Spiritual Highs And Lows

The Israelites finally broke free from the bonds of slavery. They were chased to the edge of the Red Sea when God parted the waters. We know the story ends well with the people of God making it safely to the other side. The Egyptian army was destroyed by the walls of water crushing them.

However, in the same chapter of Exodus 15, just three days later they complained for the lack of water (Exodus 15:22).

Wait.

How could they forget the parting of the mighty Red Sea by the hand of God who cared to deliver them? The same people who sang a song of victory and danced about with joy. Now, three days later they complained for the lack of water?

But Marah's waters were bitter. It's so much like our spiritual journey that God takes us to places that have an appearance of provision only to learn that it lacks substance and sweetness.

And that is the point God was making to His people.

He was to be their constant supply even it meant changing the landscape or quality of water from bitter to sweet.

It takes faith - a deepening trust - when our senses can be so misleading. Our natural vision is poor. So often we don't see through the eyes of faith something God already sees. It's very much like Hagar fleeing with her child into the wilderness. A place of waste and burning. No water found for miles. But God opened her eyes to see a well of fresh water (Genesis 21:19).

God did more than heal the waters of Marah to make them sweet. The scripture says He rolled away the reproach of Egypt (verse 26). All the shame of slavery was removed. Diseases that afflicted them was over.

Only if His people could trust Him more. However, in the next chapter they went from a spiritual high to a low in complaining for the lack of bread. Why? Psalms 103:7 says, "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." (KJV). If we don't know the heart of God but always seek some new experience or evidence of His power we will continue to have spiritual roller coaster high and lows. To know Him means to trust His heart and be at rest when everything around you seems desperate and alarming.

May this be our song in low and dry places, beloved:

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.