Bible Study - GOD is --(2) - Our Healer - Exodus 14:29-31; 15:22-27 - March 11, 2018

Bible Study – GOD is—(2) – Our Healer – March 11, 2018

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “GOD is ---.”

Our focus scripture Exodus 14:29-31; 15:22-27.

GOD is the only one who can restore us and make us whole.

GOD demonstrated HIS power to the Israelites as HE set them free from Egyptian slavery and guided them to the Promised Land. As Christians and non-Christians, this is a picture of GOD’S power to set the Christian and the non-Christian free from the slavery of sin. We must keep in mind that for the Israelite’s it was a journey that took over 40 years and another generation before they reached the Promised Land.

Salvation is the beginning of a Christian’s journey. Their destination is sure and secure. The end-point is eternity with GOD and JESUS in Heaven as GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of rebirth.

Christians can backslide into sin and when they do many evil forces take control of their lives. They get stuck in the miry clay of the enemy. That is when, as fellow Christians, we need to use our authority as ministers and priests to minister in their behalf.

Israel would come close to GOD and experience GOD’S love and power but then they would be lured into rebellion against GOD and GOD would punish them and they would come back to GOD. Sound familiar?

As Christians, we are all sinners saved by GOD’S Grace. But we still sin. When we sin, we never lose our salvation but we may lose our rewards which we would have earned if we had not been in the weeds of sin.

There are sins of commission and omission. When we sin, we need to confess it. Confession is agreeing with GOD that we went against that which HE teaches. When that happens, we need to repent. Repenting is to stop sinning or stop going in the direction we are headed and make a complete turn, 180 degree, and obediently walk with JESUS away from sin. 

Let’s read 1 John 1:8-10:

8 If we say, "We have no sin," we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

We need a Spiritual checkup every-now-and-then. Psalm 139:23-24 reveals what we need to do to get that Spiritual checkup:

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (KJV)

The indwelling Holy Spirit does the searching and revealing.

As we study our lesson, let’s consider the Israelite nation as a person building his or her relationship with GOD.

Let’s consider the non-Christian. Non-Christians need to consider the power of GOD to deliver him or her from the bondage of sin and eternal death through the shed blood of JESUS. If GOD can part the sea and perform the miracles as recorded in GOD’S Word, The Bible, then He can change your life when you accept JESUS as your Savior.

You say that Christians still sin, so what’s the difference between being a Christian or a non-Christian? As a Christian, you have been redeemed by the shed blood of JESUS and are born into GOD’S family. You acknowledge that salvation from sin is something you cannot do yourself, salvation is a free gift of GOD through HIS Only SON JESUS. HIS shed blood paid the penalty for our sin but you have to accept JESUS as your Savior. When you accept JESUS as your Savior, you receive forgiveness for your sins - past, present and future. You are born Spiritually into the family of GOD, become a citizen of Heaven, have eternal life and the freedom to call GOD, DAD.

The non-Christian is still in the bondage of sin and cannot break free from it and will suffer eternal death. JESUS made it clear while He was upon earth ----

The only way any person will get to Heaven is through faith in JESUS, GOD’S promised Messiah. JESUS told us in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Let’s explore!

In obedience to GOD, Moses and Aaron went to Egypt to be GOD’S spokesmen. After GOD demonstrated HIS power to the Egyptian Pharaoh and Pharaoh was convinced that the GOD of the Israelite’s was greater than he was, he let the Israelite’s go. Then Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his soldiers after them to bring them back to Egypt. Pharaoh realized that his human resources had gone, he needed them back.

The Israelite’s saw Pharaoh’s army chasing them and they were ready to go back into slavery because they had nothing to use to fight off the approaching army or did they? They had in front of them a sea and to their rear the Egyptian army. What could they do but give up?

GOD revealed HIS power to the Israelites. In obedience to GOD, Moses lifted his staff and the Red Sea parted. About two million or more men, women and children walked across the dry sea bed. It was a dry sea bed or else the Israelites would have bogged down.

The Egyptians Saw the dry sea bed and attempted to cross but at the right moment, GOD allowed the walls of water to collapse and consume the Egyptian army. The Israelites witnessed the power of GOD again. Their faith in GOD was renewed.

Often, GOD allows us to face the impossible in order to reveal to us HIS power and sufficiency.

