And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.
In Number 33, there is a review of the wanderings of children of Israel. It is written every place that the Israelites went; where they pitched and where they departed.
Numbers 33:2 And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.
It starts at their departing from Rameses in Egypt to the plains of Moab before they crossed over the Jordan near Jericho. There were supposedly 42 different smaller journeys that made up the one big journey.
Going through this list, I stumbled across an interesting fact I hadn’t ever known. Apparently this is previously mentioned in Exodus 15 when it actually happened. However, nothing really happens there so I just glossed right over it.
The Israelites had just removed from Marah. If you recall Marah was the place that had bitter waters. They had just come out of the Red Sea. God had split the Sea. Pharoah and his armies were drowned in the sea. They were delivered safely to the other side. Moses is singing. Miriam is singing. It was great victory. They came out of the Red Sea into the wilderness. It had only been three days and there was no water to be found.
So, then they made it to Marah, which was some place with a source of water; a lake, a spring, I’m not sure. But disappointingly the waters were bitter; hence the name Marah. Marah means bitter. They were so bitter that they couldn’t drink and they did what any sensible Corpus Christian would do when there’s no water to drink!
“And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? (Numbers 33:9)
There was a city wide ban on the tap water recently. We couldn’t drink it, wash hands, or bathe with the water for days because it was contaminated with something. The waters were Marah! I live in Sinton, and work in Corpus Christi so it wasn’t a big deal for me. But I feel like I can sympathize somewhat.
Nevertheless, Moses cried unto the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree that he could cast in the waters and make them sweet. Is that another type of the cross? God has a got a tree that he can throw in your water and turn a bitter life into something sweet. Amen? Sure it is. But that’s not what this devotional is about.
So Marah is the place they where thirsting much for water; so much that they murmured against Moses, the man that just delivered them from the armies of Pharoah. And God met the need when Moses asked, but look what was in the next town of Elim. The bible says in Exodus 15:27 that there were twelve wells of water there in that place. Numbers says there were twelve fountains of water. There was one for every tribe.
They wanted water and in the next city there was PLENTY OF WATER; a fountain for every tribe. If they just would have waited a little longer. If they just would have trusted God a little longer. When I first read this in Exodus I glossed right over it because my mind was so concentrated on what happened in Marah. Can I say this: I didn’t appreciate it at the time. I didn’t see it until I got to Numbers. Is it possible, that God’s people glossed right over Elim and the twelve fountains too because of what happened in Marah?
Jesus said on his sermon on the mount, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink… But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:25,33) Don’t settle for second best. Wait for the Lord. He will provide what he promises. Hold on just a little longer.
You took the hand of Jesus, stepped out upon his promise.
Yet is seems you have trusted in vain.
The answer you have prayed for, it’s on its way and paid for.
Hold on a little longer. Hold on.
Hold on a little longer. Hold on a little stronger.
The testings of the Lord are pure gold.
He’ll take you through the fire. He’ll burn out the dross and mire.
Hold on a little longer. Hold on.
Here’s a link if you want to hear the song.