Sunday Sermon

Wilderness School Dave Shaner January 4, 2004

Introduction: Often we were made to go to school. Sometimes God sends us to school.

Text: Exodus 2:16-25

Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock. Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock. When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, "Why have you returned so early today?" They answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock." "And where is he?" he asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat." Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, "I have become an alien in a foreign land." During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

I. Wilderness Motto

Those God ____________ he always ____________.

A. Deuteronomy 8:2

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

B. Psalm 119:67,71,75

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

II. Wilderness Curriculum: Four required courses

A. Handling ______________ 101

B. Facing _____________ 201

C. Seeking ______________ 301

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)  - Numbers 12:3

D. Willing ______________ 401

1. Romans 5:3-4

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

2. James 5:11

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

III. Wilderness graduates:

A. ... can look ahead and ____________ a special ____________ from God.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  - II Corinthians 1:3-4

B. ... can look back and ____________ how God has ____________ them.

Conclusion: I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

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