i

August 23 Daily Devotional

Marah

Frans Bakker

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. —Exodus 15:23

Bible Reading

Exodus 15:19–21

Devotional

Imagine the joy that the people of Israel had when they crossed the Red Sea. They were filled with great joy on account of the wonder God had wrought. This event also gave them the courage to start off on their journey through the wilderness. With God, they could carry on.

But could anyone have thought that bitterness would be so close to sweetness? The people arrived at the first stopover on their wilderness journey, which was called Marah. At that place they found water to quench their thirst, but as soon as they tasted but one mouthful, they had to spew it out. Marah, Marah; bitter, bitter! No one could drink it. But they were languishing from thirst. They had only been on their journey three days and already they were in such an affliction. Try to imagine: nothing to drink! Death is staring them in the face. At the same time that they tasted the bitter water they tasted the bitterness of death. They needed to drink, but they could not. If they had known then that after Marah there would be an Elim, it would not have been so awful. Then they would still have had hope, but the Lord did not show them the entire panorama of their journey. They were shown one step at a time and were to go on in faith.

What do you do now, Israel, with all your promises? They were rescued out of Egypt and had miraculously crossed the Red Sea, but they struggled to hold on to the promises of God to lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey. At Marah, Israel could not draw strength from the miracle of the Red Sea even though it happened just three days before. And God’s church cannot strengthen herself with past deliverances either.

We must remember that the same God that was at the Red Sea was also at Marah. If only the Israelites would have trusted in the Lord, God’s name would have been glorified. The Lord is glorified when faith is exercised even when no deliverance is seen. How- ever, when Israel’s outward blessings ceased, their faith also ceased. They looked at this bitter water instead of unto God.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

CONTACT US

+1 215 830 0900

Contact Form

Find a Church