IN the host of Israel there were many thousands of boys and girls, who, like their parents, were on a journey; they had no home, they were seeking a better country—they were pilgrims. There are many young people, who, except in one thing, are like other youths and maidens of the same age, they are merry and play, they also have the same kind of burdens to bear which others have, but they are unlike the rest in this respect—they are pilgrims, for they have their hearts set upon the happy home which the Lord, who died for them, is preparing for all who love God.
Young people like reading books of travel, and are aware that when on a journey, things are not to be had in the same way as when at home. He is a bad traveler who cannot bear a few troubles and hardships on the journey; and a most unpleasant companion in travel is he who complains and frets when he cannot have this or that, or when everything is not quite pleasant. A good traveler thinks of the end of the journey, and not of all the troubles by the way. Now we read of the murmurings of the children of Israel when they were pilgrims, and we read that God was not well pleased with them because they grumbled, and no doubt little children in Israel learned to murmur because they heard their parents doing so.
Come, my dear young friends, who are pilgrims on the way to the better country, that is the heavenly—tell me, are you happy and bright children, or are you murmurers? It is such a sweet witness to the love of our God when we can go on our way and through our trials joyful in His love and bright in His presence.
The children of Israel had triumphed in God’s great salvation when Jehovah led them through the Red Sea and destroyed their enemies. He had made them free, and they dreaded Pharaoh and bondage no more. But, in order to be happy pilgrims, they needed to learn not only the song of salvation, but how to go on, day by day, contented with the will of their God, for otherwise they would become in bondage to them selves. We know some dear boys and girls who are pilgrims; and we remember well how, a year or two ago, they sang the song of salvation for the first time; but since that day—young as they are—they have learned, in trial and in difficulty, to say to their Father in heaven, “Thy will be done.” Some have said this from the very bottom of their hearts, even upon their deathbeds. (For this patience and peace God be praised). They have been called to leave all they loved so dearly on earth, and have said, by their Father’s grace, sweetly and simply to Him in heaven, and in the hearing of their friends on earth, “Thy will be done.” Others are learning this lesson still, and though at times it is very hard to say it, yet God our Father does give grace to every child of His who earnestly seeks to love His will, truly to tell Him “Thy will be done.”
It is by submission to our Father’s will that we learn to love His ways with us, and thus it is that we become happy pilgrims. For such as love God their Father’s will can sing in the hour of suffering as well as in the hour of consolation; but their songs are very different from those which first filled our hearts when we knew that God was our salvation, and, assured of what He had saved us from, we then rejoiced in His work for us.
Immediately after the song of Israel’s triumph in God, the Scriptures show us that the people “went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.” (Ex. 15:2222So 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. (Exodus 15:22)). And when they came to a place of water it was bitter, so they called the place Marah, that is, Bitterness! This is what we mean by finding trouble on our way to heaven. No sooner were you really on your way to a better country, than you learned that in this world there was no water—nothing to refresh you. All things became quite changed to you. Even the things you so fondly loved before you became a pilgrim gave you no refreshment for your soul. And then God allowed you to come to a place of water. All seemed to promise joy; but instead of finding this to be the case, the very things you expected to make you happy proved to be Marah—Bitterness.
A boy or girl is truly converted, and comes home from school, for example, to find that what was looked forward to with such joy has not a little of Marah in it. Do not be disappointed dear young friend, it is for your good. “Yes,” you say, “but what am I to do?”
What did the Lord bid Moses do when Israel tasted the bitter waters? Did He say, go somewhere else? As we should say, “Try to get out of your trouble: run away from it.” Ah! many do this, and only get into far greater trouble, only run into far worse difficulty. No, this is not God’s way. You have to go on gently and kindly, pleasing others, not yourselves.
Moses “cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.” This means that when we accept what God sends us, even the bitter waters, and bring Christ into our troubles, that even our troubles become sweet to us.
“In Thy presence all afflictions
We can easily endure.”
We have now some young pilgrims in our mind who are just at Marah cheer up, dear travelers to heaven. Look you, Jesus is near, very near to you. The eternal God spews you the tree, He shows you Jesus. Do not try to run from your troubles, but since God has shown you, tell the Lord Jesus all, bring Him, as it were, into these things which are bitter to you. Your brothers and sisters ridicule you, your old friends are against you, but Jesus is with you, and His dear presence make the waters sweet.
It was at Marah that the Lord proved His people (v. 25), and it is there He is proving you. And when, Jesus being with us, we can say to our God and Father, “Thy will be done,” we are happy pilgrims.
Yet think not that you are to stay at Marah all your lifetime, for such is not God’s way You are on a journey, and soon you will find that your present trials are past trials. So it was with Israel, they left Marah, and came to Elim, and there were twelve wells of sweet water, and seventy spreading palm trees, and under their shelter they rested, and by the waters they encamped. They did not encamp at Marah, nor were they long there, for God is tender and full of pity; they learned how the Lord heals, and when the waters of Elim were reached, God’s cloudy pillar rested, and at His bidding Israel encamped—i.e., made a stay.
Happy are the people who rejoice in God their Father’s will, and who are content in His great love.
H. F. W.
LET all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. (Eph. 4:31, 32; 5:1-231Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31‑32)
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. (Ephesians 5:1‑2) ;)