Transcript

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 13-14 GNT, Ch. 15-16 HCSB

Associate Producer

Jørn Rune Reinertsen

Podcast Introduction

This is the Law Monday, and we’ll read Exodus 13-16 and the show title is “Get Back.”

Design: Scott Snider | Photo: Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

Comments on Exodus 13-16

The Israelites wanted safety. They wanted to be taken care of, even if that meant they would stay in slavery. Beloved, you cannot remain free and also be “safe”. You cannot be both safe and free. But you say, "Steve, aren't we supposed to be slaves to Christ?" Yes, beloved. His is the only yoke that is also light, and in Him, we have freedom from slavery to sin. God is love, and being a slave to Him is not the same as being a slave to any other person or entity. Only in Jesus is absolute freedom to be who He created you to be.

In chapter 14, verse 31 we read, "When the Israelites saw the great power with which the Lord had defeated the Egyptians, they stood in awe of the Lord; and they had faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses."

But we read in chapter 15:22 that they soon began complaining. When they had been in the desert for three days, and found no water, the people complained to Moses and asked, “What are we going to drink?” So Moses prayed, and God showed him a piece of wood, which he threw into the water, and it became fit to drink.

Then, just 2 ½  months after God had miraculously delivered them from Egypt, they complained again (chapter 16) about food. And that's when the Lord provided quail and manna. Note that even though God provided, there were some that did not follow His command about how much manna they were to gather. 

Beloved, God provides, and still we grumble. We are a forgetful, ungrateful lot, aren't we? God provides clothes, and when a new fashion comes around, we become dissatisfied with what we have. God provides a place to live, and we become dissatisfied with the neighborhood. God provides transportation, and when a new model comes out, we just have to have the newer, shinier, faster car. God provides a spouse, and we become impatient with their idiosyncrasies. God provides a church, and we soon don't like the pastor or the people.

Why do we do that? What is it about us that makes us so ungrateful? 

I don't think there's an easy answer to that, but I think part of it is that we take our eyes off God. Instead, we focus on our situation. I believe that this is one reason we are told in Hebrews chapter 10, verses 24 and 25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Beloved, our worship services are supposed to be where we encourage one another, and remind ourselves of what the Lord has done. We need to develop friendships with other believers, and bear one another's burdens, as were are told in Galatians 6:2. 

We are a prideful, forgetful lot. That's why so many that fall away from regular fellowship with our brothers and sisters soon fall away. They think that they are able to stand on their own, but none of us can sustain as an island. We need each other. 

The covid lockdowns were so very costly. And one of the worst things was the closing of churches. Many people got out of the practice of attending church. We need to get back to church, beloved. The enemy knows how much we need each other, and he used the pandemic to separate us. We cannot let the enemy of our souls succeed. We need to reconnect. We need to worship together, encourage one another, and pray for one another. If you are one of those who stopped going to church, as strongly as I can, I encourage you to get back. 

You say it's not safe? I have a news flash for you. All of life has hazards. Tens of thousands die in automobile accidents every year in the US. Globally,