Bible Study - The Law Versus Grace - April 26, 2026

 

Bible Study - The Law Versus Grace - April 26, 2026

The journey continues to the Promised Land. But as with any journey, what do we or, as in this case, what did the Israelites learn by experiencing the leadership of GOD???

All human’s alive upon planet earth are on a journey of potentially experiencing GOD, as we do life upon earth. I believe Earth is the proving ground for the human race and gives the opportunity for eternal life in Heaven with GOD, JESUS, and THE HOLY SPIRIT.

This physical journey upon earth is designed to get us to consider eternity. Life gives us a foretaste of experiencing GOD and HIS care as we journey through life. We have many options from which to choose.

GOD works in many ways to reveal truth to all people. HE gives us inquiring minds to explore and decide what is truth.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

Christian Standard Bible - The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[a] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[b] one another with these words.

This is often referred to as the “great escape,” when the church and all Christians, who are alive, will be taken up with JESUS into Heaven.

As we approach the second coming, there will be challenges along a person’s Spiritual journey through faith in JESUS.

The Bible reveals to us in Matthew 24:24

For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

We, who have placed our faith in JESUS, know the truth of our salvation. We have been bought with the price of the shed blood of JESUS, as confirmed by HIS resurrection and the seal of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, through faith in JESUS, that we have been redeemed by the shed blood of the LAMB, JESUS. Never forget that as we continue our life’s journey during these days leading up to the second coming of JESUS, Satan will try to deceive the world.

Satan still battles those who are to receive salvation and continues after they receive salvation.

What is the good news? We read in 1 John 4:1-6:

The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but evaluate the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

² This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not confess Jesus^[a] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.

⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world. Therefore, what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

Early in the journey of the Israelites, GOD revealed to the Israelites that HE could and would provide for them -- water that was drinkable after HE changed bitter water to drinkable water, when HIS instructions were followed. GOD provided food from Heaven – Quail at night and Manner in the morning – again the Israelites had to follow GOD’S instructions. Obedience to the instructions from the ONE TRUE GOD of the Israelites is the foundation upon which our Judeo-Christian faith in JESUS is based. Obedience is true today as “Born Again” Christians live life upon earth.

But pause and look around, Satan is busy trying the landscape of the world and especially America.

What do Christians need to do? Pray for America and its leadership is vital. We must keep our eyes upon JESUS because the days are evil and it is only the beginning.

GOD promised in the Old Testament scriptures that HE would send HIS Messiah, HIS only SON, JESUS, to earth to be the final acceptable sacrifice for all sin and be the only way to eternal life for all who place their faith in JESUS and be “born again.”

Eternal life is only possible by a person being “born again.” All humans who are born upon earth are the result of the human sperm uniting with the human egg. Life is a gift from The ONE TRUE GOD, YHWH or “IAM WHO I AM.”

We are studying the foundation upon which the Judeo-Christian faith was and is established.

Back to the journey ---- The Israelites were on a journey from being slaves in Egypt to the Land GOD promised them.

A million Israelites were traveling to this Land of Promise, led by GOD. But along their journey, GOD was revealing HIMSELF and building trust to their leaders, Moses, and Aaron, and as well in the Israelites themselves.

The food GOD provided from Heaven came with specific instructions for gathering the food each day and storing it to be used on the Sabbath. They should rest and worship GOD on the Sabbath.

Some tested GOD and learned that when they went to harvest manner on the Sabbath, there was not any.

This was to train and build trust in the Israelites to be obedient to GOD’S instructions.

I believe this was GOD’S way of teaching the Israelites obedience, trust and building confidence is HIS care and building trust for HIS chosen people then and today.

All people are chosen and on life’s journey, but not all respond to GOD’S invitation to be “born-again” Spiritually through faith in JESUS.

There are special provisions for the stillborn, infirmed, mentally challenged -------

GOD’S physical care of the Israelites upon earth was a precursor to prepare for GOD’S ultimate redemptive plan of eternal salvation and eternal life through faith in GOD’S Only SON, JESUS.

