Stubborness Can Be Deadly

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32)

Hey Gang:  Have you run into people you can identify with just one word?  Archie Mc Tavish was such a man - now there are people who are stubborn and then there was Archie McTavish.   He was a true blue Scotchman who let everyone in ear shot know it.   I don't know if Scotsman tend to be a wee bit on the stubborn side, but Arch was stubborn enough for to make one believe that way.

It is said that Arch had gained such a reputation for his stubbornness that folks just tended to give him space and remarked "Oh, that’s the way he is”. They tended to give way to him, rather than do battle over things that were just not worth the pain and agony that it would take try and convince Arch that he might be wrong.

And then one day, Archie's stubbornness cost him his life!  It seems during a rain storm he noticed a leak in his roof.  His house was of the three story variety and thirty feet up.  Now his bride of more than forty years tried to convince Arch that this was not the time to try and repair the roof, but, as you might guess,  Arch would have no part of that so he got out his repair kit, put up the ladder and began to climb.

 All went well until Arch stepped on a spot that was slippery. He came off the roof like a speeding bullet, did a half gainer and made a sudden stop at the bottom.  Arch should have listened to Amy, his bride, but his stubbornness won out and it cost him his life.

This is not the end of the story. Arch had been a rather rough individual who had no time for religion, although he had been baptized into the Catholic faith.  Since he had lived a rather rough life, the church determined he would have to be prayed out of purgatory and Amy was expected to foot the bill for the services of the church.  It is rumored that after several year of praying for Arch's soul, Amy went to check to see how much longer it would take.  The priest suggested all was out by a foot -to which she remarked that Arch was stubborn enough to get his own foot out.

Archie was stubborn and we can say it led to his demise, but spiritual stubbornness is far more lethal than refusing to listen as to whether you would fix the roof on a rainy day.  It is absolutely amazing to me that so-called intelligent people do not have a deep compulsion to seek the truth, pertaining to eternal life and where one would choose to spend it.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus makes this promise to each and every person  that He breathed life into, "Behold, I stand at the door at the door and knock"  Now notice the next word, "if" , “if you open the door I will come into you?"  In John 3:16, God puts legs on that promise: "I loved you so much I gave my only Son that you might be freed from the bondage of sin".  In other words, I have sent Yeshua, MY Son to carry your sin burden to the cross.

Now think about that for a moment...If you choose to do the Isaiah 53:6 road and choose "to go our own way", on that day when you stand before God to give an account of every word and action of your life, all of the grubby things done in this life will be revealed.  Again, I ask, why would anyone want to not accept Jesus’ promise to wash us totally clean of all those grubby transgressions and we can stand before our Lord "clean and pure"?

So, my friends and neighbors,   I know that most, if not all, of those who read the Gramps Morning Thoughts are believers and safely tucked away in the Savior's hands… but it does not hurt to do a review once in a while, if, for no other reason than to thank your heavenly Daddy that He prepared a way for you to dump the errors of your ways and be washed clean with the blood of the cross.  Keep in mind, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one come to the Father except through Me". (John 14:6)  

Blessings,

Gramps

In The Same Measure?

"Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38)

Recently in these morning thoughts I asked the question, "Are you a robber?"  When I first made contact with this verse, it required my digging a little deeper, which eventually turned into a lot deeper.  That is the wondrous thing about studying God's word.  It has a ‘the dangling carrot syndrome.  Nothing stands alone.  As a matter of fact I tend to get a wee bit tricked when I hear people taking the liberty of taking a verse out of context and building a denomination on it.

I read a neat entry by a very good friend of mine who said, “There will be no Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterians or any other denomination in heaven and by the way there will be no Christians either, only sheep, children of God whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.”

In my travels through the roadways of the Word and seeking deeper understanding of what God was saying when He said, "Yet, you are robbing Me"  I came to yet another profound statement of God, "They have abandoned the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel.  They have turned away from Him" (v. 4b).  He follows this with another statement that tends to get one’s attention, "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint, from the sole of the foot even to the head".  (Isa 5b - 6a). 

