EXODUS 17:8-15 - INDEPENDENCE BY FAITH

INTRODUCTION:

What a country we live in today. Even with all the bad decisions and moral decay you must still say God's grace is upon this country. But the question today for us to ask is from what source do we enjoy this independence? Is it the genius of men or faith in God?

Abraham Lincoln said: (David Fowler - Internet Article 070308)

"We have been recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own...we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."

Peter Marshall, before the U.S. Senate said it ever so well in a prayer many years ago. "Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Help us see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is right."

Opening Paragraphs of...

The unanimous Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies in
Congress, July 4, 1776

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure
these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Access to the entire Declaration can found on our site:
http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/f/fourth%20of%20july.htm#History

Our country was established upon the principles of faith in God and we must have that faith for our country to survive.

General Omar Bradley -  "America today is running on the momentum of a Godly ancestry, and when that momentum runs down, God help America."

As God's people we must turn back to the independence of faith. Faith in God and not in the stock market, the oil wells, a political party, or any world system that allows man to feel that they are secure without the mercy and grace of a loving and living God to whom we must all answer and abide.

V8-10 - THE CAST

COMMON ENEMY, COMMON GROUND (VALLEY) COMMON BATTLE

CHOSEN MEN, CHOSEN ROD, CHOSEN HILL

(See attached  notes on Amalek, Aaron, Hur, Joshua)

*In 1776, 11 of the 13 colonies required that one had to be a Christian to be eligible to run for political office.
*In 1777, the Continental Congress voted to spend $300,000 to purchase Bibles for distribution in the nation.
*The GETTYSBURG ADDRESS states "...this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom..."
*94% OF THE WRITINGS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF THE U.S. CONTAINED QUOTATIONS FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
*THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS OF ALL 50 STATES MENTION GOD

* The Supreme Court itself begins each of its sessions with the phrase 'God save the United States and this honorable court,'

*At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin said,
"God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"

V10-13 - THE COST

A - Battle in two spheres - Mountain & Valley - Spirit & Physical (V10)

B - Battle is determined by faith and obedience (V11)

C - Battle is won by unity of soldiers (V12)

D - Battle is responsibility of leader (V13)

On July 3, 1776, the day before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington wrote a letter to his wife, anticipating the hardships which would soon occur. Here in part are his words, "In a few days, you will see a Declaration setting forth the causes which have impelled us to this mighty revolution and the reasons which will justify it in the sight of God. I am fully aware of the toil and blood and treasure what it will cost to maintain this declaration and support and defend these states; yes, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory."
Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com, June 2001.

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson's home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion.
Kenneth L. Dodge, Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992, p. 5.

V14 - THE COUNTRY

A - Remember your history

B - Celebrate your victories

C - Consecrate yourself to God's promises

French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good,
and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"

V15 - THE CROWN

A - Keep building your altar

B - Continue your praise (Jehovan-nissi - The Lord my banner)

2 Chr 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chr 7:15  Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

2 Chr 7:16  For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

Never found time - Book of 7700 Illustrations

I knelt to pray, but not for long, I had too much to do. Must hurry off and get to work, for bills would soon be due. And so I said a hurried prayer, jumped up from off my knees, My Christian duties now were done, my soul could be at ease.

All through the day I had not time to peak a word of cheer; no time to speak of Christ to friends, they'd laugh at me I feared. No time no time, too much to do, that was my constant cry; no time to give to those in need at least was time to die.

And when before the Lord I came, I stood with downcast eyes; within his hands he held a book it was the "book of life." God looked into his book and said, "your name I cannot find," " I once was going to write it down but never found the time." - Author Unknown

V16 - THE CONVICTION

A - Remember the battle is the Lord's

B - Remember your faith will stand

*Franklin Roosevelt prayed this prayer on a national radio hookup on D-Day, June 6, 1944, as our troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France: "Almighty God... with Thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogance. Lead us to the saving of our country. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."

*Gerald Ford, our 38th President, quoted a 1955 speech by Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 5, 1974:
"Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first - the most basic - expression of Americanism. Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God's help, it will continue to be."

