urge men and women to turn from their sins to Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the hope of life eternal. 

Christian sojourners must witness. 

*****

To Witness Faithfully, Christians Sojourners Must Contemplate, Comprehend, And Cherish The Significance Of The Victory That Christ Has Won For Them

The second point of the sermon is really a sub-point to the first, and it is this: To witness faithfully, Christian sojourners must contemplate, comprehend, and cherish the significance of the victory that Christ has won for them. 

I’ve drawn this second point from the enthusiasm that I sense in Moses to testify to Jethro. This enthusiasm is evident, it seems to me, in Jethro’s response, which we will come to in just a moment. Jethro was moved by Moses’ testimony to rejoice, to bless the LORD, and to worship. 

Though the text does not say it explicitly, I think it is strongly implied: Moses was blown away by what the LORD had done for Israel. He marveled at the thought of the great act of redemption that was accomplished through him and before his eyes.

We should not forget that it was not long before this that Moses was reluctant to be used by the LORD. When God called him he pleaded with the LORD to send someone else. But think of all that Moses has witnessed from his encounter with the LORD in the burning bush through to the defeat of Amalek at Rephidim. As he contemplated it, his mind must have been blown. As he thought of the significance of these events in light of the promises made to Adam and Abraham, he must have stood in awe. When Jethro, his father-in-law, and the priest of Midian come, he could not wait to tell him the good news. And I am saying that it was because Moses himself contemplated, comprehended, and cherished in his own heart the significance of the victory that the LORD had worked for Israel that he was so eager to share the good news with others. 

I think the same thing can be said for the first disciples of Jesus. They were deeply discouraged and dejected when Christ was crucified and buried. They went away to their homes defeated. But when Christ rose from the grave in victory, and when he showed them from the scriptures how he was the fulfillment of all the law, the prophets and the Psalms, their hearts burned within them. As they consider the victory that Christ has won, and as they contemplated the significance of his resurrection in light of the promises previously made, then they were moved to witness. Stated differently, it was only after comprehending the marvelous goodness of the good news that the first disciples of Jesus were moved to testify to others concerning what the LORD had done.

Have you ever received good news, brothers and sisters? I’m not talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ here, just ordinary good news – good news about a job promotion, the improved health of a loved one, a pregnancy, or an engagement – that kind of good news. There is something about good news that excites the heart and stirs within us a desire to share it with others. You know this is true. What is the first thing you want to do after receiving good news? You want to tell someone! Good news has this effect on us. It excites the heart and compels us to share!

The point I am making is this: Christian sojourners will witness – they will be eager to testify concerning the redemption is ours in Christ Jesus – only when they come to see the good news of the gospel as the good news that is. Yes, we may witness sporadically for a time being motivated by a sense of duty. But the one who has contemplated Christ and his work, who has comprehended its significance and its goodness, and who truly cherishes it in their hearts – this one will feel compelled to witness. I think it can also be said that this one will witness to others with the right attitude. They will testify concerning Christ with an attitude of thankfulness and love towards God for the marvelous grace that he has shown to us in Christ. 

Christians sojourners must witness, this is true. And certainly, we may witness being driven by a sense of duty – I suppose it is better to speak of Christ to others out of a sense of duty than to not speak of him at all. But it would be far better if we spoke enthusiastically of Christ because we ourselves are overwhelmed with the kindness of God towards us. It would be better if we witness being driven by a sense of awe and gratitude towards God concerning his grace. 

So I ask you, brothers and sisters, have you contemplated the gospel? Have you contemplated it in the past, and do you contemplate it regularly to this present day. Do you think deeply about the promises of God and of their fulfillment in Christ Jesus? Do you ponder the glorious grace of God that has been shown to us in Christ Jesus? It will only be after we contemplate, comprehend, and cherish the significance of the victory that Christ has won for us that we will feel that natural urge to share this good news with others. 

It seems to me that this is what Moses experienced. He marveled over the grace of God and over the redemption that he had witnessed. And felt the natural compulsion to testify to his yet unbelieving father-in-law, Jethro. May the same be true of you and me as we ponder Christ crucified and risen, and the hope that is ours through faith in him. 

*****

To Witness Faithfully, Christians Sojourners Must Contemplate The Judgment That Awaits All Who Are Not United To Christ By Faith  

The third point of the sermon is also a sub-point to the first, and it will be very brief. To witness faithfully, Christian sojourners must also contemplate the judgment that awaits all who are not united to Christ by faith. Our text for today does not say this explicitly either, but I think it is safe to say that Moses was moved to witness to Jethro because he loved him and was concerned for his eternal destiny. 

Moses knew, just as Abraham did, that salvation from sin was received through faith in the promised Messiah. Moses knew that the Israelites redemption from Egypt was not the full and final redemption that the Christ would accomplish, but was a small step forward, a partial fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham, and a foretaste of the salvation that was to come. When Moses witnessed to Jethro he was not merely emploring Jethro to believe that the LORD had rescued Israel from Egypt, but to believe in the LORD who had redeemed Israel, for the LORD had also promised to provide a Savior who would one day defeat the serpent, providing eternal salvation from sin and its consequences. 

What compelled Moses to testify concerning the LORD’s redemption? First, he himself marveled over the victory the LORD had won. Second, his true concern for the soul of his father-in-law. Stated differently, Moses was moved to witness by his love for God and his love for his fellow man. 

Brothers and sisters, I have exhorted you to contemplate the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ so that you would see it as the marvelously good news that it is, and thus be compelled to speak of it to others. Now I am compelling you to contemplate the fate of those not in Christ. The scriptures are clear. Those not in Christ will be judged for their sins. According to Jesus, They will be cast “into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 22:13, ESV)

*****

The Goal Of Witnessing Is The Worship Of God Through Christ Jesus

The fourth and final point of the sermon today will also be brief. It is this: The goal of witnessing is the worship of God through Christ Jesus. We do not witness to convert sinners to believe in the existence of God. Nor do we witness to make men moral, nor to move them to have our political views. No, we testify to others concerning Christ and the victory that he has won for us so that men and women, boys and girls, would turn from their sins, believe upon Christ, and be reconciled to God through faith in him, to give him the worship that is due to his name. This is the goal of our witnessing. Yes, it is true. For it to happen the Spirit of God must work upon the hearts of men to regenerate them. But this is our aim – the worship of God – and so we pray that God would do his work in the hearts of men as we are faithful to do ours by telling others of the glories of Christ. 

It is truly marvelous to consider how Jethro, the priest of Midian, responded to Moses’ testimony concerning the redemption the LORD had worked for Israel.  “Jethro said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.’ And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God” (Exodus 18:10–12, ESV).

I have not left much time to consider these wonderful words. Perhaps I can bring out the glory of them by making five brief observations.

One, these words came from the lips, not of a Hebrew, but of a gentile, and not of one who had previously believed in the promises of God, but of one who likely remained skeptical up to this point. After hearing of the marvelous works of the LORD, he worshiped. God’s setting apart of the Hebrews was always with this goal in mind – to bring the gentiles also to himself. 

Two, the words “he blessed the LORD” are significant when considered in the light of what God had said to father Abraham many generations earlier. “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Genesis 12:1–3, ESV). Not long after this, “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed [Abraham] and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’ And Abram gave him a tenth of everything” (Genesis 14:18–20, ESV). Now it is Jethro, priest of Midian, who blesses the LORD. 

Three, as Jethro contemplated what the LORD had done for Israel he said, “now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”  This has been said before: the Exodus event was, among other things, a demonstration of the supremacy of God over arrogant Pharaoh and the so-called gods of Egypt. God has done the same thing in the spiritual realm through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:15, ESV). “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods…”, Jethro said. And many have said a similar thing after witnessing or hearing testimony regarding the miracles of Christ and the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Now I know… that this was the Christ, the eternal Son of God come in the flesh. Now I know…

Four, this knowledge of Jethro did not remain in the head only, but penetrated the heart too, and resulted in worship. “Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God…” If we are to be faithful in our witnessing, we must urge sinners to do the same. They must turn from their sins. They must believe upon Christ. They must worship God through him as God has prescribed in his word.

Five, Jethro’s faith resulted in communion with God and with God’s people. “Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.” The significance of these words will become even more apparent as we continue our study through Exodus, but I’m sure you can grasp something of the significance of them even now. To eat before God with others signifies communion with God and with his people. This is signified every Lord’s Day as we partake of the Lord’s Supper. Through Christ’s broken body and shed blood, we have been reconciled to God by faith. Something of that is signified even here in Exodus 18 as Jethro offers a sacrifice to the LORD, and communes with God and with his people. It’s truly marvelous to consider, isn’t it?

*****

Conclusion

So much more can be said about our witnessing. In particular, more needs to be said about tactfulness, I think. But here I have attempted to address the heart of the matter. We must remember that Christian sojourners must witness. And if we hope to witness regularly and in the right spirit, we must contemplate, comprehend, and cherish the significance of the victory that Christ has won for us in our own hearts. We must also contemplate the judgment that awaits all who are not united to Christ by faith. In this way, we will be moved to witness, not by mere duty, but by a true love for God and our fellowman. Lastly, we must have the worship of God as our aim whenever we witness. Many other benefits come through faith in Christ, but our supreme aim must be the glory of God in Christ.

