So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals you – JehovaRapha. Exodus 15: 22-26.
Though we may not understand, God does everything for our good, he knows all the ways we walk – he orders our steps,: if he doesn’t want us to go to Joppa like Jonas, he knows how to get us to Nineveh – the heart of a son of man plans his ways and LORD JEHOVAH orders his steps. Proverbs 16:9.
From of Egypt, God intentionally led his people into the wilderness and through the wilderness (a) because he will purge Egypt (world) out of them: (b) though he knows everyone of his children well, yet, he will let each see for themself what was in them by their own actions, and if they will not hardens their hearts, but will ask and sek for his help, they shall obtain the needed help for the changes required to fulfill his will. Is there anything we can do without him? Absolutely nothing. Whatsoever he requires from us to do, the help is from him throiugh prayers for grace, strenght and power to fulfil divine calling and purposes. Those who will go through the way everlasting to inherit life, must see themself as God sees them, – their helplessness and insufficiency to cry to him to purge them from every defilements and corruption from within in preparation for eternal Canaan where Christ has gone to prepare a place for us – Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24.
This type of prayer and supplication is for those who are not playing around with their eternal destiny in God, they are working to grow daily in obedience before God, to be made completed in obedience, bringing every thoughts in them into captivity into the obedient of Christ. They want to know God’ s way more and more, to walk pleasing more and more until the day dawns and the morning star rises in their hearts. 2 Peter 1:19.
God taking us through the wilderness is for different stages of transformations until we get to the land of promise. As soon as we get born again, a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17), the world becomes the passage of desert with its each stage or development of our spiritual life having its unique purposes and lessons, experiences, disciplines and trainings.
The Israelis rejoiced with singing and dancing before God for their victorious deliverance from Egypt which spiritually is the world, celebrated their newly found liberty from the oppression of Pharaoh, which spiritually is Satan.
They walked three days journey into the wilderness of Shur without water, but finally, they found water, but it was a bitter water, then they murmured – complained.
Here is the first lesson, the present life is a mixture of joy and sorrow, bitter and sweet experiences which calls for moderation – self control in whatever state we found ourselves. In rejoicing, we should be as though we rejoiced not (1 Corinthians 7:30): as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. 2 Corinthians 6:10.
While in Egypt, they knew that consequence of murmuring or complining before the task masters was to have their works and increased and labour harder as punishlment, why have they so soon forgoten that murmuring for whatever reason is evil, even before God? Though God has brought them out of Egypt, but they continue to live according to the former mentality of ignorance as if they were still in Egypt (wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16) complaint as slaves, murmured, rebel. Children don’t complain, they ask. Children are content and thankful for whatever is provided by their parents. Complaining or murmuring is not the way to make our need or request known before God: rather, such unacceptable moral behaviour is condemnable and punishable by God – be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6.
From the bible, God reveals different names according to the situations and experiences he brought his children in relation with him. There are seven different names of such which we can say they are the situational and redemptive names of God, either declared by himself as we have from the account from the wilderness of Shur (Jehovah-Rapha or more properly Yahweh-Rapha, means The Lord Who Heals) or spoken through inspiration of his Spirit given to someone who went through particular experience with him as Abraham discovered and called him Jehovah -Jireh or Gideon called him Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace etc.
Murmuring is a sin against any authority, it should not continue. They murmured for the bricks when the works were multiplied in Egypt while Moses was negotiating for their deliverance out of Egypt. Exodus 5: 21. They murmured while crossing the red sea. Exodus 14:11. Here we are, they murmured again when faced another situation which required immediate solution where the Lord has chosen to reveal himself, not only as the God of the covenant, but God who keeps covenant, faithful and caring Father. God reveals himself as Holy and impartial before them, desiring, expecting and lookning out for a faithful relationship of intimacy with his children whom he brought out of Egypt unto himself, to be his own. He made it point clear that that he would not connive at their sins, and that any sinful Israelis would fare no better than the wicked Egyptians whom he punished for their sins. But if they obey him, he would make their life sweeter, healthier, prosperous and best and all in security all the time. In other words, God was saying that the plagues he sent upon the Egyptians for the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart against his commandement to let them go, was to serve as lessons for them against hardness of hearts to his commandments in their walk and life through the wilderness to the Promised Land.
