BITTER OR BETTER?
As a couple exchanges their vows,( those vows include these words) for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better for worse.
It could also be said: for better or bitter. Or bitter or sweet.
Life just has some bitterness built into it. Everyone comes to bitter waters at some point in their lives. Death of a loved one. Sickness, bankruptcy, divorce, false accusations, rejection.
Misconception: Being a Christian exempts us from bitter waters:
Jesus never said that we would never be hurt, or experience heartbreak and pain,
He promised he’d never leave us nor forsake us,…………..
(1 Pet 5:9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Exe. 15:23 The waters were bitter and they could not drink of it.
This means there was no pleasure no joy, no strength, no refreshment, from or in that circumstance.
Two possible responses to this:
#1 Murmer and complain, begin to resent and blame God
#2 praise God any way, worship God anyway, not because of the situation but in spite of it.
(Hab 3:17-18) Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Naomi=pleasant, agreeable, desireable, lovely.
In the land of moab because of famine, her husband and 2 sons die there, She hears of bread in her homeland and returns, the whole town is moved by her presence. They come to greet Naomi, but she said, call me not Naomi, but Marah, for the almighty hath dealt bitterly with me.
Here is the danger we all face, blaming God for our bitter waters, When we begin to blame God for our bitter waters, then bitterness begins to set into our own lives, Naomi had identified herself with her bitter waters.
When you blame God, then you separate yourself from his comfort and grace to sustain you through your bitter waters.
In one day Job lost everything that he had. Sheep cattle, oxen camels, servants, and 7 sons. His wife became angry and resentful and bitter,. She finally told job(just curse God and die.
But job chose to become better instead. Instead of blaming God. And murmering against God, he fell on his face, shaved his head and worshipped God.
Moses cried unto the Lord.
That is one of the first lessons of bitter waters, They turn our attention back to God. We reach a point where we are not in control and we need God’s help.
God showed him a tree
Another lesson is that if we will respond correctly, the darkest and most bitter times will lead us into a greater revelation of who Jesus is, and ultimately a more intimate relationship with him.
When he cast the tree into the waters they were made sweet.
What is the sweetness that Jesus can bring to the bitter waters of your life?
#1 greater revelation of Jesus
#2 deeper relationship with Jesus
#3 greater dependance on Jesus
#4 the knowledge that as I trust him he will work everything out for my good.
#5 The knowledge that what satan intended to destroy me, has actually made me better.
#6 To use that which satan has used against you, to bring healing and deliverance to others,.
To take goliaths own sword as it were, and cut his head off with it.
Nu. 33:9 Says. They removed from Marah and came unto Elim.
Some of the sweetest words in the bible are: and it came to pass.
Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Elim=palm trees, strength,) and in Elim were 70 palm trees and 12 fountains of water.
Just like Job. If we will respond correctly, to the bitter waters in our lives we will become better.
Just like Joseph, he said (the devil meant if for evil but the lord meant it for good, to save much people alive as it is this day).
Joseph went through bitter waters, but he didn’t allow them to make him bitter, but instead they actually served to make him better.
Bitter waters teach us more about ourselves than anything else in life, When we are under the pressure is when the deepest parts of the self nature come to the surface, this is very painful. (Like Peter we think we know ourselves, and how strong we are) but when the pressure is on we see how weak and undependable and unstable and fearful we really are.
These are truely bitter waters but they bring us back to Jesus because only he can deliver from the self life,
Any one who has been through the process will thank God for even the bitter waters because it was there we learned to put no confidence in the flesh and lean completely on the Lord.
And this is How our God makes even bitter things sweet, and we become better