Let’s read Exodus 14:28-31:

28 The waters came back and covered the chariots and horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh, that had gone after them into the sea. None of them survived. 

29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters [like] a wall to them on their right and their left. 

30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 

31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.

When GOD reveals HIS power we are in awe but often that awe is for a season until we encounter our next crisis. But this is the way GOD builds a trusting relationship with us.

The Israelite’s were traveling in the desert. It was hot and they needed water. They needed lots of water to quench the thirst of 2 million people plus livestock.

Let’s read Exodus 15:22-24:

Water Provided

22 Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water. 

23 They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter-that is why it was named Marah. 

24 The people grumbled to Moses, "What are we going to drink?" 

A person can go about three days without water but that is about the limit in the desert area. The Israelite’s were in dire need of water. They found water but it was bitter or brackish. Thus, the name “Marah” means bitter. The Israelite’s faced a serious problem which only GOD could handle.

You can almost hear the voices of the Israelite’s, “Gee, some leader we have who brings us to a place that is named “bitter” because its water is bitter. We thought he was a man of GOD.”

This again was a teachable moment for GOD. GOD was teaching Moses and the Israelites. But they had to encounter thirst and being led to a place called bitter in order to HIS hand at work in their behalf.

Often, GOD allows us to encounter situations greater than our ability to handle so we will seek HIM for the solution. The Israelite’s cried out to Moses and in turn, Moses -------. To whom do we turn when we come to the end of our ability and capability?

Let’s read exodus 15:25-27:

25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable. He made a statute and ordinance for them at Marah and He tested them there. 

Moses cried out to GOD with the problem. To “cry out” means Moses cried out to GOD in distress. Something like, “LORD, I have a major problem and I need your help now!” GOD showed him a tree.

“GOD showed him a tree” was much more than “Hey, Moses do you see that tree?” The word “showed” carries the idea of “to direct, teach or instruct.” GOD did more than show Moses the tree but GOD was training Moses in leadership and trust. It was a teachable moment.

A tree? What was the significance of the tree? We know when Moses either chopped the tree down or had it chopped down and cast it into the water, the water became drinkable. Was it the tree or the obedience to GOD? Either way, GOD and HIS power was and is the focus.

They were at the place named “Marah” which means bitter. Only GOD can change our bitterness to sweetness. GOD is “the LORD Who heals” thus another name for GOD – Jehovah-Rapha. The GOD Who heals, forgives and restores.

GOD made a “stature and ordinance” and tested them. This was before the Israelite’s came to Mt. Sinai where GOD gave them the Ten Commandments and other laws. These “stature and ordinance” provisions were precursors to the plan GOD had for the Israelite’s, which is captured in our next verse ----

26 He said, "If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illness on you I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you."  (Jehovah-Rapha)

GOD instructed the Israelite’s “If” you will – obey, do right, pay attention and keep all HIS statutes “then” they would be under GOD’S canopy of protection and blessings. When we allow the things of the flesh to lure us from the canopy of GOD’S love, we become vulnerable to the attacks

of Satan and his army. This does not mean when bad things happen to GOD’S people that they have sinned. There are times GOD allows things to come into the lives of HIS people to test them and build a -  

Better relationship with them.

GOD is still “the LORD Who heals.” He heals physically, Spiritually and emotionally. For those who need a touch of the Master’s Hand, ask HIM to touch you.

From a place named “bitter” to Elim.

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were 12 springs of water and 70 date palms, and they camped there by the waters.

This was GOD’S way of revealing HIS care for the Israelite’s to them. Their next stop was an Oasis of plenty. Elim means “trees.”

Often, after experiencing what seems to be a disappointment in GOD, HE reveals to us HIS sufficiency. In the process, we learn to trust HIM and HIS care for us. 

Christians need to keep in mind that suffering is not indicative of a lack of faith. It is recorded in Romans 8:15-17:

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!" 

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, 

17 and if children, also heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ-seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

GOD revealed Himself in many mighty ways to the Israelite’s. When we look around us each day, HE reveals Himself to us externally and internally. Internally, HE reveals Himself through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we encounter various perils in life’s journey. We do not have a Moses to be our Spiritual leader but we have JESUS to lead us. JESUS is immanently qualified to be our guide because HE was temped in all ways as we are tempted. Be honest with HIM and seek HIS help.

Blessings!!!