The Bible Says There Is a Stupid Question

So we are often told that there is no such thing as a stupid question.But the Bible seems to say otherwise.In Exodus 17:1–7, after everything God had already done—delivering Israel from 400 years of slavery, parting the Red Sea, and leading them through the wilderness—the people asked a shocking question:“Is the LORD among us or not?”Scripture presents this as a test of God.Why?Because God had already proven that He was leading them.In this sermon for Lent III, we look at the journey of Israel from Exodus 13–17 and why God intentionally did not lead them the short route to the Promised Land. The Lord knew something the people did not:They were not ready for war.When Israel finally faced giants in Numbers 13, they did exactly what God knew they would do—they wanted to return to Egypt.The same thing often happens in our own lives.We imagine the blessings we want—new opportunities, new callings, new stages of life—but we forget that every promise comes with responsibility, struggle, and conflict.God sometimes leads us the long way because He knows what we are not yet ready to face.In this message we explore:• Why God avoided the Philistine road (Exodus 13)• Why Israel tested God at Massah and Meribah (Exodus 17)• Why complaining in the wilderness is more serious than we think• What it means to recognize the voice of God in the midst of chaos• Why focusing on the “wind and waves” causes us to sink like Peter (Matthew 14)• How the Scriptures give us hope in the wilderness (Romans 15)The question Israel asked—“Is the LORD among us or not?”—is the same question many people ask today when life becomes difficult.But Scripture insists that the real problem is not whether God is present.The real question is whether we are listening.Readings for Lent IIIExodus 17:1–7Psalm 95Romans 1:16–32John 4:5–42