Exodus 15:1-17:7

Their praise is followed by nothing but grumbling and complaints. Their thanksgiving is followed by unthankfulness. What happened to their hearts? What happened to their spirit of praise knowing what God can do? These are my thoughts that precede the time in the Word involving this passage of praise, then grumbling and complaints. What happened? And, how do we learn from what happened with the people of Israel?

Imagine going away to a conference, spiritual retreat, or a revival service. You walk away from that experience excited and rejuvenated. You are on fire for our great God. What happens after a few days or perhaps a week of not keeping that fire lit? We go from praisers to complainers.

Song of Praise (Exodus 15:1-21)

The people were in a place of absolute adoration for the Lord and exhilarated. They have seen God work. "Moses and the Israelites sang this song of the Lord.." As we will soon see, the Israelites left their spirit of praise, trading it in for complaining.

In verses 1-10, they are praising God, recounting what God had done for them in saving them and destroying their adversaries. God is most sovereign and He places His

strength on those He chooses.

In verse 11-13, it continues to be about praising God for who He is. There is no other God like our God. He is full of holiness, worker in miracles, and amazingly powerful. We get the awesome chance to know God, as He truly is! Many others do not know God! They are either like the Egyptians who doubt who God truly is and chase after God's children to destroy them; or like the other nations who only learn about God by the sharing what He has done. (ie…Rahab in Joshua 2). God keeps His promises! He does not fail us! He leads and guides us in the direction we should go. Our job is to stay obedient to Him! Looking back, some of the Israelites (more than 'some', I imagine) wanted Moses and Aaron to stop going before Pharaoh (See Ex. 5:20-21) and acting like God would have them act. What if Moses and Aaron disobeyed God like the people of Israel wanted them to? Then, they may have still been in Egypt. We need to join God where He is at work despite what others think or have to say!

In verse 14-21, there is such confidence in what God is getting ready to do… what God is continuing to do in the life of the Israelites. They had seen what God done to the Egyptians chasing after God's chosen people. They drowned in the Red Sea. Many others would learn how God delivered His people, and they would fear God and not harm God's people.

In this song, there is such praise about what God had done. Praising Him for delivering them from the Egyptians, praising God for who He is, and praising God for what God is going to do!

Sea of Complainers (Exodus 15:22-17:7)

1.  Grumbled against Moses saying, "What are we to drink?" (Ex. 15:24). Miracle: God provided a way for the bitter water, and it became safe for the Israelites. Promise to consider: Ex. 15:26

2. Grumbled against Moses and Aaron about food. (Ex. 16:2-3). Miracle: God provided Manna for the Israelites for forty years. Only they continually disobeyed Him. Yet, they still would not listen to God. (See Ex. 16:28-19)

3. Again at Rephidim they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give me water to drink." (Ex. 17:2) Miracle: God instructed Moses to strike the rock at Hereb with elders of Israel with him, and the water came from the rock.

God continually provided for the people of Israel. They need not complain, in order to "get God's attention". All we need to do is willingly come. I know, for me, what I am getting from this passage of Scripture is that: when we complain, we put God to the test whether we mean to or not. We need to continue to trust Him, and seek out emotional and prayer support from like-minded believers in Christ!

Let's keep praising Him, knowing He will provide. Let us rest assured, knowing He will provide. Let's take time to sit at His feet, and praise Him. Basking in who He is and what God, the Holy One, is all about! We cannot praise and complain at the same time, so which will we choose to do with the precious time we are given?