Continuing the journey through the book of Exodus.
Exodus 15:20 Miriam is named a prophetess. She is mentioned as the sister of Aaron, who was a priest.
21 Miriam then leads the women, who went out after her with tambourines and dances.
So even if you have no musical skill, you can still grab a tambourine and worship God.
Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously.
He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea.
Why does she mention the horse first? I believe the horse was the vehicle that the Egyptian trusted in; he was on a horse chasing after people on foot. God knocked the horse out from under him first, so he would know not to trust in horses. (Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7)
22 Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, to the wilderness of Shur. They traveled three days in the wilderness and found no water.
A play on words: Shur=Sure. It was for sure a wilderness. There was no water after three days. God likes to do things in three day increments; it’s a repeating theme in scripture.
23 They came to Marah, and could not drink the waters of Marah for they were bitter, therefore the place was called Marah.
Ever have a time in your life that was bitter?! We all have. The water was bitter and it was also discouraging to their souls.
24 The people murmured against Moses, saying what shall we drink?
Here we go again. After all the miracles they have lived through, they are complaining about Moses.
25 Moses cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when Moses threw into the water, the water was made sweet. There He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them,
Moses immediately goes to God for the answer. The Lord told Moses to throw a tree into the water, and it made the water sweet. Many times God tells us to do something which makes no sense! But if we do it, we can have sweet results. While they are enjoying the SWEET water, God makes an ordinance with them.
26 He said, if you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord they God and DO that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all His statutes I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals you.
So while they are quenching their thirst with sweet refreshing water, God makes a deal with them. It’s easier to believe for good when you are experiencing good! So here God proves Himself again, that He is for them, not against them, and tells them that if they walk in His ways, they will be protected against the diseases of the unbelievers.
This tree is also a foreshadowing of Messiah’s death, burial, and resurrection.
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees; and they encamped there by the waters.
Twelve wells for the twelve tribes. Seventy palm trees –according to some commentaries, this represents the seventy elders who will be appointed by Moses later.
They camped there by the waters and had a time of refreshing.
SueAnn Porter 2017
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Bible translations used: KJV and EasyRead 2013
SueAnn Porter 