This week we have looked at the Israelites crossing at the Red Sea and how their Egyptian pursuers were drowned. Moses, Miriam, and the Israelites have finished singing, and now it is time to journey on. Moses leads the Israelites into the desert and they go for three days without finding water. This was a life-threatening situation. Finally, they came to some water and their hopes are dashed by the bitterness of the water. It was named Marah meaning bitter. But God showed Moses a piece of wood which Moses promptly threw into the water. Immediately the water was made sweet and the Israelites were able to drink it. Moses and company find themselves in a very bitter situation. They have been three days in the desert without coming upon a source of water. The water they have come to is undrinkable. Death is threatening and the people complained to Moses. Moses cried out to Yahweh and Yahweh made the bitter water sweet. Refreshing themselves, they are revived and journey onward. God takes something bitter, redeems and uses it for good. Maybe that is the message for us: whatever bitter obstacles we encounter in life's journey we can count on God to transform them, to use and redeem them for good.
So, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. (Exodus 15: 24-25a)
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