Sermon Tone Analysis

The whole Bible is about Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament his coming as Savior is expected.

In the Gospels his glorious person and redeeming work are exhibited.

In the Epistles his way of salvation by faith is explained.

Then in the book of Revelation his majesty as King is exalted.

From beginning to end it is all about Jesus.

The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.

Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005).

Exodus: saved for God’s glory (pp.

446–447).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

“And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin” (v. 1).

Mark that this chapter opens with the word “And,” connecting it with the one preceding.

So, too, chapter 16 begins with “And,” linking it on to the closing verses of 15. “And” is a little word, but we often miss that which is of much importance and value through failing to weigh it carefully.

There is nothing trivial in God’s Word, and each word and syllable has its own meaning and worth.

At the close of (v.

23) Israel came to Marah, and they could not drink of the waters there because they were bitter.

At once we find the people murmuring against Moses, saying.

“What shall we drink?” (v.

24).

Sad, sad was this, after all that the Lord had done for them.

Moses cried unto God, and in long-suffering grace He at once came to the relief of the people.

The Lord showed him a tree, which when cast into the bitter waters, at once sweetened them.

After this experience they reached Elim, where were twelve wells of water.

There closes.

opens with “And.”

Why?

To connect with what has just preceded.

But for what purpose?

To show us the in-excusableness and to emphasize the enormity of the conduct of Israel immediate following; as well as to magnify the marvelous patience and infinite mercy of Him who bore so graciously with them.

Israel had now entered the wilderness, the Wilderness of Sin, and it furnished no food for them.

How, then, do they meet this test of faith?

After their recent experience at Marah, one would suppose they promptly and confidently turned unto their Divine Benefactor and looked to Him for their daily bread.

But instead of doing this we read, once more, “The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron” (16:3), and not only so, they “spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” ().

Yet, notwithstanding their petulency and unbelief, the Lord again came to their relief and rained down bread from Heaven.

The remainder of the chapter is occupied with details concerning the manna.

Now, once more, the chapter before us for our present study, begins with “And.”

The opening verse presents to us a scene very similar to that which is found at the beginning of the previous chapter.

Israel are once again face to face with a trial of faith.

Their dependency upon God is tested.

This time it is not lack of food, but absence of water.

How this illustrates the fact that the path of faith is a path of trial.

Those who are led by God must expect to encounter that which is displeasing to the flesh, and also a constant and real testing of faith itself.

God’s design is to wean us from everything down here, to bring us to the place where we have no reliance upon material and human resources, to cast us completely upon Himself.

GOD DESIGNS A TEST.

“And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (v.

3).

As their thirst increased they grew more impatient and enraged, and threw out their invectives against Moses.

“Had Israel been transported from Egypt to Canaan they would not have made such sad exhibitions of what the human heart is, and, as a consequence, they would not have proved such admirable ensamples or types for us: but their forty years’ wandering in the desert furnish us with a volume of warning, admonition, and instruction, fruitful beyond conception.

From it we learn, amongst many other things, the unvarying tendency of the heart to distrust God.

Anything, in short, for it but God.

It would rather lean upon a cobweb of human resources than upon the arm of an omnipotent, all-wise, and infinitely gracious God; and the smallest cloud is more than sufficient to hide from its view the light of His blessed countenance.

Well, therefore, may it be termed ‘an evil heart of unbelief.’

which will ever show itself ready to ‘depart from the living God’ ” (C.

H. M.).

Pink, A. W. (1962).

Gleanings in Exodus (p.

137).

Chicago: Moody Press.

FORGED IN FOREKNOWLEDGE.

“And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (v.

3).

As their thirst increased they grew more impatient and enraged, and threw out their invectives against Moses.

“Had Israel been transported from Egypt to Canaan they would not have made such sad exhibitions of what the human heart is, and, as a consequence, they would not have proved such admirable ensamples or types for us: but their forty years’ wandering in the desert furnish us with a volume of warning, admonition, and instruction, fruitful beyond conception.

From it we learn, amongst many other things, the unvarying tendency of the heart to distrust God.

Anything, in short, for it but God.

It would rather lean upon a cobweb of human resources than upon the arm of an omnipotent, all-wise, and infinitely gracious God; and the smallest cloud is more than sufficient to hide from its view the light of His blessed countenance.

Well, therefore, may it be termed ‘an evil heart of unbelief.’

which will ever show itself ready to ‘depart from the living God’ ” (C.

H. M.).

HE KNOWS OUR KIND

Moses at once reminded the Israelites that in criticizing him they arraigned the Lord.

The word “tempt” in this verse seems to signify try or test.

They tried His patience, by once more chiding His servant.

They called into question both His goodness and faithfulness.

Moses was their appointed leader, God’s representative to the people; and therefore to murmur against him was to murmur against the Lord Himself.

“And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (v.

3).

As their thirst increased they grew more impatient and enraged, and threw out their invectives against Moses.

“Had Israel been transported from Egypt to Canaan they would not have made such sad exhibitions of what the human heart is, and, as a consequence, they would not have proved such admirable ensamples or types for us: but their forty years’ wandering in the desert furnish us with a volume of warning, admonition, and instruction, fruitful beyond conception.

From it we learn, amongst many other things, the unvarying tendency of the heart to distrust God.

Anything, in short, for it but God.

It would rather lean upon a cobweb of human resources than upon the arm of an omnipotent, all-wise, and infinitely gracious God; and the smallest cloud is more than sufficient to hide from its view the light of His blessed countenance.

Well, therefore, may it be termed ‘an evil heart of unbelief.’

which will ever show itself ready to ‘depart from the living God’ ” (C.

H. M.).

As their thirst increased they grew more impatient and enraged, and threw out their invectives against Moses.

“Had Israel been transported from Egypt to Canaan they would not have made such sad exhibitions of what the human heart is, and, as a consequence, they would not have proved such admirable ensamples or types for us: but their forty years’ wandering in the desert furnish us with a volume of warning, admonition, and instruction, fruitful beyond conception.

From it we learn, amongst many other things, the unvarying tendency of the heart to distrust God.

Anything, in short, for it but God.

It would rather lean upon a cobweb of human resources than upon the arm of an omnipotent, all-wise, and infinitely gracious God; and the smallest cloud is more than sufficient to hide from its view the light of His blessed countenance.

Well, therefore, may it be termed ‘an evil heart of unbelief.’

which will ever show itself ready to ‘depart from the living God’ ” (C.

H. M.).

HE CONSTRUCTS OUR CRISIS.

“And there was no water for the people to drink.”

What of that?

This presented no difficulty to Him who could part the sea asunder and then make its waves return and overwhelm their enemies.

It was no harder for Jehovah to provide water than it was for Him to supply them with food.

Was not He their Shepherd?

If so, shall they want?

Moreover, had not the Lord Himself led Israel to Rephidim?

Yes, for we are here expressly told, “The children of Israel journeyed according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephedim.”

He knew there was no water there, and yet He directed them to this very place!

Well for us to remember this.

Ofttimes when we reach some particularly hard place, when the streams of creature-comfort are dried up, we blame ourselves, our friends, our brethren, or the Devil perhaps.