Lechem Panim #17 "Marah and God's Provision" (Exodus 15:22-27) Pastor Cameron Ury

Our passage today comes from Exodus 15:22-27. 
God’s Deliverance-- God has just delivered Israel out of slavery and bondage to Egypt. And this deliverance represents a major milestone in God’s overarching plan of salvation. It is powerfully symbolic and has major spiritual implications. They were not only delivered out of Egypt, but were beginning the process through which they might come to know God and eventually experience total deliverance from sin. That is what the first passover in Egypt was all about, when they marked their doorposts with sheep’s blood in order that the death angel (who moved throughout Egypt striking the firstborn of the Egyptians) might see that blood on the doorposts of the Israelites and Pass Over. It was a picture of what God was going to do on a much larger scale for all of humanity in and through His Son Jesus, who would be the Lamb of God slain on a tree (who would have His blood shed) for the redemption of our sins in order that we might be delivered from death on an eternal scale.

The Experience of Deliverance-- Now when we first experience deliverance from sin, there is rejoicing. Why? Because we have experienced God. We have felt Him move in our life in an amazing way, much as the Israelites experienced joy at their having been delivered from the Egyptians and having seen God’s hand move on their behalf.

A Time of Rejoicing-- Now the story was pretty unbelievable. Israel had crossed the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s armies proceeded to follow them through the waters that God had miraculously parted by the hand of Moses; but then God closed the water over the Egyptians and delivered Israel from the hands of their enemies. Can you imagine a whole community of people being a witness to that story (as well as all the miracles done in Egypt)? They all share the same experience; the same testimony. And there is an eruption of rejoicing as they have finally come to experience deliverance. And it is a wonderful time of praise and singing. They have been redeemed! 

The Storms of Life-- Now at this point you would think that all their difficulties should be over, much like we often think when we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We laugh at the idea that doubt or temptation could still have any power over us and often think that we are not going to have to face any storms. But that is not true. Even though the hand of God is with us, there are still a great many storms we must face. And as someone once said: Storms are a normal part of life. Either you are in one, coming out of one, or going into one. Either you are in one, coming out of one, or going into one. However, no matter how the waves are or how pressing the circumstances are, we must realize that God is even more powerful and that it is in the storms and trials that we face that we are most effectively fashioned into the likeness of Christ. And we do not have to dread the storm because we know the one who holds our hand and goes with us through every storm. And sometimes it is easy to forget the hand of God is with us. And so the challenge for us comes in remembering the strength of the one who is with us and continuing to place our trust in Him. And that is the lesson that the Israelites must begin to learn as they begin to face the many storms of life, beginning here in the wilderness just three days after their deliverance from Egypt. It says in…

Exodus 15:22 (ESV)— 22 Then Moses made Israel 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. 

Moving Away from Egypt-- And so our story today begins with thirst. The Israelites have left Egypt. And remember that Egypt was a land of abundance. And why was it so abundant? What made Egypt a place of such wealth and prosperity? It was the Nile. The Nile River made it possible for Egypt to thrive and for irrigation to take place. Without the Nile, Egypt would be nothing but desert. So the Israelites are moving away not only from Egypt but from all the water of Egypt. And as they move farther away from Egypt, they begin to find themselves in difficult circumstances as they move from luscious green into the barren desert. And the waters of Egypt were no longer available. 

A Desert Time of Thirsting-- And this is the experience of every single person who comes into a relationship with God. There is a separation in our lives that comes when we make a break with our old lifestyle of sin and begin to embrace the way of Christ. Sin is no longer able to satisfy us because we now have a thirst for the Living Water of God to fill us more deeply than sin every could. And so often there comes a desert-time in our lives when our hearts become thirsty for Him in a deeper way, as we (in our own lives) move away from the waters of Egypt. And as Israel was moving away from Egypt, they would experience the presence of God in a profound and visual way; both His miraculous provision for their physical needs, but also for their spiritual needs as well. Because remember they are moving towards Sinai; where they would experience the presence of God coming down to dwell in their very midst; to encamp with them in the Tabernacle; which is actually referred to as the Tent of Meeting; where God would allow His life-giving presence to be met by His people. And Jesus still offers to us that life-giving presence; and yet in Jesus it goes even further; because in and through His work He makes it possible for God to not only dwell with us, but in us. And so the call to experience the life of God and ultimate fulfillment of all we thirst for is a really a call to come into the presence of Jesus. This is why it says in…

John 7:37— “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” 

And for those of you who have drunk of the presence of Jesus, you know exactly how much He really does satisfy.

