“That’s it. I give up. This is the end. No more left within me. Why God? I’m so disappointed.” We probably have all cried out with these or similar words when our life situation overwhelmed us with discouragement. We could even share the stories of people in the Bible who faced the same kind of circumstances and how God provided a way for them. Yet, we begin wondering if that was for them and not us. Soon after the Exodus and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, Israel came to one of these points of desperation.
Israel had traveled three days into the wilderness. Their water skins were reaching empty but they had found no source of more water. Humans can only live three days without water. I am sure growing anticipation swept around the camp. Then Israel came to Marah where they found water. But, like the cowboys in the movies crawling through the desert nearing the point of death who arrived at a pool of water only to find it was poison, Israel could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter (Exo 15:23). Disappointed, discouraged, and near panic the people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink?” Israel was still unaware that the steps of a man are established by the LORD (Psa 37:23). They were not in this situation by chance—God brought them there and there He tested them (Ex 15:25). He was preparing Israel. The people had to learn they must trust God for this journey. All their future travel and battles would require total dependence on the LORD.
Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet (Exodus 15:23-25). God knew this day was coming and had already placed the answer there. Have you ever thought about how that tree got there? How long had it been there? It takes time for a seed to grow into a tree. Here is the miracle: God knew Israel would encounter a poisoned pool of water at that location and at that exact moment. So, sometime in the past, He arranged for a bird to bring a seed or maybe He used the wind or directed someone to plant the tree. Scripture does not tell us and that’s not even important. What is important for us, God prepared the solution in advance. Lesson—God is working in your tomorrow.
Israel failed this first test of trust in their journey to the Promised Land by their grumbling and their attitude of despair, but God didn’t reject them or allow them to go thirsty. Israel would soon learn that seven miles away was a place of refuge. Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters (Exo 15:27). On average people can walk 24 miles in a day. Israel was only a few hours away from a refreshing oasis. At Marah, we know they had water, but no indication of anything else. At Elim, each of the twelve tribes drank from their own spring of cool water. Each of the seventy elders and the people they led ate from their own palm tree. When we trust and wait on the LORD, He gives more than we need—twelve artesian springs bubbling out cool water, fruit, and shade.
Like Israel, we are on a journey with a destination and not merely wandering aimlessly through life. Of course, because of Israel’s lack of trust in God, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years instead of living in a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex 3:8). God has plotted out each day of our life with a specific destination. God designed today to prepare us for tomorrow. I wish I could write that you will never face a test or trial in your future but that’s not God’s design. When I would set up institution classes in churches, the first question people would ask, “Will there be test? I’ll take a course if there are no tests.” Most of my Bible college students had a false understanding concerning test. Tests evaluate a person’s level of learning and skills to show areas that need improvement, not to eliminate or to expel them from school. Passing a test means a student is prepared to advance to a higher level. Growing in Christ and faith are no different. Like Israel, God allows circumstances that test us in order to advance us to a higher level of living not to eliminate us. James says; Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (Jas 1:2-4).
Whether blessed or desperate, we are not where we are in our journey by luck, by chance, or by coincident. Solomon wrote, The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps (Prov 16:9). The test you are facing is preparing you for a greater place in your ministry for the LORD.
Sustaining Word for the Week: God knew there would be today and has already prepared the solution. An even greater blessing waits at your Elim with 12 springs of water, 70 palm trees, and a place or refreshing.