That though they were freed from the hardship of bondage of the Egyptians slavery; yet, shall their life be made bitterer than their slavery experiences of Egypt, if they will not be obedient to what I demand from you which is far lighter than the heavy burdens of Egyptian oppression you were once under – if thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou may fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord thy God; then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou were afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. Deuteronomy 28:58-60.
God is not playing around. He want serious and obedient childen, this is why he brought them to the wilderness, that as Jesus learnt obedient to his Father by what he suffered, he brought them into the wilderness to learn obedience by everything they will be going through to the Promised Land – this is was the deal or covenant he made with them. And he showed Moses a tree to sweeten the bitter water.
The wilderness of Shur was the place they were informed and taught to live for God – that subjection to the Father of spirits and the God of all flesh is vital that they may live. Moreoever, God reveals that the fruit of sin is bitter and deadly. It is the root of all evil befalling mankind, sicknesses and other infirmities. Further, he made himself know to them as God who can wound those who transgress his word (See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. Deuteronomy 32:39), and preserve the health of his obedient children – their great physician, the health of their countenance – Jehovah-Rapha – I am the Lord your healer, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals thee. Exodus 15: 26.
Before he died on the cross, Christ drank the bitter cup for us, but those who will not keep his feast of his flesh and blood in sincerity shall be made weak, sick or even sleep – died prematurely in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11:30-34. The effects and poison of sin remain as bitter and deadly for anyone, either in the world or in the Lord, but the serpent bite has been neatralized for them who are in Christ Jesus, that though he bite them as a weapon formed against them, it shall not prsoper, it won’t affect them (Acts 28:3), if they do not break the wall, lest the vernon of serpent’s bite should destroy them (Ecclesiastes 10:8): We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 1John 5:18-19.
Lessons from the wilderness of Sin
As I said earlier, each wilderness experience teaches different lessons of preparation and advancement unto our heavenly Promised Land. While we are going through the wilderness challenges and trials, our encouragement and motivation are based on the hope of recompense of reward before us in heaven, but how we behave to handle the situation reveals the unbroken parts in us, this is part of the reasons we are being led into the wilderness to be spiritually broken, that the remnants of Egypt spirit, mentality and blood be removed from us, lest the unbroken part in us should prevent us entrance into the large door of the everlasting kingdom of our God and of our Lord Christ awaiting us.
And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: and the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Exodus 16:1-3.
God will lead and bring you into the wilderness, just as Christ, by the Spirit of God, was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil for final preparation and worthiness of his ministry. Matthew 4:1.
There is nothing in the wilderness, it is a dry place filled with wild beasts of the field, but the presence of God will paralysed every strange powers, and will bring water out of the dry place and rivers in your deserts.
The wilderness is the place of trials and temptations. Is it not written that when the trials, persecutions and temptations arise because of the word of God, the seed that fall in the stony places died or withered because there was no deepness of earth? The soul representing the seed was offended in his wilderness experience in Christ, he could not endured his trials, troubles and persecutions: but blessed is he, whosoever that shall not be offended in Christ. Matthew 13:5-6.
God himself bring us into the wilderness to train, equip mature and prepare us for the future – And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, says the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel: 20:35-38.
But along the way in the wilderness, sometimes, we can encounter – come face to face with Satan laying wait to attack us, just as the Amalekites unprovoked attack the children of Israel on their way to Canaan. Exodus 17:8. Note: be ready for anything in the wilderness, it is an unpredictable place. Though you were called to fight, but you don’t want to fight, the enemy will bring the fight to you in the wilderness when he thinks you are tired on the way, but God will take care of him – watch ye, stand fast in the faith, courageous like men, be strong. 1Corinthians 16:13.
There was the challenge to see what was in their hearts in the wilderness, but how soon the Israelis forgot their past groaning, cruelty and oppressions under the hard labour of Pharaoh in Egypt in contrast to their lying words against God. They expressed preference, doubling down and glorifying on their past slavery and suffering in Egypt to the freedom gained by the goodness of God, wished that had died in the land of Egypt, to die in sin and go to hell, than to overcome their challenges with God in the wilderness for a crown in heaven – claimed that the life in Egypt was better than the new life of freedom they were given by God – life for them was all about food and drink. Second, they charged Moses and Aaron of murderous intention against the whole assembly because of food: this was the same Moses who fled Egypt for the same food they preferred to eat and died, instead of been delivered out of Egypt – by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26.