GOD had revealed to the One Million Israelites, that HE delivered them from Egypt and demonstrated HIS care to provide them with much needed physical water and food to sustain their physical life and their journey ahead. Trust and Obey! That is GOD’S eternal message to all people today through faith in JESUS to sustain those who place their faith in JESUS, as their Savior through the miracle of a person being born-again Spiritually into GOD’S eternal family with citizenship in Heaven ---

Philippians 3:20

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We who have been “born again” eagerly wait for the second coming of JESUS to establish HIS rule upon planet earth, when Satan is chained in the bottomless pit.

Revelation 20:1-3 Satan Bound

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.

Back to the journey of the Israelites ------

GOD had revealed HIS sufficiency in proving to the Israelites of HIS physical deliverance to meet their physical needs; now it was time to build the foundation to meet their Spiritual deliverance and needs.

GOD introduced the Ten Commandments to the Israelites ----

First, these were not suggestions, but commandments designed to mold and draw the Israelites and others, who would embrace Judaism, into the revelation of GOD, HIS sufficiency and build the right relationship of trust with HIM.

The building blocks or the first foundation laid were the Ten Commandments, or The Law as given in Exodus 20:

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1 Then God spoke all these words:

² I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

³ Do not have other gods besides me.

⁴ Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. ⁵ Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.

⁷ Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

⁸ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: ⁹ You are to labor six days and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. ¹¹ For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

¹² Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³ Do not murder.

¹⁴ Do not commit adultery.

¹⁵ Do not steal.

¹⁶ Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷ Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 8 Christian Standard Bible

Remember the Lord

8:1 “Carefully follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase, and may enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to your ancestors. ² Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these forty years in the wilderness, so that he might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your clothing did not wear out, and your feet did not swell these forty years. ⁵ Keep in mind that the Lord your God has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. ⁶ So keep the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. ⁷ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams, springs, and deep water sources, flowing in both valleys and hills; ⁸ a land of wheat, barley, vines, figs, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where you will eat food without shortage, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you will mine copper. ¹⁰ When you eat and are full, you will bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

¹¹ “Be careful that you don’t forget the Lord your God by failing to keep his commands, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today. ¹² When you eat and are full, and build beautiful houses to live in, ¹³ and your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold multiply, and everything else you have increases, ¹⁴ be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. ¹⁵ He led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its poisonous^[a] snakes and scorpions, a thirsty land where there was no water. He brought water out of the flint rock for you. ¹⁶ He fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your ancestors had not known, in order to humble and test you, so that in the end he might cause you to prosper. ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ ¹⁸ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. ¹⁹ If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them, I testify against you today that you will certainly perish. ²⁰ Like the nations the Lord is about to destroy before you, you will perish if you do not obey the Lord your God.

WOW!!! That is powerful.

I think of the Ten Commandments as fences to guide the Israelites and proselytes, and others through life before GOD sent HIS only SON JESUS into the world to fulfill the Law and establish “GRACE.”

The Commandments are still vital today to show all people how they fall short of measuring up to GOD’S expectations and their need for eternal salvation through faith in JESUS.

Thank YOU JESUS for being willing to leave Heaven and come to earth to live a 100% human, subject to physical death and potential sin, yet YOU lived a sinless life. Thus, YOU became the perfect acceptable sacrifice to pay the price GOD demands for sin, by the shedding of YOUR blood to fulfill the Law and establishing “Grace.”  THE PRICE FOR SIN WAS PAID IN FULL for all who will place their faith in YOU, JESUS.

JESUS, YOU are THE PERFECT ACCEPTABLE SACIFICE TO GOD FOR ALL SIN.

When any person places his or her faith in YOU, JESUS, the miracle of Spiritual birth takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye.

The Divine SPERM, THE HOLY SPIRIT unites with the human spirit, the spiritual egg. Spiritual birth takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye and that person is “born again” or “Spirit Born” never to be unborn Spiritually. That person instantly becomes GOD’S Eternal SON or DAUGHTER.

Grace through faith in JESUS trumps the LAW!

Welcome home to all who have been led to pray to ask JESUS to forgive him or her for their sins and ask JESUS to come into his/her heart believing that JESUS gave HIS sinless life to atone for all their sins by the shedding of HIS sinless blood.