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady Exodus 18:1-12
Comments Off on Morning Sermon: Exodus 18:1-12, We Are Witnesses Posted by Joe

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Some imagine that spiritual warfare is mystical, involving dreams and visions and the like. In reality, it is very practical. Consider the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6 and discuss the practical ways in which that armor is to be taken up, put on, and wielded day by day. 
• What is prayer? Why is it imperative that we clothe ourselves with the armor of God and fight the spiritual battle in prayer? Why must prayer be persistent and faithful?
• How do the words, “The LORD is my banner” of Exodus 17:15 find their fulfillment in Jesus (Joshua) the Christ? Why must we run to him and be found in him by faith? What is the victory that he has won?

Tags: Gospel Community Groups

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Joe Anady
Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Exodus 17:8-16 Posted by Joe

New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1–6

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:1–6, ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 17:8-16

“Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.’ So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’ And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, saying, ‘A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 17:8–16, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

There are three points to the sermon today. One, Christian sojourners must engage in spiritual warfare. Two, Christians will find victory in warfare through persistent prayer. And three, the victory is ours because Jesus Christ has won it! We must be found trusting in him. 

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, Pastor, you really had to stretch and strain to draw these conclusions from this simple little text which tells us of a battle between Israel and Amalek at a place called Rephidim. 

Well, if that is your opinion, I would have to disagree with you. In fact, I do believe this is the proper interpretation and application of this passage for the people of God living under the New Covenant. What can we learn from this text? Not only are we to learn a history lesson regarding the battle between the Israelites and Amalek. No, we must remember that these things happened to Israel as an example for us upon whom the end of the ages has come (1 Corinthians 10:6). And when we consider this little story in light of what happened before and what happened afterward in the history of redemption, it is clear that it has reference to Jesus Christ and to the victory that he has won over the spiritual powers of darkness. This spiritual interpretation – this typological interpretation – is in perfect harmony with the example set forth in the New Testament. You’ve seen it throughout our study of the book of Exodus. The New Testament scriptures consistently look back upon the Old Testament scriptures in general, and the Exodus story in particular, and they see Christ pictured there. The New Testament also sees in these historical events an example for the Christian life.

So, when I deliver these three points to you from Exodus 17:8-16 – “Christian sojourners must engage in spiritual warfare, we will find victory through persistent prayer, and the victory is ours only because Jesus Christ has won it! We must be found trusting in him” – it is not at all a stretch. Here we are simply being sensitive to the way in which Christ and the Christian life are prefigured in the Old Testament, and of the progression that has been made in the accomplishment of our redemption from the days of Moses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Engage In Spiritual Warfare

As we consider our passage for today we are indeed reminded that Christian sojourners must engage in spiritual warfare. 

Granted, the warfare that Israel engaged in was physical warfare. It was fought with swords and spears. Flesh was pierced. Blood was spilled. Many perished. But behind this physical war between Amalek and Israel, there was a spiritual war, and we must not forget that. 

We likely will forget the spiritual war if we read this story with our noses pressed against the page. But if we back up a bit to gain perspective we will remember that a spiritual conflict lies behind all physical conflict, especially the conflict between God’s chosen people and those who belong to the Evil One. 

Consider this: When Satan tempted Adam he did so in the physical realm and with physical things, but the temptation was really spiritual. It had to do with the question, would the man be loyal to God, or would he rebel and transfer his allegiance to another? We know that Adam rejected God’s word when he listened to the voice of another. The temptation and the fall took place in the physical realm, but the battle was really spiritual.  

As you know, God was merciful to this rebel. He promised to provide salvation for mankind. And when he spoke of the coming Savior he directed the announcement at Satan, saying, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15, ESV). This little announcement of good news was like a small seed of hope, but in the course of time, it would sprout up and grow into a great and mighty tree, a tree in which the birds of the air could find rest (see Matthew 13:32). 

And as we consider the scriptures from this first promise of the gospel in Genesis 3 on through the Exodus, what do we notice about the fulfillment of this promise regarding the conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent? It does not take long to see that these words were not about the hostility between men and snakes! No, the promise was about the hostility that would exist between those aligned with the Evil One against those who belong to the LORD, by his grace. Remember how the wicked man Cain rose up and killed his righteous brother Able. Remember how Noah was a righteous man tormented by the wicked around him. Of Noah’s three sons, Shem was blessed of the LORD, Japheth would take refuge in him, but Ham was cursed. From these men, all the peoples of the earth would descend. Abraham was a descendent of the blessed one, Shem. And of Abraham’s two sons, Isaac was chosen. And of Isaac’s two sons, Jacob was loved, but Esau was hated.  And you know that the two were at enmity with each other from the womb. My point is this: When God promised that there would be enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, this is what he meant. In the world, there would be those who belonged to the Evil One, and these would strike continuously those who belonged to God in the world. 

Brothers and sisters, this man Amalek, who is introduced to us so abruptly in Exodus 17:8, was a direct descendent of Esau. The Hebrews were descendants of Jacob, who was chosen of the Lord. Think about that for a moment. 

Friends, we cannot lose touch with the storyline of Genesis and Exodus if we hope to understand the meaning of these small individual texts. Yes, the battle that was fought between Israel and the clan of Amalek was physical – flesh was pierced, and blood was spilled. But when all is considered we see that battle raging in the background was spiritual. This is yet another fulfillment of what was said by God in Genesis 3:15. In the course of history, the seed of Satan would strike repeatedly at the heel of God’s people. This time it was Amalek. But in due time one would arise from the offspring of the women who would crush the serpent’s head, bringing ultimate victory to God and his people. This was the work of Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One of God.    

Israel’s battle with Amalek was physical, but it was also spiritual. This is clear, not only from the context of Genesis, but from the text itself. Israel experienced victory, not because they were militarily superior, but only when Moses, the man of God, interceded for them. Clearly, this was no ordinary battle. The battle belonged to the LORD. And this is what is emphasized at the conclusion of our text where Moses builds an altar to give thanks to God for the victory, and he calls it, “the LORD is my Banner”.  Israel trusted in the LORD, and it was the LORD who won the battle for Israel.  

I suppose this is true of all battles. It is the LORD who brings victory and defeat according to his will. But it is especially true of the wars of Israel, for God’s purpose was to accomplish our redemption through them. This little battle with Amalek would be the first of many battles fought by the people of Israel. And as I have said, all of Israel’s divinely sanctioned wars under the Old Covenant were special, for God was accomplishing our redemption through them. His will was to free this people from Egypt, to give them Canaan, to bless them with kings, to preserve them in the land, until the Christ was brought into the world through them. They would fight many wars according to the command of God – real wars – physical wars where blood was shed – but do not forget the spiritual battle, friends. These wars of Israel, though fought on earth, had to do with that promise of the gospel that was made to Adam and to Eve in God’s curse of the serpent. 

Now that the Christ has come into the world through the nation of Israel, God’s people are no longer called to fight for the advancement of God’s kingdom with the sword. Those days are long gone. They passed away with the Old Covenant. When Old Covenant Israel fought with the sword they did, in a sense, further God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom was, under the Old Covenant, manifest on earth through them. As Israel fought in the wilderness, at the time of the conquest of Canaan, and in the days of the judges and kings, they, in a way, fought for the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. I have said, “in a way”, and “in a sense”, for we know that the kingdom of God was not present in power until the time of Christ, for it was Christ and his forerunner who said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2, ESV). Nevertheless, the Kingdom of God was prefigured in Israel. And it would be through Israel that the Messiah would emerge to bring in the kingdom of God with power. And this is why I have said, when Old Covenant Israel fought with the sword they did, in a sense, further God’s kingdom. These wars were holy wars. God commanded them. They were fought, not for personal enrichment, nor for the expansion of borders, but for the advancement of God’s plan of redemption. They were governed by special rules, therefore. No other nation on earth has fought wars such as these. They were unique to Old Covenant Israel. And this is why I have said that God’s people are no longer called to fight for the advancement of God’s kingdom with the sword. Those days are long gone, for the Christ has come.

This is why Jesus spoke to the Roman ruler, Pilate, saying, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36, ESV). That statement from Jesus is very significant. 

The kingdom of Old Covenant Israel was of this world, friends. It was physical. It was earthly. And its wars were fought with physical weapons. But when Christ came to inaugurate his kingdom he said,  in so many words, those days are over. Yes, the kingdom of God was prefigured in Old Covenant Israel. And yes, God’s kingdom purposes were advanced in and through them. But it was Christ who brought the kingdom of God in with power. And what did he say about it? “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36, ESV). This is why he told Peter to put his sword back in its shielth when he began to fight against those who came to take Jesus captive to crucify him. Peter had to learn the lesson that the days of fighting for the advancement of God’s kingdom with the sword were over. They concluded with the passing away of the Old Covenant and with the inauguration of the New. Perhaps an argument could even be made that they ended in the days of King David, for in his reign the kingdom of Israel was made secure. Future kings would be responsible, not to advance or to expand, but to defend Israel’s borders. Certainly, the tie between the kingdom of God on earth and the nation of Israel was severed when Christ died and rose again and inaugurated the New Covenant in his shed blood. 