Now ,it is at this point that I want to close the Bible and go and rake leaves or some other mundane exercise.  Solomon would say "that kind of attitude is "pure folly". Isaiah goes on, as he always does, and gives us a path out of the wilderness.  "Come let us reason together, says the Lord,  Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.    But notice the next line, the kicker - "If you consent and obey  you will eat the best of the land".   (v.18 - 19a).

Do you think Jesus was referring to this very issue when He said, "For your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return"?  Was He telling us we can determine God's blessings on us by our willingness to give?  I tend to think that is precisely what He is saying.  

Note, in the Sermon on the Mount He made a similar statement pertaining to judging, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judges; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you"  (Matt. 7:1-2). There is much more that we could say about God  placing in our hands the power to be blessed by our heavenly Daddy but we will leave it for another day. 

Soooo, friends and neighbors, remember what Jesus said to the scribe who ask Him what is the greatest commandment?   Jesus said  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as  yourself".  (Mark 12:30-31).  Do you think Jesus was saying "in the same measure that you love Me, your neighbor and yourself, so I will love you.  Something to ponder:  Can we love God in the same measure that He loves us?

Blessings,

Gramps

Jesus:Son of GOD, Son of DAVID, Son of MAN

 (This probably should be three, but they are so related.)

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets…but in ‘these last days’ He has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed heir of all things…The Son is the ‘radiance of God’s glory’, the exact representation of His being.”  (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Son of GOD:  

“The angel answered,”….so the holy one to be born will be called ‘the Son of God,”  (Luke 1:32)

Some scholars teach that many Old Testament references to ’the Angel of the Lord’ referred to  Yahweh’s Son, and so it maybe; BUT the New Testament is clear in several places that Jesus, son of David, son of Mary (and Joseph) was the Son of God.  However, as God, He was pre-existant, but unlike God, Jesus put on ‘humanity’ to show us the face  and love of God.

GOD SAID- Jesus was His SON!!!  Remember the Sunday school stories?  Jesus was being baptized by his cousin John, “As He was praying, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended…and a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (John 3:21-22).  Another time, on the Mount of Transfiguration and in the presence of Peter, James and John, God said, “This is my Son, whom I love, listen to Him!”  (Mark 9:7)

People Said – “Jesus Christ/Anointed one” -Even though Jesus taught differently from others and did miracles, many did not make the connection that Jesus was Messiah, Son of God, but a few did.  We visited Caesarea Philippi where Peter responded to Jesus’ question with - “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” (Matt 16:16). The Centurion and Guards, who saw Jesus die and the events that followed, were convinced!  The Centurion exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God.” (Matt 17:54)

Demons said: -" What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God...?"Mk 5:7

Son of DAVID:

“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham,” (Matt 1:1) The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:32-33)    

GOD SAID - Jewish people of the first Century AD, and still today, are looking for Messiah to come from the lineage of King David, as was promised in several places: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” II Samuel 7:18.  All the ‘begats’ and written lineages were important to Jews, as well as to Father God, (read Isa 49:18). Detailed records were kept at the Temple and, during His’ lifetime on earth, no one questioned that Jesus was of the lineage of King David. 

 God used the Decree of Caesar Augustus to confirm this in the registry of Bethlehem. (Luke 2:4)
In David rested the hope of the ages for all Jews.  the Prophet Micah had said some day The Messiah would be born here and rule the earth from Zion.

People said - ‘Son of David’ to get Jesus’ attention. Using this title was an expression of their faith that He Messiah could overcome political bondage and physical needs; examples include the Blind men (Matt 10:47 & Matt 9:27-30) and the Canaanite woman (Matt 15:22).

I have personally experienced God’s divine healing: I am 12 years cancer free; I have seen family members healed, but ‘Son of David’ is not part of my prayers for healing.  We know Jesus, Savior Lord is our great Physician, yes, but cares about each circumstance in our lives whether good or difficult.

