From Bitter To Sweet

Exodus 15:22-25 (ESV) 22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them..

These verses keep popping up in my mind.
I mentioned them on the show yesterday, and they're sticking with me.
Has something like that ever happened to you?
I figure God wants me to "camp out" on them a little bit.

Isn't it amazing that just 3 days after God rescued the Israelites from certain death by parting the Red Sea here they are complaining.
It's like they totally forgot the experience of a lifetime.
That the God who delivered them before would deliver them again.

You know what this sounds like?
It sounds like me.
God delivers me.
I thank Him.
Another crisis comes.
I forget (or choose not to remember) how he helped me before.
Will He REALLY come through THIS TIME?
Oh me of little faith.

The truth is God tests our trust in Him through need AND abundance.
Have you noticed how that works in your life as a Christian?
It sure isn't easy.
But hopefully, our "faith muscles" are being exercised.
That's the only way they'll ever get stronger.

If you're in need right now... the "water" in your life is bitter.. remember this is a test of trust.
When the time is right, God will replace the bitter with the sweet.
And my guess is that you won't be the same person anymore.
That's the whole idea.