Questioning God (Exodus 15:22-26, 16:1-4, 17:1-7)

Fable, would you please stand for the reading of God's word?

We continue our series, through the life of Moses.

In the book of Exodus this morning I'll be reading sections

from three different chapters, Exodus 15 16 and 17 beginning

and Exodus 15 verse 22. Then Moses made Israel's set out

Exodus 15:22

from the Red Sea, and they went into the Wilderness of shur,

they went three days in the wilderness and found no water

when they came to Morocco. They could not drink the water

of marah because it was bitter. Therefore, it was named the

wrong. And the people grumbled against

Moses saying, what will we drink?

And he cried to the Lord and the Lord showed him a log and he

threw it into the water and the water became sweet.

They're the Lord made for them a statute and Rule and there.

He tested them saying, if you will diligently, listen to the

voice of the Lord, your God and do what is right in his eyes and

give ear to his Commandments and keep all his statutes.

I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the

Egyptians for. I am the Lord your healer 16:1.

And they set out from elim and all the congregation of the

people of Israel came to the Wilderness of sin, which is

between elim and Sinai on the 15th day of the second month

after they had Departed, the land of Egypt.

And the whole Congregation of the people of Israel grumbled

against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness and the people of

Israel said to them would that we had died by the hand of the

Lord and the land of Egypt. When we set by the meat pots and

ate bread to the full for you have brought us out into this.

Wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

And the Lord said to Moses behold, I'm about to rain bread

from heaven for you. And the people show go out and

gather a day's portion every day that I'm a test him, whether

they will walk in my law or not now 17:1, And 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 ref eating 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're almost ready to Stone

me. 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 he struck

the Nile and go behold. I will stand before you on the

Rock at Horeb and you shall strike the Rock and water.

So come out of it and the people will drink and Moses did.

So in the side of the Elders of Israel and they called the name

of the place Masa and Meribah. Because the quarreling of the

people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying,

is, the Lord among us or not. This is the word of the Lord.

You may be seated. I want to begin this morning by

asking you a question. Have you ever questioned?

God, have you ever questioned him now?

Before you answer that question in your heart, I want you to

consider what I'm asking. You I'm not asking you have you

ever questioned the existence of God, whether or not exist when

I'm asking you is have you ever questioned him that his

question, his character his care for you?

His goodness, his Mercy because there's a big difference.

It's one thing. To question the existence of

God, does he exist? Is he real?

It's quite another to question whether or not you actually want

him to exist in the first place. I think if we're honest this

morning, So many of us are right in this place of questioning is

God questioning his goodness. His character questioning the

things that he does in our lives.

And we asked these questions, not from a place of intellectual

doubt, We asked these questions from a place of disappointment.

As if we're disappointed in him. A place of cynicism.

A place of woundedness. So again, I ask you this

morning, Have you ever questioned?

God like that? The truth is, I think, if we're

honest at some point in our lives, we will question God.

Maybe you have in your past. Maybe you are right now.

When we question God, what do you ask him?

What are your questions? What are your doubts?

What are your fears? What are your complaints?

What are your grumbles? Book of Exodus.

We read just after Israel was rescued miraculously and

dramatically save from slavery in Egypt.

They grumbled they complained and they questioned God.

And this is what they asked is the Lord among us or not.

In other words, is God still with us and what I want you to

see this morning as that question is at the heart of our

Every question is God still with us in this morning?

I want you to see the way God has answered that question.

I want to do this in two ways. First, I want you to see why we

questioned God and second, I want you to see God's answer to

our questions. So first, why do we question

God? Look with me, Exodus 15 verse

Exodus 15:22

22, We're told that Moses made Israel, set out from the Red Sea

and they went into the Wilderness of shur and they went

three days in the wilderness and found no water.

Now, what you need to understand is where this passage finds

itself in the context of the book of Exodus we're picking up

right? Where we left off these last two

weeks. God has just sent 10 great acts

of judgment, 10 plagues. He's just redeemed his people

through the Passover, and he has.

Now rescued his people through the Red Sea.

It just happened. Israel just witnessed God part

the Red Sea. They just walked through it on

dry land and they watch God, drown Pharaoh's Army in the

water. And now they're wandering in the

wilderness and just three days later they have no water.

