I Am The LORD Who Heals You
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. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) . . . 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. 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."
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Exodus 15:22-27
There the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 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."
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Exodus 15:22-27
It is interesting that for three whole days, the Israelites traveled in the desert without finding water to drink! Didn't God know that water was essential to their survival? Why did they have to go through that painful experience to the point where they had to grumble against Moses and in reality against God Himself? And how come God led them to a bitter pool of water?
I believe there are several lessons that can be gleaned from the experience, but two are particularly worth noting:
First, the fact that the Israelites had just experienced the miraculous parting of the Red Sea did not mean all their trials and challenges were over. Even though they were still being led directly by God through the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night, they still found themselves with the challenge of having no water for three days.
The lesson is: we can still have bitter and very challenging experiences (Marah situations) even when we are directly in the will of God. But the same God who parts the Red Sea for us, can bring healing to those bitter experiences because He is the LORD "who heals us." He heals not just our diseases but also our pain and bitter experiences. He has the power to turn our bitter experiences into pleasant testimonies of divine healing and intervention. The Bible describes our healing as a "ruling." This ruling or divine statute is given within the instruction of our obedient walk with God. It is a statute we can appeal to as we walk obediently with God.
A second lesson is this: our Marah (bitter experiences) are temporary! Beyond Marah is Elim, with the awaiting joy of springs, palm trees, and water. We must look beyond Marah to Elim!
Not only will God heal us of diseases and whatever bitter experiences we encounter as we journey with Him, but He will also renew us with fresh springs of water. God heals and renews.
I believe there are several lessons that can be gleaned from the experience, but two are particularly worth noting:
First, the fact that the Israelites had just experienced the miraculous parting of the Red Sea did not mean all their trials and challenges were over. Even though they were still being led directly by God through the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night, they still found themselves with the challenge of having no water for three days.
The lesson is: we can still have bitter and very challenging experiences (Marah situations) even when we are directly in the will of God. But the same God who parts the Red Sea for us, can bring healing to those bitter experiences because He is the LORD "who heals us." He heals not just our diseases but also our pain and bitter experiences. He has the power to turn our bitter experiences into pleasant testimonies of divine healing and intervention. The Bible describes our healing as a "ruling." This ruling or divine statute is given within the instruction of our obedient walk with God. It is a statute we can appeal to as we walk obediently with God.
A second lesson is this: our Marah (bitter experiences) are temporary! Beyond Marah is Elim, with the awaiting joy of springs, palm trees, and water. We must look beyond Marah to Elim!
Not only will God heal us of diseases and whatever bitter experiences we encounter as we journey with Him, but He will also renew us with fresh springs of water. God heals and renews.
Prayer: Father, I thank you for your healing power. You are the God who heals me. I look to you not only for physical healing but also for emotional and spiritual renewal as I drink deep from your fresh springs of living water. Amen.