Exodus 13:17-22 | Sermon Resources | 20 March 2022
Sermon Summary
Many commercials and social media messages lead you and me to believe that you should expect, that you even deserve, comfort in this life, but is this true? Is that what the Bible teaches? Is our purpose in this life merely to get a ticket to heaven and live as comfortably as we can? Is Satan feeding you the comfort lie? That if you can just maintain physical ease or relaxation, if you can just keep away from too much stress or responsibility, if you can just experience some pleasure in the moment, then life will be more fun and fulfilling. Or do you see that God has a purpose for putting you on the long road, the wilderness road? Do you recognize that you are in training, in military training? That there is an unseen reality of spiritual forces aligned against you? That you have spiritual enemies who are masterfully deceitful, practiced in temptation, skillful at accusation, and proficient in destroying the souls of people? As John Calvin put it 500 years ago, “Being forewarned of the constant presence of an enemy the most daring, the most powerful, the most crafty, the most indefatigable, the most completely equipped with all the engines and the most expert in the science of war, let us not allow ourselves to be overtaken by sloth or cowardice, but, on the contrary, with minds aroused and ever on the alert, let us stand ready to resist; and, knowing that this warfare is terminated only by death, let us study to persevere” (Institutes 1.14.13). You and I are in dire need of listening to our Commanding Officer. This Sunday we will be reading some of the first lessons for the believers of the Old Testament, the newly freed slaves coming out of Egypt. These things happened to the Israelites as an example, but they were written down for our instruction (1 Cor. 10:11). Let us therefore pay attention and may the Holy Spirit arouse us from our apathy and timidity.
Discussion Questions
- Have you been believing the comfort lie: that if you can just maintain physical ease or relaxation, if you can just keep away from too much stress or responsibility, if you can just experience some pleasure in the moment, then life will be more fun and fulfilling?
- Discuss the reality of spiritual forces who are masterfully deceitful, practiced in temptation, skillful at accusation, and proficient in destroying the souls of people.
- Why didn’t God lead the Israelites immediately into Canaan, the land of promise? See Exodus 13:17 and Deuteronomy 8:2.
- Do you agree that the story of the wilderness is meant to be the main story by which we understand our lives on earth? Why or why not?
- How has God equipped you for battle? What spiritual weapons are available to withstand the assaults of the evil one?
- What was the significance of the pillar of cloud?
- Did the Israelites pass the test? Where did they fail? See Hebrews 3:17-19.
- How does God go before us today? See John 14:15-26