Here’s my question: if it is true that the days of advancing God’s kingdom with the sword are over, does that mean God’s people may rest from all warfare? The answer is certainly, no. A battle still rages. Though it is often invisible, it is as fierce as ever. Christian sojourners must engage in warfare, but ours is spiritual. 

As Paul says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds… (2 Corinthians 10:3–6, ESV).

In another place, he says, “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (Ephesians 6:10–18, ESV).

Christ’s kingdom is in not earthly. Yes, his kingdom is manifest on earth. It is visible wherever Christians assemble in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to hear his word and to keep his ordinances. In other words, Christ’s kingdom is manifest on earth in the church. But his kingdom is of heaven, not earth. It is spiritual, not physical. It is advanced, not by the sword, but by the word of God as the Spirit works. It is preserved and protected, not with earth warfare, but spiritual. 

Are you fighting, brothers and sisters? Or have you forgotten that there is a battle raging? 

Are you dressed from the battle, brothers and sisters? Have you prepared yourself with the armor of God, or have you let your guard down? 

In the age to come, there will be no warfare, only rest. But this age is characterized by spiritual battle and worldly tribulation. Rest in the Lord, but do not grow complacent. Know for certain that if you are going to stand in Christ, and if you will be used for the advancement and preservation of his kingdom, you will have to wage spiritual warfare. 

Daily you must “take up the whole armor of God”. You must fasten on the belt of truth. You must put on the breastplate of righteousness, and have as shoes for your feet the readiness given by the gospel of peace. You must take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And how do clothe ourselves with this armor from God? It is through prayer. The Christian must pray “at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”  

*****

Christians Will Find Victory In Warfare Through Persistent Prayer

That brings us now to the second point of the sermon for today, which is this: Christians will find victory through persistent prayer.

As we return to the text of Exodus 17 I want you to notice that Joshua is introduced to us out of the blue. Joshua will play a very important role in Israel’s history. From other texts, we know that he was much younger than Moses. He was Moses’ right-hand man. He was a mighty warrior and a skilled military commander. He was one of the two spies who kept the faith when the twelve were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. He would eventually succeed Moses as the leader of Israel and would, after forty years of wilderness wandering, lead them into the promised land. Joshua is a very important figure, and he is introduced to us very abruptly in verse 8 where he is set forth as a contrast to the evil one,  Amalek. 

So it is Jacob versus Esau, Joshua versus Amalek, and all of this does anticipate the conflict that would day come to a head between Jesus, the blessed seed of the woman, and Satan, that serpent of old. 

We know from other texts that Amalek was a descendent of Esau. He was the head of this tribe. His descendants would become the Amalekites. They would be mortal enemies of Israel from this day forward. And as such, they were devoted to destruction. 

Other texts like Deuteronomy 25:17 and 1 Samuel 15:2 help us to understand that Amalek was ruthless when he attacked Israel. He attacked them when they were weak and struggling in the wilderness. He attacked them from behind, meaning that he targeted, not the military, but the women and children along with those who were lagging behind. We know that the Amalekites were raiders who were strong militarily. Israel, by contrast, was at this time weak, poorly armed, and inexperienced. All of that becomes evident as the story unfolds. 

Joshua had one day to summon his troops. It is likely that some training had taken place before this. Perhaps the Hebrews left Egypt with some weapons, or perhaps they fashioned some for themselves while in the wilderness. But clearly, they were outmatched. The natural result would have been a defeat for Israel. Left to themselves, apart from the intervention of God, Israel would have been annihilated, blotted out from the face of the earth by Amalek and his mighty men. 

How then did Israel experience victory? The story is very clear. It was by the power of God worked through the faithful intercession of Moses.  

Verse 9: “So Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek.’” That was the natural response. But here is the spiritual and faithful response: “Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand” (Exodus 17:9, ESV). Moses was a servant of the LORD; God’s prophet and priest. This staff of his had been used by God to work miracles. It came to signify God’s presence and power. So when Moses said, “Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand”, the meaning was clear. Joshua would go down and fight with the sword, while Moses would go up to fight through intercessory prayer. 

Now, I am well aware of the fact that the text does not say that Moses prayed, nor is any prayer of Moses recorded for us here. Some might criticize me then for drawing this application from the text, saying, “Christians will find victory through persistent prayer.” But I think the application is valid.

Granted, the text does not explicitly say that Moses prayed, but it seems quite clear that this is what he was doing. Joshua went down to fight, and Moses went up to intercede. He took the staff with him, which signified God’s power and presence he lifted up his arms to heaven, which is a common posture for prayer, and there he remained all the day long. When his arms fell, Israel was defeated. When his arms were lifted up, Israel was victorious. In other words, Moses ascended the mountain to come into God’s presence to maintain a posture of dependence upon God on behalf of Israel. Did Moses utter anything with his lips? And if he uttered something, what did he say? The scriptures are silent about this. But his actions spoke volumes. By his actions and by his posture Moses said, LORD, have mercy upon Israel. Strengthen Joshua. Strengthen the men who fight with him, so that they might have the victory over the evil one, for the sake of the advancement of your kingdom, and for the glory of your name. 

What is prayer? Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God, by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, believing, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies (Baptist Catechism 105). To pray is to take a posture of dependence before God.  That is what Moses did. As he maintained that posture, Israel experienced victory. And I am saying that the same is true in a spiritual battle. The war is fought and won through prayer. 

Pay careful attention to how Paul speaks of prayer in that passage that I read not long ago about the spiritual armor of God. Prayer is not listed as a piece of spiritual armor as if it sits alongside the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, the breastplate of righteousness, etc. No, prayer is presented as the means by which all of this armor is taken up, put on, and wielded. Paul lists our spiritual armor and then says, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” In other words, we are to take up and wield the sword of Spirit in prayer.  We are to put on the helmet of salvation in prayer, etc. 

Christian sojourners must engage in spiritual warfare, and they must fight as Moses and Joshua did, by maintaining a posture of perpetual dependence upon the LORD. This posture of dependence must come from the heart, and it is expressed through prayer. 

I do love the symbolism of this story. The truths that are communicated in the narrative are obvious and they are powerful. To get at this I will ask you the same question I have asked before regarding the water and the manna in the wilderness: why this way? Why did God choose to meet the needs of his people in this way? He could have done so in other ways – in much more natural ways. But he determined to satisfy Israel’s thirst by turning bitter waters sweet and by causing a rock to gush water like a spring. He fed Israel with manna from heaven. And concerning the threat of extinction by military defeat, God could have turned Amalek away, or provided Israel with strong allies, or strengthened them more quickly to be competent at war in a natural way. But instead, the LORD determined to bring victory to Israel through Moses’ uplifted hands. Why this way? I say it was to send the same message as with the provision of water and manna. It was to prove that the LORD was present with Israel, that he was committed to provide for them, and that he has the power to save. In this way Israel would learn to trust the LORD even more. And in this way God would get the glory. 

Notice a few things about this story.

One, Moses went up on the mountain and lifted the staff of God towards the throne of the God in heaven. Clearly, Moses was petitioning the LORD for assistance in this time of great need. Brothers and sisters, we must learn to run to the LORD in faithful prayer always, but especially in times of trouble. Natural men and women will run only to the battle. Spiritual men and women will run to the battle covered in prayer. 

Two, it is emphasized that Moses’ arms soon grew weak and tired. Anyone’s would. But in this we see clearly that Israel got the victory, not because Moses was strong, but because the LORD God of heaven is strong. Brothers and sisters, our trust must not be in weak and fallible men, but in God. As great as Moses was, the victory was not found in him, but in the LORD. 

Three, others recognized that the battle belonged to the LORD, and so they joined with Moses to support him in his work of intercession. A rock was placed under Moses so that he could sit, while Aaron the priest (who was Moses’ brother), and Hur (who was perhaps the husband of Miriam, and thus Moses’ brother-in-law) supported the arms of Moses’ so that they would not fall. Here is an application for the people of God today: we must pray together, brothers and sisters. Do not neglect private prayer, and do not neglect corporate prayer either. Indeed, all of Israel was taught to trust the LORD in this episode, for they witnessed their leaders labor in prayer. Certainly, they themselves did also lift their eyes and their hearts to the God of heaven with them. Do not neglect corporate prayer, brothers and sisters. Pray with the congregation on the Lord’s Day morning and evening, pray in small groups, pray as families. 

Four, when Moses’ arms drooped with fatigue, the battle was lost, and when they were raised up again, the battle was won. This was to show that it was truly the LORD who fought for Israel. Moses was weak, but the LORD is strong. Joshua was weak, but the LORD is strong. The army of Israel was weak, but the LORD is strong. Brothers and sisters, I wonder if LORD does not sometimes allow us to experience setbacks and defeats when we rely, not on him, but in ourselves. And it seems to me that he sometimes blesses us with answered prayer to show us that he hears us and that he is a present and powerful provider and protector.  

