Challenge in the desert
Series: Follow me | Bible text: Exodus 15:22–27; James 1:2–4
God deliberately leads his people through the desert to test them. The test does not come out of malice, but to strengthen the people’s faith and trust. A piece of wood makes bitter water sweet. This experience points to the wood of the cross, on which Jesus overcame the bitterness of our lives, our abandonment, forsakenness and even the bitterness of death. It also answers the question of how we can become Oak of justice instead of a embittered people can be realised.
The passage through the Red Sea, which Paul will later use as an image for baptism, is followed by Miriam’s song of triumph over God (Exodus 15:1–21). The first theological message of Jewish and Christian tradition comes from the mouth of a woman. After the marvellous miracle of crossing the water, the people of Israel begin their journey through the desert. In the Bible, the desert often represents a place of testing and purification. Here, far from the distractions and securities of life, the Israelites are confronted with their dependence on God. They have no resources to provide for themselves and must learn to trust in God’s care.
God’s trials and our trust
«Moses then led the Israelites away from the Red Sea and they travelled into the desert of Shur. They wandered through the desert for three days without finding water. When they came to Marah, they finally found water. But they could not drink it because it was bitter. That is why the place was named Mara» (Exodus 15:22–23 NLB).
It was not a wayward path that the people took. No, God led them straight into this difficult desert situation with the bitter water. His navigation device, consisting of a pillar of fire and a cloud, brought them into this uncomfortable situation.
Jewish commentators are convinced that the Lord’s Prayer did not originally read: «Lead us not into temptation», but rather in the direction of «lead us in temptation». The Geneva translation reads: «Let us not be tempted». This means that we do not fail or grumble in difficult situations in life. But – it is true, God leads his people through the desert with full intention to test them. The test does not come out of malice, but to strengthen the faith and trust of the people. God wants to prepare the Israelites for life in the land of Canaan.
Some mistakenly believe that Jesus cynically observes from afar how we humans cope with the inhospitality of the desert. Many, many years ago, we released trout into a fountain near the reservoir in Romanshorn. On the afternoon of the boys» choir, there was a relay race before the fish were eaten. The slippery fish kept slipping out of the children’s hands. We enjoyed watching the fish wriggling on the gravel and struggling in their hopeless situation. It was youthful exuberance that I am ashamed of today. Some people think that God is like that: He leads us into difficult situations and watches cynically as we struggle through them. No, when God leads a follower into the desert, He accompanies him full of empathy and does everything to ensure that he remains victorious and that trust in Him is strengthened.
No water for three days, the mood at rock bottom. Then – suddenly water in sight. Cheering, people mobilise the last of their strength, only to discover that the water is undrinkable. Bitter, what an emotional rollercoaster ride! In our lives too, we sometimes come across «bitter waters» – challenges and trials that test our trust in God. Failure at work, in relationships, physical or mental illness, pain. There are some bitter pills to swallow along the way.
A true Good Friday feeling. A feeling of the disciples who feel abandoned and betrayed after Jesus» arrest and execution. A feeling that Jesus also had to struggle with that night in Gethsemane.
The temptation to grumble
«And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?» (Exodus 15:24 LUT).
Instead of trusting in God, the people grumble against Moses. Grumbling is a sign of mistrust and ingratitude. It is natural and easy to complain in the face of difficulties and to question God’s guidance. There is the saying that the desert makes a person bitter or better (bitter or better). Grumbling definitely makes you bitter.
In such situations, we are faced with the great temptation that everything is the fault of others – the fault of Moses, our partner, our parents, our fellow human beings and first and foremost the fault of God, whom we follow. We just stand there, without hope, without faith that the path still leads on, that we could still go further, that God could still do something.
Out of this Good Friday feeling we start to grumbleto grumble – against Moses, against the pastor, against God. This does not help us and does not change our situation, but it is human. Basically, it is nothing more than an expression of our powerlessness, disappointment and bitterness.
God’s care and healing
«Moses called on the LORD for help. Then the LORD showed him a piece of wood. After Moses threw the wood into the water, the water became drinkable. […]» (Exodus 15:25 NLB).
