The Best Remedy | Jody Destry

Key Scripture: Ex 15:21-27 – Bitter water at MarahFrom worship to whinging – from a spiritual high to a spiritual low.The Israelites are no longer in Egypt BUT Egypt is still in the Israelites.The Grand Reveal – I AM the Lord who heals youWhen God reveals himself to the Israelites as their healer in this way he is reminding them of how he exposed all the false gods of Egypt that they were relying on for their daily needs, for crops, for fertility and good health and fortune etc. In fact these god’s<br />were making them sick.God is reminding them that he is intimately involved in every aspect of their well-being, That he is not only their deliverer and provider, but also their healer. He is interested in every part of their lives and their wellbeing – not just their physical wellbeing and health – the plagues that came upon the Egyptians brought destruction to every area of their lives and livelihoods – God is revealing himself as the ultimate healer and restorer of ALL things.There is an invitation for us to know God as our one true healer – and to trust him with every area of our lives. Not just some parts of our lives but with everything.WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR US?OBSERVATIONS + INVITATIONSObservation 1: God showed Moses the wood (the source of the miracle) but Moses threw it into the water.Invitation 1: How is God inviting us to trust him and to partner with him in our healing and restoration?Observation 2: The wood (the source of the miracle) was native to the area. God showed Moses a solution to the problem using something native and familiar to the people.Invitation 2: What or who are the native solutions and miracles that are right in front of you that could help restore what’s broken / what needs mending in your life? (E.g David and his sling, the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish)Observation 3: There are seasons in life where God will test our obedience and devotion to himInvitation 3: Am I living life God’s way or my own way? Have I given God access to every area of my heart and life and fully surrendered to him? Is my devotion directed towards God or other things?How does this story end?Elim //27 After leaving Marah, the Israelites traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the water.What began with bitterness at Marah closes with sweetness at Elim.Elim was the opposite of Marah. Elim represents the Hope God was restoring to his people – the shade of his protection, the abundant future he had in store for them in the Promised Land and the ultimate restoration that would come to them in the gift of Jesus – our Jehovah Rapha in the flesh.