INTERESTING FACTS : "Canon" is derived front the Greek word "Kanon," signifying a measuring rod. Thus, to have the Bible "canonized" meant that it had been measured by the standard or test of divine inspiration and authority. It became the collection of books or writings accepted by the apostles and leadership of the early Christian church as a basis for Christian belief. It is the standard by which all Christians throughout the ages live and worship.[1]

 

DAILY READING : [EXODUS 16 - 18]

 

TEXT : Exo 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? Exo 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed 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, Exo 15:26 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 healeth thee. Exo 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

 

THEME : HOPE

 

After seeing God deliver them from the Egyptians, the children of Israel sing a beautiful song about the greatness of God. It is worth looking at again ?

 

Exo 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exo 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Exo 15:4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. Exo 15:5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Exo 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. Exo 15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. Exo 15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. Exo 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Exo 15:10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Exo 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exo 15:12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. Exo 15:13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. Exo 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Exo 15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Exo 15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Exo 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. Exo 15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. Exo 15:19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. Exo 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

 

Such a glorious song and credit to God. Yet, they barely finish singing this wonderful hymn, when they come to a place of difficulty once again. "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." [Exo 15:22] Again, they murmur against Moses and his leadership. Many a Christian is similar to the children of Israel. No sooner do they finish singing and praying they run into trouble and murmur against their fate, perhaps even God.

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : GOD MAKES BITTER WATER SWEET!

 

After they come to Marah, which means "bitter," God shows Moses a tree that makes the waters sweet. Then, they come to Elim - an oasis with twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees. Next, God tells Moses he will test Israel by sending "bread from heaven" [manna that means - "what is it"] to see if they will walk in His laws or not. For the next forty years, the children of Israel will be fed by God daily, and will have to live in faith that tomorrow's supply will be there when they need it. Of course, God provides. However, it is at the waters of Marah, God promises health and healing to Israel if they will obey Him.

 

One needs to read the New Testament only one time to see Christ as Healer. Some say Christ healed the sick to prove He was God. This is a mistake. Christ healed the sick because He loved them and felt their distress in their condition of sickness. He had compassion on people and their needs because, as God, He is Love. He made many a bitter life sweet through His miracle working power while here on earth. Even more, He has touched untold numbers of people in the last two thousand years, and made their life better rather than bitter. We obtain this by faith - believing the testimony of the writers of the New Testament and, of course, Christ.

 

The tree at Marah is like our Christ and His cross. The worst of all sicknesses is sin. When Christ died on the cross, he died to heal us from our sins. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." [1 Pe 2:24] By His atonement, we are forgiven and able to come to our Holy God. More than that, we will see Him forever in His Kingdom, because God made our bitter life sweet through Christ!