Darren Rogers, Bethany Baptist Church, Pwallguam, United Kingdom
We we gain victory in one moment, be prepared, disappointment is probably "just around the corner."
Exodus 15 is a song of victory from Moses.
- It will affect us personally
- We will need to encourage others
- v2 - my strength...my song...my salvation
- a song of praise and testimony
- then, v 23 came bitterness at Marah
Always the same, a great victory, then disappointment. The wilderness or human experience.
"Great success is often followed by great failure." Usually, "when we let our guard down." Murmuring follows victory which leads to failure. See verse 24.
Moses never promoted himself as the greatest leader Israel ever had. In fact, at the burning bush, he asked the Lord to "send someone else." (Exo 4.13)
Murmuring about the water, which is a big problem considering over one million people plus animals that needed to stay hydrated in the desert.
- too much water at the Red Sea
- no water in the desert
- bitter water - could not drink it
Red Sea experiences are often followed by "Marah" or bitter experiences. After every mountain top, one may expect a valley. However, remember "God will provide." Bear in mind the One who brought you to this place. Following the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, God lead them to this place, not Moses. Moses merely obeyed.
Verse 25, God allows these things and provides. Is your water bitter? God can fix it. Our witness and testimony is not tested on the mountain top(s) but proven in the hard, dry, bitter times. Indeed it is easy to trust the Lord in the successes but what about the failures? It is difficult to like somebody when they disagree with you or just plain "get on your nerves."
"Disappointments reveal more about us than the circumstances"
-Ps 34.18-
- The model seems to be "when in doubt, blame someone else."
- "Moses, we were better off as slaves in Egypt than free men in the wilderness."
- the tendency is to focus on what is wrong in the moment rather than what He has done for us before. answered prayer is typically forgotten during the times of failure.
- murmuring and complaining leads to resentment which is like a cancer eating away inside (Eph 4.31)
Moses did not lash out at all the murmuring and complaining. His response? He cried unto the Lord. (verse 25). He prayed. Bitter water was made sweet. The tree that made bitter water sweet had been there all along. God's solution to your disappointment(s) was "there all the time."
 |
| The tree at Marah that made bitter water sweet. |
 |
| The solution to make bitter into sweet. |
"God is the Master of reversing hurts"
Look at Joseph in Genesis 37. Sold into slavery and treated unjustly by family and friends, so-called. He could have become bitter and gotten revenge. Yet in the end he forgave and was restored. He had to wait a long time but was rewarded in his patience and forgiving heart. (Gen 50.20)
- Verse 27 demonstrates an oasis in the middle of the great Sinai desert. "All the water they could want."
- "A place of rest and restoration."
- How far was Elam from Marah? "Just around the corner!" Just a few steps away from giving up!
- Too close to victory and often we give up too quick.
There is an oasis in your disappointment when you wait on the Lord to change you even if He does not change the circumstance.
Wait, I say, on the Lord
-Ps 27.14-
How long should a believer wait? Keep going! Past the frustrations, bitterness and disappointment. Elam was a few steps from Marah. "Just around the corner." Not the time to "throw in the towel." Take it to the Lord. Perseverance is a hallmark testimony for every believer.
God bless and keep you is our prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment