March 4

Exodus 15

            “The monkey is going to jump on his back right about. . . now.”  It was track practice.  The coach had given some instruction about setting the proper pace in running a 440. Then, he was trying to illustrate it as he sent several of us to run around the track while he gave instruction to others.  A 440 (a quarter of a mile) is a little longer than a sprint, but it is still a sprint.  One has to understand when and where one is going to hit the wall, and how to handle it.  Normally at a certain spot in the 440 it feels as if a giant monkey has jumped upon your back, and it is trying to pull you back.  It is unavoidable.

            The Israelites had endured ten plagues at the beginning of this race.  God had displayed His power in showing setting them free to sprint.  He seemed to fill their sails with a mighty powerful wind when He parted the Red Sea and drowned Pharaoh’s army behind them. But as they obtained their head start, and seemed to be pulling into the homestretch, the 800 pound gorilla jumped on their backs.  Three days into the desert, and they were out of water. By the end of the first day, I am sure that they were parched.  How many had left Egypt carrying sufficient water for the journey?  On the first day of the journey, I am sure that the realities of the lack of planning on their part were settling in. Three days without water and it was now critical.  Three days in the desert with no water and people would soon be dying.  They came to springs of water, but they were bitter and undrinkable even when dying of thirst.  The gorilla was relentless.

            God in His mercy showed up.  “Moses, take a particular tree and cast it into the water and it will be made sweet.”  Moses did it, and the waters were healed.  What a picture of the cross!  Our lives, which are wrecked and ruined by the bitterness of sin, are made sweet and satisfying by His cross when we consider ourselves dead with Him!  When life is bitter, when it feels like the 800 pound gorilla has jumped on my back, it is to time consider myself impaled with Him on the cross.  When I do, He raises me up to newness of life.  He brings me soon to the springs of Elim where refreshing waters flow, and that is His glory!  Indeed we serve a glorious King.  Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john