Exodus 15:22-end

Steve Gambill considers how we can lead well in times of uncertainty, opposition and through complacency

But this desert was also was a place of protection. It was a place of covering. No enemy army of Canaanites could attack them there. Here in this place, God in His goodness allowed these things to emerge in their hearts in order to give them time to reflect on their past.

After only three days God's people arrived at a place called Marah where there was water, but the water was bitter and too poisonous to drink. Marah means bitter. In the desert the bitterness that God's people carried in their hearts was revealed. This bitterness would stay in their hearts for the rest of their lives, contaminating the promises of God yet to come, unless it was dealt with. Instead of reminding themselves of Gods goodness, they completely forgot their miracle and they blamed and complained about their leader Moses.

Isn't it ironic that Exodus 15 begins with one the greatest victories of all time with Miriam song-writing and all of God's people celebrating about how God destroyed their enemy in such a dramatic way and a few verses later they are in complete bitterness and rebellion?

One of the great lessons of the desert seasons is to learn how to live and lead NOT by how you feel, but according what is right. If we lead according to our feelings, one day we will feel good and lead well, then the next day when things aren't going so well, we won't feel like leading and we will quit. Learn to remind yourself how great God is and when needed cry out to Him. Don't try to hide your dryness and disappointment from God, involve Him right in the centre of it.

I think this is such a prophetic picture of so many in the church today. God never intended for His people to stay contained and constrained, with bitterness & blame in their hearts. If you don't beat bitterness, you will live the rest of your life within the walls of your past, never being able to break through into future promises. So then, how does a person win this Battle of Sure? To answer that question, let's look at the response of Moses.

Firstly, in sharp contrast to those around him, look at how Moses responded:

He 'cried out to the Lord.' (Exodus 15:25) Instead of grumbling and complaining, Moses prayed so fervently that it was considered a cry. In painful times, prayers will be turned to tears. When Moses cried out to God honestly, things changed!

Secondly, Moses let God show him a solution that required obedience. (Exodus 15:25) 'God showed Moses a piece of wood. When he threw it into the water the water became sweet.' Isn't it fascinating how throwing wood on the bitterness resulted in the cure?

I believe this wood points forward prophetically to what Jesus would do, thousands of years into the future, by dying on a piece of wood called the cross.

In the Old Testament wood or trees represent people.

• Psalm 1:3 a wise man is the like the tree planted by streams of water


• Psalm 52:8 David likened himself to an olive tree flourishing in the house of God


• Psalm 92:12 the righteous will flourish like a palm tree

Every time you face bitterness, remember what Jesus has accomplished for you on the cross. Every time you remember that, you are throwing wood in. Throw wood into your marriage, throw wood into your relationship or with that difficult person at the office, throw wood into the rebellious teenagers you know, throw wood into whatever difficulty you face.

That wood is Jesus. By throwing wood in, you are throwing in the love of Jesus. The grace of Jesus. The forgiveness of Jesus.

The result of Moses throwing wood into the water was that the water was made sweet. Did you know that a tree that has been discovered that grows in the region of the Desert of Shur, which when thrown into bitter water has the capacity to make it sweet? The tree is called the Oleirfera. What if God created this tree just when His people would need it?

What if God has created the very solution to your situation that is challenging you right now, but is just testing you to see if you will do what is right in His sight and listen and obey Him?