Refined in the Wilderness
Part of Exodus—Finding Our Story in their Story
March 30, 2025

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Message Notes:

Exodus:
Finding our story in their story

TODAY:
Part 3 – Refined in the wilderness

MAIN IDEA:

When we read the bible, we can see our story in the ups and downs of their story.

God refined the Israelites in the wilderness, and He continues to refine us today.

Exodus:
15-17 – God provides food and water miraculously even though people kept complaining

18-40 – God begins to teach them how to be a holy people

Leviticus – Numbers: Continues teaching proper worship protocol and how to live as God’s people during the wilderness.

Deuteronomy: Since Moses could not go into the promise land, he wrote a “Don’t forget” recap of what they need to remember when they go into the promise land.

MAIN IDEA:

When we read the bible, we can see our story in the ups and downs of their story.

God refined the Israelites in the wilderness, and He continues to refine us today.

MY STORY OF REFINEMENT:

  • Recommitted my life to the Lord one month before graduating.

Wilderness scripture highlights:

1. God used the wilderness to completely reorganize their life and way of doing things

Exodus 19:3-6 - 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob…5 if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession…8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” NIV

Numbers 1-2 – God gives specific instructions to take a census and organize in a very specific way by clans and families…to the North, South, East, and West.

APPLICATION:

When you left Egypt, you left behind the old way of doing things…

  • Embrace what a new life in Christ looks like…it should look and feel different than before.

What areas of your life are you still holding on to what you learned in Egypt?

  • Where is God is trying to get your attention to see it as the old you NOT the new you in Christ?

*2. The wilderness serves as a necessary season of pruning. *

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” NIV

Exodus 32:25 - Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” NIV

Numbers 16:28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea…30…if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them,…then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.” 31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. NIV

John 15:1-2 – 1 [Jesus] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful…NIV

3. Their ability to leave the wilderness and enter the promised land was directly related to their willingness to learn God’s lessons.

Deut. 1:35 “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, 36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.” NIV

Jer. 18:3-6 - 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. NIV

APPLICATION:

What area of your life is your constant bad attitude and rejection of God’s ways still keeping you in the wilderness of shaping and refinement?

  • My advice – Learn the lesson He is trying to teach you

WILDERNESS RECAP:

1. God uses our wilderness experiences to reorganize our priorities and ways.
2. Our wilderness serves as a necessary season of pruning.
3. The amount of time we stay in the wilderness depends on our ability to be molded and taught.

CHALLENGE QUESTION:

What is your current wilderness experience and what specifically is God trying to teach


If you prayed the prayer to start fresh with God today text “startagain” (one word) to 97000 so we can connect with you and help you take the next steps in this amazing decision.

My Notes:


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