WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 15, 2019
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FAITH
DURING UNCERTIANTY
(GOD
provides our daily bread)
(Exodus
16:1-15)
In
the biblical Greek the word used for “faith” is “pistis” (pis-tis), and it
means “to rely upon with an inward certainty” and “to trustfully submit to the
evidence of authority”. In the New Testament Scriptures it describes the
truthfulness of GOD, and a reliance on JESUS the CHRIST for salvation, and the
HOLY SPIRIT for teaching and guidance.
Faith is the confident assurance that what
we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see,
whether it be physical or mental. GOD has always given HIS approval to people
based on their faith. If fact, by faith we understand that the entire universe
was formed at GOD’s command, and that what we now see, did not come from
anything that can be seen. Everything originated from the mind of GOD (see
Hebrews 11:1-3).
“Faith” is believing to a point of knowing,
and feeling absolutely assured and secure in the promise that GOD will always
provide our daily needs (GOD the FATHER), deliver us into salvation through
JESUS CHRIST (GOD the SON), and direct us with a fail-proof daily guidance,
teaching, and counseling through GOD the HOLY SPIRIT.
The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt
demonstrated plainly that they did not trust GOD despite the constant evidence
of HIS power and authority over man and nature. It also demonstrated GOD’s unconditional
love for HIS chosen people, and HIS willingness to give them a fresh new start
in “a land of promise” that they could call their own.
This journey out of “chattel slavery” also
demonstrated the need for a divinely instituted “law” and “order”, with clear
standards and discipline, for all those who chose to disobey GOD by seeking to
go their own way, and, for all those who wanted to live GOD’s way. However, because
GOD is a “just” GOD, HE did not punish the rebellious acts of HIS people in the
wilderness, until HE had clearly laid out those standards which showed them
what HE defined as “right”, and, what HE defined as “wrong”.
And finally, this journey out of Egypt
clearly demonstrates “how quickly the human mind forgets”. Here in chapter 16
of the book of Exodus, just two months after GOD had delivered the Israelites
out of the cruelty of their unjust servitude, they begin to complain bitterly
about their, much improved situation, even beginning to “idealize” their
miserable past of the previous 400 years of grimacing under the finger of Pharaoh.
Here in this passage, in the first 12
verses, we see the occurrence of the Hebrew term “lon’l”, which means “grumble
against”, 6 times (Vs. 2, 7-9, 12). It indicates “an overwhelming attitude of
bitterness and hostility”, in this case, against GOD, WHO had just delivered
them out of bondage in Egypt. When we fail to see GOD in our circumstances, we
unwittingly become “negative” in our attitude towards everything and everyone
around us. However, if we see GOD as being in control, and we confidently commit
to being obedient and attentive to HIS voice, HE will fill our minds with
optimism and hope, and ultimately deliver us from our troubles.
All grumbling and complaining finds its
roots in “a lack of faith in GOD”. Without GOD in our lives, we are compelled
by satan to put all of our trust in man, and of course, over time, man will
ultimately disappoint us. It was never “GOD’s plan” for man to trust in himself,
and that is why the Word of GOD never instructs us to do so.
It is the GOD within man (GOD’S Nature) that
we can trust and be able to identify, through having a close relationship and
communion with GOD ourselves. Without a personal relationship with GOD ourselves,
we won’t be able to make the kind of decisions that are always beneficial to us
as we strive to move forward in this life.
GOD’s instructions regarding the blessings
of HIS “manna from Heaven” were very specific. GOD gives us certain specifics
in all of HIS blessings, so as to highlight, any “lack of faith” that we have to
specifically deal with, “personally”. Remember, even GOD’s great servant Job,
who walked closely with GOD all the days of his life, eventually had to deal
with “fears” that kept his faith in GOD from being “complete”. That is why GOD
allowed satan to test him with many tragedies that “Job always feared” would
come upon him anyway. As “good” and as blessed as Job was, he had never
completely trusted in “GOD’s protection” (Job 3:25-26).
The very first example that JESUS demonstrated
to us, even before HIS three-year ministry of teaching began, here on earth (Matthew
4:1-11), was to “trust GOD’s provision” (Matthew 4:1-4), “trust GOD’s
protection” (Matthew 4:5-7), and finally, we must “trust GOD’s plan” (Matthew
4:8-10). This kind of faith and trust is absolutely necessary if we are to keep
satan away from us (Matthew 4:11), and have any chance at all, of overcoming
this world, as JESUS did. We must rely on the superior power of GOD, just as
JESUS did, while we represent GOD in a 100% human body here on earth, just as
JESUS did.
The same way that we “pay no attention to
GOD” in our society today, is the exact illustration of how the Israelite’s
careless and rebellious attitude toward GOD assured their doom in the “Desert
of Sin” (v.1), way back then. Even though man has never been totally faithful
to GOD, GOD has always been totally faithful to us. HE is committed to helping
HIS greatest creation survive, be holy, and endure to the end where salvation
awaits us. And GOD’s law was introduced to discipline us, and to help us grow
toward this goal. However, without faith, it is impossible to do so.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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