Lessons of the Wilderness Shur, Sin, and Rephidim Part 1
We will now in dependence on the teaching of the Holy Spirit look at the lessons of Shur, Sin, and Rephidim (Ex. 15-17). We shall find each presents a distinct, solemn, yet precious lesson.
First, the lesson of the wilderness of Shur. "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." These are few words, but what a depth of meaning there is in them—so soon after the triumphant song of redemption, only three days' journey from the place of death and deliverance—the Red Sea. And now to find no water. Have you counted the cost? The cross of Christ as separating us from the world is a very solemn matter. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Gal. 6:1414But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14). What was so debased and contemptible in the eyes of the world as a person crucified? And this was what the world was to the Apostle, and what he was to the world.
The three days' journey very aptly illustrates the exact place into which the believer is brought—dead with Christ and risen with Him. Yes, the three days' journey from death to resurrection has separated you, my fellow traveler, forever from Egypt, that is the world. But you say it looks very strange that the redeemed who had just been shouting the song of triumph, should be so soon distressed and find no water. Was not this just the way the young Christians at Thessalonica had been brought to God, "Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost"? 1 Thess. 1:66And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
Now mark, this is the first lesson after redemption; and if my reader has redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins, do not be surprised if you find, the first journey you take in the wilderness, that there is no water. I believe this is a sure sign that you are redeemed. Do you find it so, or can you still drink of the world's pleasures and be satisfied? Ah, if so, do not be deceived; you are still in Egypt, still in the iron grasp of Satan who leads you captive at his will. Do not be offended if I tell you the truth. Must I not be faithful? 0 how many are thus going down to perdition with a lie in their right hand! But with you, my dear young Christian, it is not so. The things that once so pleased you yield no satisfaction now. I cannot express it like Scripture. You find no water. Solemn lesson of Shur! The New Testament is very strong on this subject: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Read 1 John 2:15-1715Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15‑17). And again, "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4).
And when we think of the amazing price of our redemption, can we wonder that our separation from the world lying in the wicked one should be so entire? But at such a time when you find no water, nothing to satisfy, then beware of murmuring.
The next lesson of Shur is equally striking.
"And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter." This was trying indeed—more trying than finding no water. How often this is the case with the young believer, and the old one too. We grasp at that which we think will satisfy, and find only bitter disappointment. Have you not found it so? Have you tried the pleasures or the riches or the honors of the world, and found only bitterness? You are invited to a gay party. Once this would have been very delightful, but now how bitter to the taste of the new nature! How utterly disappointed you return home! Have you set your heart on some earthly object? You are permitted to obtain it, but how empty! Yes, what you expected to yield such satisfaction yields only bitter sorrow and emptiness. Oh, beware of murmuring. Not one thing has happened to you but what is common to the children of God.
This world is a wilderness wide where there is not a tree in it yielding satisfying fruit. But there is a tree. "The LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet." Yes, "As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." S. of Sol. 2:33As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. (Song of Solomon 2:3). Surely that tree is Christ. Ah, nothing can sweeten the bitter cup of this life but sitting beneath His shadow. Oh, what delight, what sweetness to the taste of the newborn babe! How simple then this second lesson of the wilderness of Shur. Are you, my fellow Christian, beginning to find the waters of this life bitter? Come then near to Jesus; sit at His feet; His fruit shall be sweet to your taste; His words shall be sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. Are the things of the world sweet or bitter? Is Christ to you like the one precious tree laden with sweetest fruit, where all beside is barrenness and waste? Then hearken to the precept of the Lord to His people Israel. And mark, this was before the law was given. And certainly it could have nothing to do with their redemption—that was all finished. So with you, my reader; if you are a believer, your redemption is as finished as theirs was. Neither are you under law, but oh, how much present blessing depends on your hearkening diligently to the voice of the Lord. He is a rock that can never be moved, and His shadow the place of perfect security. But to sit at His feet, to hear diligently His words! And as He says, If ye love Me, keep My commands. Not as a servant under law, but as a son filled with the Spirit and moved by divine love. Most precious and necessary is this obedience of faith.
Elim was a sweet green spot in the wilderness, with its twelve wells of water and three score and ten palm trees. "And they encamped there by the waters" (Exod. 15:2727And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:27)). This reminds one of Jesus in the midst of His twelve apostles and seventy disciples. Wherever we see Him, He is the One to whom the thirsty may come and drink. May we ever encamp near the wells of living waters.
