Bitterness, healing, and obedience

As I mentioned in my last blog, it’s amazing how quickly praise can turn into grumbling. 

The Israelites were only three days away from the Red Sea when they started complaining about a lack of water. 

You’d think that after passing through the Red Sea, that they’d believe God could do anything, even provide water in the desert.

Finally, they find some water, but it turns out to be bitter, so they complain even more. 

But God directs Moses to throw some wood in the water, and it miraculously becomes sweet. 

He then tells the Israelites, if they’ll just follow him and obey him, he will be their healer, just as he “healed” the waters at Marah.

Sometimes as we follow Christ, we go through some bitter times. 

Sometimes it’s through no fault of our own.  Maybe it’s an attack of Satan, or perhaps it’s just the result of a broken world. 

Other times, though, we go through bitter times because of our own bad decisions. 

Whatever the reasons, God promises to be our healer during the bitter times. 

But at the same time, he does require our obedience.

We don’t like to hear that sometimes.  After all, we’re saved by grace, right? 

But as I’ve mentioned before, blessing most often comes as we obey him.

Do you want healing in your marriage? 

It’s not enough just to pray for healing.  You need to do the things God has told you. 

You need to love your wife.  You need to sacrifice for her.  You need to honor her. 

You need to respect your husband and submit to him. 

And as long as you don’t do these things, you’ll never find healing in your marriage.

Do you want to healing in your finances. 

It’s not enough to pray for it.  You need to work.  You need to make financial plans.  You need to use your money as a faithful steward. 

Remember that your money is not really your own.  It was given to you as a trust by God. 

If you don’t remember that, you won’t find healing in your finances.

The bitter waters would never have been made sweet unless Moses had obeyed God and thrown that piece of wood into the water. 

It was a command that didn’t seem to make sense.  Moses probably thought, “How is throwing wood into the water going to make it sweet?” 

But though he didn’t understand, Moses obeyed. 

Sometimes we say the same kind of thing to God.  

“How can I give a tithe, and actually save money?  It doesn’t make sense.” 

“My husband doesn’t show love to me.  Why should I show respect?” 

“My wife doesn’t submit to me. Why should I show her love?” 

But only through obedience, can we find God’s healing and blessing in our lives.

If we live in disobedience, God will allow troubles to come into our lives, just as he did with the Egyptians. 

But unlike the Egyptians, where he willfully afflicted them, God doesn’t need to actively curse us to bring troubles in our lives. 

Usually, all he does is let us reap the consequences of our actions.  We curse ourselves by our own actions.

What about you?  Are you going through tough times in your life and are looking for some healing? 

Then do the things that God has commanded. 

Even if it’s hard. 

Even if it sometimes doesn’t make sense. 

And God will bring healing.