“SO MOSES brought Israel from la the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur.” verse 22. The children of Israel had only just sung their joyous songs of triumph and praise to the Lord, after their complete deliverance from Egypt. God’s glorious victory had left them in a spirit of praise and thankfulness. One would suppose that now all would be well.
Such joy often fills the soul of a new convert now. What joyous feelings come to one delivered from San’s power, when set free from doubts and fears of judgment to come, through resting in faith on the work of Christ. To such it almost seems that nothing can ever go wrong again, that life will henceforth be free from trials and full of happiness. In fact it would be strange if this new-found salvation were not accompanied with happiness and “songs of deliverance,” for nothing means more to the anxious soul than salvation from sin, and peace with God.
“They went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.” The three days speak of death. The people had in figure passed through death at the Red Sea; now they must learn it practically. To the believer the world has now become a desert, a place of trial and exercise of heart, and this must be entered into by the acceptance of death. There can be no real progress, no break with the past, until death is accepted. He is to reckon himself dead to sin (Rom. 6), dead to the law (Rom. 7), and dead to the world (Gal. 6).
These first three days give the character of the whole wilderness journey, right onward to the end. The wilderness does not change; the bitter waters are met with all along the way. If the cross of Christ has redeemed our souls, we must take up our own cross, daily, and follow Christ to the end.
Yet the believer will prove there is now One who will be with him through these trials, and he will become acquainted with God in a way that he never could be otherwise. The wilderness is a remarkable schooling place and if the Christian accepts these trials as being allowed of God for his own good, and priding opportunities in which he can honor God, then his soul will be enriched through them.
These first three days were an introductory period of testing for Israel and ordered of God for their profit. If they learned its lessons they would be better prepared for the longer journey before them. God was to allow this trial to prove their own hearts and show His preserving care that would mark the whole wilderness period.
“And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah [or bitterness].” verse 23.
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