A Piece of Wood

For centuries our spiritual ancestor have wondered about that two main thought emerged on what this tree could pictures or points to the healing Ministry of Jesus (Yahawashi) in our lives. The most ancient understanding is the tree points us to Yahawah Elohim. Today we're looking back at (Exodus 15:22-27). Moses, Miriam, and the Israelites have finished singing, and now it time to journey on. Moses leads the Israelites in the desert and they go for three days without finding water. Imagined traveling on foot all of them including there livestock for three days without finding water. This was a life threatening situation. Finally they came to some water and their hopes skyrocketed only to be dashed by the bitterness of water, it was undrinkable that they name it the place "Marah" which mean "bitterness" imagine literally dying of thirst, finding a water then discovering that it was salt water. Not a good life or death. When the Israelites came to the bitter water they did what you and i would do. They grumbled against their leader Moses. Moses in turn cried out to Yahawah. Yahawah showed Moses a piece of wood which Moses promptly threw up into the water, immediately the water was made sweet and the Israelites were able to drink it. Moses then led them to a place called Elim which had twelves spring and seventy palm trees. The story is about the journey from Marah to Elim, from bitter water to twelve spring and seventy palm trees. The journey takes place externally and internally. The external journey is the obvious one. Moses and company find themselves in a very bitter situation. They have been  three days in the desert without coming upon a source of water, the water they have come to is undrinkable. Death is threatening. Moses cried out to Yahawah and Yahawah made the bitter sweet to refreshing themselves, they are revived and journey to Elim. It is another revelation of the power and  trustworthiness of Yahawah, the message for us is clear. Whatever the bitter obstacles that we encounter in life's journey today, we count on Yahawah to transform them, to use, redeem them for good, as Yahawah Elohim lead us to Elim. When we cry our our Marah to Yahawah, Yahawah is able to "sweeten" them, that is to make them drinkable, to turn them into a resources for the next leg of the journey, Yahawah is big enough to deal with, redeem, and even transform whatever external problem we might Face.

Internally journey is less obvious, but it is the one on which the text focuses. Our english translation obscure this focus because of the difficulty in translating the verb for Yahawah "showing" or "directing" Moses to a tree/ pieces of wood. The verb used actually means to instruct or teach, Yahawah instructed/ taught Moses a tree. That does not make much sense. But it is important to note because this verb is the root verb of the word "Torah." Torah means instruction law that Yahawah gaves Moses on the Mount Sanai. For how the Israelites were were to live covenant with Yahawah who brought them up out of Egypt. We might say that Yahawah "Torah-ed Moses tree.

When Moses cast this Torah tree into the bitter water. The water became sweet Torah is not for water, however, but for people. The bitter water of Marah revealed the bitterness that lodged in the heart of the Israelites. Notice that they grumbled against Moses while Moses cried out to Yahawah. The external obstacle revealed the internal realities of the heart. Moses trusted Yahawah and cried the problem to Yahawah. The Israelites on the other hand, betray a lack of trust and they grumbled amongst themselves against Moses. What become evident in the face of Marah is that Israelites needed deliverance from more than just like Pharoah their life in Egypt. They need deliverance from their grumbling mumbling bitter selves and Yahawah Torah Moses a tree of Transformation right then and there, after Moses/ Yahawah sweetened the water with the tree, Yahawah made a decree and a law for them, and there He tested them. He said, if you of listen carefully to voice Yahawah your Elohim and do what is right in His eye. If you pay attention to His command and keep all His decree, i will not bring on you any of the disease that i brought on the Egyptians for I Am Yahawah your healer. This text makes it plain that the emphasis is on the Transformation of the Israelites rather than water of Marah.

In a word israel is to be "Yahawah"- centered in all their living. Remember, down in Egypt life had been Pharoah centered. So Yahawah "tested" the israelites there a Marah. This testing was for the purpose of training them to reveal their heart in order that their hearts might be changed where needed. The test revealed that Moses was Yahawah-centered and that israel was not. The test a training exercise for israel designed to bend their bitter. Grumbling hearts toward Yahawah. How did the bitter water become sweet? The tree of life was with them as they learned that (YHWH) Yahawah Elohim. God Word was the most important thing they had. After depending on Yahawah Elohim for 40 years while living in the desert, they listened when God spoke, and they believed, and they knew Yahawah Word meant life and death. That they led them astounding victory. Is God presently testing you in your real identity this area of your life? What has His testing revealed? Have you become bitter toward your Motherland because of where He has led you? Oh Maharlikan! have you come to trust Him more as result of what you have gone throught.