series: Exodus series idk. #
verse: Exodus 17:1-7 #
Context: #
The Israelites are again grumbling from thirst, even though God had been providing for them all this time.
Main Idea: #
Exodus is not just about the Israelites running out of water. It’s about the feeling of “not having enough”.
How is this passage relevant for our church?
- We (as a ministry), are constantly expecting something new or fresh from God.
- But we musn’t forgot about our humbling beginnings and where we came from. Our congregation used to be of 20 people and had an annual offering of $15k. But today it’s grown so much since 8 years ago. And we should recognize this and have gratitude. There’s been a study done at for English Ministires at Korean churches. It’s called silent exodus. 2nd Generation korean american children grow up and leave their parent’s church. This has been causing some church plants to slowly disappear.
Whenever you feel thirsty. it’s an invitation to follow his leading, fight for our fellowship, and feast on our faithful lord.
Following God’s Lead #
In verse 1, we see the Israelites are moving on from the wilderness of sin by stages and according to the commandment of the Lord. And again, they have little water. But it’s important to note that the location they find themselves in was commanded by the Lord. They are where they are supposed to be. God has intentionally placed these people into a harrowing and difficult environment.
God keeps leading us where only God can sustain us
This is the third time he’s done this in Exodus. God is doing this purposefully to show that he alone, is the source of life. It’s a repeated test because it trains us to have an ongoing dependence. It also reveals what is in our hearts, it keeps our pride down and on self-reliance.
The harsh reality: Our parents suffered greatly and went to God often for support. And as a result, the 2nd generation of immigrant children have, generally, prosperous lives! And so our relationship with God is shallower.
Fight for our Fellowship #
The church is a vessel that is to be nurtured by its inhabitants. If we treat it with a consumerist mindset, we miss out on the deep lasting transformation that is built upon your endurance, commitment, and service. It is up to its members to actively protect the fellowship through communal prayer, encouragement, and serving one another.
Feast on our Faithful Lord #
In verses 5 to 7, we see that Moses cries out to God and he receives instructions from God. He commands Moses to strike a rock with his staff. And from that rock, came out a plentiful stream of abundant water. This rock is Jesus Christ himself. There was physical provision to the Israelites, but it’s pointing to the idea of a spiritual feast for everyone to share. There was water for everybody, and it all came from a single source. It’s not about the individual faith, it’s about community. In the wilderness, it’s not about fighting your own battles and finding an individualistic solution. It’s about working as a team and when one flourishes, we all flourish.
Feast in our faithful Lord, together.
Individual mindset runs rampant in the modern church. Because we talk about, “personal relationships”, “my needs”, “my walk with God” perpetually. But the truth is we cannot grow faithfully with individualized faith alone.
Be an impactful person. Build a gospel-centered church, where the community feasts together on our Lord. Go out of your comfort zone to achieve this, it will be necessary.