GOD proved to all the world that JESUS was and is HIS perfectly acceptable sacrifice by raising JESUS from the physically dead on the third day to live eternally with GOD and to intercede for all who seek salvation. NOW THAT IS GOOD NEWS!!!

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.

Faith in JESUS and HIS passion, includes the physical birth and life of JESUS upon earth, HIS physical death, by the shedding of HIS blood and HIS bodily resurrection is salvation from the penalty for sin, which is eternal death and eternity in HELL.

If anyone reading this, who has not asked JESUS to come into his/her heart through faith in JESUS – NOW is your opportunity –

JESUS tells us in Revelation 3:20:

See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

JESUS has been knocking on your heart’s door, and you are the only one who can open it because the latch or lock on your heart’s door is on the inside of your heart and only you can open it.

Dear JESUS, I ask YOU to come into my life/heart now and save my soul from an eternity in Hell to an eternity in HEAVEN through the miracle of Spiritual birth into YOUR eternal family through faith in JESUS.

Salvation is not saying the right words, it is all about the attitude of your heart. I have heard of some people saying LORD I give up, please come into my hear and save my soul.

If you prayed such a prayer, welcome into the eternal family of JESUS with your citizenship in Heaven.

Dear Father and JESUS, be their strength and reveal the wonderful truths in YOUR WORD as they continue their journey to the eternal promised land of HEAVEN. YES!!!

Blessings!!!

 

 

Bible Study - The Journey of the Israelites to the Land of Promise - Continues - Exodus 27 - April 19, 2026

 

Bible Study – The Journey of the Israelites to the Land of Promise - Continues – Exodus 27 – April 19, 2026

In last week’s study, after a teaching moment of turning bitter water into drinkable water for the Israelites, GOD led the Israelites to an oasis to be refreshed and reflect, as we read in Exodus 15:27:

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy date palms, and they camped there by the water.

In the Bible, 12 symbolizes God’s covenant people, order, and authority, while 70 represents completion, divine order, and significant spiritual milestones.

GOD still provides times to pause and rest as we journey through life.

There are times when rest comes, we keep wondering what next?

Where to next, as the Israelites continue their journey to the Land of Promise. THE LORD Provides physically and Spiritually as they journey and as we journey -------

Let’s read Exodus: 16:1-36:

Manna and Quail Provided

16 The entire Israelite community departed from Elim and came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt. ² The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”

Woe is me!!! Life often brings us “If only.” When life hands us lemons, it is time for lemonade.

GOD provided water in the desert and now their provisions had been consumed. The Million Israelites were hungry in the desert. GOD had provided drinkable water and now they needed food.

GOD knows our needs and HE was revealing HIMSELF to the Israelites.

GOD does not disappoint. Challenges in life’s journey gives opportunity for GOD to reveal HIS care to us. Are those times tough? YES!!! But they are teachable moments along life’s journey, and it builds our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Life is NOT easy but GOD journeys with us, either to get our attention and/or build the right relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS.

We have the advantage of looking back over the annals of time to glean from GOD’S Word and HIS care for HIS Chosen, which includes all Spirit Born Christians. All Spirit Born believers are on a journey to the eternal promised land, HEAVEN. Their citizenship in heaven is established the instant any person places his/her faith in JESUS as written in:

Philippians 3:20

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD established the rules or commandments for the Israelites to follow to satisfy their physical needs to sustain their lives and reveal HIS physical care for them. Physical care leads to Spiritual care and revelation.

The Law was a place holder until the law was fulfilled by JESUS. The passion of JESUS fulfilled The Law and established GRACE!!!

I love GRACE. Thank YOU, JESUS.

When a person places his or her faith in JESUS, that person is born again Spiritually. THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE DIVINE SPERM, unites with the human spirit, as the Spiritual egg, which needs to be fertilized Spiritually. Spiritual conception takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye when any person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for all of his/her sins and ask JESUS to come into his/her heart, JESUS does. That person quicker than the twinkle of the eye is Spirit Born or a born-again Christian --- never to be unborn.

Once GOD’S Son or Daughter, always GOD’S Son or Daughter.

The Born again person’s citizenship is as recorded in Philippians 3:20:

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Either, we who have been “Born Again” will go immediately to Heaven when we die or those Spirit Born Christians who are alive when JESUS returns to earth, will be taken to Heaven.

