Three Days into the Wilderness

There was no time to linger at the seashore beach and worship with song and music. The Israelites travelled from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur. For three days they were unsuccessful at finding water.

They came to a place called Marah (bitter), but the water was bitter (salty?) and undrinkable, so they started grumbling against Moses. It must have seemed like a cruel joke! A common theme will be grumbling against Moses!

Bitter Waters Made Sweet

God had Moses cast a log into the water to make it sweet. The tree adds structure to something that is not available normally available to us. Moses will be able to turn bitter into sweet. The water is now drinkable. In the New Testament we see Jesus turn water into wine. It is a miracle here as well.

In Marah, God established a statue with the Hebrews that if they would honour Him and heed His instructions, He would not afflict them with the diseases that afflicted the Egyptians. Naomi (sweetness) would lose all her family and ask they she be called Marah. There are times in our lives when we can respond with sweetness or bitterness.

The Testing of Israel

When God tells us what to do, He gives us a test. Our obedience determines if we pass the test or not.

It is tempting to look at people’s suffering and think they are a sinner. If they keep God’s commandments, then the plagues that came upon Egypt will not come upon Israel.

God led the Israelites from Marah to Elim where there were 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees The necessity of having water out in the desert is being met as they seek to establish order for the Nation. The numbers may be significant with 12 tribes of Israel and the 70 elders that will be appointed later. They are laying down a structure (trees) and the proper distribution of authority (branches).

1. Life is a mixture of sweetness and bitterness – Without bitterness we would have no desire for Heaven.
2. Trials are an X-Ray to see what is really in our hearts for God. The situation or other people do not make us bitter. It shows what is already inside our hearts.
3. The cross takes away the bitterness. The Tree was there to take away the bitterness of the bitter water. The tree is emblematic of the cross and turning the bitterness of sin and death into something sweet.

The Lord is “Jehovah-Rapha” – the Lord who heals you. There is a need to lay aside bitterness so that we are healed and can drink the water. It is after Marah that they come to Elim where there was twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees.

Categories: Exodus