I think that's you this morning, Anika. Alright and if you'll take your Bibles, turn to Genesis, I mean, Exodus chapter 15. Exodus chapter 15 making the bitter waters sweet. That's what our Lord does for us. He makes the bitter waters sweet.

We're going to learn about that. Exodus 15 today. As Israel stood on the other side of the Red Sea watching the army of Pharaoh drowned as the sea closed over them. They broke into exuberant cheers and a song of praise unto the Lord who had delivered them once and for all from the hand of pharaoh. God told them that they would see the armies of pharaoh no more and indeed, God always keeps his what?

God always keeps his promises. If you look in verse one of chapter 15, then sang Moses and the children of Israel, this song unto the Lord and spake saying, I will sing on the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song and he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will prepare him in habitation.

My father's God and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war. The Lord is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his hoes hath he cast into the sea. His chosen captains also were drowned in the Red Sea.

The depths have covered them. They sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, oh Lord, is become glorious in power. Thy right hand, oh Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy and in the greatness of thine excellency, thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee. Thou sentest forth thy wrath which consumed them as stubble and with the blast of thy nostrils, the waters were gathered together.

The flood stood upright as an heap and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. I like that that that picture there. I think of congealed. What? What do you, when I think of congealed, I think of, you know, like cello.

In the waters that flowed, all of a sudden, they congealed and they didn't flow anymore. They just stood there while the Israelites crossed over. Verse nine, the enemy said, I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the spoil.

My lust shall be satisfied upon them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind. The sea covered them. They sank as led in the mighty waters.

Who is like under thee, oh Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious and holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. Thou stretched us out thy right hand and the earth swallowed them. Thou and thy mercy has led forth the people which thou hast redeemed. Thou hast guided them and thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

The people shall hear and be afraid. Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed. The mighty men of Moab trembling shall take hold upon them and all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them by the greatness of thine arm, they shall be as still a stone till thy people pass over, oh Lord, till thy people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance. In the place, oh Lord, which thou hast made, for thee to dwell in, in the sanctuary, oh Lord, which thy hands have established. The Lord shall reign forever. And ever. Let's pray.

Dear heavenly father, thank you Lord for all that you've done in our lives. Lord, so sad we often fail to see the salvation that we have in Christ. The enemy that is far greater than pharaoh that God has vanquished by his mighty arm and given us freedom, deliverance, victory. Lord, I pray that we would not forget that. Your mighty hand, your graciousness, and your mercy that have shown to, that you have shown toward us as we face the trials of today and tomorrow.

For you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. And as you have delivered us in the past, you will deliver us once again. You know what you're doing, oh Lord. Impress that upon our minds and our hearts. Help us to learn to trust you more, we pray.

In Jesus name, amen. As they stood on the shores of the sea, they declared the mighty works that God had performed in their behalf. And their faith moving forward that nothing could stand in his way. Not the people of Edom, the armies of Moab, or the Canaanites. They would just simply melt away.

Before the might of the almighty God who just destroyed the greatest army of their day in the Red Sea. But for how long? But for how long would they praise him? But for how long would they declare with confidence his might. No, I'm not questioning how long God will be God.

Because he does not change. But how long would Israel go without forgetting the lessons of which they just sang and they just praised God. Sad to say, it wasn't very long. Look if you would in verse 22. Verse 22.

So, Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the wilderness of Shur and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. So, their journey to the promised land had just what? It had just begun. So, the Israelites left the shores of the sea and marched into the wilderness of sure. Now, in the King James version, when you read wilderness, in most cases, not in every case but in most cases, think this word, desert, okay?

Because that's where they are. They are in the desert and as they left the shores of the sea, they they take one to 2,000,000 people traveling through the desert. Several things are lacking in the desert. The greatest of these is what? Water.

Three days in, they ran out of water and they found none. Can you imagine how much water it takes to quench the thirst of one to 2,000,000 people? That is a lot of water and not a lot of it in the desert. The people were getting thirsty and of course, they were worried about their children, worried about their livestock, worried about themselves, and so, like us often, they began to grumble. They began to murmur amongst themselves and it grew.

And finally made its way to Moses. Now, before we continue, there are couple of things that you need to understand that I want to bring out this morning and we're going to go back just a little bit before we go forward again. Number one, deliverance from the bondage and penalty of sin in Christ Jesus is not the end of the journey. It is just what? It's just the beginning of the journey.

I've said this many times. The only reason God saved you was to take you to heaven, where would you be? You'd be in heaven. You're not there yet. Why?