Five, Moses, with the support of Aaron and Hur, was persistent in his intercession for Israels. He sat and lifted his arms to heaven all the day long. Brothers and sisters, will you be persistent in prayer? Or will you cease from prayer when you grow weary or when it seems as if the battle has been lost. “[P]ray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV), the scriptures say. This does not mean that we are to nothing but pray. No, it means that we are to pray continuously throughout the day, from day to day, and from Lord’s Day to Lord’s Day. The Christian sojourner must be clothed with prayer, for it is through persistent and faithful prayer that the battle will be won.

*****

 The Victory Is Ours Because Jesus Christ Has Won It;  We Must Be Found Trusting In Him

The last point of the sermon is this: The victory is ours because Jesus Christ has won it; we must be found trusting in him.

The conclusion of our passage today says, “And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, saying, ‘A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation’” (Exodus 17:8–16, ESV). 

I’ve already said that the Amalekites would be enemies of Israel from this day forward. Here we see that they were devoted by the Lord to utter destruction. A vow was taken concerning this: “A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

The portion of the text that I wish to draw your attention to is the memorial that Moses constructed to celebrate the victory. He built an altar. Altars were for worship. And it was only right that the LORD be praised for the victory he had worked for the Hebrews on that day. But notice the name of the alter. Moses named it,  “The LORD Is My Banner”. What a beautiful name. What a beautiful memorial to the LORD faithfulness.

Armies in those days would raise tall banners into the air to signal where the soldiers should rally for safety and for planning as the battles developed. To raise a banner was to rally the troops to a particular place and to a particular person. With the construction and naming of this alter Moses declared on behalf of Israel that the LORD was their banner, for the people had rallied, not to Joshua or Moses, but to the LORD. They ran to him and trusted him for protection and provision in the fight, and he was faithful to give them the victory. 

As it pertains to the spiritual battle that rages around us continuously, the LORD has raised a banner for us, Christ the Lord. 

Listen to the way that Christ spoke of his crucifixion. He said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:30–32, ESV). 

The LORD is our banner, brothers and sisters. And what is the banner that has been raise except the Son of man of the cross, crucified, not for his own sins, but for the sin of his people. He was lifted up unto death. He was buried in the grave. On the third day he rose in victory. And what was the victory that he won? He did not conquer Amalek as the first Joshua did. No, the second Joshua conquered the Evil One himself, through whom the plague of sin was brought into this world.  

When we say, “The LORD Is My Banner”, this is what mean. Jesus Christ  – the second Adam, the second Joshua, the one greater than Moses – is our banner, for he is the LORD incarnate who was lifted up from the earth for us. He has won the victory. We must run to him and be found in him by faith. 

Friends, have you run to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins? Have you placed your faith in him, for this is the only way to be saved. Listen to the words of Jesus: “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:13–18, ESV)

*****

Prayer

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
Comments Off on Morning Sermon: Exodus 17:8-16, The LORD Is Our Banner Posted by Joe

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• What does it mean to walk by sight? What does it mean to walk by faith? Does walking by faith require us to ignore what we see with our natural eyes? 
• How might a Christian learn to be driven, not by their passions and cravings, but by the Word of God and the Spirit of God? How might a Christian practice this way of life so as to become mature in it?

How might a Christian learn to find their satisfaction in God and in Christ? Is this something that can be learned, is it a gift that must be given, or is it both?

Tags: Gospel Community Groups

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Gospel Community Groups Joe Anady Exodus 17:1-7
Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Exodus 17:1-7 Posted by Joe

New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-14

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.’ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:1–14, ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 17:1-7

“All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ And Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?’ But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?’ So Moses cried to the LORD, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.’ And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’” (Exodus 17:1–7, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

You know, as we consider this text I think it is right for us to sympathize with Israel a little. Obviously, we will eventually come to critique them for their grumbling and for their lack of faith, for the text does certainly draw our attention to their failings. The Apostle Paul does the same thing in his letter to the Corinthians. The failings of Israel are emphasized there and we are exhorted by the Apostle to not do as they did when they grumbled against the LORD. 

When I say that we should sympathize with Israel I mean, we should acknowledge the difficulty of their situation. Life in Egypt was all they had known. They were slaves there, and now they were free. Everything was new to them. And when the LORD led them out of Egypt, he led them into a very challenging place. They did not go immediately into a land flowing with milk and honey. No, the LORD  led them into the wilderness to be tested and trained there. 

By the way, this was the mercy of God. That might sound like a strange thing to say, but it is true. God, in grace, led Israel into the wilderness to test them and to train them there. No testing is pleasant in the moment, but as you look back upon it, you can see the blessing in it, can’t you? You can see the grace of God in the trial. You can see the growth that came from it. You can see the refinement that took place. I’ve experienced this, and I trust that you have too. 

Israel was tested by God in the wilderness, and I think it is right for us to acknowledge the severity of the test. They were sojourning in a desolate, dry, and thirsty land. Now, their claim in the previous passage that they were about to starve to death was a bit overblown. I addressed that in the previous sermon. They still had flocks. Really, they grumbled against God there, being driven by their cravings. It was not so much about needs but wants. But here we are told that Israel ran out of water again. I’m sure they carried water with them when they left the springs of Marah, but it was about gone, and there were no water sources in sight. That would be a terrifying experience, don’t you agree? A person can live without food for weeks. A person can go without water for only a short time – a couple of days, especially in a harsh environment such as the one the Israelites were in. And we should remember that there were not one or two men sojourning in the wilderness, but a great multitude of men, women, and children, along with their flocks. If water was not found quickly, there would be a tremendous loss of life. I don’t think we should not minimize the severity of their situation. This was a true test of Israel’s faith, and I think it is right for us to put ourselves there in their shoes, and even to attempt to think and to feel what they thought and felt. 

Their error was not that they were deeply concerned, anxious about their situation, perplexed or afraid. No, their error was in their response. They grumbled and complained against God as they panicked. The people were so worked up about their situation that Moses felt as if they were about to stone him to death. So I am saying that their concerns were understandable. And rational human being would be concerned and even worried about the lack of water in a situation like that. The trouble was in the way they responded. 

 And they should have known better, don’t you agree? They should have known better, for the LORD had given these people his word. Promises were made to their forefathers, and more recently the LORD spoke to them through Moses. The declared will of the LORD was to bring them out of Egyot and to the land that was promised to them. More than this, the LORD had proven himself faithful. He proved himself faithful in the days of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph. He proved himself faithful during Israel’s stay in Egypt. And very recently had proven his faithfulness in the outpouring of the plagues on the Egyptians and by the deliverance of the Hebrews through the Red Sea. 

So yes, the trial was severe. The situation seemed very dire. But Israel was called by the LORD to walk by faith. They were called to trust him. The LORD had proven himself faithful and able. And here Israel is found failing a test yet again. They were tested concerning the provision of water, food, and now water again. God supplied them with what they needed in the first two instances. But here they are grumbling again. Sometimes we are slow learners, wouldn’t you agree? But God is patient with his people.  

What can we learn from this story that is before us today?

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Walk By Faith Not By Sight 

First of all, we must see that Christian sojourners must learn to walk by faith and not by sight. 

You’ve heard that expression before, haven’t you? It comes from 2 Corinthians 5:7 where Paul says, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6–8, ESV)

When Paul speaks of walking he speaks metaphorically of the way in which a person lives their life. In particular, in this passage he is concerned to address the guiding force of one’s life. All who live do walk. The question is, what will inform our walking? What will motivate us to walk in the way that we do. Paul states that he and his Christian companions walk as they do because they walk by faith and not by sight. 

To walk by sight is to have our thoughts, words, and actions, motivated only, or ultimalty, by what we see with your natural eyes and perceive with your natural reason. This is what Israel did when they were about out of water in the wilderness. The people looked at their empty water vessels. They looked out upon the barren landscape. And when they saw no green thing, their hearts were filled with terror. And so they looked at Moses with anger in their hearts, and they thought to do him harm as they began to grumble and complain with their lips. The people of Israel thought, spoke, and prepared to act being driven by what they saw with their natural eyes only. 

To walk by faith does not mean that we must ignore what we see with our natural eyes and perceive with our natural reason. What we see with our eyes certainly does matter. God’s people must live in this world with eyes wide open. We, like all people, must perceive the world around us. We must then think and feel, speak, and act based upon what we see. If you are human, this experience of perceiving the world, processing what you see, and responding inwardly and outwardly cannot be avoided. But to walk by faith means that we take something else into consideration – something that cannot be perceived by our natural eyes or our natural reason alone – and we give that thing priority. And what is that thing? It is faith in God and his word.  

The Hebrews perceived that they were in danger in the wilderness. Their water vessels were about empty and there was no water source in sight. All of that was true, and it was a big and serious problem that needed to be addressed. Where did they go wrong, then? They failed to bring God and his word into the equation. As I have already said, the LORD had spoken to them. He spoke to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He entrusted them with precious and very great promises. More than this, he recently spoke to them through Moses and he proved himself to be powerfully present with them through the plagues and by working their deliverance. Israel’s error was that they thought, felt, spoke and acted based only upon what they saw with their natural eyes. They walked by sight and not by faith. 

