The Provision Just Around the Corner
My day ended up being a busy one away from home. I left the house in the morning and ran an errand on the way for a chiropractor appointment. I made a visit to the new Fort Collins office of Senator Cory Gardner and traveled to Greeley for a lunch meeting and a radio interview.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter—that is why it was named Marah…Then they came to Elim, where there were 12 springs of water and 70 date palms, and they camped there by the waters.” Exodus 15:23,27 HCSB
It is so easy to gauge our life and attitude about what is happening in the “now.” As the Children of Israel move from bondage in Egypt beyond the Red Sea and journey to the promise land, they soon find themselves without water. The grumbling and complaining or as my wife calls it, the “awefullizing” (making a situation more “awful” than it is) takes place. Not that being without water isn’t a crisis. I recall being on a trip to Israel in the month of July, and I gained a new appreciation of water in the hot, arid climate.
But we need to remember that these are the people who saw God bring plagues of incredible magnitude and variety on the Egyptians. They have just crossed the Red Sea with the bodies of Pharaoh’s armies left lying on the shore. Now they feel that the Lord is going to abandon them to the elements.
Then as they come to water and feel some sense of relief, they find the water undrinkable. The remedy is unusual, throwing a tree into the water and the bitter water becomes drinkable. But what we do see clearly is the Lord says, “this is a test.” A test of obedience, faith and trust. The promise for faith and obedience is healing and life and safety from the disease and judgment that came on the Egyptians.
Right after this experience, the Children of Israel come to Elim, a place of 12 springs of water and 70 date trees. And the Bible notes, that is where they camped.
Often in our life we fix our eyes on “Marah” and fail to believe for the “Elim” that is just around the bend or at the next stop. We can be ready to “throw in the towel” stop believing and allow the experience of life to embitter us. But if we keep trusting, following and pressing on…we find a place of life, shade and refreshment. Marah was stopping place, Elim was a resting place.
We can desire to see our bitterness turned into sweetness and believe that is the best the Lord has for us. But the next step in the journey we find something far greater than we could imagine. I am reminded of Paul’s words, “…let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.“ (Galatians 6:9 ESV)
Don’t let the difficulties of life and that which would cause hardship and bitterness to take your eyes off the Lord. Remember….“For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” (Psa. 48:14 NIV) As the old songs says, “the Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all we have to do is follow.”