Today’s Devotion
Topic: From Marah to Elim
Text: Exodus 15: 22-27
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
25 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. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “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.”
27 From there they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Amen
The journey of life is not so different from Israel’s exodus from Egypt to Canaan. It had only been three days since the Lord worked miraculously and parted the Red Sea so that they crossed it on dry ground. Before their very eyes the same water swallowed Pharaoh and his army for their (Israel’s) deliverance.
Here they are however, in the desert of Shur where they walked three days without water. Only to get to Marah to notice the water there was bitter. They grumbled and complained against Moses. Beloved, you know we all behave like the Israelites Moses was leading. The Lord works the impossible in our favor and we are so joyous till we meet another challenge not so long after. Instead of trusting Him entirely to do as He did before, we rather grumble and complain.
Well Moses cried unto the Lord again and the Lord showed him a piece of wood that he threw into the water to make it wholesome for consumption. This the Lord did to prove there is no situation beyond Him if only we will trust Him as able. Then He went on to state emphatically that this was a test for Israel. He said:
i. If you LISTEN CAREFULLY to the Lord your God
ii. And do what is right in His eyes
iii. If you pay attention to His commands and keep ALL His decrees.
iv. I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians. For I Am the Lord, who heals you.
Now, to confirm that the Lord is more than able and that Marah was only a test, He led them from the healed waters of Marah to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
This is a wonderful message for all of us embarking on life’s journey. To those of us who are trapped by the Red Sea with Pharaoh approaching fast, know that our God is able to deliver you and destroy Egypt for your sake. For those who are praising God for delivering them from Pharaoh’s pursuits, remember to still trust God when you get to Marah, the place where you who could walk in between walls of water can not find suitable water to quench your thirst.
When you get there, do no grumble but remember to obey all the instructions of the Lord and He will show you how to make the bitter waters of Marah wholesome. Then He will lead you to Elim where there are twelve springs and seventy palm trees for shade. A place of abundance and rest from all the fears and anxieties of the past. What a wonderful day that will be.
Begin to pray now. Ask the Lord to help you hold on to His word no matter what. Those who do, will not suffer the diseases He brought on the Egyptians, for He is the Lord, who heals us! Also, as we begin a week, ask the Lord to walk you through the challenges of Marah till Elim, where you can enter His rest and feast from the abundance of His household. Your blessings will be too numerous to count.
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