Sin, The Struggle & the Solution: Water From The Rock - God's Judgement On Sin

11/24/2019

Exodus 17:1-7

1. It seems as though there is an increased interest in true crime stories. Around half of new content coming out on Netflix is focused on this subject. Why do you think this is? Do you personally have an interest in these stories? Do you think that any of us, put into the right situation over time could be guilty of these types of crimes?

2. Have you ever asked why God allows this kind of evil to persist? What do you say to non Christians who use this as an argument - “If there was a good and loving God, he wouldn’t allow this kind of evil in the world to go on.”

3. The following verses speak to the depravity of the human heart. It is because of the fall that all mankind in inflicted with a sin nature. Read the following verses and discuss what thoughts come to your mind and heart.
Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Mark 7:21-23, Romans 3:9-12, Romans 5:12.

4. Thankfully for us, the story doesn’t end there. When we place our faith in Jesus, death becomes life. Read Colossians 2:13-15. What a gift of grace. To God alone be the glory!

5. Read Exodus 17:1-7. In this story, the children of Israel quarrel with the Lord, they don’t like the way He is managing their lives. Can you sympathize with the people or do you find their lack of trust unimaginable? How has this played out in your own life? Have you ever felt like God was not managing your life well? If so, what did you do with those questions or accusations?

6. In a surprising twist to the story, God puts himself on trial. He appears before Moses and the elders and the staff comes down and smashes the rock; water pours forth and the people are nourished. This event foreshadows the time when God’s own Son will come and bear the wrath coming against sinful mankind. All who look to Him are saved and nourished. We are now nourished in receiving the righteousness of Christ and we are nourished by the life giving Spirit that has been poured out to us. This is another theme that runs through Scripture. Read Psalm 1:1-3 and discuss ways in which we are able to live by these verses.

7. Back to question 2. The biblical reality is that sin and evil are not going to persist forever. If God were to wipe it out today, all evil would be wiped out and that would pretty much be the end of this world as we know it. God doesn’t just wipe out some evil, when the time comes, he will wipe out ALL evil. Before that happens, His heart is that more will come to repentance. Read 2 Peter 3:8-13. Though we as Christians long for this time to come, this period of history remains so that many more will come to know Him. Are we taking full advantage of these times?