EXODUS LESSON 29


    We will begin this lesson in Exodus 15:19 "For 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."

    At the first of this lesson, today, and at the close of the song,
Moses sang before the Lord, we see, again, that they go into detail
about Pharaoh's men being drowned in the sea.  The very next thing we
are about to see was the women dancing in delight over the victory.
Much of the dancing that is going on in the churches today is based on
this next Scripture.  I would like to emphasize a couple of things
here.  This dancing was done outside of the church, and was done after
the praise and worship service, not before.  Dancing in the Spirit, as
God moves upon a person, is acceptable anywhere, even in church; but to
dance before the Spirit moves, would be a dance not of the Spirit.
The Spirit must move first, for the dance to be of the Spirit.
Programed dancing is something we have learned in the flesh.  The
things of the Spirit cannot be taught, but must be brought by the
Spirit of God.  I emphasize one more time: dancing in the Spirit is
acceptable anywhere, even in the church.  It must not be planned, or
programed, but done after the Spirit moves on the person.  Someone in
this case, who had never danced before, might dance as the Holy Spirit
of God gave them movement.  The things of the Spirit must not be
taught; they must be received from God.

    Exodus 15:20  "And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron,
took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with
timbrels and with dances."

    This Miriam was not only the sister of Aaron, but was the sister of
Moses, as well.  The word "prophetess", here, means inspired woman.
Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were all the children of Amram and Jochebed
and had all been raised to know the true God.  Their faith, as their
parents' faith, was in the living God.  This group of people had been
in the presence of the Spirit of God.  This Spirit had opened the sea
with the wind, and caused them to walk on dry land in the middle of the
sea to safety. This should be a time of special praise and
thanksgiving to God for His deliverance.  This is similar to the time
David danced before the Ark of the Covenant being brought into the
land.  Both of these times of dance were when there was an
overwhelming move of the Spirit of God.  There would have been no way
that either of these happenings could have been stopped.  The Spirit
just took over. In a church service with the power of the Spirit of
this magnitude, it would be proper to dance.  My only concern is that
some are dancing, before the Spirit of God moves. I am not opposed to 
dancing in the Holy Spirit, I am opposed to bringing worldly dancing into
the church.  The things of the Spirit are not to be learned in some 
"How To" book, but are to be received of God.

    Exodus 15:21 "And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for
he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown
into the sea."

    This verse shows us that the purpose of this joy was the great
redemption from the Egyptian bondage.

    Exodus 15:22 "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they
went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the
wilderness, and found no water."

    "Shur" means wall fortification.  We see by this, that Egypt had
built a wall to keep their enemies out.  Moses led them approximately
three days' journey to this spot, to cross the desert into the promised
land.

    Exodus 15:23  "And when they came to Marah, they could not drink
of the waters of Marah, for they [were] bitter: therefore the name of
it was called Marah."

    We will notice that these Israelites had already been redeemed
(saved), and had had a period of real rejoicing.  Now, their walk to
the promised land began, and here, we see tribulation come to test
exactly how much faith they had.  Does this sound familiar?  This is
exactly what happens to the Christians.  When we are saved, there is a
period of real rejoicing, and then our walk begins. Tribulation comes
to make us strong, to build our faith, and to bring patience.  Romans
5:3-4: V-3, "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"  V-4, "And patience,
experience; and experience, hope:"  You see, it is easy to forget what
God has done for us.  We tend to forget the  past miracles.  It seems,
unless God is doing miracles every single day in our lives, we begin to
doubt.  A miracle can only occur, when there is an impossible situation
confronting us.  God tries to teach us to look to Him when something
impossible (in the flesh) confronts us.  He is the miracle God.  What
did God's people here do?  They had already forgotten what God could do.

    Exodus 15:24 "And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What
shall we drink?"

    God does not like murmuring (complaining).  Instead of complaining
and blaming Moses, they should have been praying.  This was exactly
what Moses did.

