CHARLES PRICE V1070
Here Am I, Send Someone Else
9. The Bitter Water of Marah 47minExodus 15:22-27
Something that is good is not necessarily agreeable or pleasant.
Everything that comes from God is good because God is good, but it is possible to get something which is good, yet at the same time is bitter.
God led the Israelites by a pillar of cloud or a pillar of fire.
Once they crossed the Red Sea, the Israelites went into the desert of Shur (Exodus 15:22). The triumph of the Red Sea turns into the trial of the desert.
Their journey soon falls into this pattern - triumph followed by trial.
We like the green pastures but life will always include deserts; feasts and fights; mountain tops and valleys; light and darkness.
God led the Israelites to Marah - a bitter place where they could not quench their thirst.
Bitter Blessings
Why does God allow trials?
Jeremiah 32:21 Only God could bring Israel out of Egypt so why did He lead them into trials?
Remember the Passover meal included bitter herbs.
Bitterness is God’s means of bringing blessing - they are often mingled. Through bitter experiences, God often does things that are deep and lasting. (Note: this is not bitterness of heart, which is destructive; Hebrews 12:15).
A bitter experience can cause you to turn to grumbling (Exodus 15:24) or to turn to God (Exodus 15:25).
The Israelites grumbled because they did not realize there was a purpose in the trials. (Deuteronomy 8:2-5)
The trials were designed to humble, test and expose what was in their heart.
When Moses turned to God, God spoke to him.
The ultimate purpose God had in mind when He brought Israel out of Egypt was to bring them to Himself. (Exodus 19:4)
He has the same ultimate purpose for those who believe and accept the Gospel. (John 17:3 “that they may know you”)
If the main purpose was for God to bring the Israelites to Canaan, they could expect the shortest, most direct, least difficult route. But, God’s purpose was to bring them to Himself so the tests and difficulties were designed to bring them to God (the alternative was that the problems would drive them away from God and leave them bitter in spirit).
Are we fatalistic when we face trials or do we embrace trouble? Bring it to God and ask Him, “What are you doing in this situation?”
The test of how much we trust God comes when we don’t know what’s going on.
Exodus 15:26 God links the bitter waters of Marah with the healing of Israel. Jamie Buckingham claims the waters were high in magnesium - a laxative which would have cleansed their systems of diseases common in Egypt.
Bigger Blessings
Exodus 16:25
Beside the bitter water there was an antidote - a piece of wood.
There is no type of wood that has the ability to sweeten bitter water.
So, consider it a type of something else - perhaps the cross of Christ which brings healing.
Three stages:
- Testing of the people, designed to lead to a
- Turning to the Lord, which results in a
- Treating of the bitterness
Exodus 15:27 “then they came to Elim”
There was more pure water in the 12 springs of Elim than in the bitter water of Marah.
The palm trees provide shade.
The Israelites visited the bitter water of Marah but camped by the springs of Elim.
Compare with woman of Samaria (John 4). The difference between the water that does not satisfy and the water that Jesus gives - “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14
Lamentations 3:22-23 God’s compassions are new every morning.
God gives us a fresh supply of His provision every day.