Christian sojourners must walk by faith not by sight. 

Brothers and sisters, are you walking by faith? Are you being driven to think, feel, speak and act, not only by what you see with your natural eyes, but by what you know to be true because God has spoken? 

If we wish to walk faithfully in this world in a way that will count for all eternity and in a way that be to glory of God, then we must learn to walk by faith. We must learn to bring God’s word into the equation as we perceive and interpret the world around us. And when I say that we are to bring God’s word into the equation I do not mean that we are to set it alongside our natural perception and natural reason as if it were of equal weight and worth. No, God’s word is to permeate and inform our perception of the world around us and our lives in it. 

I can hear the voices of our critics now. They say, if these Christains do what this man is saying then they will not live according to reality. They will be living in a fantasy land. If they do in fact perceive the world through the lenses of God’s revelation, then everything  that they see in the world will be perceived as having an unnatural hue. Can you hear the voices of our critics, brothers and sisters?

And in response we say, no. God’s word – God’s revelation – does not distort our perception of reality, but enables us to see reality with greater vividness and clarity than can be enjoyed without it. Friends, in our natural and fallen state we are blind to the truth. In our natural and fallen state, our perception of reality is dim and distorted. When the Lord regenerates his people by his word and Spirit, he gives them eyes to see. To perceive the world through the lense of God’s word does not require the Chrisian to ignore or detach from reality. No, it enables us to see God, the world that he has made, and our lives in it, as they truly are.

Brothers and sisters, we must walk by faith not by sight. This is a choice that we must make.  It will not happen automatically, nor will it also come easily. So how do we do it?

You know, it is not uncommon to hear pastors exhort Christians to be in church on the Lord’s Day, to pay careful attention to the reading and preaching of the word of God, and to read the scriptures for themselves to meditate upon them day by day. There is a reason for this. To live a life of faith one must hear, receive, and believe God’s word. You cannot walk by faith without it. Without God’s word the only thing you have to live by is sight – natural sight, and natural reason. But God’s word illuminates the reality of things. God’s allows us to see the world and our circumstances as they truly are. 

For the Hebrews, they perceived with their natural eyes that their situation was dire. But they failed to perceive their situation with eyes of faith. They forgot God’s promises to them. They forgot God’s word. They lost sight of the reality of his presence, his power, and his faithfulness. And so they responded to their situation as they did with grumbling, complaining, and even rebelliousness. 

How will it be for us, brothers and sisters? How will we do in the heat of the moment when faced with the trials and tribulations of life? How will we fair when tested? If we hope to walk by faith and not by sight, we better know God’s word and have treasured up in our hearts. We better learn to see the world and our lives in it through the lense of God’s revelation.

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Be Driven By The Word Of God And Spirit Of God, Not By Their Passions And Cravings

Christian sojourners must walk by faith not by sight. And somewhat connected to this, Christian sojourners must be driven by the Word  of God and the Spirit of God, not by their passions and cravings.   

I’ll spend less time  developing this second point because it truly is a subset of the first. To walk by faith and not by sight requires that we learn to be moved, not by our worldly passions and cravings, but by God’s word and by God’s Spirit. 

Passion is celebrated in our culture.  And if by “passion” we mean that someone cares deeply about something, is devoted to that thing, works hard at that thing, and noticeably excited about that thing, I do not necessarily have a problem with that. In this sense, it is not wrong to “passionate” about your work, or “passionate” about your family.

But taken in another sense, “passion” can be a big problem. The word may also be used to describe a person who is driven by their cravings and emotions. Used in this way, passionate people lack self control. They are impetuous. They think little before speaking and acting. They may think of themself as being most free, for they will not allow their words or behavior to be constrained by the opinions of others or by the expectations of society – they are who they are, and everyone can take it or leave it! But in reality, passionate people are not free. They are slaves to their own emotions. They are driven this way and that by their cravings. The man who is given to the passion of anger is not free, but a slave, etc. 

Using the word in this way, I say that Christian sojourners must not celebrate passion as if it were a virtue, but rather self control. The one who has self control will not be driven to think, speak and do by their appetites or by what they experience in the world around them. No, they will be drive instead by what they know to be right and true in their mind and heart.   

Listen to what the scriptures have to say about self control. 

Proverbs 25:28: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Think about that imagery for a moment. Again, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” In other words, a man without self control is constantly overrun, defeated, and exposed to danger. By what? By the enemy without and within. 

Listen to Peter. He wrote to Christian sojourners, saying, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5–8, ESV)

Peter urges us to make every effort to add these qualities to the faith that we have. In other words, do you have sincere faith in Christ? Great! Indeed, that is the main thing. Indeed, that is the means by which we come to have the forgiveness of sins and the hope of life eternal. It is through faith in Christ that we come to be saved. But do not stop there. No, you must grow from there. You must now mature in the fath. Add to your faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. We do not earn our salvation by obtaining these qualities. No, salvation is a gift from God. It is received by the grace of God alone, through faith in Christ alone. To quote Peter again, “if these qualities are [ours] and are increasing, they keep [us] from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5–8, ESV). 

Self-control, Biblically speaking, is not only the ability to be calm, cool, and collected under pressure. Instead, it is the ability to think, speak, and act carefully according to the word of God, being led by the Spirit of God. In other words, we are not merely pursuing a calm and docile disposition. No, we are seeking to be governed – driven – by God’s word and by God’s Spirit in every circumstance. 

Listen to Paul in Galations 5:19-24: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:19–24, ESV). 

So then, you can see that to be self-controlled is not to be self-governed. Instead, to be self-controlled is to be governed, led, driven, not by the flesh, and the passions of the flesh, but by God’s word and Spirit. 

You say, Ok , that’s all well and good. But what does this have to do with Exodus 17? Well, as we consider Israel in the wilderness we see that this people, generally speaking, was driven, not by faith, not by the word of God or the Spirit of God, but by their passions. They were moved to thing, speak, and act by their cravings, and by their emotions. I’ve already acknowledged that fear and anxiety was a very natural emotion for the Hebrews to experience. I’m not critiquing them for that! No, the problem was that they allowed themselves to be driven by those emotions. In other words, they lacked self-control. 

I’d like to read a little portion from Psalm 106 to show you that this was the case. The Psalmist was reflecting on the history of Israel when he wrote, “Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed his words; they sang his praise [a reference to the Song of Moses in Exodus 15]. But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them” (Psalm 106:6–15, ESV).

So you can see that this is the divinely inspired interpretation of the Exodus narrative. The people of Israel rebelled against God and against his servant Moses because they forgot the LORD’s steadfast love, his wondrous works, and word – they did not wait for his counsel – they were driven by their wanton or unholy cravings. 

Brothers and sisters, this is the way of the natural man. What else will men and women be driven by if they are not born of God’s word and Spirit?  The only thing that can drive them is their natural desire. And this would not be a problem if the desires of man were pure, but they are not, for we have fallen into sin. Instead of desiring the glory of God and obedience to his moral law, men and women do by nature seek their own glory and are drawn to that which is unholy and profane. 

But those who have faith in Christ have been born of God’s word and Spirit. We are to be governed – driven – to think, feel, say, and do, not by our natural and sinful passion, but by the word of God and the Spirit of God. 

Here’s the trouble. Those of faith who have been born again by God’s word and Spirit sojourn in a fallen and sinful world. There are temptations all around us. And though it is true that we have been born, it is also true that corruptions remain in us. The flesh wars against the Spirit. We are often tempted, even by the desires within us, to think, feel, say and do that which is evil. So it is a battle, then – a daily and momentary battle.  

This is why Paul exhorts Christians, saying, “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…  [Let us] put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:12–14, ESV)    

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Find Their Satisfaction In God And In Christ

The third and final point of the sermon is this: Christian sojourners must find their satisfaction in God and in Christ. I have not left myself much time to develop this point – it deserves more, for it is key. Again I say, Christian sojourners must find their satisfaction in God and in Christ.

It is quite natural, and not at all evil, for humans to long for satisfaction. God made us this way in the beginning. We long to be satisfied, to be comforted, to be filled. The question is, where will we find this satisfaction?  I suppose we may speak of man’s fall into sin in these terms. Adam was to find his satisfaction in God, in giving glory to God, and in obedience to God’s commands. But he listened to a lie. He listened to the voice of the Evil One who claimed that he would be more satisfied if he would live for his own glory and decide for himself what is right and wrong, good and evil. The Serpent is a liar. He was a liar in the beginning, and he is a liar to this present day. The lie that he tells is the same. Satisfaction is found, not in God, but in this world and in the things of this world. Pay no attention to what God has said. He’s a killjoy. Live for yourself. Live for your own glory. Decide for yourself what is right and wrong, good and evil. Indulge the passions of your flesh. That is where true satisfaction is found. And those who listen to  will learn the same lesson that Adam learned. Truly, the wages of sin is death.  

