Exodus 15:27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. (What a powerful picture of rescue and reward! God's people had just faced a severe shortage of water in the desert. After having discovered the much-needed water at Marah undrinkable; they had seen God perform a miracle by making the water potable. In just a few, short weeks, Israel had traveled several days through a desert where they had no water, then on to Marah where the water was bitter and unusable, and now they have arrived at the oasis of Elim where they rest in the shade and enjoy the fruit of the palm trees, a sure sign of abundant water in the desert. Here they camp and enjoy their rest in the midst of the plenty. Although surrounded by the desert wilderness, they are encamped in the place of abundance, a picture for us that, after a time of trial and testing, the Lord leads us into a time of rest and restoration, into a time of plentiful supply. He shows us that after He brings us through the place of bitter Marah in our lives He leads us to the place of rest and plenty, the Elim in our lives. Though we may still be surrounded today by some of life's desert places, here at Elim we experience the rescue and reward to which He has led us after the time of testing and warfare.)