But I go on now to the wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16). Every step in the journey brings out the utter worthlessness of man and the sovereign grace of God. The whole congregation murmured sadly, and they said, "Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt. when we sat by the fleshpots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." This was very sad, but not more so than the terrible sin of unbelief that now so easily besets the believer. One would think that with such a bright future before us we should have no lingering looks at the world behind. What was God's answer to this murmuring? Amazing grace! "Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day," etc. And now it is worthy of a special remark, that the sabbath of Jehovah's rest was given before the law in connection with the eating of this bread from heaven. It was first given to Israel as privilege, not by command or on the principle of law. And here the people rested on the seventh day, and I am not aware of another single instance where the people rested on the sabbath day. There is something very striking in this. From Adam to Moses, yes, to this very chapter, that is, for more than 2500 years, the Spirit never used the word sabbath, either in its root or in any of its forms. And here in the wilderness of Sin it is God's gift to His redeemed people in perfect grace. And on the principle of grace, before the law is given, they rest on the seventh day. Immediately they are under law, the Spirit never once repeats the wards, They "rested on the sabbath day." I would not have you forget that God expressly gave Israel the sabbath on the ground of redemption—on that very account—as it is declared, "And remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out...: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day." Deut. 5:1515And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:15). Thus they had the sabbath because they were redeemed; but they only rested on it or enjoyed it by gathering the heavenly manna, and this on the principle of pure grace. Bread from heaven! Oh, may the Spirit of God open the understanding of my reader to see Christ, the Bread of Life, in all this.
Let it be well understood that the only ground on which God gives rest to the guilty sinner is through the redemption blood of Christ. Yes, He looks on that precious Lamb "who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 4:25; 5:125Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1). "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). This gives peace. This peace is God's gift in pure grace. As the sabbath was God's gift in grace to every Israelite, so this peace, this rest of God, is God's gift to every believer who has redemption through the blood of Christ. But then you say, If so, why do not I enter into this rest and enjoy peace with God? To that question this lesson of the wilderness is a solemn reply. Manna was a type of Christ as the Bread of Life. The redeemed from Egypt fed upon it, but they gathered a certain rate every day. Is this the case with you, my reader? Are you gathering the sweet manna, Christ, every day in His precious Word? If you had no time to eat your daily food, would you wonder if you were soon out of health? If you have no time to gather up the crumbs of life in the precious Word, is there any wonder that your spiritual life declines? Oh, read the sweet words of Jesus on this subject. He says, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." John 6:3535And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35). Do you thus come to Him for your daily portion?
Each Hebrew had an omer, about five pints, of manna—every man according to his eating. The greatest eater had no lack, and he that gathered most had none to spare. Just as with the lamb, every man according to his eating, so with the manna, every man according to his eating. Our deepest need as sinners was met by the blood of the Lamb; and the deepest daily need of our souls is met, if feeding on Christ. No doubt it is very blessed on the first day of the week to meet together to break bread—to remember Jesus—to show forth His broken body—to take that cup which shows forth His shed blood—by that one loaf to express the one body of Christ. Indeed, I would press this. But there is the daily portion—the constant need of the soul for spiritually feeding on Christ. In so short a paper I can only ask you to read John 6:30-7130They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:30‑71) in connection with this subject.
How very simple then this divine picture. God gave the bread from heaven. The redeemed Israelite gathered it. "A small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.... And they gathered it every morning." "It was... white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey." Oh, that precious spotless Christ, so small and despised in the eyes of the world! But when the child of God gathers the manna in the morning, how refreshing the dew of the early dawn as the Spirit reveals Jesus to the soul in the blessed Word. And God gave them enough for the sabbath, and so they rested. God has given you rest, my fellow believer. Do you not enjoy it? Do you not rest? Then you have not gathered enough manna. Read the Word more. Think more on Christ. If the Israelite exclaimed, What is it? well may you say, What is it?—Christ my portion.
As God gave them twice as much as they could eat, they rested on the seventh day. Even so by the gift of His beloved Son He has more than met our utmost need. Thus they rested by gift, not by command. And thus in Christ we rest by grace, and not by works. Some did not believe, and went out to seek manna, but found none. So it is with us whenever we wander from God's eternal gift.
There was a great difference between having the sabbath and resting. There is a great difference between having peace with God and enjoying that peace. Would you enjoy that sweet rest in God? Then gather the manna—feed on Christ.
Oh, would you rest? Then grieve not that Holy Spirit by whom you are sealed. The taste of the manna was like wafers made with honey. And what is so sweet to the taste of a child of God as the fellowship of the Spirit in communion with Christ? O do, my young Christian, seek this holy, sweet enjoyment of Christ. Does the prospect of being forever with the Lord gladden your heart? Then earnestly seek for much communion with Him in spirit while here below.