This impulse that we have within us to be satisfied is not evil. In fact, it is good, for it is meant to drive us to our Creator, and now to our Redeemer, in whom true satisfaction is found. 

Pay careful attention to the lessons that the LORD taught to Israel in the wilderness. These lessons were for them, and they are also for us. There is a theme developing. Many within Israel had their eyes fixed only on the earth and on the things of this earth. They craved water and they craved food. And the LORD provided these things for them, for he is faithful. But notice that he provided these necessities of life for them in such a way so as to communicate to them that true satisfaction is to be found in him. 

Are you following me, friends? Pay attention to the way in which the LORD provided for the natural needs of the Hebrews. He could have led them anywhere, and yet he led them into to the wilderness to test them and to teach them. And could have provided their needs in very natural ways. He could have led from spring to spring. He could have moved the surrounding nations to show kindness to them. But he led them into these situations where no natural solution was found. The LORD then provided for them supernatural so that it was abundantly clear that he, the LORD God of Israel, was the source of their life and of their satisfaction. 

The bread that they ate in the wilderness was supernaturally from the LORD. It satisfied their physical hunger. But the LORD was also calling Israel (many of who disbelieve) to trust in him and be satisfied in him in the soul. 

And so too the water that Israel drank was supernaturally from the LORD. Moses struck a rock with his staff at the command of the LORD and water gushed forth! The water satisfied their physical thirst. But the LORD was also calling Israel to trust in him and be satisfied in him in the soul. 

More than this, the LORD was also communicating to Israel that he would provide for all of their needs – not only their immediate and physical needs, but also their eternal and spiritual needs – by sending the Christ.

This may sound far fetched, but you must remember the word of God and the promises of God that had been given to the Heberew. When the bread fell from heaven, and the water gushed from the rock, it came from the LORD who had spoken to the Hebrews previously. These were entrusted with the word of God. They knew what is now recorded for us in the pages of Genesis. They knew about creation, the fall, and God’s plan of redemption. They knew of the promises that were made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning a land, and nation. They also knew about the promises concerning the Christ. One would arise from amongst them who would bless the nations, who would deal with the problem of sin and death that came into the world through Adam. This word that we now have in writing in the pages of Genesis was entrusted to them. They knew this story (or at least they should have).  They understood these promises (or at least some of them did). So they had at their disposal the information they needed to understand that the bread from heaven was not just to meet the need of their physical hunger, and the water from the rock was not just to meet their physical thirst. No, they were being called to run to God, their Creator and Redeemer, to trust in him for all things temporal and eternal, and to find their satisfaction in him now and for all eternity. They were called, as are we, to feast and to drink of God and of his Christ by faith.

Not all in Israel understood this. In fact, many must have remained ignorant. Look at how they responded! But some knew. The LORD always has a remnant. And when Christ and his Apostles looked back upon these Exodus event and the wilderness wanderings, they knew that this was their true meaning. 

Listen to the interpretation that Jesus Christ gave of this passage. Jesus spoke to those who had followed him into the wilderness, who had eaten of the bread that was multiplied. “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:32–35, ESV)

And listen again to Paul in 1 Corinathians 10. “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”

Israel was being called by these external means to walk by faith and not by sight, to be driven, not by their passions and cravings, but by the word of God and by his Spirit, and to find their satisfaction, not in the things of this earth, but in God and the Christ who was promised to them. “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.” 

*****

Conclusion

Let us bow for prayer. 

Father in heaven, help us to walk worthy before you in this world. Strengthen us to walk by faith and not by sight. Change us inwardly so that we are driven, not by sinful passions, but by your word and Spirit. Sanctify us further so that we find our satisfaction, not in earthly and temporal things, but in you, O God, and in Christ who has redeemed us by his shed blood. Amen.  

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady Exodus 17:1-7
Comments Off on Morning Sermon: Exodus 17:1-7, Water From The Rock Posted by Joe

*****

Baptist Catechism 3

Q. 3. How may we know there is a God?

A. The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectively for the salvation of sinners.  (Rom. 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1,2; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 1:21-24; 1 Cor. 2:9,10)

Scripture Reading: Psalm 19

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19, ESV)

*****

Introduction

The first three questions of the catechism are very foundational.

If you remember, question one asked “Who is the first and chiefest being?” Answer: “God is the first and chiefest being.” Truly, there is no question more foundational than this. Here we confess that there is a being who is above all other beings and is the source of all other beings, both in nature and in grace. 

Question two then asked, “Ought every one to believe there is a God?” Answer: “Everyone ought to believe there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not.” Soon we will learn that belief in the existence of God is not the only important thing for us to believe. No, we must believe the right things about God, ourselves, and the Savior that God has provided for us now that we are fallen into sin. But belief in the existence of God is most foundational. It is impossible to please God if we do not first believe that he exists. And to deny his existence, either in the mind and heart or in practice, is the root of all foolishness. 

Question three is also very foundational. It addresses, in brief, the question, how may we know? Have you ever thought about the question, how may we know? Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with questions about knowledge. How can we know things?, is a most fundamental question. In particular, our catechism is asking, “how may we know there is a God?” The answer that is given is brief but very profound. “The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectively for the salvation of sinners.“

*****

Revelation

If I had to choose one word to sum up what is said in response to the question, “how may we know there is a God?”, it would be the word “revelation”. We may know that there is a God (along with many other true things about God, ourselves and this world that he has made) because of revelation. We may know true things because God has determined to reveal the truth to us. 

And how has God revealed the truth to us? Three things are mentioned in this short little answer. One, God reveals the truth of his existence to us through the light of nature that is in man. Two, God reveals the truth of his existence to us through his works. And three, God reveals the truth of his existence to us (along with many other things) through his word.

*****

The Light Of Nature In Man

When our catechism speaks of the “light of nature in man” it refers to the fact that God has made man in such a way that he knows there is God who is to be worshipped. Have you noticed that all men do have this impulse to worship? It has been this way throughout the history of the world. Men and women everywhere feel compelled to honor a god. They pray, they observe holy days, they seek to order their lives in a way that honors their god. Humans have been made in such a way that they know inwardly that God exists. 

You say, well what about the atheists? Two things: One, it is my observation that there are very few true and consistent atheists in the world. In my experience, you will often find even those who claim to be atheists praying to god in times of trouble. Two, those who are true and consistent atheists must work very hard to suppress the truth about the existence of God that is in them. This is what is described in Romans 1 where Paul writes, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18–20, ESV). If someone is an atheist, either intellectually or practically, they must “suppress the truth” regarding the existence of God continuously. 

So what is it about the makeup of man that testifies to the existence of God? Well, we know that men and women are made in the image of God. God created man in such a way that man may relate to God. Man is able to reason. We have a conscience. We know right from wrong intuitively. All of this has been distorted by the fall, of course. And as I have said, men do suppress this truth that is within them. But there it remains nonetheless. 

So God reveals the truth regarding his existence in man. 

*****

The Works Of God

Secondly, the truth regarding the existence of God is also revealed in the works of God. Hear or catechism again: “The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare that there is a God.” So then, man inwardly knows that God exists. And he also knows that God exists as he observes the works of God in creation, providence, and for some, in redemption.

God reveals himself in his work of creation. Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1–2, ESV)

God also reveals himself in his works of providence. When we speak of God’s providence we are referring to his governing and upholding of the world that he has made. God created the heavens and the earth, and he does also maintain them. 

My son was telling me about a childhood friend of his who said, I don’t believe in God. I believe in science. That sounds so silly to me. What is science except for the observation of the natural world? And if men would be honest about their observations I think they would confess that the created world screams that God exists. There is so much evidence for design. Where did this universe come from? How is it so orderly? How is it sustained? So much can be said about this, but I think you get the point. God’s works of creation and providence testify to his existence. 

So too his works of redemption. All men may observe God’s works of creation and providence. Not all have observed God’s redemptive works. In fact, very few have. Think of the Exodus. Many Hebrews and Egyptians saw God’s mighty deeds. But their number was very few in comparison to the whole of the human race. Think also of the life of Christ, his death, and resurrection. Those who beheld his glory were relatively few. Nevertheless, God’s works of redemption do also testify to his existence. 

But notice the limitations of these forms of revelation. What do they reveal? They reveal that God exists. Again, “The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare that there is a God”. This is why God’s works of creation and providence are called general revelation. They come to all men generally, and they reveal something general, namely that God exists, he is powerful and worthy of praise. But that is as far as we can go.

*****

Word And Spirit

Lastly, our catechism tells us where full and saving knowledge of God may be found: ‘but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectively for the salvation of sinners.”

How may we come to know God truly and unto the salvation of our souls?

One, we must listen to God’s Word. God has revealed himself, not only in nature, but he has spoken. 

Hebrews 1:1 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV)

So then, God has spoken through the prophets. He has spoken supremely through his Son. And we have a record of these words in the Holy Scriptures, which are the written, inspired, and inerrant, Word of God. 

*****

Conclusion

I hope you can see that the question, how may we know? Is truly foundational to all of life’s questions. And it is clearly foundational to a document that’s purpose is to teach us what to believe about God, man, and what it is that he requires of us. 

