Day 24 in the Wilderness: Find rest at the Oasis.

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A couple of days ago we were talking about the California Gold Rush. Today we consider the phenomenon known as an oasis. The segue between these two topics is very interesting.

You see, crossing Death Valley during the Gold Rush would have been extremely difficult—if not impossible—had it not been for the spring from the Amargosa Mountain Range that creates a natural oasis at Furnace Creek. Just so you know, Death Valley has the highest ever recorded temperature at around 134 degrees (Fahrenheit). It goes without saying that these strike-it-rich hopefuls desperately needed a place to refresh and restore their water supplies before carrying on. As well, mining was done in that area.

Their experience calls to mind these wonderful words from Isaiah:

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Did you know Jesus Spoke of Himself as being what could be described as an oasis?

“Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4:10, 13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

He said these words to the Samaritan woman at the well. Additionally, He expressed the same sentiment in front of those gathered for the Feast of Tabernacles.

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7:37-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Today we find that the children of Israel arrived at an oasis. They just came from Marah where the bitter waters were made sweet by the Lord.

Now they could find refreshment, not only with an abundance of water, but also with the fruit from the wonderful date palms.

As I have commented on more than one occasion, this world is a wilderness; any attempt to find solace and peace and refreshment from what it has to offer will be disastrously futile. And yet, we find that many people take a “more of the same approach,” continuing to try to find rest where there is no rest, peace where there is no peace, hope were there is no hope. All the while our Savior bids us come to Him and find the rest His oasis offers. And did you notice? We will also become springs of living water for a lost and thirsty world.

For today write this in your “wilderness journal”:

Find rest at the oasis.

#40daysinthewilderness