Worship Preparation - October 29, 2023

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Read the sermon text: Exodus 15:22-18:27

Read the sermon summary: As we come to our next passage in Exodus, we need to remember that we’re not reading this book as a simple history of what happened with ancient Israel. These events are historical, but the author wishes to do more than narrate history. He wants to make a theological point. As the Israelites leave Egypt, God provides for them in the wilderness. He wants them to learn to depend on him for their every need and to follow his instructions to them. However, in this passage we see that they aren’t learning the lesson. The murmur against God and disobey his instructions. We also see in this text the interesting element of parallel stories (manna and quail, forty years, water from the rock, and a battle) in the book of Numbers. With these stories, it seems the author is setting a frame around Mount Sinai. We’ll get to that in the next sermon. In this sermon, however, we’re setting the stage for a larger theological point in the book of Exodus (and the Pentateuch). In preparation for the sermon: find the parallel passages of these stories in Numbers. What sticks out to you about God’s provision for the people and their response to it?

Read the following song lyrics in relation to the sermon: 

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning

New mercies I see

All I have needed

Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Lord unto me

Great is Thy faithfulness

O God my Father

There is no shadow

Of turning with Thee

Thou changest not

Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been

Thou forever wilt be

Summer and winter

And springtime and harvest

Sun moon and stars

In their courses above

Join with all nature

In manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness

Mercy and love

Pardon for sin

And a peace that endureth

Thy own dear presence

To cheer and to guide

Strength for today

And bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine

With ten thousand beside

CCLI Song # 18723

Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan

Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain

For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com

CCLI License # 11078052