Verse 23 were told they came to a place called Mira.

That they could not drink the water of Mara because it was

bitter. Therefore it was named Mara.

Now this is going to be important in just a second.

You see? Because the name, Mara is a play

on words, it means bitter. It means bitter.

The water that they had come to was bitter.

Now, I want you to put yourself in their shoes because it's easy

for us to throw stones at them and think what on Earth could

they be thinking? After all, they had seen God do,

how could they now question him? But I want you to put yourself

in their shoes and imagine what it was like to wander through

the Wilderness with no water for three days.

And now, the only water they could come to was like a salt

pool almost taunting them mocking them, they couldn't

drink that either. And yet, this is what we read,

verse 24. And the people grumbled against

Moses saying, what shall we drink?

They just witnessed God rescue them and yet.

Now they are grumbling against Moses and they're saying, what

are we going to drink? They just use their voices to

sing worship and praises to the Lord singing in.

Proclaiming, the Lord is my strength and my song, and he has

become my salvation. And now, they're using their

voices to complain and to grumble.

We're told here that Israel grumbled.

We will read that word over and over and over again in our

passages this morning. What does it mean?

What does it mean that Israel grumbled well in Hebrew the word

for grumbling here is sometimes translated murmur It's often

associated in Hebrew with growling.

In other words, like a dog, growls at his master because

he's not getting a bone. Israel is growling at Moses.

And ultimately, what we're going to see is there growling at God.

Because they're not getting what they want.

In fact, some translators have suggested that really the word

Grumble here is not a strong enough word. because what Israel

is doing is they are questioning God Translators are new English

translation. Put it this way, they were not

merely complaining. There are questioning God's

abilities and motives and listen to this.

The action is something like a parliamentary vote of no

confidence. In other words in there,

grumbling. They were expressing their doubt

that God had any ability to care for them anymore.

Again, think about this, they just watch God, rescue them from

slavery, miraculously with a strong and mighty right hand.

And now they're questioning his ability to care for them.

Look with me verse 24. Once again, the people grumbled

against Moses saying, what shall we drink?

This question was not a point of inquiry.

It wasn't out of curiosity. We're just wondering, oh, I

wonder what we're gonna have to drink today.

It was an interrogation. Adam.

And what are we going to drink? They had lost confidence and

Moses's ability to lead them and they lost trust and God's

ability to care for them. And before you throw stones at

them and think how could they be so faiths?

Are you and I not the very same? after we have seen all that God

has done for us, how quick we are to question his care for us.

I wonder if that true for you as ever been true for you.

Is it true for you this morning? As you consider the

circumstances of your life, you say, why me?

God, how could you let this happen?

I thought you were good. I thought you were my father.

Why aren't you taking care of me?

Remember what this place was called.

Marah, it means bitter. And I want to suggest to you

that it was called bitter, not simply because the water was

bitter. But because the people were

bitter. You see?

Because when we question God's care for us, when we questioned

his fatherhood over us, when we say he's not taking care of me

the way that I think I need to be taken care of.

That causes us, not just to lose faith.

Setting, the honest truth is it makes us bitter.

It makes us bitter towards him. So this morning, I wanted to

ask, how do you question God, but I want to ask like, is there

any part of your heart and soul? If you're honest, this morning

that has become bitter towards him.

Any part of you that's even become resentful.

Any part of you that has found itself in the quietness of your

heart, when you are praying? And asking the Lord to meet you

to answer your needs. There's a part of you that has

become so bitter that you think why bother praying at all?

He didn't answer my prayer, the way I wanted him before.

Why would he answer my prayer now?

You see in our hearts for just like these people.

The question, God's care. And this leads to bitterness and

this bitterness leads to us. Not just question his care for

us but also his wisdom, I want you to look with me at x 2 the

16 verse 1. Just a chapter later, they're

not just thirsty. They're hungry.

In verse 1, we're told that they set out the congregation of

people of Israel, came to the Wilderness of sin and their

journey through this desert Wasteland inverse to the whole

Congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses

and Aaron. And the Wilderness here they are

there. Grumbling again, it's the same

exact word there growling against Moses and Aaron are

questioning God verse 3. The people of Israel said, would

that we have died by the hand of the Lord, in the land of Egypt.

