Rejoicing in God’s love and guidance is one thing; obediently following it is another. When the people, after going three days without water, came to Marah and found the water bitter, they grumbled against Moses, continuing a pattern that had begun at the seashore (14:11-12) and would continue throughout Exodus. It seems that delivering Israel out of Egypt would be faster and easier than getting Egypt out of the hearts and minds of Israel. So too with us; it is the deep inner work of sanctification.

Moses cries out to God who helps him find a piece of wood that cleanses the water, making it fit to drink. Moses knows how to work with God. In spite of their grumbling, Moses keeps shepherding them.

How would God deal with their grumbling? He issues a ruling and a test, providing a way for them to avoid disease into the future by listening carefully and obeying God’s words. This would prove to be a very difficult task, both for them and for us. Only by finding identity and living in conformity with God’s work in us through the gospel are we set free from the empty way of life of our forefathers (1Pe 1:18) as well as the cultural diseases of our time.
Application: Father, thank you for rescuing us through the gospel. Please help me listen and obey your words, allowing my identity and lifestyle to gradually be conformed to your truth, free from grumbling and the bitterness of my wicked generation.
One Word: Listen and obey God’s word