12 March, 2019, PSC Cafe Connecting Group
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+15:22-27, 16, 17:1-7
"Depending On God In Life Through Wilderness" / "Encountering God in wilderness"
Potential Discussion Questions:-
(1) We, Christians, are also travelling through wilderness. I call our journey through earth as wilderness, compared to our glorious destination - heaven! Like in the case of Israelites, the journey is temporal. Paul gives some "words" to this journey of ours through wilderness in Romans 8:19-22:- "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now."
(2), (3), (4) to me signify that at the end of the day God sustains us (we are dependent on Him daily; God provides). We need to acknowledge that daily and strive to be like that daily. We are to continue to seek "bread from heaven", daily, as Jesus asked us to pray "Our Father in heaven ... Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11)! Now, in America today, bread is very easy to find. Even if you are homeless, you may find it easily, say in some soup kitchen around. Even in such a situation, Americans should pray "Our Father in heaven ... Give us today our daily bread"! As, we should never take for granted, even a seemingly small & trivial blessing. We should be thankful and grateful, always, for all blessings big or small (James 1:17 ".. all good gifts are from heaven ...", 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ".. Give thanks always ..." ).
(2), (3), (4) also signifies God's unfailing faithfulness to His people.
(5) I can say "Israelites grumbling & complaining often" represents broken, sinful nature of humans.
We will often be tempted to "wrongfully" (i.e., ones resulting from not trusting God) grumble and complain, while we are here on earth in these fallen bodies, and do not have yet the glorious bodies. Remember, Paul said we were spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-10), before we came to Christ.
As we grow in Christ, here on earth, and as the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) blossom in our lives, we can expect to "wrongfully" grumble & complain less.
Israelites needed to know Bible verses, such as, Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ", James 4:2 - "... You do not have, because you do not ask.", Matthew 7:11 - "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ".
Israelites needed to be like Paul - Philippians 4:12 :- "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ", 1 Thessalonians 5:18:- "... give thanks in all circumstances ...". Even in extreme suffering Job worshiped God (Job 1:20-21), instead of grumbling & complaining against God.
So, the Israelites needed to walk by faith, not by sight!
In the defense of Israelites, one can say that they did not have the Bible yet! Also, I am quite amazed that without a copy of Bible, Joseph was able to live such a righteous life.
Yes, big miracles are not enough to build one's faith. This is because one needs God's help in building one's faith.
Remember people saw or heard about great miracles or deeds from Jesus. But that did not mean, that they all started "following" Him. The rich young ruler left when Jesus challenged him to give away all his wealth. In John 6:66 many left, because they said Jesus's teachings were hard to follow. When Peter clarified in Matthew 19:25, Jesus responded that "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:25). That is instead of leaving / running away, the rich young ruler and ones of John 6:66 should have relied on God's strength for following Jesus. They were right in thinking that it is impossible to be a follower of Jesus on one's own strength.
During the testings, hearts are exposed. People have opportunity to demonstrate their faith and / or grow in their faith, and hence glorify God. God's power & glory is made known (Exodus 16:12).
You will be tested everyday in your faith (whether directly by God or by God allowing various entities, such as the devil, to test you).
John 6: “32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty ... 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world ... Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink…. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
MISC