Exodus 15:22-27 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. (23) And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. (24) And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? (25) And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, (26) And said, 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 brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. (27) And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. (2) And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Notice that there is a common denominator in both portions of the New Testament and Old Testament references.
Just as Israel was led to 12 wells of water, and 70 palm trees, there is a connection with exactly two groups of disciples Jesus sent.
Israel had twelve tribes.
Num 11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. God called 70 ELDERS.
Tradition: Twelve wells: One for each of the tribes of Israel, say the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem. And threescore and ten palm trees - One for each of the seventy elders - Ibid. Palm trees are strong and sturdy and withstand great hurricances and tornadoes. Eph 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Winds that blow plants up by the roots and out of the soil are like DOCTRINES and BELIEFS that are false.
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. The elders of the kingdom of God are like that. In the bible, the elders are actually the church leaders... pastors, etc.
Now notice in Exodus 15 that before they came to twelve wells and 70 palm trees, there was another experience. Exo 15:22-25 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. (23) And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. (24) And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? (25) And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, They came from the RED SEA.
1Co 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; It was THREE DAYS after the left the Red Sea.
But those who go to the third day experience a wonderful lesson. So their journey to Masah is similar to our spiritual journey after we are first saved and set free from sin like they were freed from Egypt.
The old rugged cross is like the TREE that we must learn to throw into our bitter situations and see recovery through them.
Moses was the one to whom they were baptised.
Jesus takes your bitter trials and turns them into sweet experiences BY PUTTING THE CROSS into the situation.
And after this occurs, it is THEN that God leads them to ELIM where there are twelve wells and 70 palms trees.
After Jesus saves you and you show a desire to go forward, HE MAKES BITTER WATERS SWEET FOR YOU.
Let me stop for a moment and speak about the 12 and 70. Jesus called the twelve and they became apostles.
Act 2:38-40 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Act 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. They continued.
So coming to TWELVE WELLS after three days when cross turns bitterness to sweetness, along with that TREE is going to be GETTING INTO THE WORD OF THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE.
So we come to the APOSTLES' TEACHINGS. WELLS OF SALVATION. Isa 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. WELLS are plural.
Neh 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Do you have the JOY of the Lord to take you through hard times?
Phi 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Phi 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Some complain, "Why do we need all these teachings?"
1Jo 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. And the 70 PALM TREES? Before Jesus called the 70, he called the 12, and then we read of other ones he sought out. Luk 9:57-10:1 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (58) And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (61) And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. (62) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (10:1) After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. One man came to Him.
AND AFTER THESE THINGS... He called 70. They went out and preached. Luk 10:17-23 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. (18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. (19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (20) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (21) In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. (22) All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. (23) And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: Was Jesus THRILLED with these 70!
The seventy Moses had were elders.
The 70 get into the word! Exo 24:1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Exo 24:9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: Exo 24:10-11 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. (11) And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. THEY EAT AND DRINK WITH GOD! The lukewarm don't. Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Eat and Drink represents COMMUNION. Mat 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (27) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. And the wells and the palm trees offered FOOD AND DRINK! Elders are like that! AND JESUS WANTS TO LEAD YOU TO MATURITY OF THREE DAY RESURRECTION LIFESTYLE, ASSOCIATED WITH TURNING BITTERNESS OT SWEETNESS.
He wants you to LEARN from the elders!
So many get stuck between the three days when the tree made the bitterness sweet, and the salvation from the Red sea.
Num 33:8-10 And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah. (9) And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there. (10) And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea. And after the third day and after Elim's 12 wells and 70 palms, God led them to THE RED SEA AGAIN! "The cross?"
But the elders tell you, and the apostles teachings tell you, to GO BACK AND RE-ASSESS it all now!
True elders will do this: Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. Fed you the bread and wine.
God wants to mature you.
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