Because there's more to this than just save you and get you to heaven, okay? There's a ministry, there's a job, there's privileges and blessings and all those things that are for us here before we get there. Most assuredly, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt is also an analogy for the salvation, the law sinner. So, what we've just covered is the salvation, the deliverance of Israel which is analogous for the salvation of the lost sinner. Let me explain.

As Israel was in bondage in Egypt, we are in bondage to sin. Sold under sin as Paul put it. As Israel and the Egyptians were under God's judgment, so are we. For the wages of sin is death and the soul that sinneth it shall die. As Israel was able to escape the judgment of God through the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb, so are we through the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus Christ, who shed his blood for us. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who gave himself to redeem us. The lamb who shed his precious blood As Israel was set free from bondage in Egypt, not only has God's judgment passed over the redeemed in Christ but we also have been set free from the power and the penalty of sin. That power that sin had over your life has been broken in Christ Jesus. Now, we still live in a sinful world and we still live in a sin, a sin cursed body and it still gives us trouble.

One day, praise the Lord. I'm going to shed this body too and get a new one and it's not going to have this problem. Amen? Amen. Amen.

But I don't have to serve sin The Holy Spirits lives inside my heart and he lives inside the heart of every redeemed child of God and as Israel was set free from the bondage of Egypt, we've been set free from the eternal bondage of sin and it's penalty in hell. Praise the Lord. As Israel was delivered forever from the bondage of Egypt by their baptism in the Red Sea, We've been delivered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit of God and are become God's what? Children. And the followers of Christ.

As also pictured in water baptism. Now, don't get me wrong. Water baptism doesn't save your soul. Faith. In the Lord Jesus saves your soul.

But it is a beautiful picture. A beautiful proclamation. Of what God has done for us when we accept Christ as our Lord and savior pictured in the in the Israelites as they came out the other side. And made their way to Mount Sinai to become the people, the nation, not just a people but a nation of Israel. So, we see this analogy between the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and deliverance of sinner to become a saint in Jesus Christ.

Number two, salvation again is not the end of our journey which will one day end in heaven. It is indeed just the beginning. This is just the beginning of Israel's journey. Only covers a relatively brief portion of the book of Exodus and there's a lot to go. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

It's before we, by the time we get to Joshua that they actually go into the what? They actually go into the promised land. The deliverance is a vital key part because there is no Canaan if you don't get delivered from where? Egypt and there is no heaven if you don't get delivered from sin and hell. Amen?

But it's just the beginning of the journey. It's just the beginning of the journey. A journey which is full of many unfathomable joys and comforts and it is. A journey of an immeasurable, immeasurable blessings and it is. But it's also a journey fraught with dangers.

A journey with rough patches and uphill climbs. A journey of personal sacrifices and tests. Along the way. If we convince ourselves that this journey is to be an easy one, without difficulties or setbacks or enemies, without trials which will test the metal of our faith and trust in God. Without sorrows as well as celebrations and failures as well as successes.

If we convince ourselves this journey is to be an easy one, then, we are deceiving who? We're deceiving ourselves. We are ignoring what? Ignoring God's word We're setting ourselves up for failure and misery. God didn't say the journey would be an easy one.

What he said is that he will not leave us nor what? Forsake us And that his grace is sufficient. And that he will hear and answer our prayers. And that he went to prepare a place for us. And it is going to be wonderful when we get there.

But he did not promise that this journey would be an easy one but it will be a rewarding one. Especially for those who learn to trust the Lord more every day. Matthew sixteen twenty four, then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Does that sound like Jesus saying, this this journey, follow me, it's going to be a piece of cake. Is that sound like what he's saying?

No. It doesn't, does it? He said, you're going to have to learn to deny yourself. You're going to have to be willing to pick up your cross like I picked up mine and follow me. Second Timothy three twelve.

Yea and all that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution, shall suffer affliction, shall suffer trouble, it will come. You can count on it. Don't deceive yourselves and and don't go telling other people if you'll trust Christ that everything is just going to be rosy. Because you're setting them up for doubts. Praise the Lord.

He'll be with us. Praise the Lord. He gives peace that passes what? All understanding. Praise the Lord.

He is he's prepared a place for us in heaven and he can give us joy in the midst of sorrow. He can deliver us and give us victory over sin and addiction. He can do miraculous and wonderful things if we'll just ask him that we would never imagine. And he will but he doesn't promise that it's going to be what? Easy.