And we By the mid pallets and ate bread to the full and you've

brought us into this Wilderness to kill our whole assembly with

hunger. Now, they're grumbling is taking

a darker tone. It's not just.

What are we going to drink? How are you going to take care

of us now? It's accusatory.

And they're questioning not just God's care, but his wisdom.

In other words, well, if God does care for us.

Maybe the problem with all of the difficulties in our lives,

is not that he doesn't care. It's that he doesn't know what

he's doing. Listen what they're saying

they're saying it would have been better for us to stay in

Egypt and died there in slavery. At least when we were enslaved,

we got to eat and drink to the full.

But now that you've rescued us some rescue, this is right.

We're just gonna die in the middle of the wilderness.

Be here. What's underneath their

questioning? God not just questioned his

care, but question his wisdom. In other words, they're saying,

we know better than you. We would have done it

differently. See the heart of our

questioning. God is Not Just bitterness but

it's also Pride. And that's why they come to

Moses, as their leader, they're coming to Moses.

They're saying Moses, who put you in charge, we would have

done this so much better than you.

I wonder. Have you ever asked that

question? if you ever question the leaders

that God has put over you, So, many ways, I think we have now

become a culture of complainers. Constantly complaining, over the

people who make decisions in our lives.

Some years ago, I was reading the New York Times article and

the author was reflecting on this and the leadership crisis

in our country. And he argued in part that our

leadership is Crisis. Is not simply because we don't

have good leaders, but it's because we've become terrible

followers. And part of the problem.

Is that we think we know better. It's one thing to complain

against our leaders. But what if we Grumble against

God himself? What if our complaint isn't

actually against the leaders, whom God has put over us?

What if our complaint is against God?

This is exactly what Moses says in verse 8, look with me And

verse 8, Moses says, well, what are we?

In other words, what power do you think we have, what are we?

Your grumbling is not against us, but against the Lord, in

other words, if you want to blame someone, Don't blame me.

Blame God. The ultimate was God, who is

leading them through the Wilderness.

It was God, who is carrying the way through the Red Sea, was

God, who is now leading them through the desert?

And how often and convenient it is for us to complain.

About life, and our circumstances and difficulties

in the leaders that God has put over us.

And yet all the while, our qu complaint is against God

himself. Not only are we bitter, not only

are we prideful. but you see at the heart of our questioning

God, Is unbelief. And a lack of faith that God is

still good. I want you to look at verse 1 of

chapter 17. The people of Israel became

bitter and prideful. And now in chapter 17, we see

all of this culminate where they have the audacity to put God on

trial. Verse 1.

All the congregation of the people of Israel, moved on from

the Wilderness of sin by stages, according the Commandment of the

Lord and they camped at rephidim.

And there was no water. Once again, there's no water.

Now, look at verse 2. Therefore the people quarreled

with Moses and said, give us water to drink that word quarrel

It's not the word from grumbles a new word there, grumbling had

become quarreling. It means to contend to plea.

It's a word that's used in a lawsuit.

In other words, they were putting God on trial Look with

me at verse 2 continues. Moses said to him, why do you

quarrel with me? And why do you test the Lord?

Why do you test the Lord? What's it mean to put the lord

of the test? That means to put his

faithfulness on trial. To question God and his

faithfulness. And to say, God, you are going

to have to prove yourself. You are the one who's on trial.

They put the lord of the test and later we are told that they

ask this question verse 7 is the Lord among us or not.

Is the Lord among us or not? That question is at the heart of

every one of our questions. Every doubt, every fear, every

ounce of faithless, NE sin our souls.

We wonder is God still with us? Is he still trustworthy?

Is he still faithful? How will God answer that

question? the second final thing, I want

you to see this morning, How does God answer our question?

I want you to see the way that he answers Israel's questions

over and over and over again. What I want you to see this

morning is that he was faithful at every turn.

When Israel was Faith less. God was faithful.

Look with me. Exodus 15 verse 25 as Israel and

Exodus 15:25

bitter towards God questioned him and said what are we going

to drink? This was God's answer.

Verse 25. Moses cried to the Lord, the

Lord showed him a log and he threw it into the water and the

water became sweet. Here is Israel and their

faithlessness bitterly questioning God.

And God changes the bitterness to sweetness.

He answers their faithlessness with faithfulness.

