The people rejoiced, sang jubilantly, praising God for His Power over their enemy. “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously…The LORD will reign forever and ever!” God is the LORD is what God wanted the people to understand. His Story is about HIM! Now what? The people came down from their mountain top experience to the reality of following God on the daily journey through the desert. They get thirsty. The beginning of the endless whining begins. The first thing they do is turn against their leader. “What are we going to drink?” Exodus 15

Why are we humans so quick to whine at the first bad rut in the road to where God is taking us? I don’t know. But we do.

“So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a branch.” 

A great leader will not sit and take the abuse of whining, but turn to the LORD immediately for help in what to do next. For it is not about the leader but about the LORD. The LORD provides. The branch is used as God’s tool to show His Power once again and makes a pool of water turn from bitter to clean. This first “test” came with…

It was there at Marah that the LORD laid before them the following conditions to test their faithfulness to him: ‘If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.’ After leaving Marah, they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the springs.” Exodus 15, NLT

The first leg of the journey complete. The first test expressed. Now rest. There will be more “tests” to come.

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Story reminds us that YOU are in control and in charge through all our circumstances and situations, small and large. Our job is to listen and obey. You will heal, restore and even renew us in rest, if we obey. I’m yours, LORD!
In Jesus Name, Amen