Glory to Jesus for the Gracious expositions from Part 1 to Part 3 on this series. I’m confident you have been richly blessed! Now let’s see another picture of Jesus in the Old Testament that would transform you and fill you with Christ’s joy!
Shortly after the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, they went into a wilderness at a place called ‘Shur’ and journeyed 3 days in it…but they found no water to drink! So they journeyed ahead till they got to a place called ‘MARAH’! Hmm… The Bible says:
‘…Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.’ (Exo 15:23)
What was the reaction of the children of Israel to this?
‘…And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?…’ (Exo 15:24)
Hmm… Are you at a point in life where …”the water seems to be ‘bitter'”? Are you presently asking God…’what shall we drink?’ I have good news for you! Let’s see God’s response to their cry!
‘…so Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him A TREE. When he cast it into the waters, the waters WERE MADE SWEET!’ (Exo 15:25)
Wow! Have you noticed God’s style of handling challenges? He did not tell them to go and look for another water! Just as He did not ‘TAKE AWAY’ the fiery serpents from them…(refer to the Part 2).
God loves to bring the solution right in the midst of the challenges! So, what was the solution to the ‘bitter’ water? Hmm… A TREE!!!
‘… and the LORD showed him A TREE…when he cast it (THE TREE) into the waters, the waters were made sweet…’ (Exo 15:25)
Wow! All you need is for God to SHOW YOU A TREE! Oh, I love the Gospel of Grace! What is this TREE? Hmm… Check this out…
‘…CHRIST has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us …for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on A TREE”! (Gal 3:13)
Can you catch it??? The TREE is the FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS!!! It was a picture of Jesus in the Old Testament! The TREE was with them but they never knew it! Throw ‘JESUS CRUCIFIED’ into the bitter water…and it must end up ‘sweet’! Throw ‘THE FINISHED WORK’ into the bitter water…and it must end up ‘sweet’! Throw ‘THE TREE’ into the bitter water…and it must end up ‘sweet’! Hallelujah!
In fact, we have a correlating passage in the New Testament for this incidence of bitter water made sweet! Hmm… A husband and a wife got to a point in their ‘marriage’ where the ‘water’ was getting ‘bitter’! Again, the Tree was with them but they never knew! Are you wondering the story I’m referring to? Hmm… It was at the wedding in Cana of Galilee!
‘…And when they ran out of wine (sweet water), the mother of Jesus (the TREE) said to Him, “They have no wine (sweet water).”! (John 2:3)
Hallelujah! I’m too sure you know how that story ended! The TREE performed the greatest chemical reaction ever! The ‘bitter water’ became so sweet…that the Chairman of the wedding made this comment to the Bridegroom:
‘… You have kept the GOOD WINE until now!” (John 2:10)
Wow! It was NOT the Bridegroom! It was the TREE!!!! Hallelujah!
In conclusion, never forget: All you need is for God to SHOW YOU A TREE! Throw ‘THE TREE’ into the bitter water…and it must end up ‘sweet’!
I therefore decree…by the finished work of the Christ, …every ‘bitter’ water in any aspect of your life be made sweet, in JESUS name! Glory to Jesus!
Amen
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