"From Bitter to Better"

“Jehovah-Rapha”

The Lord that healeth thee.

Healing…that’s who I am…the source of ALL healing!

A. Spiritual Victory…Deliverance from Egypt(slavery)…New start(Enemies destroyed @ the Red Sea

Lessons to be learned…enjoying the blessings, life...

Exod.15:22-26,

Exodus 15:22–26 The Message

Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn’t drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That’s why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, “So what are we supposed to drink?” So Moses cried out in prayer to God. God pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet. That’s the place where God set up rules and procedures; that’s where he started testing them. God said, “If you listen, listen obediently to how God tells you to live in his presence, obeying his commandments and keeping all his laws, then I won’t strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am God your healer.”

Hard times will cause you to forget all that God has done for you.

…plagues, deliverance, miracles after miracles…forgot quickly how Sovereign God is!

Life has a purposeful meaning…it’s Ministry! Teaches us who God really is & to shape us more into His image.

Wilderness experience shows or reveals what’s really in our heart.

You learn a whole lot about your own self whenever storms or trials come your way.

Concerned only w/their belly…forgot how God was Jehovah-Jireh…focused on their problems, instead of God’s presence, glory…should’ve been giving His praise instead…but were selfish.

Never satisfied…always complaining.

When God worked miracles, they would be singing songs of praise, but faced w/Marah(bitterness), they went back to complaining.

Leadership can bring you out of Egypt, but leading the ppl through an unexpected desert will bring about many challenges.

The wilderness has raised up many good leaders, but the ppl were use to a refreshing & cultivated life(Nile).

Marah - a place of bitterness (1st catastrophe). Moses knew by now how the ppl act or respond to unfavorable conditions or situations.

This move from Egypt to the wilderness was new & scary for the children of Israel.

Journey already laid out…planned…God already knew…wasn’t a surprise.

Moses, seeks God & pray(cries out)…sense of urgency!

God prepared a tree (meet your needs)…from the Garden to the Cross…everything Adam & Eve made bitter, God restored through His son, Jesus. Life was made sweet again.

Exod.23:25-27,

Exodus 23:25–27 The Message

“But you—you serve your God and he’ll bless your food and your water. I’ll get rid of the sickness among you; there won’t be any miscarriages nor barren women in your land. I’ll make sure you live full and complete lives. “I’ll send my Terror on ahead of you and throw those peoples you’re approaching into a panic. All you’ll see of your enemies is the backs of their necks.

If Israel would’ve never had this bitter experience, they would’ve never know God to be a Healer & wouldn’t of never been better.

Mary & Martha - their bitterness was grief (Resurrection & Life)

Job - bitterness was losing everything (Restored)

Lazarus - bitter was death (Life)

You can go from bitter to better if you put your faith, hope and trust in God.