Back to GOD revealing HIMSELF to the Israelites and building the right relationship with them. As we read the revelation of GOD and HIS care to the nation of Israel, it is a foreshadow of GOD’S eternal care of all who place their faith in JESUS.

1.    JESUS said in John 14:2

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

2.    John 14:3

If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

As the Israelites were journeying to the Land of Promise, it is a foreshadow of “Spirit Born” believers traveling to Heaven. Heaven is the final eternal home of all who place their faith in JESUS, WHO has prepared an eternal place for all who place their faith in HIM.

In the meantime, back upon earth, the Israelites continue their journey, both physical and Spiritual, to the physical Land of Promise ---

⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. ⁵ On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.”^[a]

The Israelites grumbled again. THE LORD GOD told Moses that HE was going to rain bread from heaven. Why? There would be no mistake with the Israelites knowing that their daily bread came from THE ONE TRUE GOD, YHWH, WHO was leading them to the Land of Promise.

GOD gave specific instructions regarding the harvest of the “Bread from Heaven.” Is this a foreshadow of the coming of JESUS? I think so.

We read in Matthew 6: ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

It is vital that as Spirit-born Christians that we do not neglect our daily walk with our LORD JESUS. Just as most of us eat food on a daily basis, we also need Spiritual Food on a daily basis. We need water more frequently than food, thus for Spirit born Christians, THE HOLY SPIRIT is as written in John 7:38:

The one who believes in me (JESUS), as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

Why do we need “streams of living water?”

Isaiah 44:3

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

A foreshadow of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the fulfillment of the Passion of JESUS, which rendered the human body of all who place their faith in JESUS and recorded in 1 Corinthians 6:19

Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Since the passion of JESUS, those seeking to be in right relationship with GOD, there is a permanent, eternal shift from worshipping in the physical temple to the personal, eternal temple where the Holy Spirit resides, the Spirit Born person’s core of belief, where truth resides.

Our journey with the Israelites continues ----------

⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, ⁷ and in the morning, you will see the Lord’s glory because he has heard your complaints about him. For who are we that you complain about us?”

In essence, do not confuse us for GOD. We are only GOD’S emissaries.

Often, we get caught up with a fellow Christian as having a “Hot Line” to Heaven. We must keep in mind that we are all sinners saved by the Grace of GOD, through faith in JESUS. YES, we should reach out to fellow Spirit-born Christians to pray, stand, walk, with us as we journey through life and encounter various issues.

Issues equal Spiritual growth opportunities. They are often “No fun” but rewarding once on the other side. Building faith and trust in GOD, through faith in JESUS, is a journey.

Back to the journey of the Israelites --------

⁸ Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat this evening and all the bread you want in the morning, for he has heard the complaints that you are raising against him. Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”

⁹ Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your complaints.’” ¹⁰ As Aaron was speaking to the entire Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and there in a cloud the Lord’s glory appeared.

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses, ¹² “I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning, you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

¹³ So at evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. ¹⁴ When the layer of dew evaporated, there were fine flakes on the desert surface, as fine as frost on the ground. ¹⁵ When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” because they didn’t know what it was.

Moses told them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. ¹⁶ This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each person needs to eat. You may take two quarts^[b] per individual, according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’”

¹⁷ So the Israelites did this. Some gathered a lot, some a little. ¹⁸ When they measured it by quarts,^[c] the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat. ¹⁹ Moses said to them, “No one is to let any of it remain until morning.” ²⁰ But they didn’t listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. Therefore, Moses was angry with them.

Most of us never change, always testing GOD and HIS WORD. GOD puts up with us because HE made us.

²¹ They gathered it every morning. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat, but when the sun grew hot, it melted. ²² On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts^[d] apiece, and all the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. ²³ He told them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, and set aside everything left over to be kept until morning.’”

The Sabbath was to be a day of rest and worship THE ONE TRUE GOD OF THE ISRAELITES.

