Exodus 15:22-27
So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
[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,
[26] And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
[27] And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
I heard this passage dealt with today at the Pastor's Conference in Greensboro for the annual Baptist State Convention. It spoke to me and I hope that it will speak to you as well.
To share a bit of the context of these verses, Moses had led the people out of Egypt, God had wrought a great victory by parting the Red Sea for them to cross over and then defeated the armies of Pharaoh in the Sea. The people had sang the Lord's praises, but it didn't take long for the realities of life to set in. They made their way to Marah, thirsty for a drink of cool, refreshing water only to find that the waters were bitter. (There is a wonderful application as Moses cast the tree into the water causing them to become sweet. Jesus bore our bitterness upon the Tree of Calvary and offered His sweet grace in salvation.)
The point I want to make is that Israel did not remain at Marah, the place of bitter waters; they traveled on to Elim where God provided an oasis for them in the midst of the desert. Elim had 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees. Surely this was a welcome sight to the weary Hebrews.
It is esitmated that Elim was only about 5 miles from Marah. They had no way of knowing that just over a few hills in the wilderness God had provided an oasis of refreshment. You may be in Marah today, but don't give up and decide to dwell there in bitterness. Keep pressing on in the journey. God may very well have an oasis for you just around the next bend. He knows what we need and how to supply that need!
Preacher Chris
So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
[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,
[26] And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
[27] And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
I heard this passage dealt with today at the Pastor's Conference in Greensboro for the annual Baptist State Convention. It spoke to me and I hope that it will speak to you as well.
To share a bit of the context of these verses, Moses had led the people out of Egypt, God had wrought a great victory by parting the Red Sea for them to cross over and then defeated the armies of Pharaoh in the Sea. The people had sang the Lord's praises, but it didn't take long for the realities of life to set in. They made their way to Marah, thirsty for a drink of cool, refreshing water only to find that the waters were bitter. (There is a wonderful application as Moses cast the tree into the water causing them to become sweet. Jesus bore our bitterness upon the Tree of Calvary and offered His sweet grace in salvation.)
The point I want to make is that Israel did not remain at Marah, the place of bitter waters; they traveled on to Elim where God provided an oasis for them in the midst of the desert. Elim had 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees. Surely this was a welcome sight to the weary Hebrews.
It is esitmated that Elim was only about 5 miles from Marah. They had no way of knowing that just over a few hills in the wilderness God had provided an oasis of refreshment. You may be in Marah today, but don't give up and decide to dwell there in bitterness. Keep pressing on in the journey. God may very well have an oasis for you just around the next bend. He knows what we need and how to supply that need!
Preacher Chris
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