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Exodus 15:22-16:3 (NIV)
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Manna and Quail
16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
Name the enemies of righteousness in the story in today’s reading.
Have you had to resist any of these enemies to doing what is right in your life?
If successful in resisting, what did God do to help you?
Good, Good, Father, it is so sad to see in this passage how quickly the people seem to forget about Your goodness and provision in the past and begin to grumble about the problems in the present. So often I am tempted to do the same. Lord forgive me for worrying and complaining about my health, my finances, my family, my country, and my church. Instead, help me to look back with thanksgiving, as I look forward with anticipation and trust that you will continue to supply all my needs according to Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Amen