Skip to main content

Exodus 15.22–27: God is the one who heals (Day 63)

Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.

Pray

Pray

Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.

Reflect

Daily Reflection: Exodus 15

The Song of Miriam is an outpouring of praise to God for his great act of salvation in bringing the people out of Egypt. After this high, however, there comes another low – three days of wandering through a waterless wilderness. The water they do find is bitter, 'Marah' – the name Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, was to take for herself much later in Israel's story. Like her, though, Israel was to find unexpected sweetness: in an act that prefigures some of the miracles of Elisha (e.g. 2 Kings 4.38–41), the water is made fit to drink (verse 25). God gives the people 'laws to live by' and describes himself as 'the one who heals you' (verse 26), before leading them to a great oasis. It was called Elim, the name taken by a Pentecostal denomination: God heals, refreshes and restores his people today.

These few verses are full of meaning for us. One great victory doesn't mean that everything will go smoothly from then on. Our lives are a series of challenges, and we are called to meet them bravely and hopefully; as Psalm 23 says, there are green pastures and quiet waters, but there are also valleys as dark as death. But God is still 'the one who heals'; he goes with us through the wilderness.

Pray

Pray

God, thank you that when my life is bitter, you can bring sweetness into it. Thank you that when I am at the end of my resources, you are the one who heals. Thank you for times of refreshing, for the Elims in my life.


This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor

Share this:

Read the Bible icon Read the Bible
Open the full Bible