Good afternoon y’all. Today we are looking at Exodus 17.

As I was writing today’s blog, I felt strongly that God wanted me to focus on the first seven verses. I pray you are encouraged and blessed as you read. Amen

God’s Direction
Verse 1 caught my attention immediately:

“At the Lord ’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink”.(Exodus 17:1 NLT)

At the Lord’s command they moved. That is very crucial to the success of their journey which is to get to the promised land. They only left whenever God told them it was time to leave. Basically God was their GPS system. If he said go left,  that’s where they went.

We need to make God our GPS. We need to stop relying on our wisdom, rather lean on God and trust Him to direct us.
Proverbs 3:5 -6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take“.(NLT)

Psalms 37:23 – 24 says: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand”.(NLT)

One thing is certain, if God is the one directing us then we can never go astray. When we step outside of God’s direction, we become vulnerable to the enemy’s attack. Consider a little child: as long as they are with their parents, there is that feeling of security. Dad will protect me or mum will but the moment they leave their parents’ presence they are vulnerable to attacks from strangers. They become scared because their is no one to protect them. So it is with us and God. As long as we are under His guidance and leadership we know we are safe but the moment we step outside of His leadership then we are vulnerable.
Our prayer should be to always be in step with Him and to obey His instructions.

Murmuring and Complaining

“So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord ?” But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”(Exodus 17:2-3 NLT)

In the verses above we see the children of Israel complaining about water. These are the same people whom God supernaturally fed food from heaven.
Yet when it came to having a drink they still murmured. Was it that they thought murmuring and complaining was the way forward seeing as they murmured earlier and God sent food? Could this be the reason why they murmured again now that they were thirsty?  I ask myself if I was with the children of Israel and witnessed all the miracles God did for us, would I join them in murmuring or would I call on God and ask Him for water?

Before we judge the Israelites let’s bring this home and check ourselves. How often do we complain about our situation? How often do we murmur to ourselves saying, ‘I wish I had stayed back in…’ or ‘I wish I had kept the old job…’ blah blah? It’s like we have forgotten how we prayed and begged God for the new job or new location. We have forgotten the miracles He did knowing that if He brought us to to the new location or job, He is able to keep us and provide all we need to succeed where He has placed us.

Arguing, complaining and murmuring (about the conditions of the path God is taking one through) will never move God to action.  Instead it’s our praise and prayers that move God.
Perhaps you have been murmuring and complaining about your situation, God is reminding you today that your complaints or murmuring won’t move Him. Ask for mercy and turn your complaints into prayers and praise to God. He has brought you this far and He will see you through to the end.

Reliable and Dependable God

“Then Moses cried out to the Lord , “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”(Exodus 17:4 NLT)

So Moses called out to God and God told him what to do. I love me some God 🙂 . He never disappoints us. He was the One who called Moses and every step of the way so far He has shown Himself strong for Moses; and always reassuring him that He has called him and will be with him.
If God has called you and all seems to be going in the wrong direction, please don’t panic.  Rather, go to God and let Him assure you again of His presence with you. Moses could have gone to God and complained as well but He didn’t and I love how God reassured him in verses 5 and 6.
“The Lord answered, “Take some of the leaders with you and go ahead of the rest of the people. Also take along the walking stick with which you struck the Nile River. When you get to the rock at Mount Sinai, I will be there with you. Strike the rock with the stick, and water will pour out for the people to drink.” Moses did this while the leaders watched”.(Exodus 17:5-6 CEVUS06)

‘I will be there with you…’.  Not some angel but I Myself – Yahweh the Lord Almighty will be there with you. It’s a certainty not probability. God was assuring Moses here of His presence and that he is not alone. Perhaps God sensed Moses’ fear. It was him against multitudes of people who were ready to stone him if he didn’t provide water. God stepped in and said I will be there with you: what an assurance. As long as you have God backing you, it doesn’t matter the number of enemies, you know that victory is assured.

Moses did as God commanded and God kept true to His word. He showed up for Moses. Hallelujah!!!!!.

God is reliable and dependable. He always backs up His own. He never leaves us alone to deal with our problems; He is always ready to help us; and He has the power to do and undo. With Him nothing is difficult. He is able to provide and meet all our needs, no matter how impossible they look.

Be encouraged 🙂 God is able to do what He has said He will do. He told Moses the children of Israel will get to the promised land and He was committed to doing that and we know they eventually got to the promised land.

It might seem rough now but don’t give up on God. He is working out something for you even in the midst of the storm.
Isaiah 43: 2-3a says: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord , your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior”.(NLT)

Hold on to your faith and the promises God has given you, and watch God come through for you as He did for Moses and the Children of Israel.

Prayer:
Dear Lord we thank you for today. Lord thank you for reminding us you are the dependable and reliable God who always come through for us. Help us not to rely on our own wisdom but to trust you at all times and obey you. For as many that are discouraged, I pray you encourage them and reassure them of your presence with them. Thank you dear Lord. In Jesus Name we have prayed. Amen.

Thanks for joining today.

Have a blessed day 🙂

***With God all things are possible***