ELIM: THE PLACE OF REST
"22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 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. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “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.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters." Exodus 15:22-27.
The children of Israel were finally delivered from bondage. Egypt is now behind them. Finally, they were on their way to the Land of Promise. The joy of finally being free from the oppression, and slavery of the Egyptians made them to compose a Song of Deliverance. Yet what followed after the Red Sea was a journey through the wilderness. In the wilderness, the terrain is unfriendly; the ground is hard and the heat is unbearable. The Israelites did not accidentally ended up in the wilderness. God led them in! Psalm 78:52. It was part of His plans for them! They were in His perfect will. But after three days journey through the scorching heat of the wilderness, the people were exhausted, weak and thirsty. If they did not find water they were going to die. You can imagine their joy when they found water in Marah! But when they drank it, it tasted bitter. The water was not fit for drinking. So they started to complain. They murmur against God and Moses. The people grumble in a low voice. After witnessing the great power of God while there were in Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, the children of Israel were still blind to the fact that God is more powerful than every situation. Instead of trusting in Him, they murmured and complained! They forget all the great things God had done for them. "But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold." Psalm 106:13. Sadly, we often do the same.
Have you ever been angry with God when things don't go as planned? Are you blaming Him for an unmet expectation? Maybe you’re going though a seemingly hopeless situation. If you have ever been angry with God and blame Him for your suffering, rest assured that you’re not alone. One of the most common expressions of anger toward God in the Bible is the “how long, O Lord?” prayers of David. Psalm 13:1-2; Psalm 6: 3-6; Psalm 10:1-2; Psalm 35:17; Psalm 44:24; Psalm 89:46; Psalm 79:5-7; Psalm 74:10-11; Psalm 94:2-3. Job was also in a depressing place, and his wife’s reaction was, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die” Job 2:9. "10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips." Job 2:10. Naomi also reached a point in life where she was angry with God and blamed Him for her pain. Her name means "sweet" and "pleasant" but life for Naomi was no longer pleasant. Her husband and two sons are dead, and she blamed God for it. She was empty, bitter and broken. Naomi was angry that God allowed bad things to happen in her life. "20 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” Ruth 1:20-21. But God hadn’t abandoned Naomi. He doesn’t abandon us, either. Most times anger at God is a result of our inability to trust Him when we do not understand what He is doing behind the scenes. Bring your anger and frustration to God! He's not angry when we questions Him. But be careful not to sin, rebel, curse, or abandon God in your anger and frustration.
We must go before the Lord in prayer often in our grief, anger, and pain. 2 Samuel 12:15-23. Be honest! Tell God how you feel. Don’t make the excuse that He already knows. Don't suppress your anger! Suppressed feelings often become bitterness and depression. Pour out your fear, hopelessness, and despair. Meditate upon the promises of God in the Bible. Don't take His presence for granted. You’re not alone! "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." Isaiah 43:2. Trust in His power. "He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3. God has the power to heal your broken and wounded heart. Luke 4:18. He'll give you His peace and strength. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Ask Him to change your hardened heart. Surrender to His plans. Exercise patience and trust in His timing. Letting go of your anger toward God may not happen all at once. But each day, you must work on it. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath," Ephesians 4:26. Refuse to be bitter.
A PLACE OF BITTERNESS:
A great number of people walk around daily with smiles on their faces, but deep down they harbor bitterness and a rage waiting to explode. Emotional pain and anger that goes untreated can poison the heart. Bitterness is prolonged anger. We may encounter an insult, a disappointment, or an offense in the course of daily activities. Instead of responding rightly we internalize the pain, and allowing it to become grief. Untreated bitterness that's bottled up hurts and keeps on hurting.
Marah was the first camp of the Israelites after the crossing of the Red Sea. It was where they drank bitter water. For the children of Israel, Marah was a place of discouragement, disappointment and despair. It was a place of difficulty. Marah was where they had a bitter experience. Indeed bitterness destroys relationships. It kill marriages. Bitterness destroys the minds, souls, and bodies. It is the chains of unforgiveness you tie around your heart. Bitterness enslaves! It makes one to dwell in the memory of past wrongs. Bitterness beclouds one's ability to judge rightly. It drains you of energy. Bitterness prolongs pain. It blinds you to the promises of God. Bitterness causes setbacks; it hinders answers to prayers.
So, what are we to do when we're experiencing the feeling of bitterness? Acknowledge it. Realize you’re struggling with bitterness. Know that God requires forgiveness. Matthew 6:14-15. Be quick to forgive. It's a choice you must make in response to God's offer of forgiveness. Pray for those who hurts you. Guide your heart with all diligence. Do not be happy when bad things happen to those who hurt you. Proverbs 24:17-18. Don't repay evil for evil. Choose to trust God. In times of despair, disappointment and bitterness, God is our Rock and Redeemer! Fix your eyes on Him. Let go of bitterness. God has prepared a place of rest for your wounded, broken and weary soul. "31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32.
