God Tests Us So We Will Learn
Exodus 15:22-27
By: Pastor Chuck Henderson
- Professor in college who handed out exams while quoting, Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
- When faced with a test, most of us don’t go into it with an excitement to learn; instead, there’s a cringing inside, a fear of failure or perhaps exposure for what we have not learned
- So, it comes as no surprise that when we read in the Bible that God tests His children, our natural response is less than positive
- Why? Because, if our earthly professors can elicit fear about what we don’t know, surely the holy God who knows everything about us is going to pull back the curtain on all sorts of “stuff” in us that we would just rather not face
- But Hebrews 12:10-11 reads: For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
- God says that His testing is always guided by His love for us, and He specifically designs each test for each individual believer for the express purpose of eliminating the bad fruit of unrighteousness, and calling forth the peaceful fruit of His holiness
- That’s His motive and intent – our spiritual holiness, and so when we shrink from His testing, we are in reality saying that we fear His exposure of some idol, some greater love
- To say it another way – as our good heavenly Father, He loves us so much that He wants what is best for us; therefore, when He sees that there is something in our lives that is hurting us, or holding us back, He designs a test to expose that to ourselves so we can get it out it out of the way, mature even more into His likeness, and to experience true joy
- I know I’m jumping in deep and quickly, but follow me here when I say – this reality of God’s testing is true for the individual believer, but is also true of His individual churches
- God not only leads believers into situations to deepen their faith and holiness, He leads churches in the same way
- When a church professes: Oh, we love God and want to live for Him and be an agent of impact for the kingdom of God, then God responds by either placing us in a position of testing to reveal if we’re serious or not, or in a position to stretch our faith as a Body
- In 1 Cor. 10:11 says that all that happened with Israel was laid out as an example for us; a month ago, I preachedfrom Exod. 11-15, calling for FBC to realize how God has redeemed us and brought us to Himself and has set us free to serve Him for His glory and kingdom
- We explored the victory that is ours when we “fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD”
- So many of you responded affirmatively, saying that you join me in this kind of prayerful expectation of what God wants to do both in and through us in Henderson and to the world
- And the natural expectation is to be ready to watch the sea part and the problems we face be overwhelmed by the power of God’s waves
- Where I didn’t get to was a beautiful little section of verses at the very end of ch. 15, and God has reminded me of its vital importance in this journey of faith; so, I bring it to you today with the earnest prayer that you will understand more of how God works not only in our individual lives, but in our church’s life as well (read vv. 22-26)
- Observe the timing of God’s test – after a season of great victories
- They had witnessed God’s defeat of all the gods of Egypt through the affliction of the plaguesThey had witnessed God’s defeat of all the armies of Egypt through the drowning in the Red SeaThey had danced and sang the song of victory with Moses and Miriam, celebrating with all their heartsSurely their hearts at that moment were earnestly full of praise and expectation of all that God was going to do
- And what does God do? He immediately tests them…
- Observe the test itself – its design was for their good
- God chooses the setting, 22
- He takes them into the wilderness
- Away from all the comforts of civilization – roads and buildings; even their good and water
- Away from anything they had known – had all been born in Egypt
- Away from anything they had previously trusted in
- He takes them into the wilderness
- God chooses the setting, 22
Why? Because it’s in the wilderness that we can be awakened to our weaknesses that are covered up when we only stay in our comfort zone; alerted to our distractions that keep us pushing empty carts around; we begin to “feel” something missing; in this case…
- HE knows where He’s leading them, but they have no idea where they’re going
- HE knows exactly what He’s doing, but offers them no explanation as to why; the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night just keeps right on moving into the desert
Ever been there? If you have, you know exactly the feeling I’m talking about, and frankly, it can be exasperating, frustrating, maddening and even, when it lasts long enough, it can feel hopeless. And if you haven’t been there, I assure that when you walk with the Lord long enough, you will in fact experience such a feeling. It is an exam the Lord uses in almost all His children to stretch their faith in Him. When He does so, He not only chooses the timing and the setting, He also…
- God chooses the severity, 22-23
- This is a severe and tangible test that is physical in nature, and we dare not diminish this as we read so few verses, for it is serious and demanding
- But then the Lord compounds the severity by…
- He makes them “feel” disappointment by providing bitter water that is undrinkable
- You can just imagine this thirsty multitude hearing the rumor of water and pressing forward, only to find it’s a false hope; an answer that’s not an answer; it seems a cruel joke
- Once again, perhaps you can identify with this, for if you’ve ever thought you found the answer to your deepest thirst only to find it was salty sea water, you know how cruel the disappointment can be
In just a few verses, we peer into the Israelites’ lives and a very serious testing. It’s tempting to move on quickly to how this ends, but I promise you – if you were there, you’d feel that hot sun, that parched throat, that silence from God, that feeling of being lost, and then be staring into this big ol’ pool of undrinkable water. I dare say that serious questionswould arise from deep within your soul.
