Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP 20 January 2024
Text: Exodus 15:22-27
Title: “He tested them”

THE BEGINNING OF THE WILDERNESS JOURNEY

1. God had delivered His people from the bondage of the Egyptians

2. They now began their wilderness journey to the land of Canaan

LESSONS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEARNT FROM THE PAST

1. God fulfils His promises

a. What God has promised Exodus 6:6-8

b. He will fulfil

2. God has the power to overcome great obstacles

a. The 10 plagues Exodus 7-11

b. The Crossing of the Red Sea Exodus 14

3. God has a plan to lead His people Exodus 13:17-18

a. God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines

b. God led the people by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea

4. God’s presence would be with His people Exodus 13:20-22

a. The LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day

b. In a pillar of fire by night

5. Questions that need to be asked

a. Did the children of Israel learn these lessons well?

b. Could they apply these lessons when the challenges came?

TESTED THROUGH CHALLENGES

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Exodus 15:22-23

1. The challenge of going through the wilderness

a. 600,000 men (not counting women and children) and livestock

b. Basic necessities would have to be looked into

2. “Water” problems

a. No water Exodus 15:22

i. Three days in the wilderness

ii. No water found

b. “Bitter” water Exodus 15:23

i. “Bitter” water found at Marah

ii. This was not potable

3. A test from God

a. It was God who led them

b. It was God who allowed for this test

c. How would they fare?

THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO THIS TEST

24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

Exodus 15:24-25a

1. They complained against Moses

2. Insight from the Psalmist about the people

7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;
They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies,
But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.

8 Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake,
That He might make His mighty power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up;
So He led them through the depths,
As through the wilderness.
10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,
And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their enemies;
There was not one of them left.
12 Then they believed His words;
They sang His praise.

13 They soon forgot His works;
They did not wait for His counsel.

Psalm 106:7-13

a. They did not understand His wonders

b. They did not remember the multitude of His mercies

c. They rebelled at the Red Sea

d. They forgot His works

e. They did not wait for His counsel

3. Nonetheless, the LORD helped them
The bitter waters were made sweet

THE PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE OF TESTING ESTABLISHED

25 … There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Exodus 15:25b-26

1. The LORD would test them

This was established as a statute and ordinance

2. What would be tested

a. If they would diligently heed the voice of the LORD

b. Do what is right in His sight

c. Give ear to His commandments

d. Keep all His statutes

3. Reward / punishment

a. The LORD can specially keep them from diseases

b. Or the LORD can put those diseases on them

c. It would depend on how they fared on their tests

A MOMENT OF RESPITE

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

Exodus 15:27

1. There will be moments of respite

2. This was also part of God’s leading

IMPORTANT LESSONS TO BE LEARNT

1. How we may pass the tests from the LORD

a. Remember the lessons learnt from the past

b. Relate to God with faith in the midst of challenges

c. Build a far more resilient faith in God

2. What God will do

a. God will reward those who pass His tests

b. God will also grant moments of respite along the way