I talked to a rancher this week. He had to get rid of much of his herd because of the drought. That is part of his Marah. I recently met a lady facing severe health problems. They do not slow her down. She is still active in serving the Lord but she also faces Marah. I am thinking of another lady who battles arthritis. It is in her back and legs. She has a hard time getting around and cannot stand for long durations. This is her Marah. I visited with a mother concerned for her children and their walks with the Lord. This is her Marah. I know a pastor who lost his wife a little over a year ago and now he has lost his ability to live on his own. He is now in a retirement home. This is his Marah. There are Marah's all around us.
Life is filled with bitterness. I'm not suggesting there are not sweet seasons too. Most assuredly there are but that does not lessen the fact that there are also Marahs.
Israel arrived at Marah right after their deliverance at the Red Sea. When they left the Red Sea about a three days journey in the wilderness they got thirsty. With no water to drink the people began to grumble and complain. That is when they arrived at Marah. They found water but the water was bitter. They could not drink it. That appears to be a cruel joke. Why would God lead thirsty people to bitter water they were unable to drink? On the surface that appears sinister and evil.
Exodus 15:22-24 (NASB)
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah.
24 So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"
How quickly people can turn on others and Jehovah when they encounter Marah? Jehovah not only had a plan but He also had a purpose for Marah. Marah was to test Israel. To see if they would trust and obey Jehovah. His plan, though illogical, when revealed to Moses and obeyed, produced sweet water. One revelation from God and act of faith turned Marah into sweet water.
Over and over again we are tested by God in this life. We are tested in Marah. We are not alone. Joseph was tested [Gen 37-41]. So was Elijah at Cherith [I Kings 17:1-7] David was tested by both Goliath and King Saul. Job faced Marah. Read the entire book that bears his name. [I Sam 17-27] John the Baptist was tested in prison and then martyrdom. [Mark 6:14-31] Paul and Silas were also tested in prison [Acts 16:22-25].
Charles Spurgeon faced Mrah with poor health. He died before reaching the age of 60. David Brainerd suffered from Tuberculosis and died as a young man. He suffered in his Marah but remained faithful in his ministry. John Bunyan faced the Marah of prison because of his faithful ministry and his family suffered poverty as a result. Fanny Crosby wrote hymns we still sing today though she battled the Marah of blindness. Hudson Taylor, a missionary in China, suffered the Marah of the death of children and two wives but, He did not give up on God nor his mission to evangelize the Chinese people.
All of us are tested from time to time at Marah. How do we react to Marah? Do we grumble and complain? Do we give into to fear and doubt in what we see or do we embrace faith and courage to fight through Marah. Do we pass the test?
God has plans for our Marahs. He has His purposes too. Do we trust Him in it. Do we trust that He can take what is bitter and with one act of obedience He can make the bitter become sweet?
Brenda and I have been in Marah for six years. I praise His name we are coming out of it now. The bitterness is passing. Life is sweet again. He used Marah to strengthen us. Marah makes us lean on Him more. Marah reveals the truth in our hearts. I praise His name there is sweetness on the other side of Marah.
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