Lessons of the Wilderness Shur, Sin, and Rephidim Part 1
We will now in dependence on the teaching of the Holy Spirit look at the lessons of Shur, Sin, and Rephidim (Ex. 15-17). We shall find each presents a distinct, solemn, yet precious lesson.
First, the lesson of the wilderness of Shur. "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water." These are few words, but what a depth of meaning there is in them—so soon after the triumphant song of redemption, only three days' journey from the place of death and deliverance—the Red Sea. And now to find no water. Have you counted the cost? The cross of Christ as separating us from the world is a very solemn matter. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Gal. 6:14. What was so debased and contemptible in the eyes of the world as a person crucified? And this was what the world was to the Apostle, and what he was to the world.
The three days' journey very aptly illustrates the exact place into which the believer is brought—dead with Christ and risen with Him. Yes, the three days' journey from death to resurrection has separated you, my fellow traveler, forever from Egypt, that is the world. But you say it looks very strange that the redeemed who had just been shouting the song of triumph, should be so soon distressed and find no water. Was not this just the way the young Christians at Thessalonica had been brought to God, "Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost"? 1 Thess. 1:6.
Now mark, this is the first lesson after redemption; and if my reader has redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins, do not be surprised if you find, the first journey you take in the wilderness, that there is no water. I believe this is a sure sign that you are redeemed. Do you find it so, or can you still drink of the world's pleasures and be satisfied? Ah, if so, do not be deceived; you are still in Egypt, still in the iron grasp of Satan who leads you captive at his will. Do not be offended if I tell you the truth. Must I not be faithful? 0 how many are thus going down to perdition with a lie in their right hand! But with you, my dear young Christian, it is not so. The things that once so pleased you yield no satisfaction now. I cannot express it like Scripture. You find no water. Solemn lesson of Shur! The New Testament is very strong on this subject: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Read 1 John 2:15-17. And again, "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4.
And when we think of the amazing price of our redemption, can we wonder that our separation from the world lying in the wicked one should be so entire? But at such a time when you find no water, nothing to satisfy, then beware of murmuring.
The next lesson of Shur is equally striking.
"And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter." This was trying indeed—more trying than finding no water. How often this is the case with the young believer, and the old one too. We grasp at that which we think will satisfy, and find only bitter disappointment. Have you not found it so? Have you tried the pleasures or the riches or the honors of the world, and found only bitterness? You are invited to a gay party. Once this would have been very delightful, but now how bitter to the taste of the new nature! How utterly disappointed you return home! Have you set your heart on some earthly object? You are permitted to obtain it, but how empty! Yes, what you expected to yield such satisfaction yields only bitter sorrow and emptiness. Oh, beware of murmuring. Not one thing has happened to you but what is common to the children of God.
This world is a wilderness wide where there is not a tree in it yielding satisfying fruit. But there is a tree. "The LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet." Yes, "As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." S. of Sol. 2:3. Surely that tree is Christ. Ah, nothing can sweeten the bitter cup of this life but sitting beneath His shadow. Oh, what delight, what sweetness to the taste of the newborn babe! How simple then this second lesson of the wilderness of Shur. Are you, my fellow Christian, beginning to find the waters of this life bitter? Come then near to Jesus; sit at His feet; His fruit shall be sweet to your taste; His words shall be sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. Are the things of the world sweet or bitter? Is Christ to you like the one precious tree laden with sweetest fruit, where all beside is barrenness and waste? Then hearken to the precept of the Lord to His people Israel. And mark, this was before the law was given. And certainly it could have nothing to do with their redemption—that was all finished. So with you, my reader; if you are a believer, your redemption is as finished as theirs was. Neither are you under law, but oh, how much present blessing depends on your hearkening diligently to the voice of the Lord. He is a rock that can never be moved, and His shadow the place of perfect security. But to sit at His feet, to hear diligently His words! And as He says, If ye love Me, keep My commands. Not as a servant under law, but as a son filled with the Spirit and moved by divine love. Most precious and necessary is this obedience of faith.
Elim was a sweet green spot in the wilderness, with its twelve wells of water and three score and ten palm trees. "And they encamped there by the waters" (Exod. 15:27). This reminds one of Jesus in the midst of His twelve apostles and seventy disciples. Wherever we see Him, He is the One to whom the thirsty may come and drink. May we ever encamp near the wells of living waters.
