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.

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.