Faithbase

Although it was mentioned in Exodus 15, which we covered yesterday, I held off mentioning the story of bitter water that turned sweet in Exodus 15 verses 22-27 because I didn't want this story to get lost in the intensity of the Red Sea narrative. Immediately after the waves came down crushing Israel's enemy Egypt once and for all, Israel went out into the wilderness of Shur. Here they found no water except for water at Morah, however, the water was bitter and undrinkable. The Israelites grumbled and Moses and they cried out to God who instructed Moses to throw a particular stick into the water making it sweet and safe for drinking. As they left Morah, they came to Elim where they found 12 springs of water and 70 palms where Israel was able to camp safely in a space that provided them with shade and water, all provided by God himself. The grumbling quickly returns as the Israelites begin to complain to Moses that they were going hungry and they even began to dream of the good old days in Egypt because at least back then they could eat meat and have all the food they needed. God heard their cry for help and rained down bread from heaven which they called manna. So the Israelites would further learn to trust in God. He commanded them that this manna would fall along the ground as due in the early mornings as they woke and upon waking they were to go out and collect enough manna for that day alone. This was to teach them dependence on him and to grow their faith in him who provides. So he says only collect enough for that day and no more because I will provide for every other day. He wanted to impress upon the Israelites that they could and should depend on him alone for their survival. He would not lead them out of captivity only to die in the wilderness. He was going to provide for their needs. Word of Moses and the Israelites escape from captivity spread among the surrounding nations who began to fear the God of Israel except when the news of God's miraculous help reached Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. Jethro wasn't fearful to hide but he felt compelled to go and find Moses in the desert. While he was there with Moses and the Israelites, Jethro saw that ruling such a large group of people was far too much for one man to do properly. So he encouraged Moses to enlist help and establish judges over the different areas of the Israelite camp so that he alone would not have to settle every single dispute amongst the people. Moses listened to his father-in-law and found relief as a leader.