GOD – A HELPER OF HUMAN SITUATIONS

(Exodus 15:22-26)
A Message by Rev. Dr. Stanley Lim on 13th February 2000
 
Think with me for a moment. Try to imagine some of the situations in life you might be facing or currently facing : education, choice of a career, marriage, loss of health, upbringing of children, inward struggles and countless others. Perhaps you might be asking yourself, “How can I cope with these situations?” Let me encourage and challenge you to bring God into every circumstance of your life.

The section from Exodus 15:22 to 18:27 tells us about the Israelites’ journey from the Red Sea to Sinai. It relates their pilgrimage in the wilderness.

The author of Exodus intended to tell more than the narration of a journey. He wanted the Israelites to know that God could help them in various situations of life.

I.      God helps with our daily necessities

A.  God helped Israel with some necessities of life
The three stories in Exodus 15:22-18:27 have to do with the practical necessities of food and drink (15:22-27; 16:1-36; 17:1-7). God came to meet these daily situations of the Israelites time and time again. He sweetened the bitter water of Marah (Exo. 15:22-25). He spread a table in the desert and supplied it with bread from heaven (Exo. 16:1-36). He brought water from a rock at Meribah (Exo. 17:1-7). These episodes represent a great disclosure about God. This tells us that He is interested in the daily necessities of life.

B.  God helps people with the necessities of life
The psalmist said, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1). The last sentence could be translated, “I shall not want anything that I really need.” The psalmist expressed confidence that God would help us with our needs.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). The Lord wanted His followers to seek the daily provisions of life. Notice that God helps with our needs, not our wants. The Lord might listen to your wants, but He seeks to provide what we need. God is with you in your daily necessities to help you. Whenever a necessity arises in your life, call upon the Lord to help you.

II.      God helps with our aggravating enemies

A.  God helped Israel win over their enemies
(Exo. 17:8-16)
As the Israelites traveled toward Sinai, they encountered the Amalekites, who attacked them. This was the first conflict of the Israelites. With Moses on the mountain and Joshua in the valley, God helped Israel win over the Amalekites. After the battle ended, the Israelites raised a victory altar and named it Jehovah-nissi, which means “The Lord is my Banner” (Exo. 17:15,16). The story of the defeat of the Amalekites showed how the Lord saved His people from the enemy.

B.  God will deliver His people today
God has not changed. Furthermore, God’s people will still encounter enemies. God will be our “banner”. He will be our inspiration to give us deliverance over our enemies. God will help us defeat Satan. The devil seeks to thwart God’s purposes in our lives. If we depend upon the Lord and look to Him, we can win over Satan.

James said, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). God will defeat the final enemy of death. He defeated death on the cross. To the enemy of death, the Christian may say: “O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55-57).

III.      God helps with our godly service

God used Jethro to help Moses with the administration of justice
Jethro’s visit to the camp of the Israelites was more than a mere meeting. God used Jethro to help Moses with His godly service. Jethro spent a day watching Moses judge the people. He told Moses that this responsibility was too great for him alone. He counseled him to share the responsibility with others, Moses took Jethro’s advice and selected others to help.

The story reflects three prominent traits of Moses :
a)  His devotion to the people
b)  His readiness to take advice
c)  His willingness to delegate authority
Moses evidently wanted to be a more effective servant of the Lord.

God uses other people to help us with our service. He uses others to reprimand us. A word from God comes from other people to counsel us in a better way. No service that we render for God to others is ever perfect. Let us listen and heed advice so that we might be equipped for a more effective ministry.

Conclusion
God can help us in every human situation. The only reason that God will not help is when you refuse to let Him. Open up your life to the Lord; allow Him to help you.