Intro: We are continuing our study on the Children of Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land

1. We have been Discussing these stops – Great Lessons for Us !!!!

D) The first – SUCCOTH - Tent town – Reminder that they were Pilgrims

1. The Lord had DELIVERED them out of Egypt/ the WORLD

E)The Lord’s Message / Hey don’t get comfortable this is not your Home

1. Don’t get enamoured w/ Life here !!!!

1. In Scotland & England – Beautiful places - Like parts of Oregon

1. WOW – Incredible – but listen – there has to be much more than that to be called there

1. After a few months the scenery isn’t as Breath taking any more

1. Marriage : See your wife w/ out her make up / curlers

1. After a couple a yrs – Hubby isn’t the Stud muffin – He once was

1. Can’t be a Physical Attraction

1. Lesson the Lord is always looking out for us – He knows what we can & cannot Handle at different times in our Lives

1. So He leads us & Guides us to Grow us up in Him

1. To Show His Protection
2. To Show His Perspective – See things from His pt. Of View
3. To Show His Place in their Lives – Between them & the Enemy

1. After that Miracle Crossing – Rejoicing – Moses writes a Song

1. Moses Sings – Miriam leads the women in a Dance

1. It was a Great time of rejoicing – It was a great Victory – they saw their enemy destroyed – they sang – the horse & the rider thrown into the sea

1. Three days after this incredible victory where the Power of God was so clearly displayed – they find themselves w/ no water
2. Now this was no little trial – this was LIFE THREATENING they needed water to survive - So this was serious -
3. So typical in the Christian Pilgrimage – Mts. & Valleys

1. Walk along the rivers of water / and walk in the burning hot Desert

Situations & Scenery may Change – But not our God

1. Reaction – Complained against Moses
2. When they crossed the Red sea – afterwards they seemed full of Faith

1. They Proclaimed The Lord is my God & I will prepare Him a Habitation –

1. There were many Dancers but no Doubters / many singers but no unbelievers – but oh how their tune Changed

1. They loved God much for what they could get out of Him

1. If He would Divide the read sea for them – then He could be their God & they would prepare him a Habitation

1. But if He would let them suffer – if He would let the pain of Thirst touch their lips – there would be no blessing for Him from their lips

1. Easy to sing – when things are going Well – Easy to sing on the other side of the Red Sea / But life is a Mixture of Bitterness & Sweetness
2. But oh how we complain & murmur & doubt & cry – when the Difficulties arise
3. Certain Misconception in Christianity – Many think – Become a Christian & that is going to be the end of my Problems

1. My life is going to be full of Blessing / Prosper / etc

1. True to a Pt. – Released from some real major Problems

1. Bondage to Sin
2. Power of the Devil
3. Guilt

1. No longer Fear Death – no longer the Great Unknown

1. But to say that this life is Problem free is a great understatement

1. In fact in many ways – Life gets harder – ( Spiritual Battle – the world the Flesh & the Devil )

1. Those 3 forces Satan / the World & my flesh / constantly at work
2. Now in my own energy I can take on any two of those forces / but I’m doomed by the combination of all three.

1. If Satan & the worlds system were alive & well but I didn’t have a body , sin would have no pull on me

3. If I have a body and I’m in the world but there is no Satan there wouldn’t be a problem either - Adam did fine in garden until Satan showed up

1. Satan is the tempter / god of this world

4. If I have a body & Satan is present but there is no world system / Satan couldn’t have access to me because there would be no way to influence me

5. But the truth of the matter is / all 3 are very present in my life - I’m flesh / living in this world - battling w/ Satan !

1. Our Mind plays Tricks & the Enemy Capitalizes on that

C) High school – couldn’t wait to get out / College over

D)What happens w/ them – ( We had it made in Egypt – No they didn’t)

1. WE HAD IT MADE – No empty / mixed up / Lifeless ( England)

1. Eternity Short walk compared to this life
2. Think for a Minute of the different things that you have been through – could you imagine going through it w/out Christ

1. It is so amazing – to experience the Grace of God being your Strength in Situations where many others would be Destroyed

1. Guys listen there are always going to be obstacles in this Life – there are always going to be Marahs

1. Those situations that – Looked like they were going to be Sweet – that you found to be Bitter

1. Perhaps – You wanted to be Married – thought you found the right person - turned BITTER / Job ? Better – this is it !!! BITTER

2. Reality even though we don’t like that – I want it to be Sweet all the time ( No Veggies just Ice Cream )

1. Not only would we not be Healthy – but we wouldn’t long for Heaven

1. Guys we go through – the Bitter times to Grow us up / James 1

B) Ever notice how when things are going great how little heaven is on Your mind ( How infrequently pray – Lord come quickly )

2. But when the Difficulties come - Heaven is so near – Can’t wait Lord – today ( right now )

1. I will really never know what is going on inside of me until I go through a Trial
2. We think that we are fine - ( Little Problem - My Hip – Arthritis )
3. That is what a Trial does Marah does / shows us – where we really stand

1. Shows us what is wrong – The Times of Bitterness – Blow apart all of our Pretences –

1. Reveals the areas of our lives that are built on Sand – The Areas that are text Book Christianity

1. Some idea that we read in a book – that in reality – when the rubber meets the road – that is all it is – Idea in a Book !!!!

1. You think you are doing well – Lord says I am going to bring you to Marrah so you can see what is really going on ( allow me do surgery)

1. Allow Him to give you some Medicine

1. Lord I don’t need that !!! – Yes You do ( want to grow & be used )