Exodus 15:23-27
[23] And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
[24] And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?"
[25] And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
The newly liberated nation of Israel was on its way from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan but it was proving to be a difficult journey. The young nation of Israel began their journey in great spirits. Their archenemy, Pharaoh, was defeated, and his army was drowned in the Red Sea. The Israelites were rejoicing and praising God!
But we see Israel move very quickly from the celebration of triumph to the bitterness of disappointment. They quickly found themselves in the wilderness of “Shur”. The word Shur means “wall”. After the triumph, Israel hit the wall. Anyone ever had that feeling? They were in the desert and they had no water. No one could survive long without water in that hot climate, especially in a desert.
Had God suddenly abandoned them? One of God’s rules for the spiritual life is that testing comes before resting! Only three days journey from the point where they had crossed the Red Sea, the people encountered their first difficulty of a water shortage in the midst of a desert.
Let me divert here and encourage you in these days of economic uncertainty. When looking ahead makes you fearful, look back and remember. Uncertainty has a way of focusing us exclusively on the mystery of what lies before us that we forget what lies behind. If you have been a Christian for any length of time, God’s faithfulness to us in the past should shape our assurance and perspective about the future.
So the Israelites find themselves without water. Amazingly enough, three days of waterless wandering had created a great dilemma for them.
Then, off in the distance they see some water. There is no way to hold back the three million Israelites from stampeding the water. They run to the water, some half stumbling and sprawling into the water – only to find that the water was bitter and undrinkable.
Exodus 15:23
[23] And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Marah brought great disappointment.
Everyone has their “Marahs”. Just when you thought you were coming out of the wilderness, just when you thought you were going to be refreshed from your wanderings in the wilderness – you find only bitter waters that are undrinkable.
But God had a remedy for Moses. He told Moses to toss a tree into the water and the act of God created sweetness out of bitterness.
Exodus 15:25
[25] And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
Trees don’t grow overnight. That tree was planted in advance. Be encouraged - you will face some bitter waters in life – BUT YOUR TREE IS ALREADY PLANTED. God has gone before you making a way!
That’s my five minutes!
[23] And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
[24] And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?"
[25] And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
The newly liberated nation of Israel was on its way from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan but it was proving to be a difficult journey. The young nation of Israel began their journey in great spirits. Their archenemy, Pharaoh, was defeated, and his army was drowned in the Red Sea. The Israelites were rejoicing and praising God!
But we see Israel move very quickly from the celebration of triumph to the bitterness of disappointment. They quickly found themselves in the wilderness of “Shur”. The word Shur means “wall”. After the triumph, Israel hit the wall. Anyone ever had that feeling? They were in the desert and they had no water. No one could survive long without water in that hot climate, especially in a desert.
Had God suddenly abandoned them? One of God’s rules for the spiritual life is that testing comes before resting! Only three days journey from the point where they had crossed the Red Sea, the people encountered their first difficulty of a water shortage in the midst of a desert.
Let me divert here and encourage you in these days of economic uncertainty. When looking ahead makes you fearful, look back and remember. Uncertainty has a way of focusing us exclusively on the mystery of what lies before us that we forget what lies behind. If you have been a Christian for any length of time, God’s faithfulness to us in the past should shape our assurance and perspective about the future.
So the Israelites find themselves without water. Amazingly enough, three days of waterless wandering had created a great dilemma for them.
Then, off in the distance they see some water. There is no way to hold back the three million Israelites from stampeding the water. They run to the water, some half stumbling and sprawling into the water – only to find that the water was bitter and undrinkable.
Exodus 15:23
[23] And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Marah brought great disappointment.
Everyone has their “Marahs”. Just when you thought you were coming out of the wilderness, just when you thought you were going to be refreshed from your wanderings in the wilderness – you find only bitter waters that are undrinkable.
But God had a remedy for Moses. He told Moses to toss a tree into the water and the act of God created sweetness out of bitterness.
Exodus 15:25
[25] And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
Trees don’t grow overnight. That tree was planted in advance. Be encouraged - you will face some bitter waters in life – BUT YOUR TREE IS ALREADY PLANTED. God has gone before you making a way!
That’s my five minutes!
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