Exodus 15:22-26
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. ) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
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 sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of 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."
Immediately after the victorious and magnificant Red Sea crossing which the power of God was demonstrated, some 3 days later, the Israelites forget everything and become their good old sinful self .
We get a glimpse of the Israelite's human nature surfacing, something which you and I as Singaporeans are super at - grumbling (aka as complaining). Somehow, we grumble as long as things don't suit us or don't meet our expectations.
Note that the thirsty Israelites grumbled to Moses because after three days of travlling in the desert without water, and having found waters, were unhappy that the waters of Marah were bitter. It wasn't good enough that they found water to drink, the water had to be pleasant enough for them to drink. Somehow, I can imagine many of us, myself included, like that if we were placed in the situation, because like the Israelites we can't see to appreciate the provisions in perspective to our prior needy situation.
Today, I like to just share a simple reminder to you and myself who are going about the past while trying to find water for our lives - Don't grumble. Regardless of whatever the Lord provides. In everything, let's learn to give thanks.
Blessings.
M.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
P.S - Now the most interesting part of the scripture is found as we read on after God healed the waters. The Lord made a decree and a law for the people to test them. The test was for them to listen carefully to the voice of God, to do what is right in His eyes and keep all His decrees. Weirdly, the results promised for doing all of that was that there would be no diseases that would be levied upon the Israelites.
Disease? Why wasn't the rewards of being God-fearing more of God's blessing and provision? Especially since the people were already walking in the desert and suffering in the uncomfortable conditions.
Simply because the people were already promised that God was bringing them out of captivity into the promise land which would be full of abundance. The provisions were a given blessing that were already bestowed. The freedom from the diseases which God was talking about was the 10 plagues:
1.(Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
2.(Exodus 7:26-8:11) reptiles (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
3.(Exodus 8:12-15) lice ('Kinim')
4.(Exodus 8:16-28) Either flies, wild animals or beetles ('Arov')
5.(Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever')
6.(Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin')
7.(Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad')
8.(Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
9.(Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot')
In the next few postings, I hope to elaborate more about God's promises to the Israelites of complete protection from any of the 10 plagues curses of God and what each of them could mean for us. Meanwhile, I challenge you to spend some time digesting the latter part of the key verses and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to see how/what the 10 plagues link
Cheers,M.
04 May 2007
Don't Grumble
Exodus 15:22-26
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. ) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
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 sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of 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."
Immediately after the victorious and magnificant Red Sea crossing which the power of God was demonstrated, some 3 days later, the Israelites forget everything and become their good old sinful self .
We get a glimpse of the Israelite's human nature surfacing, something which you and I as Singaporeans are super at - grumbling (aka as complaining). Somehow, we grumble as long as things don't suit us or don't meet our expectations.
Note that the thirsty Israelites grumbled to Moses because after three days of travlling in the desert without water, and having found waters, were unhappy that the waters of Marah were bitter. It wasn't good enough that they found water to drink, the water had to be pleasant enough for them to drink. Somehow, I can imagine many of us, myself included, like that if we were placed in the situation, because like the Israelites we can't see to appreciate the provisions in perspective to our prior needy situation.
Today, I like to just share a simple reminder to you and myself who are going about the past while trying to find water for our lives - Don't grumble. Regardless of whatever the Lord provides. In everything, let's learn to give thanks.
Blessings.
M.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
P.S - Now the most interesting part of the scripture is found as we read on after God healed the waters. The Lord made a decree and a law for the people to test them. The test was for them to listen carefully to the voice of God, to do what is right in His eyes and keep all His decrees. Weirdly, the results promised for doing all of that was that there would be no diseases that would be levied upon the Israelites.
Disease? Why wasn't the rewards of being God-fearing more of God's blessing and provision? Especially since the people were already walking in the desert and suffering in the uncomfortable conditions.
Simply because the people were already promised that God was bringing them out of captivity into the promise land which would be full of abundance. The provisions were a given blessing that were already bestowed. The freedom from the diseases which God was talking about was the 10 plagues:
1.(Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
2.(Exodus 7:26-8:11) reptiles (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
3.(Exodus 8:12-15) lice ('Kinim')
4.(Exodus 8:16-28) Either flies, wild animals or beetles ('Arov')
5.(Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever')
6.(Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin')
7.(Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad')
8.(Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
9.(Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot')
In the next few postings, I hope to elaborate more about God's promises to the Israelites of complete protection from any of the 10 plagues curses of God and what each of them could mean for us. Meanwhile, I challenge you to spend some time digesting the latter part of the key verses and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to see how/what the 10 plagues link
Cheers,M.
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. ) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
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 sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of 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."
Immediately after the victorious and magnificant Red Sea crossing which the power of God was demonstrated, some 3 days later, the Israelites forget everything and become their good old sinful self .
We get a glimpse of the Israelite's human nature surfacing, something which you and I as Singaporeans are super at - grumbling (aka as complaining). Somehow, we grumble as long as things don't suit us or don't meet our expectations.
Note that the thirsty Israelites grumbled to Moses because after three days of travlling in the desert without water, and having found waters, were unhappy that the waters of Marah were bitter. It wasn't good enough that they found water to drink, the water had to be pleasant enough for them to drink. Somehow, I can imagine many of us, myself included, like that if we were placed in the situation, because like the Israelites we can't see to appreciate the provisions in perspective to our prior needy situation.
Today, I like to just share a simple reminder to you and myself who are going about the past while trying to find water for our lives - Don't grumble. Regardless of whatever the Lord provides. In everything, let's learn to give thanks.
Blessings.
M.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
P.S - Now the most interesting part of the scripture is found as we read on after God healed the waters. The Lord made a decree and a law for the people to test them. The test was for them to listen carefully to the voice of God, to do what is right in His eyes and keep all His decrees. Weirdly, the results promised for doing all of that was that there would be no diseases that would be levied upon the Israelites.
Disease? Why wasn't the rewards of being God-fearing more of God's blessing and provision? Especially since the people were already walking in the desert and suffering in the uncomfortable conditions.
Simply because the people were already promised that God was bringing them out of captivity into the promise land which would be full of abundance. The provisions were a given blessing that were already bestowed. The freedom from the diseases which God was talking about was the 10 plagues:
1.(Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
2.(Exodus 7:26-8:11) reptiles (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
3.(Exodus 8:12-15) lice ('Kinim')
4.(Exodus 8:16-28) Either flies, wild animals or beetles ('Arov')
5.(Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever')
6.(Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin')
7.(Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad')
8.(Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
9.(Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot')
In the next few postings, I hope to elaborate more about God's promises to the Israelites of complete protection from any of the 10 plagues curses of God and what each of them could mean for us. Meanwhile, I challenge you to spend some time digesting the latter part of the key verses and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to see how/what the 10 plagues link
Cheers,M.
