“Good Bitter and Better”

Thought: It was good that you went through the bitterness because you came out better.

Text Scripture(s):

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters

Introduction: Can you journey down memory lane and reminisce about the time everything in your life seemed to be good.

You may have met the love of your life, started a family

You may have begin a career in the field that you love.

You joined a church that met your spiritual needs

Then your spouse begin to act strange and come in different hours of the night. On your job you worked your way to the top and now you are managing people. Finally, the church elected you to a committee within the church. Everything was good but now since you have been in it for awhile, now things are becoming bitter. I want to share with you today that It was Good that you went through the bitterness because you came out better.

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Shur means wall

God was leading the Israelites by a Pillar of Cloud by day, and a Pillar of fire by night.

According to Medical News Today, the average person can survive without water for 3 days. However, that is based upon some factors

Age

Environment

Activity Level

Food intake

Bitter

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Bitterness is symbolic of affliction and misery

Bitterness in the OT focuses on inner emotions and how you would respond to certain circumstances

Bitterness in the NT focuses on the anger and state of mind of a person going through troubles.

Imagine that you are following God and you encounter bitterness. Imagine that you are following God and you are in a predicament where you don’t have water to drink. Your back is literally against the wall.

They have been travelling with family and animals for three days after they had just crossed the Red Sea. Water that they packed is now all gone.

They approach a place where it is wet like water,

It is clear like water,

It feels like water but it taste was like a cup of coffee without cream or sugar.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Someone probably said, “Moses at least we had water in Egypt.”

The sin was not them questioning Moses but rather that they murmured or grumbled against God’s Representative.

Whenever you start looking at what you are doing in life and looking at where you are in life, and take your focus from the Lord then you will encounter bitterness.

Mama and Daddy always taught me to don’t forget the bridge that brought you over.

Point: the people knew that God was leading them by the Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of fire but they choose to complain to God’s representative. Remember that when you are following God and when circumstances come and you begin to complain, you are not complaining to the person but you are actually complaining to God.

A lot of times, when things aren’t going well in life, then you revert back to old patterns and behaviors that aren’t aligning up with the will of God. You revert back to carnal mindedness. Romans 8:7-8 7 Because †the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

They took their focus off of God who was leading them, and begin to focus on their carnal bodies.

25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

Moses cried out to the Lord. When you encounter bitterness, do you pray or do your prey

The Lord showed him a tree. (Can you see the tree, Calvary)

Moses could have took his staff and raise it towards heaven. Just like he did when they parted the Red Sea.

Sometimes human will must meet God’s will before things in life get better.

Types of Trees:

Cedar Trees are known as evergreen trees. No matter what type of weather, the leaves are always green

Fruit Trees are known to bare fruit for others to enjoy

Cross of Calvary

Cast the tree into the bitter water.

The Lord wanted Moses to cast the tree into the bitter waters

The miracle or blessing that you cried out to the Lord, has it not come yet because you have not cast your burdens at the cross of Calvary.

Now the Lord wanted to test or prove Israel. He made statues and ordinances for them. To have a TESTimony about why you are better and not bitter you have to go through the test.

Thought: It was good that you went through the bitterness because you came out better.

Better

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heal thee.

Diligence derived from the word diligo, to love.

The Lord is calling for the Israelites to be loyal and obedient to his voice.

If so, then He would assure them of protection from sickness. He brought diseases upon the Egyptians but the Lord would not allow diseases to come upon you. Jesus didn’t say that you wouldn’t get sick. In fact, He stated about Lazarus that his sickness was not unto death. You would be free from worrying about the diseases because the Lord will take care of you. For example, in the book of Numbers 21:1-9, the healing of snakebites is exactly what the Lord was referring to.

27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Elim means strong or mighty

Second place where the Israelites camped. There was a shifted at Marah but they didn’t stay there.

After diligently hearing from God, He leads them to a place with Twelve wells of water and 70 palm trees.

Went from Bitter water to sweet water

Went from one tree being cast into the bitter water to now 70 palm trees.

Here is why palm trees should encourage you. Ps 92:12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

A palm tree is an evergreen tree that produce delicious fruit, it is graceful, when storms come, it will sway back and forth but the branches are so flexible that it’s hard to break.

Thought: It was good that you went through the bitterness because you came out better.

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ex 15:22–27.