it's just a tree though

It wasn't unusual for Moses to cry out to the Lord in prayer, in desperation, interceding on behalf of the people he led. We see how much the children of Israel complained and whined. Moses took their problems to God. 

Three days after singing and celebrating their miraculous victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea, they arrived at a place called Marah. They were looking for drinkable water and found the pool, creek, or whatever body of water that looked refreshing and hydrating at first glance there at Marah, actually tasted bitter. It wasn't digestible, wasn't good for human consumption, and wasn't at all satisfying their basic need. These people weren't used to traveling or living off the land, in total dependence on God. Pharaoh had been their boss, his cruel task masters driving them to work and build his empire year after back-breaking year.  

Rather than presenting the problem to their current, very kind and good boss, in a dignified manner, they did what felt natural. They "murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?" (Exodus 15:24) It didn't matter that they were under the direct supervision of the God of heaven and earth, the Creator and sustainer of life; the One who had just caused the Sea to stand upright as walls on either side so they could walk straight through, away from the enemy. It didn't matter that they had experienced safety when all of Egypt had experienced the 10 deadly plagues. 

They didn't yet know the God whom they followed. 

Another woman, in another future time, asked her friends to call her by the same name. "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara (same root word): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" (Ruth 1:20-21) 

Ruth is standing right beside her, listening to her God-fearing mother-in-law speak about the God she just gave up everything to follow. She wanted to live the rest of her life in devotion to Israel's Lord. It’s like having one Christian friend walking through the process of deconstructing faith. Naomi has identified what the problems in her life are and that God failed her in allowing it. She is victim to his cruel plan. She wants everyone to see she's got nothing left, nothing to praise him for, nothing to be happy about. Her name means delight and pleasant, but she has found no joy or pleasant thing in her current state of affairs. Humanly speaking, her life did turn out bad and she has a right to be depressed. 

Those waters at Marah didn't stay bitter though. Naomi would come to see in time that she need not live the rest of her life in bitterness of soul. She would see as the children of Israel saw that the Everlasting Father, the Mighty God, the Word that would become flesh loved them beyond the span of human love. The people called by his name would have opportunities to look to him, put their faith into action, and see him perform the impossible. 

I love Moses' revelation: "and the Lord showed him a tree" (Ex. 15:25) 

It's just a tree. So? Then the thought: throw it in the water! I wonder if it was a dead trunk, tipping, almost begging to be pushed and fall to rest, or if it was a healthy tree, upright in full bloom. Whatever it looked like at first sight doesn't matter. The idea to cast a tree into the waters wouldn't have made sense. Faith without works is dead. Praying, and belief in God is great, but never enough as long as we live in this world. 

At the end of Naomi's story, her friends speak words that restore a correct view of God and his goodness in her life. They could all see the blessings that had come by steps of faith, waiting, trusting that the Lord had a way through her wilderness. 

What problems do you feel up against? Has anything diluted your testimony or damaged your ability to speak genuine words of praise and thanksgiving? Do you know and trust the God of the Bible?