But I go on now to the wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16). Every step in the journey brings out the utter worthlessness of man and the sovereign grace of God. The whole congregation murmured sadly, and they said, "Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt. when we sat by the fleshpots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." This was very sad, but not more so than the terrible sin of unbelief that now so easily besets the believer. One would think that with such a bright future before us we should have no lingering looks at the world behind. What was God's answer to this murmuring? Amazing grace! "Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day," etc. And now it is worthy of a special remark, that the sabbath of Jehovah's rest was given before the law in connection with the eating of this bread from heaven. It was first given to Israel as privilege, not by command or on the principle of law. And here the people rested on the seventh day, and I am not aware of another single instance where the people rested on the sabbath day. There is something very striking in this. From Adam to Moses, yes, to this very chapter, that is, for more than 2500 years, the Spirit never used the word sabbath, either in its root or in any of its forms. And here in the wilderness of Sin it is God's gift to His redeemed people in perfect grace. And on the principle of grace, before the law is given, they rest on the seventh day. Immediately they are under law, the Spirit never once repeats the wards, They "rested on the sabbath day." I would not have you forget that God expressly gave Israel the sabbath on the ground of redemption—on that very account—as it is declared, "And remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out...: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day." Deut. 5:15. Thus they had the sabbath because they were redeemed; but they only rested on it or enjoyed it by gathering the heavenly manna, and this on the principle of pure grace. Bread from heaven! Oh, may the Spirit of God open the understanding of my reader to see Christ, the Bread of Life, in all this.
Let it be well understood that the only ground on which God gives rest to the guilty sinner is through the redemption blood of Christ. Yes, He looks on that precious Lamb "who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 4:25; 5:1. "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:7). This gives peace. This peace is God's gift in pure grace. As the sabbath was God's gift in grace to every Israelite, so this peace, this rest of God, is God's gift to every believer who has redemption through the blood of Christ. But then you say, If so, why do not I enter into this rest and enjoy peace with God? To that question this lesson of the wilderness is a solemn reply. Manna was a type of Christ as the Bread of Life. The redeemed from Egypt fed upon it, but they gathered a certain rate every day. Is this the case with you, my reader? Are you gathering the sweet manna, Christ, every day in His precious Word? If you had no time to eat your daily food, would you wonder if you were soon out of health? If you have no time to gather up the crumbs of life in the precious Word, is there any wonder that your spiritual life declines? Oh, read the sweet words of Jesus on this subject. He says, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." John 6:35. Do you thus come to Him for your daily portion?
Each Hebrew had an omer, about five pints, of manna—every man according to his eating. The greatest eater had no lack, and he that gathered most had none to spare. Just as with the lamb, every man according to his eating, so with the manna, every man according to his eating. Our deepest need as sinners was met by the blood of the Lamb; and the deepest daily need of our souls is met, if feeding on Christ. No doubt it is very blessed on the first day of the week to meet together to break bread—to remember Jesus—to show forth His broken body—to take that cup which shows forth His shed blood—by that one loaf to express the one body of Christ. Indeed, I would press this. But there is the daily portion—the constant need of the soul for spiritually feeding on Christ. In so short a paper I can only ask you to read John 6:30-71 in connection with this subject.
How very simple then this divine picture. God gave the bread from heaven. The redeemed Israelite gathered it. "A small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.... And they gathered it every morning." "It was... white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey." Oh, that precious spotless Christ, so small and despised in the eyes of the world! But when the child of God gathers the manna in the morning, how refreshing the dew of the early dawn as the Spirit reveals Jesus to the soul in the blessed Word. And God gave them enough for the sabbath, and so they rested. God has given you rest, my fellow believer. Do you not enjoy it? Do you not rest? Then you have not gathered enough manna. Read the Word more. Think more on Christ. If the Israelite exclaimed, What is it? well may you say, What is it?—Christ my portion.
As God gave them twice as much as they could eat, they rested on the seventh day. Even so by the gift of His beloved Son He has more than met our utmost need. Thus they rested by gift, not by command. And thus in Christ we rest by grace, and not by works. Some did not believe, and went out to seek manna, but found none. So it is with us whenever we wander from God's eternal gift.
There was a great difference between having the sabbath and resting. There is a great difference between having peace with God and enjoying that peace. Would you enjoy that sweet rest in God? Then gather the manna—feed on Christ.
Oh, would you rest? Then grieve not that Holy Spirit by whom you are sealed. The taste of the manna was like wafers made with honey. And what is so sweet to the taste of a child of God as the fellowship of the Spirit in communion with Christ? O do, my young Christian, seek this holy, sweet enjoyment of Christ. Does the prospect of being forever with the Lord gladden your heart? Then earnestly seek for much communion with Him in spirit while here below.