BitterSweet

Sorry this devotional is a little long... Take 5 minutes and read it if you get a chance. My hope is that you will be blessed by it. SMILE!

Bitter Sweet
“So Moses brought the children of Israel from the Red Sea ; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.” Exodus 15:22-23

After pondering this scripture this week, the Lord revealed something exciting to me. Take a trip back to Egypt with me…there in exodus. If you recall, Exodus 15 begins with Moses’ song, as the children of Israel sing of God’s faithfulness after tasting victory. After the waters were split and the Lord provided a “Way” of escape, they would find themselves in rich jubilee. But yet, three days later, they were parched. Their faithful God had no water for them. Hopeless, helpless, and I’m sure puzzled the children of Israel were wondering how this was going to work out. I can picture myself in that position. “Lord, you were just here, we won, I tasted victory, what happened? Where are you??” Then the children of Israel would look to their leader, Moses. “What now? Do you have any answers?” And Moses does that which I consider perfect. He did not create something on his own, nor did he look to become a hero in the situation, he simply cried out to the Lord. Then came his answer. There was a tree, the Lord uprooted it, and cast it into the water. That which was brutally bitter, became their sweet satisfaction. And the Lord would not stop there, but would lead them to a place called Elim, of which there would be an abundance of water.

Let’s make this connection. Let’s get to the foot of the cross and see just what the Lord might want to tell you and me. You see when thirst arose and they were left with bitter water, I believe Jesus would want to meet with them just as he did with the woman at the well there in John 4. “…whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst (John 4:14 )” Then God would bring it to terms with them. He would provide a perfect picture. There would sit a tree that God would provide to make a bitter situation sweet. Now when I think of a tree in scripture, I can’t help but be reminded of a tree that would wear passionate love. This tree would hold up perfection and be stained with blood for all bitterness. This tree would stand on calvary. You see, all God did was take this tree that already stood there and placed it in the middle of the situation. He placed it in the center of the problem. For that which was completed there on Good Friday, would be the answer to any problem. Redemption would become the remedy for a broken being. Hardship can only turn to happiness in light of the cross. And again I say that that which was bitter became sweet. But it doesn’t stop there. After the test, with the Answer in mind, the Lord would lead them to a camp with an abundance of water, an overflow of blessings. That is just how He works, always more than we need.

Sometimes it seems when we reach the top. When life is great and the blessings are abundant, that we find ourselves tripping to fall all the way down the mountain. Our lives then landing there on rock bottom, we wonder where God is. “But she was perfect for me, that job fit me so well, I was doing great in that class, where did You go? Why did You let it go??” When God’s reply is that His ways are not always our ways. That wanting His will would require us to be willing to accept that which might not seem right at the time. I encourage you today Christian, that when you hit bottom, do not forget to put the “tree” there in center of your situation. Do not loose focus, but rather gain a perspective that forces you to be dependent and allows God to be in control. Be of good cheer, He has plans for you. Jeremiah would remind us that the Lord thinks thoughts toward us of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope (29:11). If you are at the bottom today, I would encourage you to stand in that hope. Chase Jesus, deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him (Matt. 16:24 ). For right around the corner, or maybe for some right over the hill and around the bend there sits Elim, God’s place of abundance for you. Where you can truly taste and see that the Lord is good. Be encouraged Christians and don’t forget how much He loves you!

Much love…Ryan