Daily Devotions
Exodus
"I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring" Isaiah 44:3
Text: Exodus 15 : 22-24
EUPHORIA OF NEW-FOUND FAITH TESTED
The children of Israel were in a state of euphoria when they witnessed the glorious victory God wrought! They had crossed the Red Sea by means of a great miracle! The Egyptians were utterly destroyed in the same Sea when they tried to make a similar crossing! Soon that euphoria was tested!
“So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea;
then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur.
And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters
of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it
was called Marah.”
EXODUS 15:22-23
1. Into the Wilderness
The Lord had chosen this longer route in His own counsel! One of the reasons was to test the heart of the children of Israel! Would they continue to exercise faith in Him when they met with difficulties along the way?
2. Three days without water
This does not mean that they did not have any reserve stocks of water. It is understood that the children of Israel had its own supply of water and food when they went out of the land of Egypt. The Egyptians had given them all that had been asked from them. That would of necessity include both food and water!
3. Bitter waters
When the children of Israel finally found a source of water, they discovered that the taste of the water was “bitter”. They could not drink that water easily!
A HISTORY OF DISMAL RESPONSES
How did the children of Israel fare this time? When Moses first spoke to Pharaoh about releasing the children of Israel, there was severe repercussion! The children of Israel remonstrated against Moses angrily (Cf. Exodus 5:20-21)!
When they were confronted with the prospect of being mauled by the chariots of Egypt, the children of Israel also spoke severely against Moses (Cf. Exodus 14:10-12)!
Another trial had come up! How would the children of Israel respond? They did not fare well at all!
“And the people complained against Moses, saying,
‘What shall we drink?'”
EXODUS 15:24
What a shame that there should be such a dismal history of poor responses! God had performed one mighty deed after another to demonstrate His power! Could He not have given them water if only they had sought Him in faith?