Your Tree is Already Planted
by Scott Graham

Exodus 15:1, 23
1: Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 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.

Moses and the children of Israel came to a place of bitterness. God showed them a tree. Trees don't grow overnight!

Why was Israel singing a psalm of praise to the Lord? Because their history demanded it, and it presented them with the unparalleled opportunity to proclaim the power, goodness, and mercy of God. They had seen first hand the power of God. Let's consider Israel's present condition in light of their prior condition. They got caught up in offering praise to God, and nobody had a better right.

Maybe There is Somebody Who Has a Right!
Maybe there is somebody! I've got a right! As tough as their slavery was, mine was worse. They may have been hopeless, their task master brutal but there are people right here who have a right to praise the Lord. Our testimony demands it, and it presents an unparalleled opportunity to proclaim to this world the power, goodness, and mercy of the Lord. We have seen first hand the bounty of His mercy. Consider your present position in relation to your prior condition. We have been brought out, lifted up, set free. The shackles are a memory. The task masters are behind us. We are on our way to the land of milk and honey. We have to be a praiser in the house of God!

We've been redeemed; we are not what we used to be. We've been born again and someone who is going to preach about it ought to act like they are glad about it. I understand why we act this way; nobody has a better right. When somebody reminds you you've been washed in the blood of Christ, that you have a treasure in an earthen vessel, tired or not, something deep inside of you says, "I've got a right to praise the Lord!"

Why was Israel shouting that day? For 400 years they had suffered pain. When I realize how far down we were, I'm not puzzled by Israel's praise. I would have been confused by someone who didn't. I'm not confused by our exuberance; my mind is blown by those who don't praise God. What does puzzle me is what immediately followed. After the victory, bitter waters were there. The reality is that as you tip toe through the tulips you will run into some poison ivy. Life is going to give you some bitter water. You will have tribulation but Christ overcame the world.

That's Bitter Water!
When the thing you plan for falls through—that's bitter water. When family members disappoint you, shatter your dreams—that's bitter water. When your child rejects the moral underpinnings you tried to instill—that's bitter water. When dreams of revival that you cast on Sunday get trodden down by visionless people on Monday—that's bitter water. When the preacher prays for years but a breakthrough hasn't come—that's bitter water. When your trust in a brother has been broken and promises betrayed—that's bitter water. When you share your soul with someone to have it repeated elsewhere—that's bitter water. When your life's partner doesn't share your heartbeat—that's bitter water. When someone you pour yourself into backslides—that's bitter water. When the church board rises up against you—that's bitter water. When a lawsuit comes against your church—that's bitter water. When you end up preaching a funeral instead of preaching about a healing—that's bitter water.

The shocking thing is just how quickly the bitter water came after the song of deliverance, only three short days later. All of a sudden it seems a long way back on the seashores. Moses cried out to God, "We're thirsty!" God said, "I've got an answer for you, there's a tree." God had to show Moses the tree, because when you are in a bitter water experience it's hard to see what God is doing. All you are able to do is look at the puddle of disappointment, the pool of shattered dreams, and look at the bitter thing that has betrayed you. All the while, just beyond, there is a tree that God has planted. Trees don't grow overnight, trees are for the future.

Somewhere in the distant past God allowed one seed to drop in the crack of the desert floor; it grew, because one day in the future the children would taste bitter water. Before they drank one sip of the water, the tree was already planted. Before they passed through the Red Sea, the tree was already planted. Before the firstborn fell dead in Egypt, the tree was already planted. Before one drop of water turned to blood, before anyone in Israel knew they needed it, before anyone knew what it would do, before anyone knew how it would work, the tree was already planted.

Your Tree Is Already Planted!
Before you go home, your tree is already planted. Before you get the diagnosis from the doctor, your tree is already planted. Before you preach the first sermon in that city, your tree is already planted. Before you taught the first Bible study, revival was already planted. Before your child walked away from truth, your miracle was already started. Before the enemy ever attacks you, your tree is already planted.

I wish your faith could reach this now before you taste the bitter water. The tool of your deliverance is already established. The date of your miracle is already decreed. The judgment against your adversary is already written. It may be bitter right now but look around, see what God is doing that you never noticed before. God has already positioned the elements of revival to shake your city. He is already speaking to people that you don't know about money, miracles. When you taste the bitter waters God's going to say, "Look what I have been working on all along!" God works on it before you ever taste of the bitter water. The problem isn't the water; the problem is your reaction to the water! The problem isn't diseases of the flesh, but diseases of the spirit, that get into people when they got into the bitter water.

Trust God, He won't let you fall prey to anger or bitterness. Bitter water experiences can corrupt our spirits until the anointing of God can't operate in us for the anger we feel. God knew the water was bitter; he already had the tree growing to fix it. God did call you, no matter how bitter it is right now. You must say to the Egyptian disease of indecision, this is not going to take me away from my miracle! Quit looking at the problem and see where God already made the preparation.

Not Stopping, Just Passing Through
Exodus 15:27: And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Twelve wells of water, three score and ten palm trees! Twelve wells instead of bitter water, 70 palms to rest under instead of one to cut down! Mirah is a place you pass through; you will not die, stop, or get discouraged here.

God already planted your tree, took care of your miracle, just on the other side of your bitter water. I'm not going to live in bitter places all my life. I'm not going to barely exist. I'm not destined to spend all my days in frustration, wishing, regretting, and hurting. I will pass through this place to a place called Elam, to the place of revival, to the place of miracles, signs and wonders. I will be enjoying the blessings of God. I may be passing through bitter water but I'm not living there. I won't stay there, for I see Elam, my destination. I'm not living in Mirah. I'm passing through, but it's okay because there's a tree already planted there!

Scott Graham and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Jeremy and Jessica. They live in the greater St. Louis, MO area where Bro. Graham serves as pastor of The Sanctuary in Hazelwood, MO.