²⁴ So they set it aside until morning as Moses commanded, and it didn’t stink or have maggots in it. ²⁵ “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the Lord. Today you won’t find any in the field. ²⁶ For six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

THE LORD was teaching the Israelites obedience to HIS WORD. The same is true today – Trust and Obey – Internalize and trust what is revealed to us as we study, apply and grow in our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

²⁷ Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any. ²⁸ Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you^[e] refuse to keep my commands and instructions? ²⁹ Understand that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore, on the sixth day he will give you two days’ worth of bread. Each of you stay where you are; no one is to leave his place on the seventh day.” ³⁰ So the people rested on the seventh day.

The same is true today – WE TEST THE LORD, WHO IN TURN SHOWS US THAT HE SAYS WHAT HE MEANS AND MEANS WHAT HE SAYS.

³¹ The house of Israel named the substance manna.^[f] It resembled coriander seed, was white, and tasted like wafers made with honey. ³² Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Two quarts^[g] of it are to be preserved throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

³³ Moses told Aaron, “Take a container and put two quarts^[h] of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be preserved throughout your generations.” ³⁴ As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron placed it before the testimony to be preserved.

³⁵ The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate manna until they reached the border of the land of Canaan. ³⁶ (They used a measure called an Omer, which held two quarts.^[I^])

Forty years in Biblical context was considered a generation.

WOW!!! GOD was teaching the nation of Israel then and, in turn, the world today of HIS love and care for those who love GOD and place their faith in JESUS.

GOD continues to provide for HIS Children today. Have you ever been led to take a meal to a friend, neighbor, acquaintance or loved one? I know there was a time in our married life that things were tough and I grumbled. THE LORD was quick to bring to my mind those who had provided food to us, just to be good neighbors or friends.

What does JESUS tell us in Matthew 10:42:

And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he (or she) is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Blessings!!!

 

 

Bible Study - Safely Across The Red Sea - What Next? - Exodus - April 12, 2026

 

Bible Study – Safely Across The Red Sea – The Journey Continues – April 12, 2026

GOD led the million Israelites safely across the Red Sea and with the Egyptians hot on their heels drown when the wall of water imploded on to them.

Once out of danger of the Egyptians, where to next?

The Israelites just witnessed a miracle, which revealed the mighty power of GOD. GOD was teaching a Nation and revealing HIMSELF to the Israelites. The same is true for all people today.

Look around and see the hands of GOD, JESUS, and THE HOLY SPIRIT at work to build the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

Praise was in order as we read in Exodus 15 – Israel’s Song - Israel’s Song – (I imagine that many were praying for the two airmen who had to bail out of their jet. I know I rejoiced when they were recovered and praised our GOD and THE LORD JESUS.)

The Israelites – Exodus 15:1-27:

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said:

I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted;
he has thrown the horse
and its rider into the sea.
² The Lord is my strength and my song;^[a]
he has become my salvation.
This is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
³ The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.

⁴ He threw Pharaoh’s chariots
and his army into the sea;
the elite of his officers
were drowned in the Red Sea.
⁵ The floods covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
⁶ Lord, your right hand is glorious in power.
Lord, your right hand shattered the enemy.
⁷ You overthrew your adversaries
by your great majesty.
You unleashed your burning wrath;
it consumed them like stubble.
⁸ The water heaped up at the blast from your nostrils;
the currents stood firm like a dam.
The watery depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
⁹ The enemy said:
“I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil.
My desire will be gratified at their expense.
I will draw my sword;
my hand will destroy^[b] them.”
¹⁰ But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.

¹¹ Lord, who is like you among the gods?
Who is like you, glorious in holiness,
revered with praises, performing wonders?
¹² You stretched out your right hand,
and the earth swallowed them.
¹³ With your faithful love,
you will lead the people
you have redeemed;
you will guide them to your holy dwelling
with your strength.

¹⁴ When the peoples hear, they will shudder;
anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.
¹⁵ Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified;
trembling will seize the leaders of Moab;
all the inhabitants of Canaan will panic;
¹⁶ terror and dread will fall on them.
They will be as still^[c] as a stone
because of your powerful arm
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people whom you purchased^[d] pass by.

¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your possession;
Lord, you have prepared the place
for your dwelling;
Lord,^[e] your hands have established the sanctuary.
¹⁸ The Lord will reign forever and ever!