There's going to be some rough patches. There's going to be some uphill climbs. There's going to be some personal sacrifices along the way. If you don't realize that when the hard times come, you'll cry out in anger and bitterness or in disappointment and fear with complaints and faithless grumblings to God rather than with faith that God knows what he is doing. And in Thanksgiving for what he has done.

Israel is about to face several tests in the wilderness to test or to prove and grow their faith in the Lord. That is part of the why? It's part of the journey. It's part of the process. Ask most children that are sent off to school, they may like recess and they may like lunch and they may like being with their friends but a lot of them don't love and look forward to tests and studying.

And that doesn't end when you graduate from high school or you graduate from college We have to grow and learn our entire what? Our entire life. The test, they change but the test just keep what? Keep coming. So that we will continue to grow and learn.

Israel is about to face several tests. From these tests, we can see in a type the blessings of the Christian in the Lord Jesus Christ as we also learn the tests and trials do come to the child of God for his or her own what? Good. And God's glory. Romans eight twenty eight twenty nine.

You have heard Romans eight twenty eight probably quoted time after time after time after time. Don't disconnect it from verse 29. We make that mistake and we we we confuse people as to what God is saying. Romans eight twenty eight and twenty nine, for we know that all things work together for what? For good to them that love God to those who are the called according to his purpose.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his what? Son. Now, those that God called, those who God saved, he determined determined ahead of time That all those in Christ, all those who are saved in Christ will be conformed and changed and molded into the image of who? Jesus Christ and that is for our what? Our good.

That is for our good. It is best for us that we are are remolded into the image which God made in the Garden Of Eden when he created man and woman, woman in his what? In his image. That image was marred by sin and we suffer because of it and the more God molds us into the image of Jesus Christ and restores his image in us, the more joy and peace and blessing, the more fulfillment and satisfaction, the more success comes with it but it is sometimes a painful process. It is sometimes a difficult process.

When it says all things work together for good, you have to understand what good is. Good is not necessarily what we want at a particular time. It's what God wants for us and it's what is good for us in the long run. We need to learn to trust him. We need to really understand what he's doing.

We won't understand all the details but you can get the big picture. You can get the big picture. James one two through four says this, my brother, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience but let patience have a perfect work that you may be perfect and entire wanting or lacking nothing. James says, the people, they're they're suffering. They're they're dealing with some persecution in their life and James says, don't get depressed.

Don't don't despair. Don't lose hope. This is part of the process. Thank the Lord that he is doing something in your life. Thank the Lord that he's picking you up when you fall down and he picks you up like you do that little one year old child and and stands you up and says, okay, let's try again.

So that you learn to walk and you learn to run spiritually speaking. Job twenty three ten he knoweth the way that I take and when he hath tried, I shall come forth as gold. Let's look a little closer at our passage for just a few minutes. First of all, let's look at Israel's trouble. Israel's trouble.

Once again, the Israelites marched three days in the desert, they found no water. Their supply was running thin, their mouths were becoming parched and dry as were their spirits. That is their trouble. That sounds like real trouble, doesn't it? It does.

It is real trouble. Sometimes things in life bring us real trouble. It isn't just in our head, it's real. God knows that. Next, I want us to look at Israel's disappointment.

Let's look at the test. Verse 23. When they came to Mara, they could not drink of the waters of Mara for they were bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called Mara. Catch the emphasis in that verse?

The name Mara is the Hebrew word for bitter, okay? So, when they came to bitter, they could not drink the waters of bitter for they were bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called bitter, okay? You get the point? It was not good.

The whole experience to begin with was very bitter as were the waters that they tried to drink. So, they're parched and they're thirsty and they see the the they see the water up there and they see the spring and the and the pool and they and I can imagine all these people, they're running up to the pool for water and they get a big bunch of water in their hand or they or they get down the ground and begin to drink and all of a sudden, they just comes what? Shooting back out because the water is disgusting. It is bitter. It is undrinkable.

It is nasty. So, can you imagine the disappointment? They got thrilled. There's water and then they drink and go, oh, we can't drink it. So, having seen the mighty hand of God and the plagues he brought up on the Egyptians and the protection that God gave them, having been set free based on nothing but the work and power of God in their behalf, having just celebrated the greatest of victories as they stood on the shore of the Red Sea, what do you think they did?

When they spit that water back out of their mouth. Why do you think they did? Would they continue to thank the Lord and declare their faith in his provision and goodness? Or would they turn to Moses and begin in frustration to what? Complain and gripe.

Would they lose hope and despair or would they hold tenaciously to their faith in God and his provision? What do you think they do? Well, what did they do? Verse 24, the people what? Murmured against Moses saying, what shall we drink?