While they were in Egypt, they were slaves to their appetites – stomachs and every other things, but in the wilderness, God want to correct their past piggish lifestyle – the kingdom of God is not meats and drinks. Romans 14:17.
In Exodus 16, verses 4-5, God made known his dietary and disciplinary plans and measure to Moses who conveyed the plans for food collection and instruction for meal time and feeding in order to shape the Israelis in self and appetite control: (b) contentment in whatever you have – by gathering certain rate, certain measure or portion of the bread from heaven each day, no more and no less than an omer for every man: (c) to prove their sincerity and obedience to God’s word, and to teach them that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4.
God has so designed that none of them should have more portion of bread than the rest according to the number of their famillies, as none of us should seek by competition or suoeriority, to have more or above what others have, except it is given or sent by God. Some were greedy, self-centred, strong and wise in their own eyes to gather more bread than the rest; after, it all turned out to be the same measure for all, the individual portion was controlled and measured with an omer: he that gather much had nothing over and he that gathered little, had no lack (Exodus 16:16-18 ): he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. Ecclesiastes 5:10.
We should be content with such things as we have, freed from covetousness in our conversations, not hasty in spirit to have or gain – Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth (Proverbs 19:2): this is for our peace and approval before the Lord, when we realizes that God knows what is best for us, and shall give what is best, little or much, lest we fall under the condemnation of the sin of coveteousness which is idolatory, for which things sake the wrath of God is coming upon the children of disobedient, be ye not partakers with them. Colossians 3:5.
Whenever we challenge or contend against certain part of the word of God for our own satisfaction, we tempting and making light of God and his word to see what shall become of it: this is to despise God and his word. 1 Samuel 2:30. Whether for reproofs, corrections or instructions in righteousness, every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6.
In Exodus 16, verses 20, contrary to God’s instruction sent by Moses, many of them were not serious and careful to live by every word that comes out from the mouth of God as they left some bread till the next day, and the bread bred worms and stank. So shall it be unto the disobedient and them that stumble at the word of God, that the word which was meant to give life shall become savour of death unto death unto them (2 Corinthians 2:16), and shall finally breed worms to stink in their faces, where their fire is not quenched and their worms does not die in hell, for despising instructions of life – the unchanging word of God.
The powerlessness in the church today is caused by food and stomach. Matthew 17:21. Men want power, but they cannot fast and pray, how will they not seek to cast out demons by Balzebuub, the prince of devils to end up their life in hell fire? Matthew 12:27. Men, by seeing others who are paying the price of consitent praying and fasting for the manifestations of the spirit, performing miracles, signs and wonders in his name, are murmuring and saying it is magical, by envious attributing the works of the spirit of God to Satan, thus they blasphemed without knowing. Matthew 12:24. Verses 31-32. Men are destroying the works of God because of food – insatiable appetite. No time and days in the week for fasting and prayers for the manifestations of divine power and fresh anointing – His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. Isaiah 56:10-12.
In the word of God, we see that many people have been destroyed by their lack of control over their own appetite – blessed [prosperous and admired] are you, O land, when your king is a man of noble birth, and your princes and officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. Ecclesiastes 10:17. Essau sold his birthright for the lack of self control on the altar of food and stomach. Genesis 25: 29-34. God showed them his power, gave them fish to eat in the wilderness, but he killed them for the appetite for which they taunted him. Psalms 106:14-15. The young prophet sent to Bethel to prophecy against the altar of Jerobaom was killed by a lion sent by God for disobeying instruction not to eat but he ate at Bethel, though he was deceived and misled by another prophet. 1 Kings 13:7-22. Prioritizing food as the purpose of your life is a sin that shall not be purged from you till you die – And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: and behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts. Isaiah 22:12-14. God took away the soul of the rich foolish young man that same night of his boasting of having many years to eat, drink and live, assuming that life is all about eating and drinking. Luke 12:16-20.
First, the Israelis were instructed and taught to live daily by trusting God for the next day’s provision, sufficient unto each day is the evil thereof. Second, they were taught to prioritize the will of God, and their spiritual lives as their aim and objective to improve upon, without allowing anything whatsoever to come between their duty and obedience to him – seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, every other things shall be added unto you. Third, they were expected to seek and to please God in implicit obedience, not making provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof, by not keeping some of the bread meant to be entirely eaten the same day till the next day – take no thought for tomorrow, for the morrow shall take thoughts of itself.