NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.

Hello again. This past week the LORD, your Healer, took on new meaning for me. We were just a few days into our week-long Caribbean cruise when my husband mentioned he wasn’t feeling well. This is a man who’s been sick fewer than five times since I met him over twenty-five years ago. Naturally, it wasn’t long before I felt unwell, too. Praise God, Frank recovered quickly, but my healing didn’t start until after we arrived back in the US two days ago. I’ve made amazing progress since then, though. I’ve yet to recover my appetite (the worst thing to lose when you’re on a cruise!), but my Healer has relieved me of all the other symptoms. Thank You, Father God!

Last Week’s Work

COMPARISONS

The Spirit showed me three contrasts in this study text:

• Between bitter water and sweet water.
• Between Israel and Egypt: the Egyptians were targeted by God with diseases, but God promised Israel He would not visit the same misery upon them. I’m looking forward to digging into this contrast a bit more in Step 4 (Refine)!
• Between the locations of Marah and Elim: at Marah they had no potable water, at Elim there were twelve springs of water and shade, as well!

CAUSES/MOTIVATION

I discovered two causes in verse 23: the reason Israel couldn’t drink the water at Marah was because it was bitter; and the location was named Marah [because] the water there was bitter.  

I was really drawn to the cause connection explained in my focus verse, though: … I will put none of the [Egyptians’] diseases on you… for [because] I am the LORD, your healer. Granted, the promise of keeping them healthy is conditional (see below), but the reason the LORD would not infect Israel was because of who He is, not necessarily because of what they did. And that reminds me of a song from a few decades (!) ago by Casting Crowns!

Anyway, I think this is an important thing to remember about our LORD. He is Almighty God and worthy of our respect and obedience. But He is also our Healer: the Father who so wants His children to be healthy and whole that He sent His Son to pay the ultimate price for the sins human nature predisposes us to commit. We can’t help ourselves, so Jesus took all our sin to the cross, then rose again as a sign God accepted that sacrifice for all believers’ sins, past, present, future. Thank You, Jesus!

CONDITIONS/METHODS

As I mentioned above, the conditional promise in my focus verse in key here: If Israel would

1. diligently listen to God’s voice, and
2. do what is right in God’s eyes, and
3. give ear to His commandments, and
4. keep all His statutes,

Then Israel would not suffer the diseases the Egyptians had. This makes me curious. In Step 4, I want to see if God kept that promise, even though I know Israel failed repeatedly to follow those directives.  

Dig-In Challenges

This coming week, I’m planning to:

1. PRAY. Of course!
2. REFINE my understanding of this text by making a note of all the types of writing (instruction, law, letter, narrative, poetry, and/or prophecy) I discover in Exodus 15:22-27, then reading through Exodus 14, 15:1-21, and Exodus 16. This is more context than I normally read, I know, but I feel the Spirit leading me to examine all of this, so I’m sure I haven’t taken this passage out of its literal context. I also want to confirm whether the author provides other details related to my personal treasure.
3. REFINE: Next, I’ll research the book’s historical context by referencing the introduction to the book of Exodus, starting here. If you’re working along with me, note any relevant or interesting facts you uncover in your review of these materials. Based on the writing type (from step 2, above) and what you discover in the introduction, should Exodus 15:22-27 be interpreted literally?
4. REFINE: Last, I’ll be looking up the meaning of a few words and phrases from my focus verses using an interlinear Bible tool. I like Biblehub.com’s Hebrew tool for this research. To use it, follow the link above. You can quickly access a verse by selecting it from the dropdown box showing 15:26 at the top of your screen; or you can scroll to it by clicking the right-pointing arrow (to the right of the verse citation, Exodus 15:26) for higher numbered verses. Once you locate the verse, click the number in the Strong’s column that corresponds to the English word or phrase you’re researching. Note anything the Spirit highlights for you in the information provided.

I encourage you to use these tools and dig as much as you can this week. I pray the Spirit will bless your efforts, my friend!