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During the last several years I have noted in my Bible the following truths about bitterness. These truths came from pulpit sermons and a medical doctor.

• Bitterness can be defined as profound grief accompanied by suppressed hostility towards unbearable circumstances.
• Bitterness is a form or anger and when anger is unresolved it takes root In the personality and gradually turns in to bitterness. Like a cancer it silently spreads throughout the personality leading to emotional disease and spiritual damage. Failure to weed out the root of bitterness ensures torment.
• Bitterness grieves the Holy Spirit. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness...be put away from you..." Ephesians 4: 30-31
• Bitterness and anger come forth because people do not believe that God cares.

Let’s look again at Exodus chapter 15 and verse 24-25a

"And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?" (We need something to satisfy our thirst!) Moses wanted to satisfy his people-"And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: ..."

"The tree which healed the waters should remind the Christian that the cross of Christ can take ALL of the bitterness out of ALL such experiences." Dr. Scolfield

Is there something you are thirsting for? Peace, rest, satisfaction, healing of some kind....all of which God is waiting to give to all of His children. Like Moses, the people around you want to help...they want to help you get well from whatever illness that you have; spiritual, physical, or emotional. Their help may bring some immediate relief but Jehovah-Rapha is the only one Who can ultimately meet and satisfy our thirst...our need.

Let’s go back to Exodus 15 and verses 25-27....Blessing follows trials and obedience.

Verse 26 "....If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes , I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have put on the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee."

And in verse 27 God brought then to Elim where there were twelve wells of water and 70 palm trees for shade.

The children of Israel were very thirsty and God touched His tree/His cross to the bitter waters and made them sweet to drink. And when they hearkened to his voice and listened to their God and kept his commandments.....God brought them to a place that had 12 wells and 70 trees for shade---which they never asked for. God blessed them above and beyond all they asked!!!

What is God waiting to give to us for our healing? One well that He has made sweet...one well given without stipulation...one well to drink from so we will not perish from thirst?  Oh no,  God tells us in this passage that with our obedience to His voice, commandments, and statutes, He is waiting to bless us above all that we ask or think...12 wells of water and 70 palm trees for shade.

When I was 12 years old several of my cousins and myself were playing in a split level house under construction. The "leader" of the pack decided to run our  "follow the leader" game down the stairs through the family room and out the sliding glass doors in to the back yard. I had stepped on something and lagged behind a bit and when I got to the sliding glass patio doors the person in front of me had slid them shut. There is nothing quite as memorable as the sound of that much broken glass.

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