He Put Them To The Test

Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” He cried out to the LORD; and the LORD showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he put them to the test. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Exodus 15:22-27

The children of Israel had not gone far from the shore of the Red Sea when the realities of their new freedom began to register. They no longer enjoyed the ample food and water supply of Egypt. Now, after traveling three days into the wilderness, they had no water. And when they got to the oasis of Marah, the water was bitter.

The transformation of the water into sweet was a miracle. The children were forced to rely on a miracle, and not something they could control. In Egypt, the clean waters become blood, also sent by the Lord. The lesson of Marah was clear – the same hand that had turned water into blood could turn bitter into sweet. The same power that brought curses on Egypt could bring health to Israel.

If you have a seemingly impossible need today, remember that the hand that supplied your greatest need – forgiveness of sin – is the same hand that can adequately supply all your needs. Trust Him to accomplish things that seem impossible.

Impossibilities

compel us to rely on God.

Our Daily Bread – August 13, 2008