EDITORIAL
Backstage | Jimmy Dodd
Bitterness is a cancer that gradually diminishes the soul. Primary symptoms of this dreadful disease include anger, blame and unforgiveness. It is a momentary emotion that can turn anger into a permanent mood. Bitter people become a walking toxic waste dump contaminating everyone and everything in their path. The only people attracted to bitter people are other bitter people.
Exodus 15 tells the story of the aftermath of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Amazingly, the third day after the miracle, the parting of the Red Sea was apparently long forgotten: “They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (Therefore, it is named Marah.) And the people grumbled against Moses saying, “What are we to drink?” (Ex. 15:22–24).
Rather than fight with the people, Moses prays to the Lord who shows him a piece of wood that Moses throws into the water. By a miracle of God, the water becomes sweet and the people drink. They are refreshed and then travel to the desert oasis of Elim (Ex.15:25–27).
The story of Marah is in many ways the story of leadership and the story of life. There will be times when hopeful anticipation takes a detour into pain, suffering, conflict and heartache. We have expectations of refreshment and encouragement, and instead we encounter sadness and pain. People are diagnosed with cancer. Spouses abandon marriages. Church members attack pastors. Friends die in automobile accidents. Children are born with special needs.
The story of Marah is the story of God’s provision to free his children from bitterness. The piece of wood is a beautiful foreshadowing of the cross of Jesus Christ. Just as the piece of wood made bitter waters sweet, only the cross of Jesus can allow us to traverse times of impending bitterness.
It is not wrong to be at Marah. Trips into Marah are a part of life. It is wrong to stay at Marah.
Maybe you have been at Marah a little too long. Maybe you have pitched a metaphorical tent, and you are planning to stay awhile. Maybe you are even laying the foundation to build a home and plan on spending your life in the confines of bitterness. You know you are stuck at Marah if you spend time rehearsing how you have been wronged. What if…, I deserve more…, If only…
In my 25 years of caring for pastors at PastorServe, I have observed that most commonly, people become stuck at Marah due to unresolved conflict. They have been deeply hurt, usually by people in the church, and they cannot move past those wounds. They—like all of us—need to learn that the only way to move through Marah is to understand the depth of forgiveness Jesus Christ extended to his children through his death on the cross. Only the cross can turn life’s bitter waters sweet and support us as we step away from Marah and toward Elim. Whatever someone might have done to us, while deeply painful, is fractional when compared to the forgiveness offered by Jesus. Only Jesus can carry his children through Marah.
Get used to traversing Marah, because it is a trip that leaders will make repeatedly in their lifetime. Within every Marah, there is a cross. Beyond every Marah, there is an Elim.