(1) Overview
(NET) The first event of the Israelites’ desert experience is a failure, for they murmur against Yahweh and are given a stern warning—and the provision of sweet water. The event teaches that God is able to turn bitter water into sweet water for his people, and he promises to do such things if they obey. He can provide for them in the desert—he did not bring them into the desert to let them die. But there is a deeper level to this story—the healing of the water is incidental to the healing of the people, their lack of trust.
(2) Questions:
1. Why did the Lord make a binding ordinance with Israel after He gave them water to drink?
2. The promise of obeying the commandments was the keeping away from the disease that He brought on the Egyptians. Why did God bring up the plagues to the Egyptians here?
3. At the end of the incident they came to a place with plenty of water. Why did Moses record that?
(3) Answers:
1. When Moses threw it into the water, the water became safe to drink. There the Lord made for them a binding ordinance, and there he tested them.
[tested] (NET) The whole episode was a test from God. He led them there through Moses and let them go hungry and thirsty. He wanted to see how great their faith was.
The lack of water led them to have the trust in God. Then God gave them the commandments. If they followed then their lives would not be threatened.
(Note: the people murmured against Moses v.24.)
(Note: the people murmured against Moses v.24.)
(NET) They were not merely complaining—they were questioning God’s abilities and motives. The action is something like a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
2. The lack of water and when they found the water it was not suitable to drink might be perceived as a plague like those God brought on the Egyptians.
2. The lack of water and when they found the water it was not suitable to drink might be perceived as a plague like those God brought on the Egyptians.
15:26 He said, “If you will diligently obey the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the LORD, am your healer.”
[disease] (NET) The reference is no doubt to the plagues that Yahweh has just put on them. These will not come on God’s true people. But the interesting thing about a conditional clause like this is that the opposite is also true—“if you do not obey, then I will bring these diseases.”
Being the people of God or not caused one's lives. Israelites learned that in Egypt and they learned about in Marah. However, here they learned that being the people of God required the obedience to the commandments. In other words, if they obeyed, they would be the people of God then God would not bring the disease/plague on them. When they lacked water they needed not to think that it was a plague or not. As a matter of fact, God said, "I, the LORD, am your healer." He was the One who spared them from all the plagues, led them out of Egypt and brought them to the Promised Land. He was ready to bless them when they obey.
3. Elim was used to show them that God was meant to bless them.
[Elim] (NET) Judging from the way the story is told they were not far from the oasis. But God had other plans for them, to see if they would trust him wholeheartedly and obey. They did not do very well this first time, and they will have to learn how to obey. The lesson is clear: God uses adversity to test his people’s loyalty. The response to adversity must be prayer to God, for he can turn the bitter into the sweet, the bad into the good, and the prospect of death into life.
(4) Reflections:
If you are one of the Israelites, what would you do when you faced the disappointment of bitter water? They questioned the ability and motive of God. When are we like them?
What was the different approach of Moses? Instead of complaining, Moses chose to turn to God for help.
Now, the Israelites know that being the people of God or not caused one's lives.
Is it too much that God asked for the obedience of His commandments? For us, we are the people of God through God's grace. He has already given us eternal life. How much more shall we be willing to obey Him. How do you handle obedience?
God is the healer and the One who prepared the Elim. What can this help you to go through adversity? Someone used to say, "we are just a prayer away from peace and safety." Why dont we go to the throne of grace and mercy?
Audrey
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