Scriptures: Exodus 15:22-27, Deuteronomy 8:2, Exodus 16:8, James 5:13, 1 Peter 2:24

Exodus 15 reveals a very strange but wonderful story of how God can take the bitterest and most burdensome circumstances in our lives, and turn them into showers of blessings. The children of Israel had just been delivered from the clutches of an evil Egyptian tyrant. They had crossed the Red Sea and now they were walking in the wilderness. The people were thirsty. For three days they had been looking for an oasis, but had found nothing and were desperate for water.

When hope seemed almost gone, they spotted an oasis in the distance. They ran as fast as they could to scoop up the water and quench their thirst. Thanking God for His goodness, they reached down with eager anticipation, brought the water up to their parched lips, took one drink and discovered the water was bitter. It wasn’t good to drink. The place was named, Marah, meaning “bitterness”. In this message, Dr. Merritt explains how to react and live as Christ-follows when faced with difficult circumstances that can lead us to bitterness.

"Too many are led to believe that once you give your heart and life to Jesus Christ your problems are over. Salvation does not exempt you from trouble, it prepares you for trouble. The truth is, everybody sooner or later walks inn the wilderness. Everybody comes to a place where they can drink the water of bitterness if they choose. The brutal truth you need to learn is, you may be walking on water today, and wandering in the wilderness tomorrow. This may be exactly where God leads." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge, Red Sea, thirst, Marah, Paul, John, Jesus, wilderness, wandering, Moses, test, character, cynicism, Elizabeth Elliott, James, Jehovah Rapha, sorrow, Dr. Vance Havner, Elim, water