His Provision

I'm currently doing Beth Moore's study A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place, and today's reading took us to Exodus 15, when Moses leads the Israelites from the Red Sea into the Desert of Shur.  The Israelites traveled for three days without finding water and began grumbling on the third day (rightfully so, I think!).  They finally stumbled upon water in a place called Marah, but the water was too bitter to drink.  The Lord heard the Israelites' cry for help and He showed Moses a piece of wood to throw into the water which made the water sweet enough to drink.  

The Lord said to them, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)  He then brought them into Elim, where the Bible says they were met with twelve springs of fresh water and seventy palm trees.

Now when I read that verse, I remembered with some surprise that I've visited the place with the springs and palm trees!  (Or at least where they believe this area was--- check out the pictures above!)   Embarrassingly enough, when I visited I couldn't exactly remember this story about Moses and the twelve wells or I would have taken better quality pics, for sure.  I can tell you that Elim is completely deserted, even in the 21st century, aside from a smattering Bedouin people who have made their home in this land known as "Ayun Musa," the Wells of Moses.  Having seen this place, I simply can't imagine wandering through the desert for three days and still trusting that the Lord would provide for me and my family.  It took us at least six hours to drive a van across the desert to Elim from the nearest populated area, so I can't imagine wandering in that same desert for days with no respite in sight.  

In spite of the conditions His people traveled through, the Lord provided for them.  Though they were no doubt discouraged, disheartened, and losing faith rapidly, the Lord never let them out of His sight.  He provided for them as He continues to do for each of us today.  

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

-Deuteronomy 31:8

Sometimes it feels like we're so utterly lost in this life that we'll never find our way.  Sometimes we feel as though God has just abandoned us.  And sometimes we just feel like giving up because there's no happy ending in sight.  But the tale of Moses and the Israelites reminds us of God's unfailing love.  Even when we've given up on Him, He never lets us go.  He will provide for us. 

"For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own."

-1 Samuel 12:22

Praise God for His constant love and provision!