CONCLUSION:
*Theodore Roosevelt, America's 26th President, wrote:
"In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at, or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down-grade." - 1917
*Woodrow Wilson, our 28th President and Governor of New Jersey, said this:
"America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of the Holy Scripture." - 1911
*Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President, said this about our founding fathers:
"They were intent upon establishing a Christian commonwealth in accordance with the principle of self- government. They were an inspired body of men. It has been said that God sifted the nations that He might send choice grain into the wilderness... Who can fail to see it in the hand of destiny? Who can doubt that it has been guided by a Divine Providence." - 1923

AMALEKITE (am' ay lehk ite) A nomadic tribe of formidable people that first attacked the Israelites after the Exodus at Rephidim. Descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12), they inhabited the desolate wasteland of the northeast Sinai peninsula and the Negeb. They were the first to attack Israel after the Exodus (Num. 24:20). Israel won the initial battle (Ex. 17:8-16),. No archaeological data concerning the Amalekites has been discovered to date. See also Exodus and Negeb. 

REPHIDIM (Rehf' ih dihm) Site in the wilderness where the Hebrews stopped on their way to Canaan just prior to reaching Sinai (Ex. 17:1; 19:2). There the people complained of thirst, and God commanded Moses to strike the rock out of which would come water. While the Hebrews were encamped at Rephidim, the Amalekites came against them and were defeated by Israel under Joshua's leadership. Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, came to Rephidim and helped the leader delegate his authority over the people (18:13-26). The exact location is unknown.

AARON (awehr' uhn) Moses' brother; Israel's first high priest. He figures prominently in Exodus through Numbers and then is mentioned in Deuteronomy 9-10; Joshua 21; Judges 20; 1 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 6; 15; 23-24; 2 Chronicles 13; 26; 29; 31; 35; Ezra 7; Nehemiah 10; 12; Psalms 77:20; 99:6; 105:26; 106:16; 115:10, 12; 135:19; Micah 6:4.

HUR (Huhr) Personal name of uncertain meaning, perhaps "white one" or "Horite" or perhaps derived from the name of the Egyptian god "Horus." 1. Israelite leader who accompanied Moses and Aaron to the top of the mountain in the fight against the Amalekites. Hur helped Aaron hold Moses' hands up so Israel could prevail. In some way not explicitly stated, Moses' hands were the symbol of and instrument for God's power with Israel's army (Ex. 17:10-12). Hur and Aaron also represented Moses and settled any problems among the people while Moses ascended the mountain to receive God's instructions (Ex. 24:14). This same Hur was probably the grandfather of Bezaleel of the tribe of Judah, who was the artisan in charge of making the metal works for the tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. 31:2). He was Caleb's son (1 Chron. 2:19).

JOSHUA (Jahsh ew uh) Personal name meaning, "Yahweh delivered." 1. Leader of Israelites who first took control of Promised Land of Canaan. Joshua is one of the unsung heroes of the Old Testament. He, not Moses, led the people into the Promised Land. He was a person of such stature that he could succeed the incomparable Moses and compile a record of notable success (Josh. 24:31).

    Joshua was born in Egypt during the period of slavery. He was a member of Ephraim, the important tribe that later formed the heart of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He first appeared during the battle with the Amalekites during the desert travels. He was Moses' general, who led the troops in the actual fighting while Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands (Ex. 17:8-13).

Joshua was Moses's servant (Ex. 24:13). He was on the mountain when Moses received the Law (Ex. 32:17). He was also one of the twelve spies Moses sent to investigate Canaan (Num. 13:8). He and Caleb returned with a positive, minority report. Of all the adults alive at that time, only the two of them were allowed to live to enter the land of Canaan (Num. 14:28-30,38).

The Lord selected Joshua to be Moses' successor long before Moses' death (Num. 27:15-23; Deut. 31:14-15,23; 34:9). Joshua was a military leader, a political leader, and a spiritual leader. He was quiet and unassuming, but he was not buffaloed by his responsibilities or the task that lay before him. He was a battlefield genius, particularly in the areas of careful planning, strategy, and execution. He was a capable administrator for the nation, effective in maintaining harmony among people and groups. He was a spokesman to the people for the Lord. Though he did not receive the Law as Moses had, he communicated the Lord's will and the Lord's message much like Moses.