Wednesday's Word: Bitter Becomes Sweet

 

*"And when they came to Marah, they could not drink
 for the waters were bitter: therefore the name of 
 the waters was called, Marah (bitter).
 
And the people murmured against Moses, saying,
"What shall we drink?"

And he (Moses) cried out to the Lord, and the Lord
shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters,
the waters were made sweet. There the Lord made them a
statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them."
(Exodus 15:23-25)

Stock Image courtesy/Look and Learn

Precious, precious blood of Jesus

Shed on Calvary,

Shed for rebels, shed for sinners,

Shed for me.

Precious blood that hath redeemed us!

All the price is paid;

Perfect pardon now is offered,

Peace is made.

Precious, precious blood of Jesus,

Let it make thee whole;

Let it flow with mighty cleansing

O'er thy soul.

Though thy sins are red like crimson,

Deep in scarlet glow,

Jesus' precious blood can make them

White as snow.

Precious, precious blood of Jesus,

Ever flowing free!

O believe it, O receive it,

'Tis for thee.

*The bitter waters at Marah which the thirsty Israelites encountered during
their sojourn in the wilderness were in the very path of the Lord's leading, and
 represent the trials of God's people, which are for our learning, not punishment.

The tree which Moses dipped in the bitter waters is the cross.

The  sweetened water is Christ as the expression of the Father's will.

And Christ's obedience to the will of the Father unto death.

"Therefore Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword back into the sheath!
The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"
(John 18:11)

When bitter Marahs-the trials and tribulations- of living in a lost
 and fallen world come upon the believer, we, like Moses in the Exodus,
 cast the tree into the waters,  knowing that Christ died for our sins
 that He was raised from the dead, and sits exalted at God's right hand
  appearing in the presence of the Father on our behalf.

"Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the
curse (doom) of the Law and it's condemnation by Himself
becoming a curse for us, for it is written in the Scriptures,
Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)"
(Galatians 3:13)

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into 
this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience;
and experience, hope;  And hope makes us not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad by the
Holy Spirit which is given unto us."
(Romans 5:1-5)

"Precious, Precious Blood Of Jesus"
(1874)
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
Prolific English hymn writer