And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees, and they encamped there by the waters. Exodus 15:27
What a wonderful place Elim was! The children of Israel had experienced the deliverance from the Egyptians at the Red Sea, and had dealt with the issue of bitter water at Marah. And now they came to a lovely oasis. Water was abundant, and the presence of 70 date palms was both beautiful and refreshing, with lovely fruit that would be a welcome addition to their travelling fare. Elim reminds us of an oasis that God brings His people to today as we pause to remember the Lord.
Just as Elim was a welcome respite for the journeying Israelites, so too is the Lord’s Supper a respite for today’s saints. After a week of making our way through an enemy’s world with its trials and temptations, the time spent in the shadow of Calvary’s cross helps us to get God’s perspective of our journey. The scenes of the sufferings of our Saviour fill our hearts with His great love for us.
Elim’s provision of refreshing water and tasty dates remind us that through the work of the cross, God has met all of our needs. Salvation for our souls, God’s Word for our spirits’ comfort and encouragement, and hope for our glorious eternity all flow from Golgotha’s victory.
Like the Israelites at Elim, we are still a distance from our destination – unless the Rapture is tomorrow. So we need preparation for the journey ahead. And that preparation comes from saturating our souls with thoughts of Christ, feasting on the memory of His body broken and His blood outpoured for us.
Thank God for our Elim today, the place of remembrance is a place of vital refreshments for our souls. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/GNhj1Wdf0jU