And perhaps, like the Israelites of old, this test would have…
- God reveals their failures, 24a
- They failed to remember all that God had miraculously done
- They failed to believe in anything that God could do
- They failed to wait on God to provide
- They failed to trust in God’s leader that He had placed before them, grumbling at him
- They failed to cry out to God for His relief with a heart that truly believes and trusts in His provision
Isn’t it ironic that the name they gave to the pool of water was the same name that could be applied to their hearts? Marah… Bitter. Their hearts were as spiritually undrinkable as the water. What they needed was a miracle, a radical change of heart and faith.
What this passage also reveals, however, is that through this same test…
- God reveals Moses’ faith, 25a
- He did remember Yahweh’s character and power, and therefore cried out to Him
- He did believe when He cried out to God; it wasn’t a grumbling cry, but a heart of belief in God to show Himself; and when God did show Himself…
- He did obey – what would appear to be a nonsensical answer of simply throwing a log into the water; multiple times before, Moses showed He was concerned about looking like a failure; here, when God tells him to do something that makes no sense whatsoever, Moses just obeys in simple faith… in front of everybody!
- Therefore, he experienced another victory of learning to live by faith, he deepened his dependency on God for every need, he took yet another step forward on his journey of faith and leadership
This brings up an important biblical truth: God doesn’t test us with a design for failure, but for maturity. If we fail, it is for the purpose of deeper repentance; if we pass the test, it is to drive the pilings of our faith deeper and deeper into the ground so that we may build a strong house that will not be shaken by whatever winds that may blow.
We read that this is true when God explains this occasion to the people in vv. 25-26…
- God reveals the purposes of His test, 25b-26
- To deepen their allegiance
- Learn to diligently listen to Me… give ear to Me
- Learn to do that which is right… obey what I command you… keep all My statutes
- To deepen their affections
- Learn to experience Me as “Yahweh Rapha,” I AM your Healer
- When I am disciplining you, stop turning against Me and instead turn to Me; I love you, and I want you to love Me in a deeply, radically reciprocal relationship
- To deepen their allegiance
The purpose of God’s tests is always to heal our hearts; our challenge is to submit to His course of treatment. Quit fighting against your Father’s loving hand. I promise you, based on God’s Word, that He is doing this for your good. Because, when you submit, you will then experience…
- Rejoice in the abundance of God’s grace, 27 (read)
- God never tests us without also leading us further on
- This was the first test of many in the wilderness
- Learn contentment? I will feed you with just enough manna for the day
- Learn self-control? If you gather too much manna and try to store it up, it will turn foul and be filled with maggots
- Learn to fear the Lord? I will descend on Mt. Sinai with such power and glory that you will tremble in fear
- Learn to live holy lives? I will be very specific in my laws as to how to govern your new nation
- Did they pass every test? Frankly, I can’t remember if they passed one of them; for this generation of Israelites, failure was their middle name
- And it’s a little scary, for their resistance to God’s testing brought about God’s by-passing of their generation and raising up a new generation that grew into the leadership that would actually enter and conquer the promised land
- But that doesn’t annul the enormity of God’s grace even in their weakness, for here’s what v. 27 teaches us…
- This was the first test of many in the wilderness
- God’s abundant supply is never far away for ALL of us
- Elim is actually only 7 miles away from Marah
- Elim had water and food for all
- Elim was a wonderful respite by which to camp for a while
- God never tests us without also leading us further on
Some years ago, Sherri had had a huge week with her sisters visiting… entertaining, feeding, etc. She was incredibly preoccupied and distracted. At the time, our son worked as a checker at Krogers and Sherri was finishing up some shopping, so she went through his line. They chatted and he could tell she was just “not there.” So, in those days, Krogers also had a bagger for the groceries who was filling up a separate buggy at the end of the counter. So, when Haddon totaled everything, Sherri paid, expressed her love to him, and… took off… pushing her empty buggy out to the car. Haddon saw what was going on and said to the bagger: There goes my mom; she’s pushing the empty cart; watch, she won’t realize it until she gets all the way to the car. Sure enough… then he sends the bagger with the cart full of groceries and a big ol’ smile and wave
God loves our church, and He loves every person in here. And when I say that, in our culture, that usually is interpretedto mean that He is just going to protect us from every evil and provide for us every convenience. But God knows our hearts, and he knows that if He only did those things, then we would become so distracted by the things of this world, by the building up of our comfort zones, that we would – spiritually speaking – push empty buggies all the way home to heaven, all the while thinking they’re full of groceries.
So, what does He do? He leads you (us!) into various wildernesses. He places us in positions where we feel our emptiness, our need. And He says:
Come to the cross where I can turn your bitter water into drinkable satisfaction. I will throw my Branch in, and grant you all the grace you need, for My power is perfected in your weakness. Then, journey on with me to Elim with its abundant supply of grace, healing and restoration. Repent from your grumbling heart; come to me by faith. I am Yahweh your Healer.