Guidance In Adversity

The Purpose Of Old Testament Stories

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

Meribah

1. The children of Israel left Egypt only a few days before. (ch 14, 15)

2. Meribah is the third water problem in a few days.

   a. The Red Sea (too much water ch 14).

   b. Marah (bitter water ch 15) Israel failed.

   c. Meribah (no water) Israel failed again.

3. The children of Israel have failed two tests so far.

“ Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people contended (Hebrew - “rib”)with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”

So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt (test) the Lord?”

And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”

And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also, take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:1-7

1. They griped and were fearful at each water test.

2. They have forgotten every miracle of God.

3. God was testing their obedience to His Word.

Guidance and Suffering Cannot Be Separated

“According to the commandment of the Lord.” vs. 1

1. Did God lead the Israelites to Meribah? YES

2. Did God know no water was at Meribah? YES

3. Were the children of Israel in God’s will? YES

   a. We face tribulation when out of God’s will.

   b. We face tribulation when in God’s will.

   c. In God’s will we know God will deliver us.

   d. Out of God’s will we have no assurance.

   “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalms 34:19

4. Did God create the no water problem? NO

   a. God is not the author of Christian suffering - James 1:13-14

   b. Satan is the author of Christian testing.

5. Four sources of suffering from Satan in the Christian life:

   a. Satan personally and demons.

   b. World’s cursed system, famine, earthquakes, floods, tornados, storms, etc.

   c. Us - Our own nature of the flesh.

   d. Others. - The flesh in unbelievers and in some believers.

6. Does guidance only lead us into problems? NO

   a. Before Meribah was Elim with 12 wells. (ch 15)

   b. Yet, we cannot think this will be that pattern.

   c. God does not lead us around problems, but through, - “through the valley of the shadow of death.”

7. Nothing new can overtake you and God will not allow you to go through anything bigger than you - 1 Corinthians 10:13, Proverbs 12:21.

8. God sent them to Meribah knowing they could handle the problem.

   a. They were tempted and they failed the test.

   b. God did the same with Jesus. How Jesus handled the temptation is our example.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1

1. Did God lead Jesus to the wilderness? YES

2. Did God know Jesus would face a test? YES

3. Did God create the test? NO

4. Did God know Jesus could win? YES

5. Had God already made a way of escape? YES

The Second Generation Comes to Meribah

“Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.

Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

This was the water of Meribah because the children of Israel contended with the Lord, and He was hallowed among them.” Numbers 20:1-13

Remember Meribah

“You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Psalm 81:7

1. First-generation failed at Meribah.

2. The second generation failed then woke up at Meribah.

“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work.
For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Psalm 95:7-11

1. How God sees testing.

   a. God brings us through hardships to test His Word (His ways) in us. Will we believe Him?

   b. Tests are more for us to know and understand our personal spiritual location and progress.

   c. When we fall apart and complain, we test God.

   d. When we come through trials successfully, we have great peace.

   e. God’s goal for us is that we have increased patience and maturity.

   f. God is more interested in the trip than the destination.

2. Paul’s call to Macedonia.

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts 16:9,10

a. Paul and his team were called to Macedonia.

b. Yet they faced persecution from the beginning.

c. Did God lead Paul to Macedonia? YES

d. Did God know they would face trials? YES

e. Did God create the trials (demons-jail)? NO

f. Did God know Paul and Silas could win? YES

g. Had God already made a way of escape? YES - 1 Corinthians 16:9 - Adversity comes from the Adversary.

3. God’s path for us is often filled with opposition.

a. There are few places in God’s will where there is no opposition.

b. But, there is no call or place in God’s will where there is no victory.

4. Tests are the opportunity for growth and maturity.

a. Tests do not make us strong or all Christians would be strong.

b. What makes us strong are the promises, the faith we use in the test.

c.God no more creates tests than He creates Alkaida, Taliban, and North Korea.

1. Our military trains our troops and sends them in knowing they are ready for battle and have superior weapons.

2. War does not make a soldier strong, but using the training and weapons provided by the military does.

3. Only then does war help shape character.

   5. Cursing is only turned into blessing by using the Word of God and the authority given to us over Satan, the world, and the flesh.

   6. Overcoming opposition is what creates character.

   a. No sailor learns to be a good captain on calm seas.

   b. Maturity cannot fully come without suffering - 1 Peter 5:10.

   7. What should our attitude be during persecution?

a. Matthew 5:10,11

b. John 16:33

c. Acts 16:25

d. 2 Timothy 3:12

e. James 1:2-4

f. 1 Peter 3:14

8. The result of enduring persecution is personal growth and sanctification.