A Fount In The Waste

The story of the Exodus grips the imagination. A people freed from slavery embark on a journey to a promised land, a trek that defies human logic. What should have been a matter of weeks stretched into four decades of wandering through harsh deserts and unforgiving wildernesses.

When we read the accounts of this extended sojourn, the provision of essential water appears only sporadically. It's easy to simply chalk these instances up to demonstrations of God's undeniable grace and power, and undoubtedly, that message resonates powerfully.

But what if there's more beneath the surface? What if these seemingly infrequent mentions of water provision weave a deeper, less obvious storyline into the fabric of the Exodus narrative? My mind can't help but wonder if there are subtle lessons hidden within these moments, beyond the sheer display of divine intervention. Could the scarcity and the miraculous provisions point to a more profound truth beyond dependence, faith, and the nature of the journey itself? Let's delve a little deeper...

Marah: Wilderness of Shur (Exodus 15:22-25)

This event would have occurred relatively soon after the Israelites left Egypt, likely within a few months of their departure.

After three days in the wilderness of Shur without water, the Israelites found water at Marah, but it was bitter and undrinkable. The people grumbled against Moses. Moses cried out to the Lord, who showed him a piece of wood. When Moses threw it into the water, it became sweet.

 

Rephidim: Wilderness of Sin (Exodus 17:1-7)

This event follows the journey from the Wilderness of Sin after Marah, still within the early stages of their desert wanderings, likely within the first year or two after the Exodus.

The Israelites camped at Rephidim, but there was no water to drink. The people complained and tested the Lord, asking why they were brought out of Egypt. God told Moses to strike a specific rock at Horeb (subject of another post) with his staff in the presence of the elders, and water flowed out for the people to drink. The place was named Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarreling) because of the people's actions.

 

Kadesh: Wilderness of Zin (Numbers 20:1-13)

This event takes place much later in the 40-year period of wandering. The book of Numbers details events occurring significantly after the initial departure from Egypt, particularly the death of Miriam. It's estimated to be closer to the end of their time in the wilderness, perhaps around 40 years after the Exodus.

The people again lacked water and complained bitterly against Moses and Aaron, questioning why they were brought to such a terrible place. God instructed Moses to take his staff and, in front of the people, speak to a specific rock so that it would yield water. However, Moses, in anger and frustration, struck the rock twice with his staff. Water came out abundantly, but because Moses and Aaron did not trust God enough to honor him as holy in the sight of the people, they were not allowed to lead the congregation into the Promised Land. This place was also called Meribah.

 

Beyond Water

Yes, these are tales of desperate thirst met by divine intervention, with Moses as the conduit. Yet, to focus solely on the water itself is to miss a fascinating layer. The events unfolding around these miraculous supplies suggest a significance that stretches far beyond the literal, inviting us to explore their hidden depths.

Marah

The journey out of Egypt was no leisurely stroll, and the Israelites quickly encountered the harsh realities of the wilderness. Their first significant stop after the Red Sea brought them to Marah, a place nestled within the Wilderness of Shur. Picture this: a vast region east of Egypt, the gateway to the Arabian (Sinai) Peninsula – a land steeped in history even then. It's the very same area where the angel of the Lord found Hagar, Sarah's servant, and where, generations later, the descendants of Ishmael would settle.

But Marah held a bitter disappointment. The water they desperately needed was undrinkable, a stark contrast to the life-giving sustenance they craved. It wasn't just unpleasant; it was incapable of supporting life itself. Imagine their dismay, their parched throats met with a source that offered no relief.

Then came an act of divine intervention. Moses, following God's guidance, cast a tree/a branch/a simple piece of wood into the bitter waters. And miraculously, the water became sweet, quenching their thirst and sustaining their journey.

This seemingly simple act holds a profound symbolism. Think about wood in water – it decays, it doesn't purify. Had the Israelites lingered in Marah, Moses would likely have needed to repeat this action, again and again. This constant need for renewal mirrors the annual sacrifices the Israelites would later perform for atonement. Their righteousness wasn't a one-time fix; it required regular renewal, much like the water needed repeated purification.

The annual sacrifices offered by the high priest on Yom Kippur served a similar purpose: to atone for the sins of the nation and restore their right standing with God. These sacrifices were precise and specific in their application, much like that single piece of wood that transformed the water in that particular spring. Each source of bitterness, each instance of sin, seemingly required its own specific remedy.

It's also crucial to remember the location of Shur – right next door to Egypt, the land they had just escaped. This very region would later become home to many of God's adversaries, the Amalekites being a prime example. Even with the sweet water providing temporary relief, the Israelites were precariously close to the comfort zone of their enemies, far from the secure embrace of God's presence.

Perhaps this proximity to danger, this vulnerability in the wilderness, is why God found it necessary to establish a clear "statute and ordinance" for them at Marah: "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you" (Exodus 15:26).

The need for this divine instruction became undeniably clear as they journeyed onward from the Wilderness of Shur, facing new challenges and further testing their reliance on God. The bitter waters of Marah served as a potent reminder: true and lasting sustenance, both physical and spiritual, could only be found in obedience to the One who could turn bitterness into sweetness.

Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. (Ex 17:14)

Rephidim

Before the Israelites faced the trials of Rephidim, they experienced a moment of respite at Elim. Imagine: twelve refreshing wells of water and seventy shady palm trees – a true oasis in the desert! This abundance provided everything they needed, a peaceful interlude that feels like the calm before a storm, or perhaps more accurately, a refreshing pause before entering the challenging Wilderness of Sin.