Son of MAN:

“Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house (Zacchaeus and all who believe). For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:9-10).

‘Son of Man’ was a title Jesus used for himself!  He said in Matt 6 and Luke 9 that The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head…”;  In Matt 12:32 He said, “If any one speaks against the Son of Man he speaks against the Holy Spirit”; and Matt 20:28 He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.”;  In Mark 8 he said, “If we are ashamed of Him and his words, He will be ashamed of us when He comes into God’s glory.

In all these statements His emphasis was on things of earth, but indicated His eventual domination!

Do you recognize him as Son of God?  Are there situations in your life you need to give to Son of David to extend his rule over?  Have you offended the Son of Man and need to repent?

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man is an incredible mystery.  He was God-Man from birth to the resurrection.  Son of David weaves him into our humanity – tempted, weary, thirsty, weeping, laughing, dying.   He is Awesome God, Creator, Indescribable, Unfathomable,   Mighty in power.  He cares for you and me and knows my hallelujahs and heartaches.

He, who is the Son of God, became the Son of David that we might be His spiritu Heal lineage and be forever adopted as sons of God…SOO let God’s spirit uncover every area of your life not yet fully under His rule.  Read Col 1:16-18

Gospel in a nutshell: "For God so loved the world He gave his Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16 

Fairest Lord Jesus   By Thomas Hill

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.  

Careful You May Be Wrong

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (Matt. 7:1-2)

Hey Gang:  Did you ever have a wrong opinion of someone only to find out you were out in left field?   I was never much of a boxing fan but kind of enjoyed the rhetoric that transpired between the contestants as they prepared a fight.  Cassius Clay was one of my favorites.  You know who Cassius Clay is, don’t you? or does that date you as a more recent entrant to this world where we live?

We older timers know that Cassius Clay made a decision in his hey day to become a follower of Allah and choose to change his name to Muhammad Ali.  Ali was kind of unique in that he had a sense of humor.  One of his favorite sayings was “I will fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee”.  

Muhammad was at the top of his career when many feel he entered the ring one or more too many times.  Today he suffers from maladies that have restricted his life in a very serious way and does not appear in public affairs very often.

I always thought he was one of the greatest boxers of all time.  I was privileged to see another great boxer by the name of Joe Lewis;  now that tells you that I am an older-type codger.  And, I always felt to be a boxer one had to live a kind of shady life.  Not sure where I got that idea.  But recently I ran across the following story about Ali that changed my opinion of the man. 

An incident transpired that Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.

Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock.

You've got to work hard to get to them.” He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.” 

Soooo, my younger friends, there is no greater beauty in our world than when a ”pearl of great price”, created by our heavenly Father is pure, not only on the inside but on the outside as well. 

Lemuel’s contribution to the Proverbs of Solomon (Proverbs 31) is a beautiful tribute to those mothers and daughters that we can say, “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”   I am truly blessed to have a “pearl of great price” as my bride, and two ”pearls of great price” that are my daughters.

We differ in theology, but remember this father's words “you are more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

Blessings,

Gramps

WiIll we Ever Learn

“For behold, in those days and at that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat   Then I will enter into judgment with them here on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations, AND THEY HAVE DIVIDED UP My land” (Joel 3:2 )

Hey Gang:  The president announcement that he is going to go to Israel in the coming month to get the parties to the talking table and fix the problem that has persisted since Hagar and Ishmael were sent packing by Sarah, and Esau got snuffed out of his birthright.   

When I heard this announcement, I immediately took inventory of my surroundings, laid in a few extra provisions and filled the wood box to the hilt, for such announcements  do have a history or woe that followed shortly after they were initiated since the focus will be for Israel to give land and Jerusalem for peace.

