This analogy comes from the sitcom “Man with a Plan”. I have seen the show once, so referencing the analogy is not an endorsement of the show itself. But the analogy is pretty good. The husband and father of the show played by Matt Lablanc finds himself in the new role of taking care of his three children while his wife goes back to work. Selfishly, he tells his wife that he wants out after one difficult day. He explains, “I want to be Johnny Cash, not the warden. Johnny comes into the prison and entertains the inmates and then leaves. Everyone loves him. The warden has to enforce the rules and nobody likes the warden.” We want God to be Johnny Cash. We want him to swoop in and entertain us and make us happy and then leave us alone thank you very much. And although, God is not a warden, he does dish out consequences. His job is not to be our entertainment or even our friend. He is our God; our Father; our Healer.
Exodus 15:22-27 is about Yahweh providing for his people in the wilderness. Although many sources will speak with certainty about where this part of the story takes place, we are left guessing. Most likely the Wilderness of Shur was southwest of Palestine and east of Egypt, but its area was vast and offers no definitive clue concerning Marah or Elim. What we know is that the Israelites traveled three days and were not able to find water. The implication is that they were seeking for water and none was to be found. We have this tendency to be hard on the Israelites. What is your reaction when your babies are crying for water; when their lips begin to crack? Would you remember that three days ago you stood on the shores of the Reed Sea singing and dancing out praise because of Yahweh’s mighty deliverance? Or would the constant need for water push that memory right out of your noggin? I know that it was only three days ago, but it was three days of walking in the wilderness without water.
And when they finally reach water, that water was undrinkable. The word “bitter” is not a specific word, but the context makes it clear that this is more than merely brackish water. It was not fit to drink. Otherwise they would have drank it despite the bitterness. So, three days of searching for water in the desert only to find water that does you absolutely no good. And as a result they murmur at Moses. There probably was some blaming crouching within those grumbles. Grumbling and blaming often dance together. And in the midst of this grumbling, Moses cries out to Yahweh. I think we are intended to see the contrast between the people’s response and that of Moses. They grumble at the servant who has no control over the situation. Moses cries out to the I Am who can actually do something about the problem. Yahweh points out a tree or some wood to Moses. Moses chucks it into the bitter water resulting in sweet water. Yahweh could have simply made this water drinkable. That is what is needed after all. And do they deserve pleasant water? You remember taking a deep drink of sweet water on a blistering hot day don’t you? There is nothing like it. God not only provided what was needed, but what was pleasant.
And then, seemingly incongruously, God sets a boundary and a judgment as a test. When God tests people it is always his desire that they succeed. And this boundary is stated in the positive. If they would listen intently (the word “listen” is repeated to intensify it) to Yahweh’s voice; if they would make him the standard of right and wrong; if they would give their ears to hearing his command; if they would keep all of his decrees, then Yahweh will not place any of the diseases upon them which he had placed on Egypt. This most likely refers poetically to the ten plagues. God proclaims “I am Yahweh your healer.” The Healer’s blessing carries within it a curse. The obvious implication is that if they don’t listen to Yahweh, he will place these diseases upon them. He is the great provider. He wants them to trust in him; to cry to him when they find themselves longing for water in the desert. And so he leads them to a massive oasis complete with twelve springs and seventy date palms. Ah, water and fruit. Do they get it?
Yahweh is not Johnny Cash. He is the healer. You know, the healer that promises that if you take the medicine or have the surgery or do the physical therapy you will recover. And the implication is that if you don’t do these things you will not get better. When you go to the doctor you are not looking to be entertained. You don’t care if she can sing or dance or tell jokes. You want a healer. Even if that healing comes with consequences. Right? Listen to Yahweh and accept his healing then. Peace, Walter.