Bitter Water

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by bearerofChrist

by bearerofChrist

Exodus 15:22-27

We are all grumbly people, we can always find something to complain about and even in great moments can find something to pick at.
In Philippians 4:11 Paul says "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content". But how did Paul manage not to grumble and to be content through anything thrown at him?
Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".

It is through Christ, Christ enables us to be content, through prison, shipwrecks and trial, Paul stayed content no matter how bad it got and that's why we need to learn to be content like Paul.

The Israelites share a few things in common with us and so are an awful lot like us, they too are grumblers.

1. Testing Times

Moses, the author, says in verse 25 that this is a test "and there He (God) tested them". But this isn't a general knowledge test or a physical one but one of faith. How much do they trust God and how confident are they that He will provide for their needs? After travelling through the desert they haven't been able to find any sort of water for three days. And just to make it worse as soon as they finally find water it's bitter.

It's not just a test of faith but of their historical knowledge. Knowledge of their own personal history. Can they remember the way that Pharaoh made them slaves and killed their baby boys? When Moses came to save them or the ten plagues? When the sea split in two? Because if they remembered all of that you'd think that as they approached this bitter water they'd ask the Lord "Please Lord make this drinkable". But it's clear they don't remember and so instead became as bitter as the very water they needed.

They can't see all that God has done for them. When someone becomes bitter and grumbles they cannot see past their problems. The focus all goes onto them and their problems and they curl up to themself. But if they just look up they can see that pillar of cloud or fire and know that God is still with them. They don't need to grumble they just need to step back and see God. Do they really think after all God has done for them He would allow them to die right there?

It's the Same way today for us, do we really think God would send his one and only son Jesus to die on the cross for us just to leave us here now? After coming this far why would he? - He is always with us. Psalm 23:4 says "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me". David, the author of that Psalm, has learned this contentment just as Paul did, that even through the valley of the shadow of death we do not need to fear because God is with us.

In this sinful world we can see so many reasons for us to grumble, but if we look up we will see even more reasons to rejoice.

2. Gracious God

Sometimes we might be tempted to stand back and withdraw when we're faced with moany ungrateful people, but thank goodness the Lord is not like that. After the people grumbled, God solved their problem by cleaning the water and then provided much much more than the people needed or could've asked for. We can really trust the Lord to provide for us just as we can see here.

We are all sinners who've rebelled against God and on top of that we moan about anything we can moan about, but the Lord still continues to provide for us with everything we need and more. He meets our grumbling with his grace because he is just that good.

There's so many times God could've finished with us all, when Adam and Eve ate the fruit is just one of the many examples. He could've abandoned us all but he hasn't. We're all sinners who still drift back to sins, but God is gracious, so gracious that he sent his son. John 3:17 says "For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that world might be saved through him".

The water was cleansed completely by a tree being thrown into it. Some commentators think that the log represents the cross, others aren't so sure. But even so it can show us that in this corrupt world, like the bitter water, we have something which can completely clean and redeem, Jesus.

Even if the log isn't meant to be a direct picture of the cross it shows us what Jesus has done for us. We were like that bitter pool of water but then Jesus stepped into the world and was immersed into the anger of God, plunged into the judgment that we deserve and we are now rescued and made new through Him. We are made pure, clean and alive in Christ.

The tree was plunged into the bitter water and now that is healed;
Christ was plunged on a tree into the judgment of God and now we are healed.

15/1/23 Evening