Q. 3. How may we know there is a God?

A. The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectively for the salvation of sinners.  (Rom. 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1,2; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 1:21-24; 1 Cor. 2:9,10)

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
Comments Off on Afternoon Sermon: How May We Know There Is A God?, Baptist Catechism 3, Psalm 19 Posted by Joe

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Why must we have following the Lord as our highest aim, and not comfort and safety? What difference will this make in the Christian life?
• Contentment does not equal complacency. Discuss. 
• Why is thoughtful and faithful Sabbath observance crucial for Christian sojourners?

Tags: Gospel Community Groups

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Joe Anady
Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Exodus 16 Posted by Joe

New Testament Reading: John 6:22-41

“On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’’ Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’ So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’” (John 6:22–41, ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 16

“They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, ‘At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.’ Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’ And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. And the LORD said to Moses, ‘I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’’ In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’’ And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. And Moses said to them, ‘Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.’ But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’’ So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. Moses said, ‘Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.’ On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. And the LORD said to Moses, ‘How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? See! The LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.’ So the people rested on the seventh day. Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Moses said, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’’ And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations.’ As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept. The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. (An omer is the tenth part of an ephah.)” (Exodus 16, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Stories are powerful, aren’t they? In the scriptures, we find many different genres of literature. There are books of history, books of wisdom and poetry, and books that contain straightforward teaching. We are to learn from all of these literary styles as they present truth to us, each in their own way. Here in the Exodus, we find wonderful narratives or stories. 

I’ve tried to convince you in previous sermons that these stories are not ordinary stories. They are not mere history, nor are they myths or legends. No, these stories are divinely inspired stories. They contain true history. And the historical events they recount are a part of redemptive history. These stories tell of the mighty deeds of God that he worked in the accomplishment of our redemption. These stories are powerful. Not only do they tell us about what happened in the past, they also reveal the truth about God, his plans, and his purposes. These stories even teach us about living a life of faith, for these things that happened to Old Covenant Israel happened to them for our instruction. That is what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:11. We would be wise to pay careful attention to these stories, therefore, so that we might learn to sojourn well.

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Have Following The Lord, Living For His Glory, And The Advancement Of His Kingdom As Their Highest Aim

The first principle that I wish to draw from our text for today is that Christian sojourners must have following the LORD, living for his glory, and for the advancement of his kingdom as their highest aim.

You will notice that Israel enjoyed the refreshment of the 12 springs of water and the 70 palm trees of Elim for a time, but soon the LORD led them off into the wilderness again. That is what verse 1 tells us. Israel “set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 16:1, ESV). So, they were refreshed for a time at the oasis of Elim, but they were not to remain there, for Elim was not their destination. The LORD’s will was to sanctify them further in the wilderness, to enter into a covenant with them, and to lead them on to the promised land. 

I would imagine that some (perhaps many) within Israel were hesitant to leave Elim. They knew that they were surrounded by a wilderness that was vast, desolate, and harsh. Elim was a comfort to them. At Elim there was safety. But notice this: Israel was redeemed from Egyptian bondage, not to pursue a life of comfort and safety, but to follow the LORD wherever he led. 

The same is true for you and me, brothers and sisters. Our highest aim must be to live for God, the glory of his name, and the furtherance of his kingdom. We cannot allow our natural desire for comfort and for safety to be the driving force of our lives. No, we must live for higher purposes. We must be willing to leave the comfort of the springs and shade of Elim if it is the will of the LORD to lead us into the wilderness again. Following him, living for his glory, and the advancement of his kingdom must be the thing that drives us. 

Perhaps you have noticed that the Christian life has a rhythm to it. God, in his mercy and grace, does bless his people with times of refreshment and ease. But he does also lead us through times of testing. I’ve experienced this rhythm personally. I’ve experienced it in the family. And I’ve experienced it in the church. The Christian life ebbs and flows. There will be times of travail, and there will be times of refreshment. And it seems to me that the LORD knows just what we need at any given moment. We are tested by the trials and tribulations of life. And it is during those times of testing that God’s people grow. But the LORD knows our limitations. In his mercy, at just the right time, he leads us to the springs of Elim to be refreshed there by the water and the shade. And then, in his mercy, he leads us into the wilderness again to move us onward towards the promised land. 

Are you ready for that journey, brothers and sisters? Are you prepared to follow the LORD wherever he leads? Are you ready to experience the rhythm of refreshment and testing through trial as we sojourn towards the promised land? 

You know, one of the most important things for us to have on this journey is proper expectations and desires. If our expectations and desires are set on comfort and safety, then we will not sojourn well. It will be difficult for us to leave Elim to journey in the wilderness again. And while in the wilderness, we will likely grumble and complain. But if we are following the LORD, living for his glory, and the advancement of his kingdom is our highest aim, and if we properly expect to experience times of difficulty and times of refreshment in the LORD, then we will likely sojourn well, for our eyes and hearts will not be fixed on the transient things of this earth, but on things of lasting worth.  

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Pursue Contentment As They Trust The LORD For Their Daily Bread

The second principle that I wish to draw from our passage today is this: Christian sojourners must pursue contentment as they trust the LORD for their daily bread. As we will soon see, Old Covenant Israel was called to do this in a very literal way, but the principle certainly applies to us too. Christian sojourners must pursue contentment as they trust the LORD for their daily bread.

In verse 2 we read, “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness…” (Exodus 16:2, ESV). Grumbling or complaining was a major problem in Israel. You would think they would have been filled with gratitude given what the LORD did for them to rescue them from oppression in Egypt. But no, they grumbled and complained continuously. As I said last Sunday, the theme of grumbling ties the three stories of Exodus 15:22-17:7 together. Israel grumbled time and time and time again. One almost gets the impression that the LORD wishes to warn his people about this great sin! And no, it is not an overstatement to say that the sin of grumbling is a great sin. When a person grumbles and complains they reveal that their hearts are filled with ingratitude and discontentment to the point of overflowing. 

And no, I am not saying that we are never allowed to talk about our troubles, heartaches, and disappointments with others. That is not grumbling, at least not necessarily. But it is a fine line, isn’t it? To grumble is to complain. Grumbling emanates from a discontent and ungrateful heart. And so I ask you friend, are you a grumbler? Are you a complainer? You may need to pause and reflect upon this question later today. Are you a grumbler before God? Is your heart filled with discontentment and ingratitude before God? 

Notice that Israel did not grumble directly to God, but to Moses and Aaron. This is unusually how it goes. We grumble and complain to others. Or perhaps we grumble and complain against our leaders. But really our complaint is against God. Moses sets this straight with Israel in verse 8 where he says, “the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD” (Exodus 16:8, ESV). When we grumble about our circumstances to ourselves or to others, the LORD hears it and he knows that the complaint is against him.

It is a great sin to live in God’s world, to enjoy the blessings that he graciously provides, and to complain against him. This is true for all men, and it is even worse for the redeemed of God to grumble and complain, for we ought to see that in Christ we have our every need met.

So why did Israel grumble? Look at verse 3. They complained that they had no food, saying, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:3, ESV). 

Notice two things:

One, Israel exaggerated the goodness of the past. As they reminisced about life as slaves in Egypt they said, do you remember how wonderful things used to be when Pharoah would roll out the all-you-can-eat buffet for us? Give me a break! Pharaoh was nowhere near this generous to them. And whatever he did feed them, he fed them so that he might work them to the point of exhaustion. But this is what ingrates do. They look to the past, or they look to others living afar off, and they say, do you remember when? Or, if only… And they fail to count their blessings in the moment. 

Two, notice that Israel exaggerated the direness of their current situation. Oh, “that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt”, they said. Really, Israel? Things are so bad that it would have been better that you had died in Egypt? That seems a little dramatic to me. 

You know, it’s interesting that in the next episode Israel grumbles against the LORD again because they have no water. Listen carefully now to 17:3: “But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” (Exodus 17:3, ESV). Did you catch that? The Hebrews still have livestock. So they were not out of food, were they? They had flocks. They could drink the milk and eat the cheese and meat of their livestock. But here they claim to be near death from hunger. 

Ingrates will exaggerate the goodness of the past or the goodness of others afar off and they simultaneously exaggerate the badness of their current situation. This is what Israel did. 

Psalm 78 also helps us to see that this was what happened. Psalm 78 comments on the Exodus event and the wilderness wanderings and it says, among other things, that Israel “tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved” (Psalm 78:18, ESV). Did you hear that? They demanded, not the food that they needed, but the food they craved. And the same thing is said in verse 29: “And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved” (Psalm 78:29, ESV). In other words, Psalm 78 portrays Israel’s grumbling as being about their wants, not their needs. And perhaps you have noticed that most of our grumbling is about wants, not needs. 

What are we to do concerning our needs, brothers and sisters? We are not to grumble and complain against the LORD, but in faith, we are to pray to the Lord saying, give us this day our daily bread.

And what are we to do concerning our wants? Well, we are to pursue contentment in life as we wait upon the Lord to give and to take away as he sees fit. 

