The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Tuesday
February 26, 2008
When Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers rushed into the sea, the
Lord brought the water crashing down on them. But the people of Israel had
walked through on dry land!
Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a
tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance. And Miriam sang this song:
"I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has thrown
both horse and rider into the sea."
Then Moses led the people of Israel away
from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the Shur Desert. They traveled in this
desert for three days without water. When they came to Marah, they finally found
water. But the people couldn't drink it because it was bitter. (That is why the
place was called Marah, which means "bitter.")
Then the people turned
against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded.
So Moses cried
out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a branch. Moses took the
branch and threw it into the water. This made the water good to drink.
It
was there at Marah that the Lord laid before them the following conditions to
test their faithfulness to him: "If you will listen carefully to the voice of
the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and
laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for
I am the Lord who heals you."
After leaving Marah, they came to Elim, where
there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the
springs.
Exodus 15:19-27
We all know that the Israelites were a backward people. They were clueless to the ways of God; like many of us. Oh, they knew God existed, but let's face it; they were laborers and didn't have much time to get real spiritual. So, God gave them a miracle to show them His power, but immediately it "seemed" that He was no longer around. They were waterless for three whole days! Then, when they came to some water it was bitter ¾ where was God?
Are you at Marah ¾ the place of bitter waters? Have you just come through an incredible time with the Lord only to find yourself drinking bitter water? Well, that is quite normal. However, God wants you to be better ¾ not bitter. He knows you are busy. He knows you are overwhelmed by your circumstances. He even knows that you just might not have time for a three hour Bible Study everyday. So, get a clue today. Moses simply cried out to the Lord on behalf of the sheep he was tending and he received help.
Okay, so you don't have time to seek God's face like you want to at this juncture of your life. Well, He is telling you through this Word that if you will listen carefully (I can do that), do what is right in His eyes (I can do that too ¾ most of the time), and obey His commands and laws (well, that is a little difficult sometimes) ¾ He will not make you suffer the same diseases as the Egyptians (natural plagues). He will even take you to a place of many palm trees and springs. You won't have to cry out "Calgon take me away!" God will allow you to enter His rest and that is worth the trip.
Father, we confess that many times in our busy world we do not know how to fit in a time of intense Bible Study and prayer. We trust that Your Words for these Israelites apply to our lives as well. We trust You to provide sweet water for our spirit when we are thirsty for You.
