Faith In Dry Places

Services

SunDAY: 9 AM Sunday School, 10:30AM Worship /TuesDAY 6 pm prayer/ WedNESDAY 6PM Bible study

Mar. 22, 2026

 Pastor Henry M. Boyd
 Exodus 17:1-7
 Faith

Background:

  • Have you ever been in a place that you know God led you to, but didn't feel any blessings in that place?
  • Have you ever had a season in your life when you felt you were doing everything right, but still felt emotionally and spiritually drained?
  • We will all experience testing, but we sometimes look at it as punishment instead of testing
  • Sometimes we experience these dry places and don't have the energy that we once had
  • In the dry places, it is a time to reflect and trust God
  • Ineffective faith is marked by a lack of trust in God
  • We may be struggling in an area of our lives and it feels like God is not showing up


Key Sermon Points:

1. Tension among the people

  • God directed Moses to take the children of Israel to Rephidim a resting place
  • The place was a disappointment to the children of Israel
  • They should have known how to handle it because of all that they had seen God do for them
  • They started to complain instead of gathering in prayer and waiting for God to answer
  • Too many times we are impatient and complain instead of praying for wisdom and understanding
  • Complaining comes from a lack of trust in God; complaining says that God cannot provide
  • The Israel witnessed a miracle everyday when God provided manna from Heaven
  • God provided protection from the dessert cold nights so that they didn't freeze...yet they were complaining
  • How are we handling our dry place?
  • Are we satisfied where we are or do we want more?
  • Their attitude showed that they believed that they had the right to have more...and that they forgot what they already had
  • It was a sense of entitlement
  • The people picked a fight with Moses, but their issue was really with God
  • When we pick a fight with a Pastor, we are actually having an issue with God
  • Moses was divinely appointed with spiritual authority
  • The Israelites had made 3 statements to Moses representing different kinds of complaints:
    • Give us water to drink - it was demanding of God; we can't make demands of God
    • They asked why did Moses bring them there - They denied God's protection
    • They were doubting God's presence - They were testing God

2. Turning to the Lord

  • The Israelites complained 3 other times (Exodus 14:11-12; Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2) before this point in the Bible (Exodus 17:1-7)
  • The people were complaining to Moses about the issues and God, but Moses went to God in prayer with his complaints
  • God doesn't mind us coming to Him
  • Moses told God that the Israelites were His people that were complaining and ready to kill Moses
  • Moses told God that he was afraid, and God heard and answered Moses
  • The Elders were eye witnesses to the power and authority...and the people respected the Elders of the different tribes
  • The rock provided for over 2 million people and cattle
  • The Rock is Jesus Christ

3. Testimony of God's power

  • The Elders gathered around to see what judgment would take place, but God provided water from the rock
  • When it comes to a miracle, it's best to just accept it instead of trying to figure it out (Psalm 105:41)
  • The water proved everything about God that the Israelites were questioning...His provision, His protection, and His presence