AFTER THREE DAYS, THEN WHAT?
MF Blume
May 22, 2016
So many sing and preach about getting saved.
And then sing and preach about heaven or the time when Jesus comes.
What about the time between salvation and the coming of Jesus?
Exodus 15:22-26 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. (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. (24) And
the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
(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, (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.
From the Red Sea to a body of water called MARAH, was a three day journey.
• It is interesting that so many journeys of
three days ended with significant events that send a message of the
cross.
• Jesus went from death to resurrection over a three day period.
The Red Sea was the place where Israel experienced something that the New Testament compares to our experiences.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye
should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and
all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto
Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
The idea of baptism is associated with the death of Jesus.
Romans 6:3-7 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4)
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have
been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in
the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that
our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For
he that is dead is freed from sin.
We get baptized to get into the death of Jesus WITH FAITH IN OUR HEARTS that it is so.
• Not just baptism without that faith.
Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth
hinder me to be baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou
believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said,
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
So after this DEATH with Jesus, notice Israel went on a THREE DAY
JOURNEY, just like Jesus went from His death to His resurrection.
If we die with Jesus so our OLD MAN is crucified, and we begin life as
a NEW MAN, then the resurrection that follows that death is the LIFE OF
THE NEW MAN we’re supposed to live.
• Just like it took three days for Jesus to Die
and resurrect into a new LIFE, Israel went through the Red Sea BAPTISM
and took a three day journey to MARAH.
Even Jesus was baptized then led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Matthew 3:16-4:1 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto
him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting
upon him: (17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (4:1) Then was
Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the
devil.
Just like the Spirit led Jesus to where the devil would tempt Him, we
read God allowed Israel to come to a place of bitter waters to TEST
THEM!
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,
What is interesting is that Moses distinctly said they would take a THREE DAY JOURNEY and then sacrifice to the Lord.
Exodus 5:3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with
us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and
sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence,
or with the sword.
Exodus 5:3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with
us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and
sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence,
or with the sword.
And so when they go three days, when they were supposed to sacrifice,
they were tested to see if SOMETHING WOULD DISTRACT THEM FROM THE
SACRIFICE.
When we face bitter waters in life, do we forget about our obedience to God?
• When a distraction comes our way to see if we
will forget God and get concerned about ourselves, is it successful in
diverting us?
Jesus spoke of how God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, and says God cares more for us than any of those things.
• So, we should have faith God will take care of us when we need food or clothing—basic needs.
• And then we read:
Matthew 6:25-33 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for
your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your
body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the
body than raiment? (26) Behold the fowls of the air: for
they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
(27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his
stature? (28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider
the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they
spin: (29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all
his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30)
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is,
and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith? (31) Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do
the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need
of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you.
Seeking first God’s kingdom means have faith that God will take
care of these things IF YOU MAINTAIN YOUR PURPOSE of FIRST seeking
God’s righteousness and His kingdom.
• And not allowing your food or clothing worry you!
• All those things will be added to you!
Israel should have had faith that God must be first, and He will take
care of the bitter waters and provide sweet water if they sacrificed
and did His will first.
• But they complained and forgot all about God.
So, what was the remedy these complainers were given by God?
• THROW THE TREE INTO THE BITTER WATERS.
• THE CROSS.
Take the truth of the cross and apply it to your bitter waters!
And then God led them right after that to a place FULL Of water and food.
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.
This is remarkable.
Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave
them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
(2) And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal
the sick.
Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy
also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and
place, whither he himself would come.
And also…
Genesis 49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this
is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one
according to his blessing he blessed them.
Num 11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy
men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the
people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of
the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
The Old Testament had twelve tribes and 70 elders, and Jesus had twelve apostles and 70 disciples.
After Jesus died and resurrected, he left the Kingdom in the hands of
the 11 apostles, after Judas fell, and they replaced Judas with
Matthias.
• And the apostles would TEACH the church.
Acts 2:38-42 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For
the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (40) And
with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save
yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they
that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls. (42) And
they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and
in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Notice after their baptisms, they were led to the 12 APOSTLES’
DOCTRINE, just like Israel went to ELIM with 12 wells of water after
they left the Red Sea, faced a dilemma at Marah and threw the tree in
the bitter waters.
Look what happened when Jesus called the 70.
Luke 9 He calls 12 apostles.
Luke 10 He appoints 70 elders.
Between calling the 12 an appointing the 70, watch:
Luke 9:57-10:1 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the
way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee
whithersoever thou goest. (58) And Jesus said unto him,
Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man
hath not where to lay his head. (59) And he said unto
another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury
my father. (60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury
their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (61)
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go
bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. (62) And
Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (10:1) After
these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two
and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself
would come.
One man COMES TO HIM and asks to follow!
• Jesus lists the things He will experience if he follows Jesus.
• The man drops it.
• Then instead of a man coming to Jesus, Jesus goes to someone.
• He asks the man to follow him.
• The man says he has other things to do FIRST.
• Then a third man has qualities from both the previous two.
• He goes to Jesus and asks to follow Jesus like
the first man, but like the second man says he must do something other
things first.
• Three hopefuls became hopelesses.
THEN AT THAT POINT, he appoints the 70.
Look what happens when they go out and come back!
Luk 10:17-23 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,
Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
(18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from
heaven. (19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and
nothing shall by any means hurt you. (20) Notwithstanding
in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather
rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (21) In
that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise
and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so
it seemed good in thy sight. (22) All things are delivered
to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father;
and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal
him. (23) And he turned him unto his disciples, and said
privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
Jesus was THRILLED with these 70!
• They listened to Jesus, understood what He said and LEARNED FROM HIM!
• And he turned to them and said HOW BLESSED THEY WERE!
The seventy of Moses were ELDERS.
• Like the 70 palm trees, they were STRONG AND STABLE.
• They GOT INTO IT!
• After three useless ones, Jesus rejoices over these 70!
Exo 24:1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and
Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and
worship ye afar off.
Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up
early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve
pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Exo 24:9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
Exo 24:10-11 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under
his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were
the body of heaven in his clearness. (11) And upon the
nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw
God, and did eat and drink.
THEY EAT AND DRINK WITH GOD!
The lukewarm don't.
WELLS are drink and PALMS are FOOD.
• FOOD AND DRINK.
• YOU SEE GOD and EAT AND DRINK like the
communion represents the truths of the BLOOD AND BODY of Jesus on the
cross!
• Feasting on truth!