Exodus 15:22-25 Bitter waters made sweet

Ex. 15:22-25
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,


The Lord often uses unusual things to accomplish His purposes. This stick is something that can so easily be overlooked. Looks like nothing special in fact there are so many of them around that they basically look the same. No one but God would have ever known the potential in this stick just laying there in the dessert. But God sees it God sees the potential and He knew that this stick could be used by Him to save millions of lives. Even if you are not aware of the things that God has put in you, trust me He has and He will use you if you will only but be willing, be present. Just let go and let God. God has a purpose for you!
another little thing here - isn't it comforting to realize that the God of the Universe notices even this normal, nothing spectacular stick. He saw it and He used it greatly.
another thought on a more yucky side
Here we can see this picture of who we ( I ) can so easily be. We just come from a season where we have seen the wonders and love of God shown towards to us, then we come to a little pond (new circumstance/ trial) and what do we do, we complain. Good grief just days prior we were praising God for all that He is and all that He has done. But today we have a need and it just doesn’t seem like God will help us with this one. It does not matter that He has NEVER failed us. This time O No He Just Might. Good grief do you see what I am saying and how absolutely crazy it sounds. Yet we do it. In fact we always will. I think the prayer needs to be that even if our first response is slightly panic our very next thought will be “BUT GOD” . Truth is trials are meant for us to see our weakness, to see our absolute dependence on a Holy, Righteous, Loving God.
So let me ask what pond are you stressing over today? I have this really great way to make the stress go away. Ready you may want to take notes on this one. Here it is
Praise God!
Yep you read it right that’s it just begin to praise God, out loud. For all that He has done and all that He is – just praise Him. Gosh that’s good I wish it had been my original thought ;0)

I was thinking about this bitter water. Feeling the conviction of where my own heart is bitter these days. O sure it’s camouflaged by many things that most people would never even have a clue that there was anything wrong but who am I kiddin, surely not Jesus.
So I looked at this passage and read it over and over and over again. Thinking about what it looked like then, and wondering what it could look like now for us, for me in my heart today. To cry out to the Living, Merciful, Gracious God. He will give me a stick. A stick that represents Calvary. Where a stick and the blood that was shed on it become a way for salvation, forgiveness, healing, a way to be set free.
So today go ahead be set free - it is there for the taking.