¹⁹ When Pharaoh’s horses with his chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the water of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. ²⁰ Then the prophetess Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women came out following her with tambourines and dancing. ²¹ Miriam sang to them:

Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted;
he has thrown the horse
and its rider into the sea.

The journey of the Israelites continues – What Next?

Water Provided

²² Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water. (A serious problem) ²³ They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter—that is why it was named Marah.^[f] 24 The people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink?” ²⁵ So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree (Some translations read - log). When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable.

The Lord made a statute and ordinance for them at Marah, and he tested them there. ²⁶ He said, “If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in his sight, pay attention to his commands, and keep all his statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you that I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy date palms, and they camped there by the water.

The next

 

Exodus 15:22-27: Bitter Water and Sweet Wood

Steve Rodeheaver, Copyright © 2016, Steve Rhodeheaver and CRI/Voice, Institute (Additional information at the end)

All Rights Reserved  See Copyright and User Information Notice

Interesting and informative insight ----- (Some additions by me)

Today we're looking at Exodus 15:22-27. Moses, Miriam, and the Israelites have finished singing, and now it is time to journey on. Moses leads the Israelites into the desert, and they go for three days without finding water. Imagine travelling on foot from Yuma to Tucson (244 miles or 393 Kilometers), if traveling the Interstate and going for three days without water. This was a life-threatening situation. Finally, they came to some water and their hopes skyrocketed - only to be dashed by the bitterness of the water. It was undrinkable. The Israelites named the place "Marah", which means "bitterness." Imagine literally dying of thirst, finding water, then discovering that it was salt water. Not a good life or death.

When the Israelites came to this bitter water, they did what you and I would do: they grumbled against their leader Moses. Moses in turn cried out to Yahweh. Yahweh showed Moses a piece of wood (some read log) which Moses promptly threw into the water. Immediately the water was made sweet, and the Israelites were able to drink it. Moses then led them to a place called Elim which had twelve springs and seventy palm trees.

This story is about the journey of the Israelites from Marah to Elim, from bitter water in Marah to twelve springs and seventy palm trees in Elim. The journey takes place externally and internally. The external journey is the obvious one. Moses and company find themselves in a very bitter situation. They have been three days in the desert without coming upon a source of water. The water they have come to is undrinkable. Death is threatening. Moses cried out to Yahweh and Yahweh made the bitter water sweet. Refreshing themselves, they are revived and journey on to Elim.

It is another revelation of the power and trustworthiness of Yahweh. The message for us is clear: Whatever the bitter obstacles that we encounter in life's journey we can count on God to transform them, to use/redeem them for good, as God leads us to Elim. When we cry our Marahs out to God, God is able to "sweeten" them, that is, to make them drinkable, to turn them into a resource for the next leg of the journey. God is big enough to deal with, redeem, and even transform whatever external problems we might face.

The internal journey is less obvious, but it is the one on which the text focuses. Our English translations obscure this focus because of the difficulty in translating the verb for Yahweh "showing" or "directing" Moses to a tree/piece of wood. The verb used actually means to instruct or teach. Yahweh instructed/taught Moses a tree. That does not make much sense, but it is important to note because this verb is the root verb of the word "Torah". Torah means instruction, and it specifically refers to the instruction/law that God gave Moses on Mount Sinai for how the Israelites were to live in covenant with this God who brought them up out of Egypt. We might say that Yahweh "torah-ed" Moses a tree.

When Moses cast this torah tree into the bitter water, the water became sweet. Torah is not for water, however, but for people. The bitter waters of Marah revealed the bitterness that lodged in the hearts of the Israelites. Notice that they grumbled against Moses while Moses cried out to Yahweh. The external obstacle revealed the internal realities of their hearts. Moses trusted Yahweh and cried the problem out to Yahweh. The Israelites, on the other hand, betray a lack of trust as they grumble amongst themselves against Moses. What becomes evident in the face of Marah is that the Israelites needed deliverance from more than just Pharaoh. They need deliverance from their grumbling, mumbling, bitter selves. And Yahweh is set to bring about that deliverance. Yahweh torahs Moses a tree of transformation.