Did you notice that shortly after John Kerry was approved to be Secretary of State by the Senate, he announced he would be donning his diplomat’s hat and heading to the most sensitive spot of the world (Israel), to prepare the way for our exalted leader to do what a ‘skillion’ people have failed to do - get the parties to sit down at a table and put thousands of years of hatred and mistrust behind them and come up with a solution to the number one problem in the world.

John Muncy (I don’t know who John Muncy is but his letter seemed to make sense to me) recently published an excellent letter pertaining to the folly of this type of approach to solving the problem.  In it he wrote,” I have 75 examples of major storms  striking our country each time our nations leaders try to force the hand of the Israeli leaders to give away their promised/covenant land in exchange for peace.”

 It is interesting to  note that within days of Kerry’s announcing  that he would be going to Israel to put pressure on them to give away more Covenant Land, a major storm his Massachusetts.  As Muncy and Koenig, in his book Eye to Eye, clearly explained this is not a good idea.  Note the Scripture of the day,   Joel made it pretty clear that God takes a dim view of we earthly folks trying to put Israel in the shoe box, and then sealing it shut, and burying it in a cave someplace.

Paul wrote an irrevocable law, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatever he sows, that will he reap”.  (Gal 6:7).   Obediah 1:15 clearly states “For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you.  Your dealings will return on your own head.”   

The Question, “Will we learn before it is too late? God made it very clear in Genesis 12, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you.” 

Again, quoting from John Muncy’s letter, “Like it or not, God judges those nations that cross over His clear covenant with the Jews.  Any time you want to test His authority and power to make you miserable, try touching the “apple of His eye (see Zech 2:8).  And He as many ways of making us miserable.” 

Sooooo, my young friends, button down the hatches, lay in some extra provisions and make you’re insurance is up to date.  Also keep in mind if there is no Israel, then Jesus cannot return again and all the promises He made about Israel are bogus.  And you can bet your sweet bippy, you can take each one  of Jesus’ promises to  the bank. 

Blessings,

Gramps

Yeshua, Linking the Old Testament With the New

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Phil 4:9-10

Before I was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandma, I was a daughter, sister, baby, toddler, friend, student, teen, teacher….(depending where I was when, and who needed what) and so the list goes on through the years.  Today, I am still called many things – friend, senior, volunteer……….

Jesus, too, was a baby, son, toddler, brother, carpenter…..but His Names and Titles are far more excellent and none  other can compare.  They are impressive qualities, which He makes available to His follower for salvation, comfort, guidance, strength, healing of spirit, mind, body  and the list goes on.

So, to think of Jesus in terms of Savior, Lord, Messiah- and the 360 more in a devotional I have- is not so unreal.  True, some in this Devotional are very similar or images in a sentence, but this only begins to show us His Godliness, personhood, character and many attributes.  They also give us insight into His human life and ministry as examples that we can strive to follow.  Remember He came to earth to show us His Father, His Kingdom principles and His LOVE!

For years I have been interested in, read and studied the Names of God in the Old Testament and names of Jesus in the New. Of course many are the same or related .  Sooo, Let’s go back to the beginning.  Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man…” Seems that us includes the Son, whom we call Jesus. 

Isaiah was clear when he wrote, “For unto us a son is born, unto us a child is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.” (9:6-7).  And familiar to all of us is Immanuel – God with us! ( Isa 7:4)

            He is God’s Son-----our Redeemer

            He is God’s Lamb----sacrifice for our sin, yet our Shepherd

Go with me to Luke chapters one and two and look at the Names He is called:

1:31-32                Angel to Mary – “Jesus, … Son of the Most High”

1:43          Elizabeth called Him “My LORD”

1 :69, 73  Zecharias called him “Horn of salvation” and “Dayspring”

1 :54         Mary called him “God’s gift to Israel”

2:11          Angel called him “Savior, Christ the Lord”

2 :31          Simeon – “Light to the Gentiles” a fulfillment of Isa 49:6 and fulfilled in Matt 4:13-16

2 :38         Anna – “Redemption of Jerusalem”

   

John begins his Gospel with “In the beginning was the WORD…” We will let this be our beginning of His human life. Yes, it is hard to separate his humanity from Godliness, but Scripture also says He knows our weaknesses and has been tempted  in all points as we have been. (Heb 15:4) 

SOOOO, what do you call Him? Other than in song? Jesus?  Lord?  Savior?  Does it hurt your heart when you hear His Name used lightly?  Will you say with Peter, “You are the Christ, Son of the Living God.