OASIS IN THE DESERT:
"1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips." Psalm 63:1-5.
The children of Israel had already been refreshed at Marah! The bitter water was made sweet, and everyone was able to drink of it. But just a short distance from Marah, God prepared for them a place of rest. Elim was an oasis in the desert, just like Marah. But at Elim there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees. The palm trees offer succour and refreshment. Hence, Elim was a place of peace and provision. It was a place of refuge from the harsh desert weather. Elim was a place of abundance. It was a place of rest where the children of Israel could camp at after three days journey.
We can often feel burdened by worries and fears. We all have struggles. Everyone needs rest. It is so important to rest that God included it in the Ten Commandments. “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.” Exodus 34:21. Rest is one of the greatest gifts God gave to mankind. Therefore, He intends for us to take care of our physical bodies. The Online Dictionary defines "rest" as "quietness, calmness, tranquility, peace, serenity and stability". The word “rest” is the Greek word anapauo which means, to refresh, to renew, to refreshen, to revitalize, to repair, to breathe new life into and to restore. There is the “rest” of entering the Promised Land, which the children of Israel in the days of Moses failed to obtain. Psalm 95:10-11. There is the “rest” which is also available for those dwelling in Canaan. Joshua 21:44. Then there is the rest of God which is available today.
"And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14. To rest is to know that your sins are forgiven and the load of guilt has been lifted. It is to be calm in the midst of afflictions. To rest is to have an understanding that everything is working out for your good and in line with God's eternal purpose for your life. The rest God gives does not mean the absence of storms but peace to feel undisturbed in the face of challenges. To rest is to be confident that God's in control and He'll take care of the issues of your life. It is to be at peace knowing that God's the captain of your boat. He'll never let you sink. Rest shows our dependence on God. It means we trust His wisdom. To rest is to be spiritually recharged. It is to delight in the goodness of God. To rest is to cease from worry, stress, and fear. It is the peace that God gives to those who love and obey Him regardless of their unfavourable circumstances.
There is a place of rest for you! There is a place of rest for the troubled, broken, sorrowful and weary souls. That place of rest is in Jesus Christ. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. He invites you to come to Him to find rest. You'll experience peace of mind as you stand in His Shadow. Every moment in His presence strengthens, restores, and empowers you to continue your Christian race.
So what are you waiting for? Arise from the pit of despair, discouragement and depression. Don’t be weighed down by life’s worries. Take the heavy weight that's upon your heart and drop it at His feet today. When you do this, He promises rest for your soul. He's always ready to renew, to revive, to restore and to give you rest. Drink from the spiritual Rock which is Christ and from the fountain that will never run dry. Every other fountain will fail. Only in Christ can we find rest.
1. Come To Jesus today.
No matter how deep the hurt is, you can bring it to Him. Every moment in His presence will fill your soul to overflowing. Jesus doesn’t want you to carry all your burdens alone; He wants you to share them burdens with Him. Even when you don’t understand why He has allowed certain difficulties, you can trust His love and purpose. Seek peace with God. Prioritize intimacy with Him. Strengthen your relationship with Jesus! Seek to know Him in a deeper personal way.
2. Don't give up in prayer.
"In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears." Psalm 18:6. Take every issue that is bothering your soul before the throne of grace.
3. Spend time in God’s word. Psalm 112:6-8. Turn to the Scriptures for fresh spiritual nourishment every day.
4. Give thanks always.
5. Refuse to be bitter. Choose to forgive despite your feelings.
6. Be still. Rest in His promises. Trust His will, goodness and timing.
:Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Revelation 14:11.
After awhile, the children of Israel left Elim and continued on their journey to the Promised Land. But there's a better Elim, a place of rest God has for all His children. The eternal Elim will be a place of joy, and fellowship with God where we'll never have to leave forever. There will be no more pain, and suffering. Revelation 21:4. But the only people who have been promised this rest are the children of God. Are you preparing for that rest? Is your name in the Book of Life? If you are not so sure then you need to make a decision today: LORD Jesus, I come to You right now. I know I am a sinner, please forgive me. With my mouth, I declare that Jesus, from today, I accept You as the LORD of my life. Change my heart from a disobedient heart to a heart that will obey You. With my new heart, I believe that it is because of me that You came into this world; You died for my sins, take away my problems, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, write my name in the Book of Life, and make me brand new in Jesus name. Stand firm! The night will soon be over.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. O God, help me to trust in You completely in all areas of my life, in Jesus name.
2. Father, with Your help, I release my anger, surrender my resentment and let go of my bitterness, in Jesus name.
3. Thank you Lord for answering my prayers.
