Last time we left the Israelites in Exodus they were praising and worshiping the Lord for His great victory over both Pharaoh and Egypt and also their salvation. In our text, which is part of three trials they face in the wilderness that covers Ch 15:22 to Ch 17:7, we see the Lord leads the people to bitter waters after three days journey in the desert. While this was a trial from the Israelites perspective we find out in v 25 that the Lord tested their faith. The people failed that test by grumbling to Moses. Moses then intercedes and the Lord turns the bitter waters sweet. Our text in Exodus is full of God’s grace to His people. It speaks of salvation, sanctification, and even a foretaste of glorification of Israel all brought about by our loving God.
When we fail, as we often do, we can be assured the Lord has a purpose behind our trials and that purpose is that we would grow more into His image. We, like Israel in our text, are in the wilderness called the world. In this world we also face trials of various kinds, some we fail and grow, and some by His grace we pass and also grow. Through these trials and valleys, we are slowly conformed into His image. Brothers and sisters where would we be without trials? It’s through these trials we learn to depend on the Lord and not on our own merits.