                        Jesus, Name Above All Names              (No author given)

Jesus, name above all names Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.

Emmanuel, God is with us. Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

             

Is God Not Wonderous

"Then they came to Elim, where there were  twelve springs and seventy palm tree, and they camped here near the water."  (Exodus 15:27)

Hey Gang:  Time to move on from Marah.  Jamie Buckingham in his magnificent book titled A Way Through the Wilderness wrote, "Marah is now a memory as they turned inland, a trek familiar to only Moses.  Close to death they funneled into the narrow wadi between two huge mountains.  No one knows where Elim is.  Chances are it was what is now called Wadi Ferran that even today is a very beautiful oasis.  Exodus 15:27 tell us "It was a place with twelve springs and seventy palm trees." 

A tiny diversion - in the desert there are three sources of water, cisterns, wells and springs.  The Elim Oasis was fed water through springs.  When one visits Caesarea they are awed with the tremendous aqueduct system that was build in the days of Herod; it diverted waters into gigantic cisterns. Masada, Herod's summer home, had cisterns capable of holding millions of gallons of water.  But at best this is a temporary way to store water; most is obtained from wells. The problem is knowing where to dig.  To the Bedouin this is a simple matter.  Most old-time Bedouins can read the desert sands as we read a road map. 

Digging wells was one tough chore.  Think about it for a minute.  It required at least two men, one to dig and line the well with rock; the other, with buckets in hand, to haul the sand from the well and hand down rocks. Well construction was a process going 560 to 70 feet down.  God promised to these 

 pilgrims was that "they would not have to dig wells".  

Can you see the analogies between our physical walk through the wilderness and our spiritual growth? A sign of our entrance into the Promised Land is adequate spiritual nourishment that comes with our covenant relationship to God through Christ Jesus, which requires our digging our well into the Word deep enough to provide adequate water. 

We have had an abundance of water from the skies in the past couple days.  When that happens I have a pond in my yard.  If I place my dependence for my needed water supply on that pond, I would experience a world of hurt in a week or so when it dried up.

 Depending on surface water is very dangerous in our walk with the Lord. David wrote about the spiritual man who "was like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season" (Psalm 1:3).

Sooo,   The point: cisterns nor wells give us a sure supply of water.  Jeremiah warned of this when he wrote, "The people have committed two sins, they have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and they have dug cisterns that cannot hold water." (Jer. 2:3).

God's Love Story - Even Though the Valley

 “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light”.  (Matt. 28:30)

 Hey Gang:  Many years ago, by human standards, God impressed on my heart that I should pass on things that God has taught me over the years.  My eldest grandson has gone through very deep waters in his fight with cancer, a wilderness walk that has matured him in his walk with the Lord. 

When he was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer ,he had to make a choice as to whether he would put his full trust in the Lord and walk a day at  a time in the Word or do as one doctor suggested, "get your house in order and die".  Devastated, yes, discouraged, a whole bucket full.  Ready to give up?  Not in your sweet bippy.

When they met for the first time with the medical team at the Cancer Center of America, in ZION, IL, the team there  said something that filled him and his bride with hope.  They said, “Yes , you have a very serious form of cancer BUT we are going to aggressively attack it!"  And the battle began.  And the war began.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans:  "And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind  of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the  will of God" (Romans 8:27).  But he did not stop there he went on to say, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ( Rom. 8:27-28).

He and his bride committed the disease to the Lord and said, “Here are we, Lord, send us where ever you feel people need to know there is hope, even with stage- four cancer.”   And the Lord began to open doors - doors that ministered to multitudes who, perhaps, were not going through the cancer wars but dealing with other crisis in their lives.