We are to pursue contentment, brothers and sisters. As the Apostle Paul says, “godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:6–8, ESV). 

Don’t confuse contentment with complacency, brothers and sisters. It is right for the people of God to work hard and to seek to advance or to improve their situation in life. This applies to work, to money, to housing, and to things political and cultural. Pursuing contentment does not mean that we must be complacent and inactive. No, contentment resides within the heart. To be content is to be grateful. To be content is to be satisfied. And it is the one who is content in the heart who is in the best position to speak and to act for the betterment of his position in life, or the betterment of society. 

The one who is content in the heart before God will be filled with life and love, joy, hope, and peace. The one who is discontent in the heart will be filled with dourness, darkness, and depression. Compare and contrast the two, brothers and sisters. And tell me which soul is better positioned to improve their station in life or to impact society in a positive way? It should be clear to you that contentment does not mean complacency. To the contrary, those who maintain contentment in the heart are in a position of strength to speak and to act for their own good and the good of others. Not to mention the fact that a content heart – a heart filled with life and love, joy, hope, and peace –does glorify God, for true contentment is rooted in him and in our trust in him.        

What I have just said can be applied to many things, but I think can sense what I am alluding to, brothers and sisters. The culture is rapidly changing. The politics can be maddening. This plague of authoritarianism that seems to be sweeping the world is concerning. But those in Christ must trust the LORD. We must pursue contentment even in these things. We must not grumble and complain, but sojourn on in trustful dependence upon God for our daily bread. It is so very crucial, brothers and sisters, for you have to have joy. And joy – true joy – cannot be manufactured. It will emanate from the heart that is full of faith and content in God. 

Philippians 4:12 came to mind. There Paul says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12–13, ESV). Isn’t that beautiful? What is the “secret” to thriving in every season of life, in low times and in times of abounding, in plenty and in hunger, in abundance and need? The secret is having your roots sunk down deep into God and into the Christ that he sent. He is to be our source of satisfaction and of strength. That is what the words, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” mean. 

So why did the LORD provide Israel with these game birds and this manna to eat? They were not truly starving (at least not yet). It was their cravings, not their needs, that drove them to grumble against LORD. Why did he bless them with this food? The birds were driven to them by a strong wind only once, but the manna was provided for them continuously, day by day, for 40 years! Why did the LORD give it? 

Well, because he is merciful and kind. And also, to teach Israel (and us!) to live in trustful dependence upon the LORD for their daily needs. Whenever Israel would go out to gather the manna they would be reminded of the LORD’s daily provision. In fact, a jar of this manna was to be kept by the priests as a kind of memorial to God’s faithfulness for future generations. 

Isn’t it interesting that this provision of manna was designed by God to function as daily bread? What was it? We don’t know for sure. The text says that “it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31, ESV). Sounds good, doesn’t it? It may have been a natural substance, but it functioned in a supernatural way. The LORD provided it in great abundance. It was to be gathered daily. If too much was taken it would rot and stink. And it appeared daily, not for a week or two, but for 40 years. But here I am drawing your attention to the way in which the LORD designed the manna to function as daily bread. The LORD could have made the manna to last a week or a month. But he willed that it last a day. And so I am saying that the purpose of the manna was not only to feed Israel but to teach them about the faithfulness of the LORD and for them to live in daily dependence upon him.   

What can we learn from Israel’s experience? One thing is this: Christian sojourners must pursue contentment as they trust the LORD for their daily bread. 

*****

Christian Sojourners Must Rest In The LORD As They Honor The Sabbath Day And Keep It Holy

The third principle that I wish to draw from our passage today is that Christian sojourners must rest in the LORD as they honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

I said that the manna was daily dead bread. That is true, with the exception of the weekly Sabbath day. The Old Covenant people of God were to honor the Sabbath day on the seventh day of the week, which we call Saturday. According to this text, Israel was to gather double the manna on Friday  so that they would have enough for Saturday, for on Saturday no manna would be provided. The people of Israel were to rest on the seventh day and they were to worship. If the people of Israel attempted to gather more than they needed for the day on the other days of the week, it would rot and stink, but not the bread for the Sabbath day. A double portion was to be gathered on Friday and it would last through Saturday. 

So then, the LORD used the manna to feed Israel, to teach Israel to trust the LORD for daily provision, and to teach them to honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy. The manna was provided for them on days one through six. On day six, the Israelites were to gather a double portion, for on day seven no manna would be provided. That is quite a training program for Sabbath keeping, wouldn’t you say? Through the provision of manna on six days and the withholding of it on the seventh, God taught Israel to honor the Sabbath day. 

It is interesting to note that Israel was expected to keep the Sabbath day before the law was given on Sinai and before the Mosaic Covenant was ratified. I mention this to counter those who would claim that weekly Sabbath keeping was unique to the Old Mosaic covenant. It was not. The Sabbath command was first given, not to Israel through Moses, but to Adam in the garden. Israel was to honor the Sabbath day before the law was given on Sinai, before the Old Mosaic covenant was ratified, and before Israel took possession of the land. Yes, the weekly seventh day Sabbath would play a very special role under the Old Mosaic economy. Many other holy days would be added to the weekly Sabbath through Moses. But it wrong to assume that the weekly Sabbath day was unique to Old Covenant Israel, and therefore not for us. In fact, Christ taught his disciple how to keep the Sabbath. He taught it’s true meaning. He changed the day when he rose from the grave. And the New Testament does explicitly say that “there remains a Sabbath rest [Sabbath-keeping] for the people of God…” (Hebrews 4:9, ESV).

This is why I have said that Christian sojourners must rest in the LORD as they honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Old Covenant Israel was to honor the Sabbath day as they sojourned in the wilderness. They were to cease from their labor, they were to rest and to worship. And New Covenant Israel is to do the same as we sojourn. Yes, the day has changed, for Christ, in whom we rest now and for all eternity, has lived, died, and risen from the grave. The day has changed for good reason, but the pattern of six and one remains. Christian sojourners must honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy. This they must do, not as a mindless ritual, but as a means of thoughtfully and faithfully resting in Christ.

The Sabbath day for Israel and for us is a day for physical rest, and it is also a day for spiritual rest. It is a day for drawing near to God. It is a day for listening to his Word. It is a day for reorienting our lives around him, for gathering with the faithful, for being reminded of the LORD precious and very great promises, and of the work that Christ has accomplished for us. The Sabbath day is a holy day uniquely suited for setting the mind and and the heart on God, on Christ, and on our eternal inheritance in him. The Sabbath day is essential for Christian sojourners. 

Don’t neglect it, brothers and sisters. Set aside your work on this day. Set it aside for the whole day. And set aside your recreations too. Honor this day as holy. Set your mind on God and the things of God. Be refreshed by the assembly of God’s redeemed. Stop neglecting the fellowship, brothers and sisters. Prepare for the Lord’s Day Sabbath. Long for the Lord’s Day Sabbath. And then keep the Lord’s Day Sabbath holy.

You know, one thing that never ceases to amaze me is when Christians neglect the basic things that God has provided for them and then wonder why it is that they struggle in their sojourning. I see Christians struggling with sin, with anxiety, with anger, with discontentment, etc. but I notice that they often neglect the fellowship of the believers on the Lord’s Day, or are quick to leave after the benediction is read. Where are you off to, brothers and sisters? What’s the rush? What is keeping you from worship in the morning and in the afternoon? Have you not prepared for the Lord’s Day? Is there not six days of the week for work and for recreation, for chores, birthday parties, for watching football, and all the rest? Why not honor this day as holy as the Lord has commanded? Why not come to worship in the morning and in the afternoon? I trust that you will be refreshed if you do. More importantly, I trust that the Lord will be well pleased.     

Stated a little differently, Christian sojourners must rest in the LORD, and one of the primary ways that we do this is through the observance of the Lord’s Day Sabbath. It is a day of rest for the soul.

*****

Conclusion

You know, one thing that has been implied throughout this semon but not yet stated explicitly is that Christian sojourners need Christ. We must be found in him by faith, living for the glory of God and the furtherance of God’s eternal kingdom through him. We must see that he is the true bread of life and the true drink for which every soul longs. We must know that he is our eternal Sabbath rest. 

Christian sojourners need Christ. We must be found in him by faith, we must abide in him and cling to him. I have told you that Christ is pictured everywhere in the events of the Exodus, and it is true. As Israel gathered and ate the physical manna, Christ the bread of life was portrayed to them. As they honored the Sabbath on the seventh they were to look forward to the coming of Christ and the rest that would be earned by him. As Israel partake of these earthly blessings they were simultaneously compelled to partake of the Christ that was portrayed to and promised to them by faith. And you and I are to do the same. As we sojourn in this world and experience the rhythms of the trials and refreshments of life, we are to cling to Christ by faith as we honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy and partake of the manna and the drink which God has set before us, in which the broken body and shed blood of Christ is signified. May we be found content in him, brothers and sisters.

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady Exodus 16
Comments Off on Morning Sermon: Exodus 16, Manna From Heaven Posted by Joe