Sermon Exodus 16:1-3 by Simon Alexander Tarigan at English Chapel Community

Keluaran 16 (English version)

The Israelities are in the wilderness heading toward to the promised land. God miraculously delivered them from Egypt, made the Red sea dry land and they cross the sea.  God supplied them so many examples from the past  and through that examples  God wants  that they know His mighty power so they might have faith in Him. But now all of them grumbled against Moses and , and said to them:”Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full;  for you have brought us out in to the wilderness to kill the whole assembly with hunger? Why?  We know that there was no food at that moment.  Now,  all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, '’Why has the Lord brought us to this land, Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?'" Honestly I want to say  “Grumbling, murmuring, and thanklessness are not ultimately the heart’s responses Moses, Aaron or to circumstances, but to God “

How come the people of God grumble, murmuring like that?  According to Psalm 106:13-14:” They forgot God works and put God to the test in the wilderness.”  They did not believe  His words, forgot  His works before and grumble and murmured in their tents.

Hebrew Chapter 11 is the faith chapter of the Bible. Verses 23-29 tels us that Moses is a man of faith and he lived by it. By faith he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s, by faith he choosed to share burdens with peopole of God rather than enjoy pleasures of sin and by faith he brought the people of God left Egypt.  How about Israelities. They got a spiritual amnesia — forgetting God’s deliverance and provision — is a deadly disease. The people of Israel, on the heels of unthinkable miracles, with their pockets full of Egyptian jewelry, grumble at their less-than-five-star accommodations in the desert. This wasn’t just headache-induced grumbling or low-blood-sugar complaining. This was faithlessness. It is the heart that says, “I know better than God. If only he would follow my plan.”

Sadly, many Christians are murmurers and complainers.  In the home, on the job and in the local church they grumble, murmur and complain. They can see nothing good. To them, everything is bad -- their life is miserable and they want to make it that way for everyone else.So, the lessons for all of us this morning whenever we faced the problem in our life are,

1.    Casting your care on God

The word translated “casting” used to described throwing some thing on something else such as a glass over a box or something like that.

Instead take their’s food problem to God, the Israelities grumbled and murmuring to Moses and God.

Aplication.

Brothers and sisters, let we learn to take all of our anxiety, discontent, despair and suffering that we are going through and toss it all onto God who care for us. (Nyanyi Isn’nt He the mighty God)

2.    Living a life of faith and trust

The usually problem that the Israelities face in wilderness was “doubt” and according to the Bible its come from Satan.  Every time they face problem they doubt, they ditrust God, they believe Satan instead of God

Aplication

What is our protection against doubt? Paul said in Ephessian 6:16””Take the shield of faith.”  When Satan starts his temptation we stop them by the shield of faith.  We have to say” Satan , you are a big liar. Nothing you say is true but everythings God says is true so I’m going to believe God.

So, Let fix our eyes on God, on Jesus Christ, the one perfecter our faith.  When I went back home from Manado on last Thursday the weather was rough.

 A lady sit next to me asked if she could hold my hand because she was scared. At  that time I was about finishing this preach.  I smiled and told her that fear is from Satan and he is abig liar trust in God.   We as a Christian should  The we sang “A Shelter in the Time of Storm”. In our conversation later I found out that she is a young doctor.

3.    Praise Lord

The antidote to spiritual amnesia is Praise always to the Lord.  making every effort to recall and remember God’s gracious deliverance. The fact that you — a sinner who was an enemy of God — are now a beloved child is a miracle. Remember how God has protected you from making shipwreck of your life. Praise Lord

·         Remember how God graciously let you grow up in a godly family.Praise Lord

·         Remember how God awakened you to the ugliness of your sin. Praise Lord

·         Remember how you walked away from that terrible car crash. Praise Lord

·         Remember how your wife, sister, or mom survived breast cancer. Praise Lord

·         Remember how you had mentors and key friends guide you in your faith. Praise Lord

·         Remember how he sustained you during that season of unemployment. Praise Lord

·         Remember how God miraculously healed you. Praise Lord

·         Remember that impossible prayer request that God answered.

·         Remember how you had no money and an envelope just showed up in the mail with exactly the amount you needed. Praise Lord

·         Remember how the gospel came alive as it never had before. Praise Lord

·         Remember God.

·         Don’t let that wonder ever fade. and always Praise Lord. Amen.