So, we see, we see the trouble. They were thirsty. We see the disappointment. The waters were bitter and we see Israel's failure. They just left the Red Sea three days ago.

They just saw God do all these miraculous things and now, they're standing around this pool of water griping, complaining to Moses. What have you done to us? What do we do now? So, we see their failure So then, what shall we drink, Moses? We got to have what?

We've got to have water. In other words, this water you brought us to is not drinkable and we're out. What will we do now? Have you ever felt that way? What will I do now?

Lord, I got to this place in my life and I thought this was going to happen and now it just all what? It just all fell down flat. I've tried and I've tried and I've tried to kick this habit. I've tried and I've tried to do this right and it just all comes falling down in front of me and Lord, I give up. Some people do that.

Don't do that. You make decisions which you think are right and yet when you kneel down to take a big drink of the blessings of God, you find what? Bitter water. Your bills just keep piling up. Your health just seems to keep get getting worse.

Your children aren't making wise decisions. Your job isn't working out. Does that sound familiar to anybody? I know I've talked to several people. In the past month and the month before that and the month before that and the month before that, that have similar complaints.

You thought this was going to end at a good place and now it's all fell apart. This was the case with Israel. Now, what do we know that they didn't know? Well, look in verse 27. After they left Mara, they came to where?

Elim, where were 12 wells of water and three score and 10 palm trees and they camped there by the waters. The name Elim means the place of trees and where there's trees in the desert, there's what? Water. Three score and 10. That's 70.

70 probably palm like trees in the middle of the desert. We call that a what? An OASIS. And they were just a short distance from the oasis where there was water enough for everyone to take rest and leisure for several days or weeks. But they didn't know that.

All they could do is look at this stupid pond of water and think, what are we going to do? It's bitter and that's the way life is with us a lot of times. We stand here staring. It's like, I did this and I did that and this happened and I can't get out of that and and and Lord, what am I going to do? And we don't know till later on that the answer, well, it was just a day away or was just a week away or you know, it's there.

We couldn't see it but who could see it? God. Could see it. They couldn't see it. God did.

They would realize it soon. Often God's greatest blessings are just over the top of the next hill or around the next bend but we can't see that far ahead so we get frustrated. We lose hope when the answer to all our prayers is just a short distance away and despite having just seen the mighty hand of God do miraculous things in our behalf, all we can think about in the moment is but I'm thirsty but I I have needs but I'm in pain but I failed again and we soon lose heart and forget all his blessings. I like this in Psalm 103. If you want to turn there, I'm going to read a few verses from Psalm one zero three.

The Psalm has realized this was a problem in his own life. He asked the Lord to help him not forget, to help him not forget and sometimes we need to ask God to do that for us. In Psalm 103, the Psalm has writes, it's David, bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits, all his blessings and then he goes on to name a few, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth was renewed like the eagles. The Lord executed righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts, and to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anchor, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dwelt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the East is from the West, so hath he far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remember it that we are but dust. Oh, how wonderful our God is. How merciful and gracious he has been to us.

He has delivered us from so much and is delivering us today from things that we may never know till we get to heaven. Let's not forget all of his benefits in the heat of the need of the day. Let's remember. Let's trust. Let's find joy in the midst of the trial.

It is often after a great victory that Satan jumps on us when we least expect it and when we are therefore most vulnerable and gets the better of us. It's sometimes after a great victory. After something great happens that then the bottom does what? The bottom just falls out and and you feel like free fall and it's like, woah, I wasn't expecting this Remember Elijah? On Mount Carmel?

Carmel? Proper pronunciation. Battling the prophets of Baal, they cry and scream and holler all day long. They cut themselves. They do everything to get Baal's attention to call down fire from Baal and guess what?

It doesn't happen. Why? Because Baal's nobody. He's a stone statue. He can't hear their cries and he can't send fire down from heaven.

So, after all day, no, Elijah says, hold on a minute and Elijah gets down on his knees and he asked the Lord to send the fire. Simple prayer. And fire comes from heaven. It laps up the sacrifice, the wood, the altar, and several barrels of water he had poured around it. Just like that.

The prophets of Baal were defeated. Elijah rejoice and then the next day, he heard news or maybe it was the same day that Jezebel, the queen said, basically said, if I don't kill him, let me be like the prophets of Baal. He is going to die. I am going to get him. You know what Elijah did?

He ran off like a puppy with his tail between his legs and he got scared and he got depressed and he went into the desert finally and he asked God just to let him die. What happened? Well, he put, he let his guard down. And he got to thinking, well, everything's going to be rosy now. And it's not.

