Twelve Springs and Seventy Palms
God’s Providence in the Journey
After the drama of deliverance, the bitterness of thirst, and the tension of testing, Exodus 15 ends quietly, with a single verse that might be easy to overlook — but it is packed with meaning and hope.
Elim is a place of rest, abundance, and refreshment. And it didn’t come at the beginning of the journey — it came after Marah. After the grumbling. After the testing. After the cry for help. It’s not an accident that Elim follows Marah. It is a divine appointment — a gift of grace at just the right time.
From Bitter to Sweet to Still Waters
In one chapter, Israel has moved from deliverance (the Red Sea), to disappointment (Marah), to delight (Elim). This is not just a geographical path — it’s a spiritual one. God is not only guiding His people physically, He is shaping them spiritually.
Elim comes after Marah for a reason. The trial comes before the rest. Why?
Because God uses the wilderness to prepare us for His blessings. If Israel had gone straight to Elim, they might have trusted in the oasis instead of the One who led them there.
John MacArthur notes, “Elim is a picture of God’s grace — an unearned, undeserved season of refreshment that God gives to His people to strengthen them for the journey ahead.”
Symbolism in the Details
The verse gives us specific numbers: twelve springs and seventy palm trees. These are not random.
The Doctrine of Divine Providence
Elim teaches us something central to the Christian life: God’s providence is not just about protection — it’s about preparation.
God was never improvising. Elim was always part of the plan. The trial was not a detour. The refreshment was not a coincidence. The Lord leads His people exactly where they need to go, when they need to go there.
William Perkins captures this well: “The Lord leads His children by rough ways, that they may prize His comforts more sweetly. His hand in affliction makes His hand in rest more visible.”
Encouragement for the Church Today
This final verse is particularly encouraging in our current season as a church.
We’ve walked through our own version of Marah. We’ve left the building that once represented familiarity and comfort. We’ve entered into a season of dependence and simplicity. We’ve tasted some bitterness — uncertainty, transition, even loss.
But Marah is not the end of the story. Elim is coming.
God knows what He is doing with our church. He knows what He is doing in your personal life. And just as He appointed Elim for Israel, He appoints seasons of refreshment and encouragement for us. Maybe it’s not a literal oasis. Maybe it’s a restored relationship, a timely provision, a deepened unity, or a moment of worship that reminds us He’s near.
Our job is not to demand Elim. Our job is to trust the God who knows where it is and how to get us there.
Practical Takeaways
The Gospel in Elim
Ultimately, Elim points us to the greater rest found in Christ. Jesus says:
Every oasis in the Old Testament points forward to the eternal refreshment found in Christ. He is the living water. He is the shade from the sun. He is the true Elim — not just a stop along the journey, but the very goal of it.
So take heart, church. God doesn’t just bring you out of Egypt. He leads you all the way home.
“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.” (Exodus 15:27)
Elim is a place of rest, abundance, and refreshment. And it didn’t come at the beginning of the journey — it came after Marah. After the grumbling. After the testing. After the cry for help. It’s not an accident that Elim follows Marah. It is a divine appointment — a gift of grace at just the right time.
From Bitter to Sweet to Still Waters
In one chapter, Israel has moved from deliverance (the Red Sea), to disappointment (Marah), to delight (Elim). This is not just a geographical path — it’s a spiritual one. God is not only guiding His people physically, He is shaping them spiritually.
Elim comes after Marah for a reason. The trial comes before the rest. Why?
Because God uses the wilderness to prepare us for His blessings. If Israel had gone straight to Elim, they might have trusted in the oasis instead of the One who led them there.
John MacArthur notes, “Elim is a picture of God’s grace — an unearned, undeserved season of refreshment that God gives to His people to strengthen them for the journey ahead.”
Symbolism in the Details
The verse gives us specific numbers: twelve springs and seventy palm trees. These are not random.
- Twelve springs likely represent the twelve tribes of Israel — each one receiving what they need. No tribe is overlooked. God’s provision is personal and complete.
- Seventy palms may point to the seventy elders who would later assist Moses in leadership (Ex. 24:1), or to the seventy members of Jacob’s family who came into Egypt (Gen. 46:27). Either way, it signifies order, completeness, and divine care.
Matthew Henry notes, “God prepares comforts for His people proportionate to their trials; and often, the sweet comes after the bitter.”
The Doctrine of Divine Providence
Elim teaches us something central to the Christian life: God’s providence is not just about protection — it’s about preparation.
- He leads to Marah to test.
- He leads to Elim to refresh.
- He is present in both.
“He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.” (Psalm 107:35)
God was never improvising. Elim was always part of the plan. The trial was not a detour. The refreshment was not a coincidence. The Lord leads His people exactly where they need to go, when they need to go there.
William Perkins captures this well: “The Lord leads His children by rough ways, that they may prize His comforts more sweetly. His hand in affliction makes His hand in rest more visible.”
Encouragement for the Church Today
This final verse is particularly encouraging in our current season as a church.
We’ve walked through our own version of Marah. We’ve left the building that once represented familiarity and comfort. We’ve entered into a season of dependence and simplicity. We’ve tasted some bitterness — uncertainty, transition, even loss.
But Marah is not the end of the story. Elim is coming.
God knows what He is doing with our church. He knows what He is doing in your personal life. And just as He appointed Elim for Israel, He appoints seasons of refreshment and encouragement for us. Maybe it’s not a literal oasis. Maybe it’s a restored relationship, a timely provision, a deepened unity, or a moment of worship that reminds us He’s near.
Our job is not to demand Elim. Our job is to trust the God who knows where it is and how to get us there.
Practical Takeaways
- Don’t measure God’s faithfulness by today’s trial. Marah was real, but Elim was already ahead. God’s provision may be closer than you think.
- Trust the timing of God. The Lord knows when to test and when to refresh. Let Him lead.
- See God’s care in the details. Twelve springs. Seventy palms. Nothing is overlooked. God’s provision is perfect.
- Let Elim fuel future faith. When God gives you rest, receive it with gratitude and let it strengthen you for whatever comes next.
The Gospel in Elim
Ultimately, Elim points us to the greater rest found in Christ. Jesus says:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Every oasis in the Old Testament points forward to the eternal refreshment found in Christ. He is the living water. He is the shade from the sun. He is the true Elim — not just a stop along the journey, but the very goal of it.
So take heart, church. God doesn’t just bring you out of Egypt. He leads you all the way home.
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