ARTICLES

Our Hidden Promises

A Word From Mari Anne Andersen

Exodus 15:23 – When they came to Marah, they could NOT drink its water because it was bitter.

The season you’re in now, does it seem like bitter water? Do you feel you have been wandering in the desert and you are dry, thirsty, weary and asking God where are you? Are you waiting for your promises to be fulfilled? Just like the Israelites, their water quickly ran out after they left Egypt. Stretched to their absolute limit, the people were about to die WHEN they spotted the palm trees that marked the location of an oasis. Grasping, falling over each other, they stampeded toward the waters of Marah but found them bitter.   Suddenly a great cry went out from them, “Now we shall surely die of thirst!” Please remember this my dear friends, God NEVER brings a hindrance into our lives that HE does not intend to be used to open another door that would not have opened otherwise.

Also, remember that the Israelites just left Egypt and were going to their promised land. Not only was the Lord interested in getting the people out of Egypt, He also wanted to get Egypt out of the people. Being defiled emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally, they needed purification and a cleansing of their soul/spirit. Isn’t that the nature of the wilderness experience? The people had brought a lot of Egypt with them internally; Egypt was a filthy nation. They were contaminated by Egypt. They, for the most part, had escaped the plagues, however, there was a residue that spilt over to them. This is where it gets very interesting and exciting to see that the God we serve is incredible, awesome and always looking out for our best, even when there is only bitter water to drink.

The bitter waters of Marah were laced with calcium and magnesium. This high mineral content makes the water so bitter it is almost impossible to drink. Magnesium is a powerful laxative, but there is another medicinal quality about the water of Marah. Calcium and magnesium form the basis of a drug called dolomite. Dolomite pills are used by professional athletes who perform in the sun. It is basically a muscle control drug to be used in extremely hot weather. Joggers, tennis players, those who exert themselves in hot weather often take dolomite to control muscle spasms. It is also used by patients with heart problems to control the heart muscle beating out of control. Are you getting the picture? Are you able to see God’s intention yet?

God provided just the right medicine, not only to clean out the systems of the former slaves, but to prepare their bodies for the long journey. God wanted them to drink the water of Marah to release and expel most of the amoebae, parasites and death-dealing germs they brought with them from Egypt. Thus their very first stop in the wilderness journey WAS NOT a place of despair but a place where God had provided medicinal water. Praise God.

What is the purpose for our wilderness? It’s for our purification and preparation. Often what seems foolish in our eyes is part of God’s higher plan. Drinking the water of Marah did not make sense. It was bitter, nasty and painful, but that bitter water certainly would have brought about instant purification. Are we grumbling and despising our bitter waters and fighting with God because of our circumstances? By grumbling, the children of Israel had refused the bitter cup – and missed God’s best purpose for their lives. God is testing many of his saints, and many of his saints are in the wilderness being purified and prepared for their promised land – there are many wonderful hidden promises in the water of Marah – don’t pass it by but embrace what God is doing in your life. The bitter water is actually living water in which God’s love, blessing, healing and freedom will come.

Isaiah 43:19 – “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."