A Place of Grace

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.” Exodus 15:17 ESV

It has only been three days since the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. Not only had they plundered the Egyptians, walked on dry ground between two walls of water, and witnessed the defeat of Pharaoh and his army, but they were free: free from backbreaking work, free from beatings, and free from oppression.

Yet here they are, grumbling against Moses because they cannot find drinkable water. When they finally reach the oasis of Marah, the water is too bitter to drink. So the people turn against Moses.

Moses cries out to the Lord for help and the Lord shows him a piece of wood. When Moses throws it into the water it becomes drinkable. After they are refreshed, the Lord leads them to the oasis of Elim which means “terebinths” or “trees,” indicating a place of natural abundance. Instead of His wrath, God leads them to a place where they find refreshment and sustenance.

How amazing His grace!

Prayer: Lord, as I read this passage, I can’t help but recognize my our heart. How often do I find myself complaining about this or that, even though You have showered so many blessings on my family and me? Yet instead of treating me according to what I deserve, You have led me time and again to a place of forgiveness and grace. Thank you, Lord, for your mercy upon me. Amen.

Thought: Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint. . . . Acts of gratitude make one grateful because, step by step, they reveal that all is grace. – Henri Nouwen