We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
A few weeks ago we ended our study “The Journey” with these words: Lord willing, in the next few articles we will discuss the Israelites continuing journey through the wilderness and how it applies to us in our spiritual walk.
We will see how we can apply the crossing of the Red Sea, the feasting on the Manna, turning bitter water sweet and Sabbath rest along with whatever other experiences the Israelites had as applied to our own life.
So let us continue with the lesson.
The Israelites left Egypt, supposedly on a 3-day journey to sacrifice to their God. Upon leaving Egypt, loaded with much pillage, they found themselves pursued by the Egyptian Army. In their fear of annihilation, they cried out to Moses and Moses, following the Lord’s direction, stretched out his hand over the Red Sea, the waters were divided and the Israelites walked across on dry ground.
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 10:2 calls this crossing a baptism. We would do well not to lose sight of the purpose of God leading us on into the wilderness experience. After baptism and commitment to live for the Lord, the wilderness experience is there to make this commitment a reality. The wilderness experience is to teach us to recognize our defects and teach us the presence of the Lord with us. Some of us might be more focused on reaching the promised land. But nothing can compare to having the Lord making us his dwelling place.
So after much rejoicing, in being so miraculously saved from the Egyptian army, the Israelites travelled on for 3 days and found themselves at a place of bitter water. They complained against Moses and the Lord showed Moses a tree and tells him to cast it into the water and the waters were made sweet. This tree is a beautiful figurative picture of Jesus the Tree of Life. When Jesus is placed into the equation of our bitterness, He sweetens the situation. We must learn this lesson, or we will continue in the spirit of murmuring and complaining; which are all evidences of our flawed, corrupted nature.
From this place of bitter water, called Marah, the Lord led the Israelites to a place called Elim, where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees, and they camped there near the water. This experience was to teach them the all-sufficiency of the Lord, and how well He would provide for them. Yet they were not able to learn their lesson and continued to complain and grumble. For as soon as they departed Elim on their way to Sinai they accused Moses that he had brought them into the desert to starve them to death. We read in Exodus 16 how the Lord miraculously provide meat and bread for the assembly. Which bread was named Manna and miraculously appeared every morning until they entered the Promise land, 40 years later.
From the Wilderness of Sin they came to a placed called Rephidim, again there was no water for the people to drink, and they quarreled with Moses. Instead of calling on the Lord. They continued in their old selfish ways, grumbling and complaining.
The Lord directed Moses to take his staff and some of the elders, go to the rock Horeb, strike the rock, and water will flow out of the rock for the people to drink.
The Bible tells us that this Rock is a figurative picture of Jesus being struck (crucified) for us. The Apostle Paul continues with this message and writes in 1 Cor. 10:11: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and thy were written for our admonition.” So let us pay heed to what the Lord is trying to accomplish in our own lives. Let us learn the lesson and not waste our trials.
Hopefully, with our next lesson we will examine: defeating our Amalek, the meaning of the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, the building of the Tabernacle etc.
Until next time, Pastor Eli