And as they put him to the test, testing his faithfulness, God

responded with grace and mercy and his grace and mercy time and

time again answered that they're putting him to the test by

putting their faith to the test. Look with me verse 26.

If you diligently, listen to the voice of the Lord and your God

and do what is right in his eyes and give ear to his Commandments

and put all his statutes. I will put none of the diseases

on you and I'll put on the Egyptians for.

I am the Lord your healer. What we will see is that God

will meet the questions of Israel over and over and over

again by answering with faithfulness.

And as they tested, God's faithfulness, he responded by

being faithful and in response, his grace put Israel to the test

And response he tested their faith.

And so, he does with you. And I See, the truth is, when we

question God, we are putting him on trial. and yet if you've ever

questioned God, you will find that God proves himself over and

over and over again because he's unchangeable He is the faithful

one. And even when we are faithless

he is faithful still. And it's out of his faithfulness

that he actually in response, puts our faith to the test, but

there's a difference when we put God to the test, we do.

So out of Doubt, when God puts us to the test, he does.

So out of grace and mercy, because he's refining our faith

and making it strong in the midst of every circumstance.

You see? Because we are prone to view the

character of God through our circumstances, but God has

called us to view our circumstances through his

character. And when we see that he is good

and faithful, and he cares for our every need, we see that.

Even in our suffering, he is our healer.

So here the invitation of the Prophet Hosea who says come let

us return to the Lord. He has torn us that he may heal

us. He has struck us down and he

will bind us up. But we see in the book of

Exodus. And the life of Moses is that

even in suffering and fat, it is through suffering that God heals

us and perfects. Our faith and makes us strong He

didn't just meet them in Exodus 15, he met them over and over

again. In Exodus 16 is, they become

hungry. God gave them Manna and Daily

Bread. He provided there for every need

every single day and inverse forward told that he was going

to rain this bread from heaven and that he would test them

whether they would walk and his law or not.

And then in chapter 17, when the people of God, put God to a

trial. And they quarreled with him and

they asked, are you even with us?

Are you among us or not? This is God's response.

Exodus 17 verse 5. The Lord said to Moses pass on

Exodus 17:5

before the people and taking some of the Elders of Israel and

take in your hand, the same staff, which he struck the Nile

behold stand before, you and the rock of Horeb and you will

strike the Rock and water will come out of it and the people

will drink. What I want you to see this

morning. Is that every turn God was

there. At every question, God, had an

answer. He was there turning bitter

water and too sweet. Drink, he was there providing

Daily Bread in the midst of desert.

He was there springing water forth from Iraq and what I want

you to hear this morning is he is still there.

He's with you. and every trial, and every pain, and every

sorrow. And every joy, and every

struggle. And every fear God is with you.

How do I know? because of what of the Apostle

Paul tells us about this passage First Corinthians, 10 verse 1.

1 Corinthians 10:1

Paul tells us The people of Israel drank from this spiritual

rock, that followed them, and The Rock was Christ.

What is Paul saying? He's saying that the rock was

Christ. That many years later, God would

be put on trial once again. And Jesus Christ, the son of God

would stand trial, he would be accused and beaten, and he would

be crucified on a cross for our Salvation, he would be struck

for you. And I so that all who believe in

him would drink deeply the Waters of Salvation.

And so, what is God's answer to our question?

When we ask is the Lord among us or not, is God still with us?

God has answered that question in the person of Jesus Christ.

His name is Emmanuel, it means god with us.

And so, when we asked what will we drink?

Jesus says, come to me. All you who are thirsty and

drink water of Living Water. When we asked, what are we going

to eat? God says, Come and eat.

And take. The body of Jesus Christ, the

bread of life for your salvation.

And when we ask is the Lord among us or not?

Is he with us? God sends us Emmanuel.

Jesus Christ, whose name means God is with us, he was with us

and The Exodus. He is with us now and every

trial and he will be with us to the end.

Let's pray. Father in heaven.

Help us to see that. You are a good gracious, caring

and faithful father. And help us see that you have

answered our every question or every doubt and are every fear

and the person and work of Jesus.

May we trust in him this morning and walked by faith, through the

desert Wilderness of this life. We ask in Jesus name, let's pray

and let's sing of God's faithfulness this morning.