Moses demonstrates what we cannot do in desert times. bitterbut better makes. In the midst of bitterness and hopelessness, he turns to God. To the living God who brings life – even to places where, according to human perception, only death, chaos and bitterness prevail. God does not remain distant and silent, but answers, helps and heals. He shows Moses a piece of wood, which he throws into the water, and the water becomes sweet. God answers and gives a solution to the hopeless situation. And what is perhaps even more important: Moses does what God tells him. Despite the bitterness around him and perhaps also within him. The bitter water becomes sweet through the wood. What would normally have caused death and destruction now refreshes an exhausted people and becomes a sign of God’s life-giving and saving power. The wood is a symbol of God’s healing and care.
As followers of Jesus, we read this text in the light of Good Friday. Today, God points us to the wood of the cross where Jesus overcame the bitterness of our lives, our abandonment, forsakenness and even the bitterness of death. The wood of the cross becomes a sign of hope for us and symbolises Jesus» victory over the bitterness we experience in our life’s struggles and trials. From Jesus» suffering comes salvation, strength, hope and life – even eternal life – in the midst of the bitterness of earthly life.
God’s instructions as a source of life
«[…] In Mara the LORD gave them regulations and laws and put them to the test, saying: «Listen to me, the LORD your God, and live as I please: obey my commandments and regulations! Then I will not let you suffer from the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the LORD who heals you.» (Exodus 15:25–26 NLB).
We do not want to bitterbut better become. The way to achieve this is for people to orientate their lives according to God’s instructions. God presents himself here with the name Yahweh Rapha before (the LORD who heals). The way to a deeper, supernatural healing of body, soul and spirit is by following God’s Word. Jesus promises: «But if you remain connected to me and my words remain in you, you can ask for what you want and it will be granted to you!» (John 15:7 NLB). It is the way to Yahweh Raphathe place of healing from all bitterness.
The next stage of the desert migration has deep symbolic significance: «Then they travelled on to Elim, where there were twelve springs and 70 palm trees. They set up camp there by the water» (Exodus 15:27 NLB). God leads the people to a place called Elim, where there are twelve springs of water and 70 palm trees – a place of refreshment and abundance. This shows that God not only provides for immediate needs, but also provides long-term provision and blessing.
In the word Elim is the Hebrew word for God (el). Elim is the place of God’s presence. The number of divine perfection is seven. The 70 palms thus also point to God and his provision. The twelve springs, one for each of the twelve later tribes of Israel, show that God has every person of His people in mind. Let us work together in Elim store!
Interestingly, the root of the word el also in the Hebrew word for oak (elon). The goal of succession is: «[…] and that they may be called «oaks of righteousness» and «plantations to glorify the Lord» » (Isaiah 61:3 NLB). As followers, we are to come to Elim, into the presence of God, and become Oaks of justice become. El (God) should become part of our name, our identity. We come to Elim, or become oaks of righteousness, if we do not grumble in the trials of the desert, but orientate ourselves towards God and his word. Oak of justice or embittered person – The difference couldn’t be greater. The desert will decide what kind of successor we develop into.
«Dear brothers, when your faith is tested in difficult situations, rejoice. For if you prove yourselves in this, your patience will grow. And through patience you will persevere to the end, for then your faith will reach full maturity and be perfect and you will lack nothing» (James 1:2–4 NLB). The decisive factor here is the wood, the cross of Jesus, which makes bitterness sweet. Just as God led Israel through the desert and gave them refreshment in Elim, he will also lead us through our challenges and bring us to places of renewal and blessing. God leads not in, but through temptation.
Possible questions for the small group
Read Bible text: Exodus 15:22–27; James 1:2–4
- Where are you currently (or in the past) in a place of bitterness?
- Are there any experiences that bitteror others who better have made? Why did it go in one direction or the other?
- Why does this world exist at all Bitter water? Who is the cause of this? Why does God lead us into such bottlenecks?
- What lies between Mara and Elim? What does this mean for our own lives?
- What concrete step towards Elim is next for you?