They began a blog titled Living in High Definition that has ministered to multitudes of people around the world.  He has ministered to multitudes in churches, schools and other public forums sharing the wondrous news that Jesus is his Lord and his life is in His hands.  Are you going through a tough time in your life? Does it feel like the sky is falling? Then tune into  rkprudhomme.blogspot.com and read the message of hope and determination and victory.

   

Sooooo,  One thing we can count on as children of God – WE WILL go though the wilderness and experience times of pain and agony in our walk with the Lord.  James warned us there would be times like that, but he also said, "Consider it joy when you do for it builds scar tissue in your soul and prepares you for the next battle” (Gramps rendition)  I have grown stronger watching these two young warriors put their faith on the "Rock".

Blessings,       Gramps

PS These blogs are written often several weeks ahead, especially while we are at VOM.  Continue to pray with us for Healing – Divine or through wisdom He gives to Doctors.  At Ryan’s last visit to CTCA Doctors found a tumor wrapped around the colon.  They have been trying to determine the next step.  Our prayer is that it will be gone.  BUT God also works through thru Doctors.  His return visit is Feb 28.

Living Waters

       

"May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth.  In his days may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more" (Psa. 726-7).

Hey Gang:  One thing I can attest to is that, in my seven trips to the Araba (desert of Israel), I learned respect and a deep appreciation for the desert and the people of the desert.  In America, where we have so many conveniences, we do not have a clue what it means to live in an environment that seems bent on taking your life. 

The greatest of all dangers is the lack of water.  One does not just run to the tap and draw out a bucket or two.  One of the first things we had to do on our arrival at Ir Ovot was to reconnect the water lines that had been removed by the Bedouins to water their flocks or any others who  needed a piece of pipe.  A crew of the more husky workers was send into the surrounding country side to find the needed pipes and connections to reassemble the water lines. 

  

Throughout the Bible we find many stories about this life providing liquid called water; some good, such as the rains that brought the needed wetness to grow their crops, and some not so good, like the flood in Noah's day.  For our entourage, it was not the availability of water that was dangerous, for there was adequate water to meet our needs, but rather the discipline of making sure our water intake was sufficient to provide for what we were losing through evaporation. 

Evaporation is referred to as a silent killer in the desert, for you do not feel it zapping the life out of your body.  People were assigned with water buckets and dipper to make rounds every half hour and make sure everyone drank a dipper of water. 

The children of Israel knew what the lack of water meant in their sojourn through the desert.  As I study the wilderness experience, I wonder why God led Moses to take the southern route from Egypt to the land of milk and honey.  The Northern route was the shortest by far and fresh water was available that would have supplied for their needs.  There were no such water sources on the Southern route – but neither as many Egyptian soldiers,

It is a known fact, to the desert people, that one can live three days without water, and Marah would have been three days on their journey but the water was bitter.  The Bedouins had a saying "one drop on the end of your tongue and you go for days" (meaning your plumbing tends to erupt).   Again we ask, “Why, Lord, would you direct them to this spring?”  Answer? To clean Egypt out of their bodies.  He knew they were going to walk for forty years and the waters contained dolomite which strengthens the legs and magnesium and other laxative additives to clean out the parasites that they had picked up in the mud pits making bricks for Pharaoh.  

Sooooo,  we ask, "Why Marah?"  Why does God lead us through the desert to the Marah's that tend to be just around the bend?  God gave them His best shot to prepare them for what was ahead.  This we can take to the bank, there will be many times in our walk with the Lord when each one will have to step up to the line and drink of bitter waters in order to purify ourselves for God's next step in our lives.   But this we learned in our sojourn in the desert, if we are obedient, God will supply for our needs.  God said to Moses, throw that tree into the waters - he did and the waters were sweetened.   God provided, but it was not His first desire for them.

Blessings