Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means “bitter”).
Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. Exodus 15:22-25
The bitter made sweet? The rough made smooth? The dead brought to life?
God’s kinda business.
So can our place of lack really become our place of plenty?
Can our dry and barren place become a place of fruitfulness?
Can the place of our greatest disappointment be where we see hope rise again – – – If we give Him a chance.
If we don’t pack up and go home in a huff. If we don’t get all bossy and snooty about exactly how everything is meant to play out.
If we don’t lose heart.
It’s been done before.
Here we have Moses in the line of fire again – – still steadying his nerves after a close call with the Egyptian Army, still catching his breath after a miraculous deliverance when the sea itself gave way to God’s people, their days of bondage and oppression behind them, the land of promise so close they should be able to smell it. God had worked more than a miracle right in their midst and three days in – – – they are out of water.
The shine all gone off it now. Grumbling and murmuring and dirty looks. Did he take a wrong turn, did he get it wrong, is there any way back, is God unfaithful? Did God bring them all this way just to see them perish.
Moses – not sure of himself, not ever – – – but sure of God. Hadn’t God parted the sea? Hadn’t God delivered His people? Surely he would make a way for them.
Can’t God use anything?
Can’t God use anyone?
A simple man. A simple prayer. A stick of wood?
He’d used Moses – a miracle in himself – God had called him in the midst of his own bitter wilderness – the least likely of men in his own eyes who thought himself dried up and past his time – who had missed his chance at greatness. He’d spent his life hiding – shepherding sheep far from his own people, far from his royal upbringing, far from his calling – until God caught him up.
Not finished after all.
Honey from the rock, streams in the desert, water into wine.
The sweetness of a second chance – of being found and used by God – all the sweeter when you’re long in the tooth and think your all but done. All the sweeter because it’s only by God’s grace and nothing of yourself.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
Our confidence in ourselves so less important than our confidence in God. Our self-opinion may wax and wane but God doesn’t set His clock by it.
All Moses had – faith in his God, a listening heart, simple obedience – the unlikeliest of men doing the unlikely thing God shows him to do. God’s plan, God’s provision, water to drink. A way in the wilderness.
So in our bitter where comes our sweet.
Christ himself – our living water, our refreshment, our peace.
Embracing a rough-hewn lump of wood – the Cross. God’s plan, God’s provision – to take the poison out, to make this life drinkable – so it doesn’t kill us.
Our second chance. Our never too late.
And there is sweetness in believing. Faith will always see more and go further. Faith looks and waits for God. Faith holds on. Faith sees what our human eyes don’t. Faith makes room. Faith takes comfort in God.
And there is sweetness in listening and doing and letting God do the rest – like Moses – doing whatever it is God shows us to do – forgive, love, stay, go, believe, wait, rest, trust – it’s not always easy but there’s purpose in it, there’s a knowing in it and that’s sweet to the taste. God always gives us something to throw in the water. Something to put our hand to. He doesn’t leave us hanging. He doesn’t leave us with nothing.
And this bit – there’s sweetness in the journeying with Him, in the conversation along the way, the aroma and comfort of His presence – knowing He is with us, that we are not alone.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. Psalm 46:4
Love to you all today
Tracey xx