And so the Israelites have begun to move away from the cisterns of Egypt. And they begin to experience thirst. So [Thirsting and not finding water was their first experience. Now they have a second experience that was not much better.] It says in…

Exodus 15:23 (ESV)— 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.[b] 

The Frustration-- Now imagine this. They have finally come to a place that has an abundance of water. So they can see it, they can feel its coolness. They can almost taste it. But that water is too salty to be consumed. It is undrinkable. So just think of the frustration. And in times of frustration it can be easy to doubt God’s plan.

God’s Sovereign Plan-- But what we have to realize is that Israel coming to Marah was not an accident. It was part of the course that God had set for them. It did not catch God by surprise. He had always intended to lead them there. Now this is important because it reveals to us that the times of bitterness that you and I face are as much a part of the plan of God for our lives as the times of sweetness. When you and I go through a difficult experience, it is very easy to ask God why He allowed it. We may even feel like God is punishing us. But that is not the case. Anytime God allows us to go through a time of dryness or bitterness, it is only because He is preparing us for something. And we can either allow those bitter circumstances to make us bitter, or we can trust in God that He is using that trial in some way to make us better. In each and every one of our lives, we all have Marahs we have yet to face. Many of you have gone through or know people who have gone through these experiences. Some of you may be at a Marah now, wondering if you will ever taste sweetness again. But whatever that Marah might be, God is already there with you and has already promised to be your sustainer and your provider. The question is, are we going to trust Him?

Putting All Your Weight Down-- A man named [Uncle Oscar was apprehensive about his first airplane ride. His friends, eager to hear how it went, asked if he enjoyed the flight. "Well," commented Uncle Oscar, "it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I'll tell you this. I never did put all my weight down!”] Now we recognize how foolish that guy was. Though he thought he wasn’t putting all his weight down, the plane was in fact carrying all his weight. But you know, we do the same thing with God. We debate about whether or not we can trust God and put our full weight down when the truth is we are already in His hands. It is not a question of whether or not He is in control, but whether or not we have accepted that He is in control and yield ourselves to that control. The struggle of Israel, for much of their history, was centered around their lack of faith and trust in God as their sole and sufficient source of everything they needed. When they turned to idols, it was because they did not think that God was enough. But He was. And the question you and I have to answer for ourselves is, “Do we believe (truly believe) that God is enough for us?” “Do we really trust Him?” Or have we, like the Israelites, forgotten the wonders He has already done for us? The Israelites had. Therefore it says in…

Exodus 15:24 (ESV)-- 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 

You know, it is easy to judge them, but we do the same thing all the time. God created us; He made a beautiful, life-sustaining world for you and I to live in; He has shown Himself faithful to meet every one of our needs. And yet during trials and storms, we (like Jesus’ own disciples were) we are often more conscious of the wind and the waves than of the Creator of the wind and waves sleeping with us in the boat.

Now in our passage today we see that God does provide. While Israel fails to do the right thing, Moses doesn’t. He does exactly what we are to do. He goes to God with this difficult situation. It says…

Exodus 15:25a (ESV)-- 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log {(or it can also be translated “a tree”)},[c] and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

This morning I want to encourage you to (in whatever trial you are facing) to come to Jesus. Whether you need is spiritual or physical; God has the power to meet that need. Now He may allow us to go through that time of testing. But the hope that we can have in every trial that we face is that (eventually) every trial will come to an end. You know it’s interesting. After in verse 27 it says…

Exodus 15:27 (ESV)-- 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

God’s Elims for Us--  And this shows us that though God may lead us through some dry and bitter places, in the end His plan is to bring us to a place of sweetness. While you and I will face the Marahs, God also has some wonderful Elims for you and me as well; if we continue to trust in Him. Trust in Him today. He has a plan and purpose in every time of suffering; a purpose to mold and to shape you; and for your life to be made all the sweeter as you continue to abide Him. Abide in Him today. Amen.