"Facing Marah"(Exodus 15:22-27)

 Exodus 15:22-27

After the Israelites escaped Egypt and the Pharaoh’s army, they were going through the desert and could not find any water. Three days before, they were singing praises to God for the great works He had done. Now, the Israelites turned to grumbling against God because they could not find water.

 

Arriving at Marah, the grace of God had lost its impact on the lives of the Israelites, and they were no longer engaging in praise or worship. Water is now what they desired most, but the Marah water was so bitter that it could not be drunk. Their focus has shifted from God’s grace to their need of water and then to their disappointment in not receiving immediately what they desired. These malcontents then blamed Moses and God.

 

Everyone will face hard times in their lives. As Christians, we, too, are going to face bitterness and sorrow. However, when we face bitter situations and sorrowful moments, we should be grateful that God has given us opportunities to sacrifice. We should remember God’s grace for us and focus on that with the understanding that as God has given to us, we can give back to God. We need also to remember that God is always with us.

 

The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Exodus 13:22 ESV

 

God was always with them guiding them through the wilderness. Yet, even with God in front of them they could not see that God was rescuing them. So often God is working in our lives, but when we focus so much on the problems, we can convince ourselves that God is not there. God is with us and wants to save us. So much so that he sent His Son Jesus.

 

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21 ESV

 

The Israelites turned to grumbling which made the problem seem bigger than God despite the fact they had just witnessed God humiliate the most powerful nation in the region as well as rescue them from slavery. When we face bitterness in our lives, we need to pray.

 

And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them,

Exodus 15:25 ESV

 

God could have told Moses to go to Elim, but instead God turned the bitter water into sweet water. This was done after Moses prayed to God, and God gave Moses’ instructions how to turn the bitter water sweet. In this way, the problem of bitterness was addressed and transformed into

 

We see this often in the Bible such as Hannah praying for a son. Hannah in her sorrow seeks God's help in consistent and fervent prayer.

 

God allows bad things to happen in our lives. He allows bitterness to happen, so we will grow closer to God and be used in his ministry. God wants to teach us how to pray and sometimes it is those sour moments that get our attention. Our earnest prayers can glorify God  which is better than just complaining and doing nothing else.

 

The truth is that we cannot escape or ignore bitterness in our lives, but if we face it with the Holy Spirit, we can turn the bitterness into sweetness. This will glorify God and be a testimony of His merciful character.

Worship Songs;
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
Your Grace Is Enough
How He Loves