From Worship to Whining

I. ISRAEL’S GLORIOUS SONG (Exodus 15:1-21)

A. Praise for the Past and Present

1. The victory over Egypt
a. He hath triumphed gloriously (Exodus 15:1).
b. The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea (Exodus 15:1).
c. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea (Exodus 15:4).
d. Pharaoh’s chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea (Exodus 15:4).
e. The depths covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone (Exodus 15:5).
f. Thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy (Exodus 15:6).
g. Thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble (Exodus 15:7).
h. The waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea (Exodus 15:8).
i. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters (Exodus 15:10).
j. The earth swallowed them (Exodus 15:12).
k. Thou hast led the people forth in mercy (Exodus 15:13).
l. The horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea (Exodus 15:19).
2. The person of the LORD
a. The LORD is my strength and song (Exodus 15:2).
b. He is become my salvation (Exodus 15:2).
c. He is my God and my father’s God (Exodus 15:2).
d. The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name (Exodus 15:3).
e. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power (Exodus 15:6).
f. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

B. Promises for Continuance

1. I will prepare Him a habitation (Exodus 15:2).
2. I will exalt Him (Exodus 15:2).

C. Hope for the Future

1. The people will hear, and be afraid: sorrow will take hold on Palestina’s inhabitants (Exodus 15:14).
2. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed (Exodus 15:15).
3. The mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them (Exodus 15:15).
4. All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away (Exodus 15:15).
5. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased (Exodus 15:16).
6. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established (Exodus 15:17).
7. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever (Exodus 15:18).

II. ISRAEL’S BITTER COMPLAINT (Exodus 15:22-24)

A. The Orchestrator of the Way (Exodus 13:17)

1. God led them away from the land of the Philistines, although it was near.
2. God did this for Israel’s good.

B. The Difficulty of the Way (Exodus 15:22-23)

1. They went three days in the wilderness, and found no water (Exodus 15:22).
2. They found water at Marah, but it was bitter (Exodus 15:23).

C. The Failure in the Way (Exodus 15:24)

1. The people murmured.
2. Against Moses
3. Saying, What shall we drink

III. GOD’S GRACIOUS PLAN (Exodus 15:25-27)

A. The Immediate Solution (Exodus 15:25)

1. The LORD showed Moses a tree to cast into the waters.
2. The waters were made sweet.
3. The LORD proved Israel there.

B. The Promise of Preservation (Exodus 15:26)

1. The contingency—“If thou wilt”
2. The promise—“I will…for I am”

C. The Provision Ahead (Exodus 15:27)

1. Twelve wells of water
2. Seventy palm trees