By what means did Jesus develop a perfect character?
(Exodus 14-17; Luke 4:1-13) Blog July 10-16, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God leads his children into trials and among enemies, not to discourage or defeat them but rather to strengthen them. In our trials, God comfort us and supplies us with the food of his Word, the grace of his Spirit, and the blood of Jesus. Good behavior, bad behavior, and special revelations can all be causes of suffering. God will not abandon his children when they are suffering.
At the Red Sea
1. When God delivered his people from Egypt which way did he lead them to the promised land? Rather than choosing the most direct route to Canaan God led his people south between two mountains & down to the Red Sea (Ex. 13:17-18; 14:2).
2. What evidences of God’s leading had the Israelites seen before coming to the Red Sea? The Israelites had seen the ten plagues fall on the Egyptians, their great deliverance from Egypt, God’s cloud to cover them by day, & God’s fire to light their way at night (Ex. 12:29, 41; 13:21).
3. What threat came to God’s people as they were camped at the Red Sea? Pharaoh & the Egyptian army pursued after & overtook the Israelites at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:8-10).
4. What was the only hope for Israel at the Red Sea? Israel’s only hope at the Red Sea was in the mercy of God & their only defense was prayer (Ex. 14:11-14; Psa. 33:18-22).
5. How did God deliver his people at the Red Sea? God stopped the Egyptian army by placing his cloud between them & Israel, then he opened the Red Sea for his people to cross over, & when the Egyptians tried to cross, he drowned them all (Ex. 14:19-30).
6. How did God’s people respond to God’s mighty deliverance at the Red Sea? Upon seeing God’s deliverance from the Egyptians at the Red Sea, his people feared & believed him & Moses his servant, & broke forth in songs of praise to God (Ex. 14:31; 15:1).
7. What did God accomplish by allowing the Egyptians to overtake the Israelites at the Red Sea? God showed his people how little faith they had & he taught his people that he was able to perform a miracle to save them, therefore helping them to trust him & Moses more & themselves less (Ex. 14:31; 2 Chron. 32:31).
In the Desert
8. When Israel came in three days to Marah, what did they find? Israel found water at Marah, but it was too bitter to drink (Ex. 15:22-23).
9. What did Moses do when the people complained that the water was bitter? Moses took the problem to God in prayer, God shewed him what to do, & according to God’s directions he threw a tree in the water & it became sweet (Ex. 15:24-25).
10. After making the bitter water sweet, what promise did God make to his people? God promised his people that if they would obey his precepts, he would keep them from getting sick (Ex. 15:26).
11. When Israel came to Rephidim, of what did they accuse Moses? The children of Israel accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt to kill them for they found no water at Rephidim (Ex. 17:1-3).
12. When Moses again asked God for help at Rephidim, what did God do? God told Moses to take the elders & smite the rock Horeb with his rod & water came forth for all the people (Ex. 17:4-7).
13. Why did God bring the Israelites into so many crises in the wilderness? God desired to show his people that he was able to care for them if they would put their trust in him & he was trying to help them overcome their defects in character (1 Cor. 10:11-13).
In Another Desert
14. Who led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matt. 4:1).
15. By what means did Jesus develop a perfect character? Jesus developed a perfect character by the things which he suffered (Heb. 2:10).
16. How did Jesus suffer when led by the Spirit into the wilderness? In the wilderness Jesus fasted for forty days & forty nights bringing him almost to the point of death for lack of food (Matt. 4:2, 11).
17. What did Jesus show us by his wilderness victory over the devil? Jesus showed us that there is no excuse for sin for in the wilderness he was weaker than any man yet resisted the devil with the Word of God (Matt. 4:3-10; Heb. 4:15).
18. What hope are we given if we sin? If we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father who pleads in behalf of those who believe in him (Matt. 10:32; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1).