April 21, 2026

When Christ was on the earth during His mortal ministry, he often refused to perform miracles to "prove" He was Jehovah. That's because miracles strengthen a testimony, they don't create one.

I think of the children of Israel, freed from the captivity of the Egyptians, wandering in the wilderness. They had seen some of the greatest temporal miracles in history, yet they constantly murmured, chiding Moses, asking if he'd brought them out of Egypt only to die. I believe the Israelites get a bad rap for this. How could they murmured after seeing such miracles?! Because they didn't understand the gospel, the Plan of Salvation.

I cannot blame the Israelites for murmuring, because what good are magnificent miracles if the end is only to die in the wilderness? What's the point?

But Jehovah has said many times up to this point that they will see and know God. Knowing God means entering a covenant relationship with Him. It is eternal life. Moses did not lead them out of Egypt to die, but to have life eternal by forging the relationship with Jehovah that saves.

Without the covenants that tie us to our Savior, without the miracle of His infinite, atoning sacrifice and resurrection, all other miracles are meaningless. This is what the Israelites experienced as they wandered. This also illustrates the importance of seeking out the mysteries of God and understanding symbolism of the gospel. It was all around the Israelites, it wasn't hidden from them.

I am grateful for modern and personal revelation, and an eternal perspective, that allows me to, at some minimal capacity, understand the nature of the Fall and magnificence of my Savior. Without that understanding, I might, like my Israelite ancestors, wander and wonder what the point is. Why all this if I'm just being lead to death?

Christ leads to life.

In Exodus 15, the children of Israel wandered for 3 days without water and when they finally found water it was bitter. God performed a miracle by turning the water sweet for them.

In 1 Nephi 17, we learn that Lehi's family was able to eat raw meat while in the wilderness because the Lord made it sweet for them.

These seemingly simple miracles show how much God cares about us, even to the point of sweetening bitter things so that we might enjoy them more. He cares about us, therefore He cares about the things we care about. He loves us.

Life can be bitter, but I have personally found my Savior making it sweet and helping me find joy. He makes bitter things sweet. He loves me.