By the time the weary travelers reached Rephidim, they had already witnessed the extraordinary provision of manna and quail – daily miracles sustaining their lives. The recent comforts of Elim, with its plentiful water and shade, must have still been fresh in their minds. Yet, at Rephidim, the familiar cry of thirst arose once more. This time, God's provision came in a dramatic way: a rock, struck in the presence of the Israelite elders, yielded life-giving water.

Interestingly, the Bible doesn't record another instance of the Israelites complaining of thirst until much later, at Kadesh. This makes the event at Rephidim stand out. And the location of this life-saving rock? Horeb, the very mountain we know as Mount Sinai – a place of profound divine encounter.

If we consider the piece of wood that sweetened the bitter waters of Marah as a symbol of the sacrificial token for atonement, then the rock at Horeb takes on an even deeper meaning. Could this rock, struck to quench their physical thirst, foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice for our spiritual thirst?

Think about it: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Just as God promised healing when He established the ordinance at Marah, Moses striking the rock at Horeb, this specific rock at the mountain of God, becomes a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice, like that struck rock, would release the living water of salvation, a healing and life-giving flow for all who thirst.

... whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. (Jn 4:13–14)

Kadesh

A couple of decades into their wilderness journey, the people of Israel found themselves once again at a place called Kadesh, situated in the stark Wilderness of Zin. This location serves as a powerful reminder of what happens when we lean on the shaky foundation of human trust rather than the unwavering reliability of God. It's a place that echoes with the consequences of doubting His ability to deliver and provide, no matter the circumstances.

Years prior, early in their wanderings, Kadesh had been the site of a significant misstep. It was from this very spot that Moses dispatched twelve spies to scout the Promised Land of Canaan. Tragically, ten of these men returned with a report steeped in fear and fatalism. The decisions made by Moses in response to their negativity that day set in motion the agonizing 40-year detour, robbing an entire generation of the chance to inherit Canaan. Decades later, at this same location, a pivotal decision by Moses would tragically seal his own fate regarding entering the Promised Land, starkly illustrating humanity's persistent inclination towards doubt.

This time, however, the divine instruction was different. Moses was commanded to speak to a specific rock in the presence of the entire nation, and it would yield water. Yet, fueled by anger and disbelief – emotions clearly palpable in the narrative of Numbers 20 – Moses instead struck the rock. Astonishingly, water flowed forth in abundance, a testament to God's provision despite Moses' disobedience.

This moment, though marred by Moses' actions, held a profound symbolic significance. God's command to speak to the rock was intended to foreshadow the saving grace freely offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The era of atoning sacrifices, requiring the actions of priests and leaders, would come to an end. As the Apostle Paul later eloquently wrote, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Kadesh, in this second encounter, presented an opportunity for Moses to demonstrate to the people of Israel that salvation would ultimately be theirs simply by the words of their mouth, by faith and trust in God's provision, rather than through the ritualistic actions of their leaders. Sadly, due to Moses' lapse in faith, this powerful lesson remained untaught, a poignant reminder of how even our leaders can stumble and how crucial it is for each of us to personally embrace the simplicity and power of God's grace.

... if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:9)

All About Jesus

It's a familiar human story, isn't it? Even after experiencing incredible deliverance, we often find ourselves drawn back to old habits, our focus drifting from the very One who rescued us. The journey of the Israelites after their dramatic escape from Egypt is a powerful illustration of this tendency. Despite witnessing God's miraculous hand through the wilderness and during their years of wandering, their hearts still yearned for the familiar comforts of "a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates (Nu 20:5)."

Their doubt at Kadesh had consequences, a stark reminder of the cost of unbelief. And even Moses, their divinely appointed leader, faced punishment for the people's wavering faith and his own moment of doubt at that same place. As Christians and leaders navigating our own life journeys, these are vital lessons etched in the sands of time. Our ultimate anchor, our unwavering belief, must be in Jesus the Christ.

Yet, woven through the narrative of Israel's frailty is a resounding testament to God's unwavering faithfulness. Each episode, from the bitter waters of Marah to the barrenness of the desert, reveals a God who has always provided and will always offer salvation to His people. Countless sermons have echoed this truth: God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and grace are the bedrock upon which our needs are met. Even when circumstances appear utterly hopeless, He possesses the power to orchestrate the impossible and supply all that we require.

But the purpose of this exploration goes beyond these crucial lessons. I believe these historical accounts serve as a profound demonstration of Jesus' redemptive journey, written into and illuminated by the very history of God's people.

Consider this: In the Old Testament, the offering of atonement was a singular, annual act performed by the High Priest within the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur – a unique event, much like the single piece of wood that transformed the bitter waters at Marah.

During the Roman occupation, the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish council, acted as intermediaries between the people and God. This echoes the scene at Rephidim, where leadership and structure were necessary in a time of need.

After Jesus' resurrection, the New Covenant unveils a radical truth which even Moses doubted: direct access to saving grace for all, a gift received through faith and completed through confession, not earned by works. Kadesh echoes this freedom – the living water now flows unhindered.

These stories of provision in the wilderness are more than just accounts of a sovereign, faithful, and gracious God. I propose that their deeper significance lies in their timeless witness to Jesus Christ. For the Israelites of centuries past, for us in the present age, and for every generation in between, these experiences are recorded for one ultimate purpose: to know Jesus. Every story, at its core, is a demonstration of the very teachings of John, pointing us to the Lamb of God who gives water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn 1:1–2; 14)

Be Blessed!