Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Exodus 15 before reading the devotional below.
Have you ever experienced a victory so sweet that you just burst out into song? The Israelites are singing and dancing, praising God on the other side of the Red Sea. God knocked out the bad guys at the last possible second and it was a sight to remember and celebrate. (And for such an occasion, if you are ever wandering in the desert and you can only bring a limited number of objects with you, be sure “tamborine” makes it onto your list…)
If only the song had been on repeat on their iPods during their desert stay, because it doesn’t take long for the Israelites to emotionally crash once again. When you are taking in the sweet smell of victory, it’s an exhilarating high that can’t be sustained. The adrenaline rush will fade and when you are hungry or thirsty you are likely to become irritable. Even though God keeps coming through for them, the Israelites panic at every negative turn.
Here’s your freedom for today: God will never leave you thirsty. I don’t know how strong my faith would seem if I were walking through a desert (with children, by the way…) for three days with no water. You just can’t mentally keep it together after a certain point. But God had not left the Israelites in that moment of thirst, and he has not left you. When Jesus came, he talked about thirst. He talked about the spiritual and physical value of sharing a cup of cold water. He also described a different kind of living water that will eliminate the entire concept of thirst. God will not leave you to wither and dry up. Come, drink his water today as you take hold of the truth that he loves you and is working all things out for your good.