Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
Exodus 14:31
The people of Israel had just experienced something magnificent. After 430 years of slavery to the Egyptians, living under the oppression and hopelessness of Pharoah, the LORD had led them out to freedom. He didn’t just sneak them out in the dead of night to escape. He displayed his power, his glory, his strength, his majesty, and his sovereignty over Pharoah. Through each of the plagues, he showed not only the Egyptians that he is the LORD, but also the people of Israel. And in the verse above we see that Israel saw the great power of the LORD, feared him, and believed in him.
How could they do anything else? Promises of long ago were being fulfilled right before their eyes. The God of their fathers had heard their groaning, remembered his covenant, saw the people of Israel, he knew (Exodus 2:24-25), and now he had delivered them out of their bondage. They sang these words to the LORD along with Moses after the Egyptians had been wiped out:
The LORD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The LORD is a man of war,
the LORD is his name.
Exodus 15:2-3
They had seen the glory of the LORD on display. Their God had not forsaken them. They had been delivered and saved, and there was no mistaking Who had done it. Praise the LORD!
But wait.
There’s more.
Three days into the wilderness they couldn’t find water. So, the people bowed themselves before the LORD and prayed for his help, trusting fully that the same God who delivered them from the most powerful army on earth wouldn’t forsake them now. They still clearly remembered all that he had done to redeem them and save them from their oppression. I mean, it was only three days, right. How could they have forgotten something so remarkable?
Ooops.
In 15:24 we see the first of many occurrences of the phrase, “the people grumbled against Moses”. They weren’t just grumbling against Moses, they were grumbling against the LORD. They exalted his name three days ago, and with the same mouths they are now grumbling and doubting the very same God. Moses intercedes for them, and the LORD provides what they needed.
This was a test. A test of faith.
In 15:26 we see one of the first “if/then” statements made by God to the nation of Israel. If they would obey, then there would be a blessing. If they disobeyed, there would be cursing. In this instance, if they would diligently listen to his voice and do what is right in his eyes, listen to his commandments and keep his statutes, then he would be the LORD their healer.
It is very easy for us on this side of the cross to read about Israel and their lack of faith and trust in this mighty God who had revealed so much of his power, strength, mercy and faithfulness to them. It is so easy for us to poo-poo them for their disobedience to the LORD who sustained them and provided for their every need. We shake our heads at their idolatry, their rebelliousness, and their lack of faithfulness.
Yet we often fail to look into our own hearts where we would see the very same thing going on every single day. Those of us who are Christians have been rescued from the oppression and bondage of our sins. We have been redeemed, not by the blood of a lamb, but by the PERFECT Lamb, Jesus Christ. He shed his sinless blood so that we might be saved from our sins. We who were DEAD in our trespasses and sins, were made alive together with Christ. (Ephesians 2:1,5). We have been given an even greater gift of mercy and grace than Israel was given. We have been given eternal life with him. But sin still dwells in our hearts. We still stray from the LORD in our hearts. We grumble. We doubt. We idolize false gods. We forget.
But God.
Praise the LORD that he never forsakes us. Praise the LORD that through Christ we are holy and blameless before him, and his love does not ebb, and flow based on our performance. Praise the LORD that he is sanctifying us every moment of our lives and conforming us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Praise the LORD that through the death and resurrection of Christ, we have been given victory over sin and death. Sin no longer is our master (Romans 6:14) We have a choice. God’s grace is not a license to sin (Romans 6:23), it is our motivation to strive for holiness and godliness.
So, as we continue through the Book of Exodus, let us not just sit in judgment over the rebellion of Israel. But let it draw us to examine our own hearts. May it draw us to confession and repentance of sin that is revealed to us, and may it drive us to crucify our flesh that we would live in obedience to the One who saved us. May it draw us closer to his glory. May it humble us. And may it drive us to worship him as only he is worthy.
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