The Big Stick

Exodus 15:22-16:27

Introduction: Trustin God during Bitter Times

‘The people complained and turned against Moses.’Meaning:  1) to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lodge, pass the night 1a2) to abide, remain (fig.) 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rest or lodge 1c) (Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide 2) to grumble, complain, murmur 2a) (Niphal) to grumble 2b) (Hiphil) to complain, cause to grumble.

Complaining can have many roots, including: Bad moods or personality traits, Frustration, Helplessness, Arrogance, and Negative bias.

Frustration is natural, but complaining needs to find better solutions.

Marrah = Bitter

Masah = Testing in the spiritual Pilgrimage

• Grumbled, ‘What are we going to drink?’
• Grumbled, ‘What are we going to eat?’

Verse 24, ‘The people complained and turned against Moses.’

1. Question of Provision

What are we going to drink and eat?

‘Give us this day our daily bread…’

II. Fear/Challenge of Outcome – Did you bring us out to kill us?

Question: God what are you doing?

III. Existence / Anxiety of Dissatisfaction – Numbers 11:4-6 – According to the Bible, the Israelites ate manna for 40 years after escaping Egypt and entering the wilderness, starting on the 15th day of the second month (Iyar 15). At first, they may have been in awe of God’s provision, but eventually they grew tired of eating the same food every day and began to complain.

In Numbers 11:4-6, the Israelites cry out, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free”. Moses hears the people and asks the Lord why he has brought trouble on them

Question: Can anyone ever be completely satisfied?

Proverbs 27:20 ‘Just as Death and Destruction1 are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied’. (NLT)

Philippians 4:11, ‘Learned to be content in whatsoever state I am in.’

According to some, humans are not wired to be content or satisfied because there would be less incentive to seek out new benefits if they were. Others say that human wants are unlimited and can never be fully satisfied because they constantly change and resources are limited.

However, Psychology Today suggests that living per your values can help you feel more satisfied. This involves spending your time on things that are important to you, and scheduling time for them in your calendar. You can then compare what you intended to do with what you actually did, and celebrate when you stay on track.

Why It’s So Hard to Ever Feel Satisfied | Psychology Today

Jul 16, 2022 — Every day is a chance to live according to your values, which I define as attributes of the person you want to be. Liv…

Psychology Today The truth is, we’re not wired to feel content or satisfied. Ever. There’s a simple reason for that: as expressed by researchers fo…

Nir and Far

Four Components of Dissatisfaction

https://www.nirandfar.com/why-you-are-never-satisfied/#:~:text=The%20truth%20is%2C%20we’re,seeking%20further%20benefits%20or%20advances.%E2%80%9D

1. Boredom. The lengths people will go to avoid boredom are shocking.

Illustration: A 2014 study published in Science observed participants who were asked to sit in a room and think for fifteen minutes. The room was empty except for a device that allowed participants to mildly but painfully electrocute themselves.

“Why would anyone want to do that?” you might ask.

When asked beforehand, every participant in the study said they would pay money to avoid being shocked. However, when left alone in the room with the machine and nothing else to do, 67 percent of men and 25 percent of women shocked themselves. Many did so multiple times.

Application: We must continue to fight boredom with the beauty of what God is or may be doing that we don’t fully see.

Moses’ Only Options:

Moses seeks God

Piece of wood – Cross for us

Promise and Condition

1. Listen carefully
   1. Do what is right
   1. Obeying commands
   1. Keeping decrees

Conclusion: Have you been in the desert a prolonged time? Have you been frustrated about your situation? Have you been complaining and murmuring about the spot you find yourself in? Like they despised the manna, sometimes we despise the very thing God is using to help us!  Maybe, just maybe, you’ve prolonged your journey through the wilderness through a bad attitude and a thankless heart. If so, I encourage you to view your circumstances differently.

• Has God provided for you so far?
• Has He stayed with you through every situation?

Each day take some time to thank the Lord for the blessings He has given you. Build your faith by getting in His Word. As you do these things, you will not be unbelieving and hard-hearted like the children of Israel… and you will pass quickly through the wildnerness.