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Thoughts from Exodus 15: Parted, Bitter, and Sweet Waters
By daniel | August 15, 2007
Right before chapter 15 starts, we had been left with the image of dead Egyptian bodies washed up onto the shore of the Red Sea, signalling that the Israelites were finally and truly free. Here at the waters, Moses (perhaps) writes and leads the whole congregation in a song proclaiming the strength and love of the Lord for them in His dealings with their cruel captors. The women, with Mirium, continue the singing with dancing and tambourines.
Not too much later, the nation of Israel is wandering in the desert, still following God, to a body of water which is sonn discovered to be undrinkable. Complaints erupt from the people, and Moses seeks God on the issue. God works a miracle through a tree branch that He instructs Moses to throw into the water, making it sweet. God then rebukes the Israelites for their fickle lack of trust, and in essence, says that their response showed that they were no more loyal to him than the Egyptians. The path of the Egyptians, when followed, would lead no doubt to the same end that the Egyptians met (and all who take the path away from God will meet): finding themselves somehow on the opposite side of the battle line from a God who is King and will be King whether they disagree or not.
Scene change! The Israelites are brought to a place described as pure rest. Palm trees and water springs. Interesting.
Topics: The Word |
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