Exodus Chapter 15 Verses 20 – 21

• Ok, is it just me or did Miriam just crush Moses in a rap battle!? I mean check out her lyrics!  They actually rhyme!  Ok, just kidding!  Since they were probably sung in Hebrew anyway…
• This is the first mention of Miriam by name in the scriptures. Miriam is an interesting character in the Bible but also in the Jewish culture and Jewish history.  Her name has two meanings.  First, her name comes from the Hebrew root “mar,” which means   Her full name “Miriam” actually means, “Rebellion.”  Together you could say her name means “bitter rebellion.” 
• Sounds bad but according to Hebrew culture, history and as described in the Talmud (the Talmud is a group of rabbinical documents that comment and expand upon the Mishnah which is the detailed case book of law for the Jews (2,711 pages of commentary)) there were three great leaders of the Nation of Israel at this time. Moses, Aaron and Miriam.
• The Jewish nation’s heart was demoralized and depressed under Egyptian oppression. The dignity of the nation was lost and under the constant eye and whip of the Egyptian taskmaster, hope for a better tomorrow was all but lost.  But there was a group of slaves (this is according to Jewish tradition) that would not give in to the tyranny of Egypt and that group was the women.  Their leader was Miriam.  Now her name begins to shine a little brighter, right!?
• The Talmud reads, “In the merit of the righteous women of that generation, our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt.” It continues, “After an exhausting day of excruciating labor, the women would polish their mirrors and use them to beatify themselves for their husbands.” Their rebellion, according to Jewish tradition, against the pressures of the day and the debilitating hopelessness of constant attacks on the dignity of the nation, their rebellion was to love their husbands.  Each day building them up, speaking soft and soothing words and reminding them of God’s promises.
• How did the women discover their hope among such a hopeless situation? They had a teacher.  An example and a leader and her name was Miriam.  Therefore she is known in Jewish lore as Miriam, the Mother of Rebellion.  I love that.
• And here we see her leading the women and making a wonderful praise to God along with her brother, Moses and that makes complete sense now that we know the role Miriam played while the nation lay under captivity in Egypt. Miriam was a lot like Jesus.  Jesus led the greatest of rebellions and yet while His people remained in captivity, He comforted them.  He welcomed the prostitute at the home and dinner table of Simon the Pharisee.  He helped the objectified and hopeless woman to her feet after being caught in the very act of adultery saying to her, “Neither do I condemn you.”  He provisioned rescue for the criminal on the cross while He Himself suffered the same condemnation. 
• Even when folks were exactly opposite of Him, He was kind and extended grace to them. And now, risen and revealed He leads the song and dance.  Psalm 30:11-12 says, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.  To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”  What Miriam did for them while they were slaves and what she does for them now that they are free is so very Christ-like.  The same way I want to be and we ought to be if we truly follow Jesus…Christian.

Exodus Chapter 15 Verses 22 – 24

• The Wilderness of Shur and the place called Marah is basically the Sanai Peninsula and it is a southward travel from where they crossed the Red Sea. We’re talking hot, arid, rocking and hilly  Very tough.  Complaining begins.  Three days ago folks were singing and dancing from the greatest victory possible.  But, three days of tough living and no water…I can understand the complaint.  It’s easy to not forget but no longer revel in the victory of the past when the present is so difficult.  Precisely why we MUST walk with the Lord daily.  How fast and soon things can turn very very bad and then all that God has done…all there in the memory banks…but almost irrelevant because today is so very hard. 
• Have compassion on folks. It’s easy for me to say or to think, “But look at all that God has done!  How can you not trust Him!?”  But where they are is a real place of suffering.  Three days without water…all the while wandering in a difficult wilderness.  Sometimes they need a Moses, sometimes I need a Moses, not a monster.  Look at what Moses does, how he reacts when they complain against him…

Exodus Chapter 15 Verse 25

• I love that! When the people murmured against Moses, he cried out to the Lord!  This is a baclava point!  Layers upon layers of importance!!  HA!  Is your first inclination to defend yourself?  To give a defense when someone complains on you?  Of course it is!!  Did you know that God Himself wants to defend you?  And did you know that He can do a much better job of it than you or I could? 
• Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord!” There are so many promises that God has given for us in times of trouble but all of them are predicated on us trusting Him!  Next layer…
• My heart isn’t ready to give a proper defense…not until I take it to the Lord. Why?  Because to react is the flesh and the flesh is   HA!  And the flesh profits nothing…and the flesh is a beast!  If I take it to the Lord…well, its hard to be cruel and unkind to someone that you’re praying for…  Next layer…God doesn’t just want the issue quieted, he wants me quieted.  Hebrews 12:7 says, “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons…”  Even when its completely bogus, whatever it is that someone is complaining about, God is still wanting to use it to mature me…I am most certainly out of Egypt but Egypt is most certainly not yet out of me…and so Moses cries out to the Lord, and check this out…, “And the Lord showed him.”
• I love that!! The Lord showed him…answered him…but even more…showed him what the answer is…this is why you take it to the Lord!  Because truly with Him are the answers…and the answer is…SURVEY SAID!!!!  A Tree!
• The situation is tough. Your heart is sick.  Your flesh is raging.  Your spirit is failing….the water all around you that you’re perhaps even drowning in is bitter.  Add the cross.  Remember how the One you follow handled His enemies.  Remember that by His method, He won.  Are you bitter towards your husband?  Towards your ex?  Towards your boss?  Towards your neighbor?  Seek the Lord.  Make time for the study of His Word.  Make time for corporate Bible studies.  Make room in your heart for worship.  Spend time in prayer…see how God will work a miracle in your heart of hearts!

Exodus Chapter 15 Verses 26 – 27

• Notice this. Just ahead in Elim, their next stop (meaning “Palms”), was fresh, sweet waters and date palms…fresh fruit to snack on…why?  They got through their time of grumbling.  How?  Calling out to the Lord, seeking Him, and being shown the tree.  Here’s the deal though, every time we receive the Word of God we are being tested…just like Moses tests them here.  Are you a worshipping people who occasionally complain or are you a complainer that occasionally worships?  All is revealed in the test.  And the test is passed when you obey God…and the reward is Elim.