Exo 15:27 | KingComments | STEP | After the experience they gained in Marah, the people come to the peace and rest of the oasis Elim. There is no Elim without Marah. In Elim – that means ‘trees’; oak or palm trees can be meant by this – Israel drinks plenty of the water of life. Here the flock of God is led to “quiet waters” and made lie down “in green pastures” ( ). Elim – this oasis in the wilderness – is as it were a foretaste of the promised land, the heavenly peace, and forms a great contrast with Marah. Here are only found blessing: 1. twelve springs of water to drink from, for each tribe a spring; 2. the shadow, the protection of seventy palm trees against the heat; 3. a safe camp by the water. The numbers twelve and seventy we find in connection both with Israel and with the church. Just as there are twelve ancestors for Israel, there are also twelve apostles for the church. The latter have laid the foundation of the church ( ). There are seventy elders who occupy a prominent place in Israel ( ). Compare the later Sanhedrin, which consists of seventy members plus the high priest. In the New Testament we find not only twelve apostles who are sent out by the Lord Jesus, but later also the sending out of the seventy ( ). We still stand on the foundation laid by the apostles. We still linger on the springs they left us in the inspired Word of God. We also still rest in the shade, the safe protection of the “seventy palm trees” which we can see as a picture of the many gifts that the glorified Lord gives the church out of His fullness ( ).

‏ Exodus 15:27

Elim

After the experience they gained in Marah, the people come to the peace and rest of the oasis Elim. There is no Elim without Marah. In Elim – that means ‘trees’; oak or palm trees can be meant by this – Israel drinks plenty of the water of life. Here the flock of God is led to “quiet waters” and made lie down “in green pastures” (Psa 23:2). Elim – this oasis in the wilderness – is as it were a foretaste of the promised land, the heavenly peace, and forms a great contrast with Marah. Here are only found blessing:

1. twelve springs of water to drink from, for each tribe a spring;

2. the shadow, the protection of seventy palm trees against the heat;

3. a safe camp by the water.

The numbers twelve and seventy we find in connection both with Israel and with the church. Just as there are twelve ancestors for Israel, there are also twelve apostles for the church. The latter have laid the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20).

There are seventy elders who occupy a prominent place in Israel (Exo 24:1). Compare the later Sanhedrin, which consists of seventy members plus the high priest. In the New Testament we find not only twelve apostles who are sent out by the Lord Jesus, but later also the sending out of the seventy (Lk 10:1).

We still stand on the foundation laid by the apostles. We still linger on the springs they left us in the inspired Word of God. We also still rest in the shade, the safe protection of the “seventy palm trees” which we can see as a picture of the many gifts that the glorified Lord gives the church out of His fullness (Eph 4:7-8 ; 11).