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Transition Sermons

Sermon 1 of 4 "The Water"

Exodus 15:22-27 and 17:1-7

March 2^nd 2008

In the 1780s, Ben Franklin and the Duke of Orleans sent up a hot air balloon over France. As it descended into a farmer's field, people rushed at it with sticks, pitch-forks and clubs. They attacked it in a frenzy and beat it, certain it was the moon, having fallen to earth. Why did they act this way?

As you may recall from your history lessons, when Copernicus, Galileo, Keppler and others tried to convince the 16th Century World that the earth revolves around the sun, they met some severe opposition. Galileo was forced eventually to recant his scientific support of Copernican theory and lived the last years of his life under house arrest. The clash of societal opinion and science did not end with Galileo. Scientists through the years have been frustrated by the inability of public understanding to keep pace with discovery.

This frustration is not only seen in science but the Bible records frustration on the part of biblical leaders and the people that they were trying to lead. Are there specific things that leaders can do to assist transition?

This next story speaks of the necessity of change.

Two frogs were neighbors. One inhabited a deep pond, far removed from public view; the other lived in a gully containing little water, and traversed by a country road. The Frog that lived in the pond warned his friend to change his residence and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that he would enjoy greater safety from danger and more abundant food. The other refused, saying that he felt it so very hard to leave a place to which he had become accustomed. A few days afterwards a heavy wagon passed through the gully and crushed him to death under its wheels.

One of the hardest parts of transition is dealing with the unknown. Why would people rather stay in a place that is bad for them instead of moving on to better things?

There is a phrase that we use that says this: "The only constant is change." That is a funny oxymoron but it is true, change is constant and over the next few weeks we are going to be looking at how the Israelites handled the changes that they encountered during the Exodus. In particular, we will be looking at when they complained, and how God responded.

We are always in transition. We are becoming older, smarter, thinner or heavier, etc. We change physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. God has intended us to be this way and he wants us to seek Him and His guidance as we change. How are you in transition right now? How about those around you? How can you help them in their transition?

Today we are looking at Exodus 15:22-27 (Page 61) and 17:1-7 (Page 62) to see the first major complaint after crossing the Red Sea.

As we look at these texts I want us to gain answers to these questions:

	Was the complaint a reasonable one?
	What was underneath the concern?
	How did Moses respond?
	How did God respond?
	What can we learn from this?

If you turn your Bibles back to Exodus 13-14 you will see the record of the people going through the water of the Red Sea and being delivered from the Egyptians. In favor of the people, they have gone through a number of transitions already. The last few years have not been easy ones.

Just before our text we read of the song of Moses and Miriam as they celebrate God’s faithfulness, power, and protection. Then we get to the complaining.

Exodus 15:22 page 61: Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. ) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"

EX 15:25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

EX 15:27 Then [after the test!!] they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

Exodus 17:1-7 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."

Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?"

EX 17:3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"

EX 17:4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

EX 17:5 The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

Now let’s look at the questions that I mentioned earlier.

Was the complaint a reasonable one? In the first account I think three days with no water may bring up some concerns. This is magnified by the fact that they had never been in a desert before, they were from the most fertile place in the known world. This is a big transition!

What was underneath the concern? The bigger questions could have been concerns about whether God can provide or if God was the one to follow if this is the best lifestyle that He could provide (frankly, the Egyptian gods had done better). Have you complained when you wondered if God was going to provide?

How did Moses respond? He looks to God for the answer. God responds and then Moses looks out for himself. Moses, as the leader, first goes to God. EX 17:4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

How did God respond? He gets to the heart of the concern and says in verse 26: "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." Then he brings them to the oasis, but they appreciated it more by going to the bitter water first.

It is like he is saying, "You do not know me well yet but you need to trust in my character. You do know that I am capable and trustworthy. You do the trusting and I will do the taking."


	What can we learn from this? When we have trouble with transition God looks to the heart of the matter and he does not condemn us for the struggle because the struggle brings growth. And as a leader this is a reminder to go to God first and to know that He is in charge and He will do the taking.

In the second account of the people at the water the focus is on the relationship between Moses and God. Moses is becoming a better follower so that makes him a better leader, but the same pattern exists.

How are you dealing with the transitions in your life? What do you tend to complain about? What concerns are on your mind?

God is there and He has guidance and support as you transition. Take the time to get to know God so that you can trust in His character and in who he calls to lead you through this time.

Transition begins with an end. The Israelites needed to leave Egypt in order to make it to the Promised Land. That was not easy and there were things that they missed. As a congregation we are transitioning from a small church into a medium size church and things are changing. There are things that we will need to do differently like potlucks as smaller groups, and more small group options as well as each person will need to be more accountable for their own spiritual health and growth because they may fall through the cracks if they are in the habit of Sunday morning only. We can maintain many of the benefits of the small church in different ways … but there will need to be some different ways so that we have the mentality and preparedness to grow in health, numbers, and unity. We are here to Know God and Make Him Known are we not?

There were two major things that kept the people going through the wilderness, God’s presence and trust that He would end the journey in the Promised Land. So this week we can seek His presence and ask for clarity in where He is leading us…but keep moving, one step at a time, struggle if you must, but God has great things ahead. The key things will be the same but they may be expressed differently and we will make decisions about expression together.

Next week we will be looking at chapter 16 and how they complained about the Manna.