Sam DeVille - May 21, 2023
An Obstacle or an Opportunity
An Obstacle or an Opportunity Exodus 17:1-7, May 21, 2023, Pastor Sam DeVille Flint Baptist Church of Flint, TX Exodus 17:1-7 17 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? 4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? The Make-Up Test For Water 3 Key Elements -Rephidim Must Accommodate The Jews The Hebrews were in such large numbers that they needed a large area of land to accommodate them all. - Hebrews Passing The Make-Up Test God’s people had an opportunity to choose faith and positivity or doubt and fear. What is our outlook when pushed out of our comfort zone? “Is this a problem or a challenge?” “Is this an obstacle or an opportunity?” -The Rock In Horeb What is believed to have been the rock mentioned in this passage was identified by Dr. Joel Richardson in Saudi Arabia. It stands almost 60 feet tall on top of a 90 foot tall hill and can be seen for miles. It also shows signs of erosion from the flow of water. To the east of this rock are 2 massive plains that stretch 3 miles long, where the Hebrews would certainly have enough room to pitch their tents.
