The children of Israel had just come through the Red Sea. God had rolled the mighty waters back and made a path through them so that they came over on dry ground, the water standing up like a wall on either side.
Now they were starting on their journey through the barren wilderness. It was a hot journey too, and they became very thirsty. At last they found water, but when they tasted it they found it was bitter, and then they began to murmur and complain Moses, however, prayed to the Lord, for he knew that since the Lord had opened a path through the mighty sea, as well as having done many other miracles before this, He could surely satisfy their thirst in the wilderness.
And the Lord answered his prayer. He showed him a tree to cut down and put into the bitter water, which when Moses had done, the water was made sweet, and the people drank freely.
Perhaps the one who reads these lines has come to a place in his or her life where everything seems to be going wrong, and you feel very much like the children of Israel felt when they tasted the bitter waters. Are you grumbling and complaining as they did? If you feel that way, why not turn to God instead, as Moses did, and He will show you a “tree,” too. Yes, He will point you to the One who died on a tree on Calvary’s hill. He knows your need, all your guilt and sin too, and His only Son bore all the judgment of God against sin for all those who believe, in those dark hours on Calvary. And now, if you bring that tree—the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ —into your need today, you will be blessed. Look to Him as the One who suffered there for you, and who is now in the glory above—risen again for your justification—and you will be saved. Then the bitter waters will be made sweet for you, and you will roice as you are able to say, “The Lord Jesus is my Saviour.”
ML 09/16/1951