For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”
Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.
There the LORD made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.
Comment: The Bible is not a novel! Nevertheless the author under God used whatever was available to include relevant facts and give the ‘complete’ story. There is a repetition at the beginning of this passage which leads into Miriam’s tambourine troupe moving through the people singing of the facts given previously as Moses sang his song. And she sings the same words. Did she sing these words over and over? Had she and brother worked on the song together and did they sing in harmony? Did she sing only the first lines of his song or did she sing the whole song in unison with him? Interesting but does it matter? Only in the sense that we are meant to think about what is written, not let it go into our eyes and make a quick trip into our ‘forgettery’!
So why do we have the rest of the story? Is it meant only to tickle our interest or are there some lessons for us to learn? I suggest that there are 4 lessons at least t: 1. Walking the way God takes us doesn’t necessarily take us on a red carpet trouble free way to heaven. 2. Grumbling isn’t helpful! There are things that upset and worry us but grumbling isn’t a good way forward. Our positive responses will differ with the differing situations! 3. God has an answer. 4. God’s promises usually have conditions with them. Sadly we like the promises, but often forget the conditions. Here the promise was protection and the condition was obedience!
Prayer: Sadly Father, and I apologize sincerely, I’m ofter like these wandering people! Change me I pray as Your Spirit develops my character!
As I read it! 