It's life has its ups and it's what? Downs but what's the promise of God? That he will not what? He will not leave us nor forsake us and he knows what he's doing and all things work together for what? For good to them that love the Lord.

So, here they are angry and bitter as we sometimes are. Depressed and shaken in their faith. So, God brought Israel to the waters of Mara, meaning bitter for a reason to show them his power once again to assure them that he could take care of them when they could not take him care of themselves. In these, these waters could not help them not as they were but who could? God could and so number four, we see God's remedy.

God's remedy and God's grace. Verse 25, I cried unto Lord and the Lord showed him a tree. Which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There he made for them a statute and ordinance and there, he proved or tested them and said, if thou will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God and will do that which is right in his sight and will give ear to his command ments and keep all his statutes. I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I brought upon the Egyptians for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

I am the Lord that takes care of his own. So, God answered Moses. He told him, see the tree over there that's laying there? That log over there, you take it and you throw it in the water and when Moses did it, the bitter waters were made what? Sweet, drinkable, thirst, quenching.

So then God reminded them of his works in Egypt and he promised them that none of those maladies would befall them as long as they learn to what? Trust and follow him. He being the Lord who heals, he would take care of them. He would see they were watered and fed. He would provide for them and it is the same for us.

But it's when we come to the end of ourselves that we often learn to trust him, that his grace is indeed what? Sufficient. The trials and tests are indeed for our good as they were for Israel. Though it might not seem so in the midst of it is often darkest just before the what? Often darkest just before the dawn.

Praise God for his graciousness and mercy mercy. Praise and trust the Lord for he knows what he's doing. But in closing, I just can't stop without failing to mention the metaphor. Every time I read this passage, I think a tree, a tree, a log. Why a tree?

Why did God have Moses throw a tree in the waters to make it sweet? And I can't help but be drawn to the cross of Jesus Christ and the one who died on a tree. To make bitter lives. Sweet. This is also a story, a metaphor for the Christian The struggles of life, the hurts, and the heartaches tend to make people bitter like this water but Christ makes people sweet again.

Christ who died on a tree for us can take the most bitter of souls and make them sweet and a sweet smelling savor in the nostrils of their creator. If they will accept his sacrifice. If they will accept his offer. He makes bitter, lost, hopeless people. Sweet.

He gives them hope and joy and eternity. He can take the most bitter of lives and make them pleasant and I've met several of those people. Do not think, well, that person is beyond God's help. You don't know what God can do. He can take the most bitter of circumstances and make them a blessing when we learn to trust him but you have to turn to him in faith.

You need to learn to trust him. If you lack wisdom, ask of God who gives to all men liberally and abrade it not. It shall be given you but let but you better learn to ask in what? Faith. Sometimes, we think, oh Lord, do this, do this.

In the back of mind, we're going, he's not going to do it. He's not going to do it. He's not going to do it, okay? Why are you praying? Learn to trust him.

Pray in faith. He's done it before. He'll do it again. James five sixteen, the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth what? Much.

You need to learn to trust him. You lean and earn to pray out of a heart full of faith and thanksgiving rather than doubt and frustration. Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with what? Thanksgiving. Let your request be made known unto God and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Trust him. Thank you. In everything give thanks, Paul says. Say, well, certainly Paul didn't mean in the, you know, the trials and the pain and the sorrow and. No.

No. I think he did. I think he did. He didn't say it would be easy. Just like he didn't say the journey would be easy.

Learn to trust him, he will. Don't let the waters of Mara get you down in the depths of despair or bitterness or fear. Trust in the Lord. Last passage, Psalm thirty seven four through six. Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee what?

The desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord. Trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass and he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy justice as the noonday. Let's Dear heavenly father, thank you Lord. For this little part of the story about the bitter waters of Mar and Lord, I know that there are people here that have struggled through many trials and Lord, if sometimes looked, looked up to you and thought, Lord, why?

Why why is this happening? What am I going to do now? But Lord, you brought us through. And you will continue to do the same. Lord, the the abundance of water is just around the other bend in the road.

Lord, us today so we can get there tomorrow. Remind us of all the blessings of the past and help us not, Lord, to become bitter souls. But to trust and grow in you that we might become sweeter every day and we pray if there's one in here that's never trusted Christ that today would be their day of salvation. That they would come as we sing this hymn of invitation today. That Lord, as you have dealt with our hearts this morning that we would answer you now.

And not put it off till tomorrow. In Jesus name, we do pray. Amen.