Bitterness

1. Bitterness

2. The Israelites in the Wilderness were Bitter Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah. So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" Then he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them (Exodus 15:22-25).

3. The Israelites in the Wilderness were Bitter God brought bitter people face to face with bitter water which revealed their grumbling, evil heart. After they complained, God still provided sweet water so they could drink but they were never satisfied and died in the wilderness. (Numbers 14:22ff) God allows us to be tested to see if we are going to be bitter or better from the experience!

4. Definition of Bitterness Mara or Mar- Old Testament (38X) “bitterness, chafed, discontented” Four different Greek words in the New Testament (12X) Arndt and Gingrich define pikria as "bitterness, animosity, anger, harshness“ (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 663). H.A.W. Meyer defines the word as "a bitter, malignant, and hostile disposition“ (Critical & Exegetical Handbook to the Epistle to Acts of the Apostles, p. 172) Marvin Vincent defines it as a "bitter frame of mind" (Word Studies In The New Testament, Vol. III, p. 397).

5. Bitterness Affects the Wicked and the Righteous Esau when the blessing was given to Jacob. “When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!“ And he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing” (Genesis 27:34-35). Esau was a godless person (Heb. 12:16-17) who desired to kill Jacob after this (Gen. 27:41).

6. Bitterness Affects the Wicked and the Righteous Naomi after losing her husband and two sons. She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. "I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me“ (Ruth 1:20-21)?

7. Bitterness Affects the Wicked and the Righteous Hannah was provoked bitterly by her rival when she didn’t have a child. “Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat” (1 Samuel 1:4-5).

8. Bitterness Affects the Wicked and the Righteous Mordecai when he heard that he and all his fellow Jews were to be killed. “When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.” (Esther 4:1)

9. Bitterness Affects the Wicked and the Righteous Job after he lost his wealth, health & children. "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul” (Job 7:11). "I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul” (Job10:1).

10. Bitterness Affects the Wicked & the Righteous Hezekiah when he was facing death (Is. 38:1-3). "What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. "O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live! "Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness…” (Isaiah 38:15-17).

11. Bitterness Affects the Wicked and the Righteous Simon the Sorcerer became a Christian but became poisoned by bitterness as he desired the buy the gift of God with money. (Acts 8:13, 18-19) "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness” (Acts 8:23a). Is your heart poisoned by bitterness?

12. What Does Bitterness Do? It grieves the Holy Spirit of God “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:30-32) Bitter people are not kind and forgiving.

13. What Does Bitterness Do? It is a spiritual poison which binds people in their iniquity. "For I see that you are in the gall of bitternessand in the bondage of iniquity (Acts 8:23) Bitter people are ensnared by the devil to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26).

14. What Does Bitterness Do? It leaves us short of God’s grace, springs up unannounced, causes much trouble, and by it many are defiled. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled”. (Hebrews 12:15) Don’t let unresolved bitterness destroy you, your family, and your brethren.

15. What Does Bitterness Lead to? “…there is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness…destruction and misery are in their paths” (Rom. 3:10-14,16).

16. Conclusion God allows us to go through trials like he did with the Israelites to test our faith to see if you and I will be bitter or better. Bitterness doesn’t just affect the wicked but also the righteous (who will overcome it). When bad things happen to you, when you are rebuked, or are suffering the consequences of your sins, do you ask, “Why me Lord?” Instead of harboring that bitterness, let your guilty soul find liberty at Calvary (Acts 2:36f).