We often hear fellow-believers either in prayer, in praise, or in conversation over the

trying times in which we live, ask for, offer praise for, or refer to "an Elim in this

wilderness". When the heart is downcast by distress and sorrow, the Lord often gives a

period of relief and cheer, and we would not be unmindful of this mercy, or underrate the

goodness that remembers that we are dust. Our object, however, is to draw the reader's

attention to another aspect of truth. Israel had tested the bitterness of Marah, and then

"they came to Elim, where there were TWELVE WELLS of water, and three score and

ten palm tress". Here was a place exactly suited to their needs. Twelve wells, one for

each tribe, and the shelter of the seventy palm trees! How runs the record, however?

Did they stay and enjoy this resting place for long? Did they apportion off the wells one

to a tribe? Did they settle here, or stake out a claim? The very next verse says, "And

they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came

unto the wilderness of Sin".

They left the wells of water for the wilderness again, and they did so under the direct

guidance of the Lord, for the pillar of cloud or of fire led them day and night. As a result

of removal into the wilderness again, the children of Israel murmured. We do the same

to-day if we place the Lord's blessings above Himself. What would Elim be to the

spiritual minded when the pillar of cloud had left it for the wilderness? As we learn from

I Cor. 7: 31, we hold all things that pertain to this life with a light hand.

We are all too prone either to mistake Elim for the land of promise, or to be willing to

accept is as a substitute.

Blessed as these Elims are, they are only the blessings of a pilgrimage. Immediately

they cause our hearts to cling to earth and ease, rather than resume the wilderness

journey, they become a snare. Elim, though blessed, is not perfect. The place is named

six times in the Scriptures, and is the sixth place mentioned by Moses in his summary of

the journeyings of Israel (Num. 33: 9). It is not the perfect rest. Let us therefore be

grateful for the Elims of our journey. Let us, however, never allow these pleasant oases

to become more to us than a halt by the way. Like the apostle, we "pursue", and face the

trials of the wilderness in full consciousness of the blessing that must accrue to those who

follow the leading of the Lord.

We may discover evidences to satisfy the flesh if we so desire. Moses could, most

likely, have discoursed very convincingly upon the twelve wells, and the seventy palms,

but all his arguments would have been shattered by the first movement of the pillar of

cloud.  Philippians and Hebrews, both epistles of the prize and crown (though on

different planes and in different spheres), warn against "murmuring". May the Lord give

us grace to unmurmuringly follow His guidance, accepting either Elim or wilderness with