    Exodus 15:25 "And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him
a tree, [which] when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made
sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he
proved them,"

    There are trees and plants throughout the world that cause bitter
water to be sweet.  Had God wanted us to know the name of this
particular tree, however, I believe He would have named it.
Scientists tell us that there is a particular lily plant, they have
discovered, that will clean up nuclear waste water.  Every plant and
tree on the face of the earth has a purpose.  God made it for a
purpose.  Many of them are a source of medicines.  I do not believe,
however, that this is what we are to receive from this particular
incident.  I believe we can better find the answer to this miracle in
II Kings 2:19-22.  II Kings 2:19  "And the men of the city said unto
Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city [is] pleasant,
as my lord seeth: but the water [is] naught, and the ground barren. II
Kings 2:20 "And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein.
And they brought [it] to him." II Kings 2:21 "And he went forth unto
the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus
saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from
thence any more death or barren [land]." II Kings 2:22 "So the waters
were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he
spake."  You see, God healed this water for Elisha with salt, which 
certainly in the natural does not sweeten water.  What God was teaching 
them was that they must look to Him in every problem.  Stop wringing 
their hands and pray, and God would do a miracle.  The tree didn't 
matter, except perhaps, God was showing them that a tree would
be used to save the world.  Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross.

    Exodus 15:26 "And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the
voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his
sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his
statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have
brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee."

    The problem with most people is that we do not diligently hearken
to the voice of the Lord.  We have a terrible habit of doing what is
right in our own sight, not what is right in God's sight.  The most
important statement that is made in the verse above is, "I am the LORD
that healeth thee".  We must walk in the ways of the Lord, if we want
the blessings of the Lord.  God allows us to have trials, to prove our
faith.  We will see in these wanderings of these people, God was trying
to bring them to a fullfaith life.  He wanted them to learn to not be
selfish, and to look beyond the moment to all of eternity.  All the
ordinances God gave to mankind were to help man, not to cause him
problems.  We will see in their wanderings that God was trying to get
them to a point of faith and trust, that would be acceptable unto Him.
They failed test after test.  They complained at every problem,
instead of believing.  God honors faith, not murmuring.  We will see
them wander in the wilderness for forty years on a trip, that should
have taken a few days, because of their lack of faith.

    Exodus 15:27  "And they came to Elim, where [were] twelve wells of
water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by
the waters."

    We must remember, that the Lord was present with this group in the
fire and smoke that led them by night and day.  He knew where all
the fresh water was, and He certainly knew that this spot had enough
water to take care of this large company of (estimated) three million
people.  Twelve is a representative number, and there may have been
even more wells and springs here.  They mentioned twelve to make us
know that it was sufficient to take care of this group.  The palm
trees were, perhaps, mentioned to let us know that there was vegetation
here to feed their cattle.  In fact, the word "Elim" means trees.

                          Exodus 29 Questions


1.  At the first of this lesson, Moses went into great detail about
    what?
2.  After this song of Moses' was finished, what happened?
3.  Who led the women?
4.  Whose sister was she (name 2)?
5.  What two things we should notice about this dance?
6.  What kind of dancing in the church is permissible?
7.  If the things of the Spirit cannot be taught, how do we receive
    them?
8.  Can someone, who has never danced at all, dance in the Spirit?
9.  What was Miriam, besides being sister to Moses and Aaron?
10. What musical instrument did Miriam use?
11. Who was Miriam's mother and dad?
12. Their faith was in whom?
13. What was another instance in the Bible of dancing as a form of
    worship?
14. What caused them to dance?
15. When is it alright for us to dance in the church?
16. Why did Miriam tell the women to sing?
17. Where did Moses lead the Israelites, when they left the Red Sea?
18. What does "Shur" mean?
19. What does this meaning tell us about this place?
20. What does "Marah" mean?
21. When a person is saved, what is the first stage he goes through?
22. What is the next step?
23. If they fail this second step, what happens?
24. Where do we find the Scripture, that says we should glory in
    tribulation?
25. What do we have a tendency to forget?
26. What did the people do, when the water was bitter?
27. What did Moses do?
28. What is another word for murmuring?
29. What did God tell Moses to do?
30. What happening do we find in Second Kings 2:19-22?
31. What is the same lesson God is giving us here in Exodus and in
    Second Kings?
32. What is another possible message we might receive from the tree in
    the water?
33. What promise did God make these people, if they would do what He
    asked them to do?
34. God said He is the Lord that ----------------.
35. What is the problem with most people, that can't be healed?
36. What were the ordinances of God for?
37. What does God honor?
38. Where did they go from Marah?
39. How many wells were there?
40. What did the palm trees being there tell us?
41. What does the word "Elim" mean?