The Bittersweetness of Marah
I love camping! Really anything outdoorsy, but especially camping. I know this is strange for most women (maybe because I grew up with brothers) but I just love the excitement of building a fire, cooking over it, sitting on a stump and singing kum by ya, and then falling asleep on the cold earth after staring at the stars! It simply thrills me. However I also enjoy my warm showers, television, couches, and microwaves, so I don't think I would fair to well living completely in the outdoors.
I just recently started studying the book of Exodus. This has definitely opened my eyes to the living conditions of the Israelites and God's provision for them (my camping couldn't hold a candle to these guys). I did get struck with awe in Exodus 15 where God provides water for the Israelites. Ok, imagine this, you have been following around this old bearded dude, and you have been wandering in the wilderness for three days without water. You are led to this place called Marah and you find water. After shouting for joy, turning a couple of cartwheels, maybe a back flip into the water, you discover that the water is bitter. I would definitely be thinking, really dude? Do you think this is funny or some kind of joke? Thanks a lot, you led us to bitter water in the desert, how kind of you! Do you have any idea how thirsty I am? Well, that's exactly what the Israelites did, they grumbled at Moses and asked, really? Good job O fearless leader, what are we suppose to do now? So Moses cries out to God, and then the craziest thing happens. God, Jehovah-Jireh, showed him a tree; and Moses threw the tree into the waters, and the waters became sweet! Are you thinking what I am thinking....What?? God took a simple tree and made bitter water sweet for selfish, ungrateful people. Awesome!
So I started thinking of times God allowed me to taste my own bitterness, and how He has provided for my bitter water to become sweet. Have I mentioned that I am a newlywed?! O the things God has taught me in the past eight months. All the married folks are laughing right now. I had NO IDEA how selfish I was until May 4, 2008 (the day after our wedding). My selfishness is often accompanied by my pride and stubbornness. Please pray for my amazing husband Matthew while God continues to work in me :) How bitter my water! ! But, how wonderful our Savior!! I find it no coincidence that God used a tree to sweeten the water. The same thing he used to sweeten us, a cross (Ok, I know I may be going all Sunday School here, but this is amazing). On a tree at Calvary were cast the bitter waters of all time. Through the death of Jesus, the waters were made sweet!! Some days I feel like the Israelites, just wandering around not thinking about anything but myself, and how God continues to be Jehovah-Jireh and providing grace to the lowest of sinners. Thank you.
"O God, You are my God; I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1
I just recently started studying the book of Exodus. This has definitely opened my eyes to the living conditions of the Israelites and God's provision for them (my camping couldn't hold a candle to these guys). I did get struck with awe in Exodus 15 where God provides water for the Israelites. Ok, imagine this, you have been following around this old bearded dude, and you have been wandering in the wilderness for three days without water. You are led to this place called Marah and you find water. After shouting for joy, turning a couple of cartwheels, maybe a back flip into the water, you discover that the water is bitter. I would definitely be thinking, really dude? Do you think this is funny or some kind of joke? Thanks a lot, you led us to bitter water in the desert, how kind of you! Do you have any idea how thirsty I am? Well, that's exactly what the Israelites did, they grumbled at Moses and asked, really? Good job O fearless leader, what are we suppose to do now? So Moses cries out to God, and then the craziest thing happens. God, Jehovah-Jireh, showed him a tree; and Moses threw the tree into the waters, and the waters became sweet! Are you thinking what I am thinking....What?? God took a simple tree and made bitter water sweet for selfish, ungrateful people. Awesome!
So I started thinking of times God allowed me to taste my own bitterness, and how He has provided for my bitter water to become sweet. Have I mentioned that I am a newlywed?! O the things God has taught me in the past eight months. All the married folks are laughing right now. I had NO IDEA how selfish I was until May 4, 2008 (the day after our wedding). My selfishness is often accompanied by my pride and stubbornness. Please pray for my amazing husband Matthew while God continues to work in me :) How bitter my water! ! But, how wonderful our Savior!! I find it no coincidence that God used a tree to sweeten the water. The same thing he used to sweeten us, a cross (Ok, I know I may be going all Sunday School here, but this is amazing). On a tree at Calvary were cast the bitter waters of all time. Through the death of Jesus, the waters were made sweet!! Some days I feel like the Israelites, just wandering around not thinking about anything but myself, and how God continues to be Jehovah-Jireh and providing grace to the lowest of sinners. Thank you.
"O God, You are my God; I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1
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