If you know your Bible, then you’ll be familiar with the episode in Exodus where the people of Israel leave Egypt. God had delivered the Israelites from the bondage and servitude they suffered in Egypt. You can understand why they would march out of Egypt with hands held high in victory (Ex 14:8). Years of oppression were over. They were enjoying the moment. They came to the sea and set up camp. But Pharaoh was in hot pursuit (vv. 7, 9). They were stuck. They feared. Death seemed imminent (vv. 11-12). Their fearfulness was a very human expression in their circumstances. However, Moses, good leader that he was, reminded the people that they should not fear because God was going to fight their battle (v. 14).
God did fight their battle—the Egyptians were covered by the waters of the sea (14:28). What’s striking to me is what follows: “Israel saw the great strength the Lord used against the Egyptians so the people feared the Lord. And they trusted the Lord and his servant Moses.” The Israelites saw that the Lord did fight for them. They feared the Lord because of the strength he displayed. They also believed in the Lord and Moses. What Moses said about the Lord fighting for them had come true, which gave the Israelites reason to trust his words. This trust would soon be tested, but, at least for the time being, the Israelites celebrated this victory (Ex 15:1-18) as they had celebrated their departure from Egypt in Ex 14:8.
After celebrating for a short time, Moses led the Israelites on a three day trip into the wilderness (15:22). The three day journey left the Israelites with dry waterskins. Of course they were going to run out of water after three days in the wilderness. Of course they would look for water. However, their search for water only turned up the bitter waters at Marah. They would surely die without water. They complained (15:24). The trust that the people of Israel had expressed in the Lord and Moses was short-lived. The people did not pray for guidance or provision, nor did they go to Moses to ask what they should do. Rather, they “grumbled against” him. Within three days, the people had lost faith in Moses and the Lord. Despite the people’s change of heart, Moses prayed and the Lord answered (15:25).
Some time later the people came to Elim (15:27). The people came to paradise. There were 12 springs and 70 palm trees—basically, paradise. Their actions at Marah certainly didn’t “deserve” such a reward. There is no mention of thankfulness or bitterness here (15:27). But since they did complain in the wilderness beside Elim (16:1-2), I think we can assume Elim was enjoyable. After a month and a half of traversing the wilderness (16:1), the Israelites’ path took them through places of plenty and want. The Lord was gracious to them in both plenty and want.
The point I want to make is we (i.e., Christians) are often just like the Israelites. Legitimate concerns face us everyday. The Israelites legitimately needed water. Their way of expressing their need, however, was revealing of their heart’s bitterness. They grumbled and wished for bygone days back in Egypt. They had a difficult life in Egypt, but at least they had plenty of meat and bread (16:3). One wonders whether if they had known about the stipulation of complete dependence on the Lord that was attached to their freedom, would they have “signed the deal” and followed Moses out of Egypt? We could ask the same thing of ourselves. Would we have followed the Lord had we known the path he’d lead us on? Thankfully we don’t have to know the answer. Discipleship is a learning process, and Jesus’ righteous blood covers all our shortcomings. Let us thank God that he is the same gracious God to us in plenty and in want. I’ll leave you with Paul’s words:
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil 4:11-13, ESV).
Brian P. Baucom 