Read: Exodus 15:19-17:7; Matthew 22:1-33; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26
God had just done a tremendous miracle for the Israelites. Not only did he deliver them from their bondage and slavery but from ever seeing the Egyptians again. It didn’t take them very long to forget that great deliverance and start complaining. They came to Marah and were in need of water. The water was bitter and they couldn’t drink it so they complained against Moses. Moses cried out to the Lord who showed him a tree to throw into the water and it would make the waters sweet again. I looked up the word “tree”and in the Hebrew it means “carpenter”. God sent a carpenter to make our bitter lives sweet. There God proved that all they had to do was to listen to his voice and follow it and do what is right in God’s sight then they will be blessed and free from diseases. They then came to Elim where there were 12 wells and 70 palm trees. Jesus had 12 disciples and 70 close followers that he sent out. They were at Elim which means palm tree. A palm tree has a very bendable trunk that can withstand storms without breaking. It’s fruit is high and very nourishing. This is a picture of a mature Christian. God was giving them a picture of what maturity looked like. We are all invited to be one of God’s close followers, it is up to us to respond and stand faithful through the storms if life.
Their next trial was hunger. They had run out of bread. Once again, instead of crying out to God, they complained to Moses and Aaron and blamed them. The Lord spoke to Moses and told him that they would have manna every day except the 7th so they should gather on the 6th enough to last two days. They were to gather each day what they would need that day. This bread would rain down from heaven. Jesus was this bread that rains down from heaven and meets all our needs. Some couldn’t even get this right and gathered too much. They found out the next day when it rotted and stunk. I can relate to this. I want to have more than enough in my bank account, my closet, my pantry… just in case. It is smart to plan ahead and save but it is never ok to fear.
This manna was provided for forty years and then it stopped when they came to the promised land. When God stops a fountain of supply in our lives, it is because he is opening a new one and we just have to have the faith to wait and see.
Their next test was after they traveled through the wilderness of Sin and came to Rephidim. There was no water and the people complained against Moses again. God told Moses to strike a rock in Horeb and water would come out of it. Horeb means “desolate”. Moses did and water gushed out - enough for a million people. In our desolation, all we have to do is remember the rock that was struck for our sin. First Corinthians 10:4 tells us that that rock was Jesus.
On to Matthew. By this time in Jesus’ ministry, the Pharisees and Sadducees had rejected him as being the Messiah so he only taught in parables to the public. The parable he told today had to do with the Jewish leaders. They had been invited to the marriage supper but they had refused to come because of their hard hearts. They refused to wear garments of humility and salvation so they would be cast out of God’s eternal kingdom.
Next, the Pharisees tried to trick him in his allegiance to Caesar. Jesus saw through their deception and nailed the answer. Jesus was constantly amazing them with his wisdom.
Lord, may we walk in your wisdom. May we be harmless as doves and wise as serpents. May we be always grateful of what you have done and unafraid of the future because you have already been there.
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