Read: Ex. 16-18
The children of Israel left the oasis of Elim and came to the wilderness of Sin. Here they sinned. Isn’t that what usually happens? You come off of a spiritual victory and Satan is right there to meet you and steal your victory. Statistics show that more teenagers have sex after a really Spirit-filled meeting. It is because our emotions are peaked and if not mature, a person can be tempted to confuse this spiritual wine with natural lust.
Back to Moses. They had run out of food so the people were complaining to Moses and blaming him for their lack. (Sounds like people who leave a church because they are not being “fed”.) It was never the purpose of the local church to “feed” us. We are suppose to go out and pick up our own manna every day. God told Moses that he was sending quail and manna. They were to gather manna for six days and double on the sixth day. Amazingly, it spoiled if they gathered too much during the week but stayed fresh on the seventh day. I think this is a picture of doctrine through the ages. Prior generations couldn’t understand the teaching that we are accustomed to now. It was a huge scandal when Martin Luther came out with the doctrine “the just shall live by faith.” That doctrine is a staple now. We are in the sixth day or the sixth millennium which means that we are getting twice the teaching and understanding of the prior millenniums. We are storing up for the last millennium.
At the next place, Rephidim, the people got mad because they had run out of water. God told Moses to strike the rock and water came pouring out - enough to supply a multitude and their animals! First Corinthians 10:4 tells us that that rock was Christ. One of the definitions of the word “strike” is to wound. Christ was wounded for us on the cross. Out of his side poured water and blood. Out of this rock poured the Holy Spirit in abundance. Once we are saved we can drink of the Holy Spirit without restraint, but we have to do the drinking. As soon as they got their holy water, the Amelekites came to steal their joy.
When Mose’s could no longer hold his arms up in his own strength, he was able to with the help of his friends and a rock. It is much easier to fight a battle leaning on Jesus and with the aid of fellow Christians. Christ is our banner!
Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit that was given without measure. May we daily drink of his waters and eat of your meat.
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