Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-05-21
BITrER.swEET IN LIFE.
Exodus XIV, %, "A, ~.
BY Rev. D. &. WyHe.


After the passage of the Red sea the
people plunged, with their flocks and
herds, into the wilderness with its new
and strange experiences. They pressed
forward, but, at the end of three days
found their supply of water exhausted.
Animals and people were driven al
most mad. They burned with thirst,
their eyes became bloodshot, they
painted with fever under the sun, and
longed for water. Their condition was
not simply uncomfortable, but posi-
lively dangerous.
While in this sad plight good news
came to them. The cry was heard,
where they might quench their
thirst and cool their fever" Fast
er and faster they pressed forward,
only to find disappointment. For when
they came to Marah, they could not
drink of the waters of Marah, for they
were bitter"
What does all this mean? That their
journey was a type of ours; that we
have experiences similar to theirs. Is
it not fact that to most of us life is
wilderness, a desert, often disap-
pointment, Marah, bitterness? All have
more of joy then sorrow in life, more
of sunshine than shadow.
Most of life is to most men made up
of much disappointment. Men crave
happiness and expect it here and seek
it through some earthly, some temporal
means, wealth, or power, or fame, or a
peaceful domestic life, or social sue
cess, or literary eminence-and no
sooner do they obtain their desire and
hold it in their grasp than they find its
SAVIOR gone, its taste bitter, that they do
not care to drink"
Under such circumstances we feel
that God is unkind and we complain
against him. Has he no plan in all
this for us? Yes. The hard expert
ences of life are Gods discipline by
which he tests us and purges out the
dross that the pure gold may appear.
We do not know what Impotence, re-
bellion, sin turks in our heart until we
pass through Gods fiery tests.
The incident we are considering eX-
hibits to us the fact that in times of
trial and disappointment Gods people
act in different ways.
We see how the people murmured.
what shall we drink" They COM
planned against their best friend,
Moses. They acted as If they thought
him God. Had he not acted unseltish-
ly? Did he not, for their sakes, step
down from place of eminence and
power? 1t was for them, that they
might become free men and free wom-
Ell, that he became an outcast and So
journed forty years in the solitudes
of the desert, keeping sheep instead of
ruling men.
At Marah the people mades Moses
their scapegoat; they threw all the
blame of their misfortunes upon him.
In so doing they reveal a base trait In
human character-men's willingness
to blame others for their misfortunes
instead of calmly and patiently assum-
ing the responsibility themselves The
people murmured against Moses in
stead of counting their experiences as
a valuable part of their wilderness dis
cipline.
| With Moses 1t was different Though
under a fearful strain and in danger,
he was patient and prayed to God.
He did not rebuke the people, but sym
pathized with them in their distress.
He sought Gods guidance and found 1t,
for in answer to his fervent prayer
God healed the bitter waters. The
prayer of Moses brought sweetness out
of bitterness, joy out of sorrow, and
light out of darkness. The Gethsemanes
of life always turn out to the Chris
tian's advantage. Agonizing prayer
that brings drops of blood is generally
answered. When all else fails God ac-
c9mplishes many things by the prayers
of his people. Learn to pray. Walk
In the footsteps of the great and good
of the ages.
We have an instance of Gods gra-
cious kindenss to his people. He led
them out of their trials. They did not
stop and perish at Marah, but went on
to Elm, with its palm groves and wells
Of water,
In life Elm often follows Marah,
God opens up for us a broad way out
of our difficulties. There are, in the
providence of God. many sweet rest.
ing places after our times of bitterness
We are wise when we learn in life to
take the bitter with the sweet.
God led his people out of bondage
and gave them liberty. In their dark
est and most discouraging hours God
never forsook them. They had the
presence of Moses as friend and guide
They went through many hard and try
ing experiences, but at last they ar
rived at the end Of their destination
and entered Canaan.
So it is with us. Now we are on oul
hard and dangerous journey. There
are enemies on every side. Often w,
IRE discouraged. We faint under oul
leavy loads, We murmur against TIT
providences of God.
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