Without delay, after Moses/Yahweh sweetened the water with the tree, Yahweh "made a decree and a law for them, and there He tested them. He said, 'If you listen carefully to the voice of Yahweh your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am Yahweh your Healer.'" This text makes it plain that the emphasis is on the transformation of the Israelites rather than the water of Marah. In a word, Israel is to be "Yahweh-centered" in all their living. Remember, down in Egypt life had been Pharaoh centered.

So, Yahweh "tested" the Israelites there at Marah. This testing was for the purpose of training them, to reveal their hearts in order that their hearts might be changed where needed. The test revealed that Moses was Yahweh-centered and that Israel was not. The test was a training exercise for Israel, designed to bend their bitter, grumbling hearts toward Yahweh.

How did the bitter water become sweet? The tree. How does one become Yahweh-centered? The answer is Torah, God's instruction. It's kind of a circle. By listening to Yahweh, one becomes Yahweh-centered which in turn enables one to be a better listener which in turn increases one's Yahweh-centeredness.

How did the bitter water become sweet? Yahweh, the giver of the tree. How does one become Yahweh-centered? The answer is Yahweh, the giver of Torah. "I am Yahweh, the One who heals you." Yahweh is the One who heals the heart, who is able to transform the bitter waters of the heart to waters of renewal. Again, notice that this internal transformation is the main point of the text, for Yahweh does not say "I am Yahweh, the One who heals the water" but "I am Yahweh, the One who heals you."

Yahweh transforms the heart by means of Torah, Yahweh's instruction/word for sweet living. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. . .." Jesus is our Torah, our transforming Word from Yahweh on and for life. As we receive and follow Jesus, as we become Jesus-centered, we discover a healing transformation being worked within our hearts. It is the internal journey from the bitter waters of Marah to the twelve springs of Elim, from barren desert to seventy palm trees.

May the tests of life bend us towards Jesus, that we might open ourselves to Jesus at ever new depths, heeding His word and experiencing His healing. By the grace of God in Christ, may we make the journey and know His healing, that we might live the Jesus life. If life is bitter, stir in some Torah. *

* Steve Rhodeheaver and CRI/Voice, Institute CRI/Voice, Institute is a non-profit ministry dedicated to providing quality biblical and theological resources to anyone desiring to learn and grow in the Christian Faith. The institutes headquarters are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it is known for its commitment to quality biblical and theological resources.

So, what do we glean from this mighty field of Biblical truth?

GOD is at work in all the lives of people to reveal HIMSELF, through faith in JESUS to all humans today.

Let’s reflect on the events, so far.

GOD knew the plight of the Israelites in Egypt.

GOD revealed HIMSELF to Moses through a burning bush.

GOD revealed to both the Israelites and the Egyptians that HE was greater than the Egyptian gods. The Israelites needed to experience this to prepare them for their journey ahead of them.

Finally, Pharoah let the Israelites go, which he soon regretted.

GOD parted the Red Sea and the 0ne million Israelites crossed over on dry seabed with walls of water on each side which collapsed when the Egyptians attempted to cross behind the Israelites.

The Israelites journey for three (3) days in the desert without sufficient water.

They find water but it is bitter and they cannot drink the water.

Moses appeals to GOD and GOD told him to throw a certain tree or log into the water source and the water became drinkable.

GOD leads them to an Oasis.

What was GOD doing? HE was building Moses’ faith in HIM, as well as the faith of the Israelites.

Often, we look at the physical object GOD told Moses to use and think that is the power. No!!! It is the obedience to GOD’S Command.

That is faith at work through our obedience. It wasn’t the certain type of tree that rendered the bitter water drinkable, it was the obedience of Moses being obedient to GOD’S Command.

It is also vital to know that what GOD told Moses to choose to put in the bitter water was not something the pagans would use. GOD chose the item and it was not the item but the obedience of Moses to GOD’S command.

This is true for all who walk by faith. Small steps of obedience to the voice of GOD/THE HOLY SPIRIT (THE STILL SAMLL VOICE OF GOD) leads to GOD’S power flowing through us as we are obedient to HIM.

WOW!!! Journey with GOD, JESUS, and THE HOLY SPIRIT as your guide!

THE THREE ARE ONE!!!

Blessings!!!