Then he criedout to the LORD,and the LORDshowedhim a tree;and he threw[it] into the waters,and the watersbecamesweet.ThereHe madefor them a statuteand regulation,and thereHe testedthem.
"You shall rememberallthe waywhichthe LORDyour Godhas ledyou in the wildernessthesefortyyears,that He might humbleyou, testingyou, to knowwhatwas in your heart,whether you would keepHis commandmentsornot.
For You have triedus, O God;You have refinedus as silveris refined.
Now theseare the nationswhichthe LORDleft,to testIsraelby them ([that is], allwhohad not experiencedanyof the warsof Canaan;
They were for testingIsrael,to findout if they would obeythe commandmentsof the LORD,whichHe had commandedtheir fathersthroughMoses.
in orderto testIsraelby them, whether they will keepthe wayof the LORDto walkin it as their fathersdid,ornot."
"In the wildernessHe fedyou mannawhichyour fathersdid not know,that He might humbleyou and that He might testyou, to dogoodfor you in the end.
Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Behold,I will rainbreadfrom heavenfor you; and the peopleshall goout and gathera day'sportionevery day,that I may testthem, whether ornot they will walkin My instruction.
He wentout to the springof waterand threwsaltin it and said,"Thussaysthe LORD,I have purifiedthesewaters;there shall not be from theredeathor unfruitfulnessanylonger.'"
For the wordof the crossis foolishnessto thosewho are perishing,but to us who are being savedit is the powerof God.
Thereforethussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Behold,I will refinethem and assaythem; For what[else] can I do,becauseof the daughterof My people?
The refiningpotis for silverand the furnacefor gold,But the LORDtestshearts.
"He will callupon Me, and I will answerhim; I will be with him in trouble;I will rescuehim and honorhim.
Callupon Me in the dayof trouble;I shall rescueyou, and you will honorMe."
But he said,"Now bringmeal."He threwit into the potand said,"Pour[it] out for the peoplethat they may eat."Then there was noharmin the pot.
As Pharaohdrewnear,the sonsof Israellooked,and behold,the Egyptianswere marchingafterthem, and they becameveryfrightened;so the sonsof Israelcriedout to the LORD.
Mosesand Aaronwere among His priests,And Samuelwas among those who calledon His name;They calledupon the LORDand He answeredthem.
"You calledin troubleand I rescuedyou; I answeredyou in the hidingplaceof thunder;I provedyou at the watersof Meribah.Selah.
you shall not listento the wordsof that prophetorthat dreamerof dreams;for the LORDyour Godis testingyou to findout if you lovethe LORDyour Godwith allyour heartand with allyour soul.
So Mosescriedout to the LORD,saying,"Whatshall I doto thispeople?A littlemoreand they will stoneme."
Then the LORDsaidto me, "Even thoughMosesand Samuelwere to standbeforeMe, My heartwould not be with thispeople;sendthem awayfrom My presenceand let them go!
Mosessaidto the people,"Do not be afraid;for Godhas comein orderto testyou, and in orderthat the fearof Him may remainwith you, so that you may not sin."
Then the manof Godsaid,"Wheredid it fall?"And when he showedhim the place,he cutoffa stickand threw[it] in there,and made the ironfloat.
Now when I had returned,behold,on the bankof the riverthere [were] verymanytreeson the onesideand on the other.
Then he saidto me, "Thesewatersgoout towardthe easternregionand godowninto the Arabah;then they gotoward the sea,being made to flowinto the sea,and the waters[of the sea] becomefresh.
