Random Inspirations

Bitter to Sweet

Clouds of fine sand billowed to the steady plodding of their steps. The desert sun beat upon their backs like the whips of their former slave masters they had just escaped a few day ago. An older man, unsteady on his feet, stumbled. His pride had kept him upright this many days, but his body was ready to collapse from the strain of the daily march. It had been three days with very little water and they were all showing symptoms of dehydration and exhaustion. But I led them to a place where there was water.

They saw the surface of the glassy surface glinting under the scorching light of day. Some ran, others cried with renewed hope. They made their way, they bent to drink cupping the clear fluid in their hands. Their eyes closed in anticipation of what this refreshment promised and took a gulp.

The bitterness of the water caused them to recoil and retch as their stomachs rejected it. Then they began to cry aloud in frustration and torment. They cried from their years of enslavement and harsh treatment. They had known no kindness, no gentleness from a God of love, only a harsh ruler who proclaimed himself to be a god. How could they know my heart towards them unless I showed them?

But they would not call to me. How could they? They barely knew me. They spoke to their leader who cried out to me. And so I answered them. I sweetened their water so they could drink it and then spoke, "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." And then I took them to an abundant spring with shade. A place they could rest in the desert.

They needed to know I knew them. They needed to know the parched thirst of the desert, to know the overflowing springs of my goodness. They needed to know that as they tasted the bitter waters, I could taste the bitterness of their soul. They needed to know that as I healed the water and made it sweet, I could do the same with them.

(Inspired by Exodus 15:22-27.)

May the Lord bless you and fill you with His goodness causing you to be an overflowing well of His sweetness.