Text – Exodus 15:22-27
Introduction
The story of the parting of the Red Sea is one of the best-known and most dramatic episodes of the Old Testament. It shows how God miraculously intervened to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and open the way for their journey toward the Promised Land (Canaan). However, the path to the Promised Land was not easy, and the Israelites faced many challenges in the desert. One of these challenges was the lack of water, which led to the story of the water at Mara. In this text, we will explore this story in more depth and the powerful lessons it offers about God's providence and our trust in Him.
After the parting of the Red Sea, the
Israelites crossed the desert toward the Promised Land. However, they soon ran
out of water and despaired. It was then that they arrived at Marah (Hebrew: מָרָה,
meaning “bitter”), but the waters were bitter and unfit to drink. Once again,
God intervened and commanded Moses to throw a tree into the water, making it
sweet and drinkable.
The biblical passage in Exodus
15:22–25 describes this story:
“Then Moses led the Israelites from
the Red Sea, and they went toward the Desert of Shur. After traveling three
days through the desert, they came to Marah, but they could not drink the water
because it was bitter. So the people complained to Moses, saying, ‘What shall
we drink?’ And Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree.
Moses threw the tree into the water, and the water became sweet.”
1. IN THE DESERT OF SHUR
A • How many days did the Israelites
travel in the desert without finding water? Exodus 15:22.
Exodus 15:22 — After this, Moses led
Israel from the Red Sea, and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days
they traveled in the desert and found no water.
B • What was the name of the place
where they found water, and what was it like? Exodus 15:23. What does “Marah”
mean? (End of verse. Compare with Ruth 1:20).
Exodus 15:23 — When they came to
Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter; therefore the
place was called Marah.
Ruth 1:20 — But she answered them, “Do
not call me Naomi, but Mara, for the Almighty has made my life very bitter.”
For three days, while they traveled, they could not find water. The supply they carried had run out. There was nothing to quench their burning thirst as they dragged themselves exhaustedly across the sun-scorched plains. Moses, who was familiar with the region, knew what the others did not, namely, that in Marah, the nearest place where springs could be found, the waters were undrinkable. With intense anxiety he watched the cloud that guided them. With a heavy heart, he heard the joyful celebration, “Water! Water!”, echoing along the ranks. Men, women, and children rushed forward, joyfully gathering around the spring when, suddenly, a cry of anguish erupted from the crowd—the water was bitter. — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 291.
2. FORGETTING THE BLESSINGS
A • What did the people do when they
began to suffer from thirst? Exodus 15:24; Psalm 106:13.
Ex 15:24 — And the people murmured
against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
Psalm 106:13 — But they soon forgot
His works and did not wait for His plan.
In their terror and despair, they
accused Moses of leading them that way, forgetting that the divine presence in
that mysterious cloud was guiding him, as well as themselves. Distressed by
their anguish, Moses did what they had forgotten to do: he fervently cried out
to God for help.
B • What does Christ say to those who forget past blessings in their anxiety about future needs? Luke 12:29 and 30.
Luke 12:29 and 30 — Therefore do not
worry about what you will eat or drink. 30 For the people of the world seek all
these things; but your Father knows that you need them.
Christians should not be troubled by anxious worry about life's needs. If men love and obey God and do their part, He will provide everything they need. Even though you must earn your living by the sweat of your brow, do not lose faith in God, for in the great plan of His providence, He will supply your needs daily.
C • What proves that God will never forget us? Isaiah 44:21; Isaiah 49:15 and 16.
Isaiah 44:21 — Remember these things,
Jacob, Israel, for you are my servant! I formed you, you are my servant;
Israel, I will not forget you.
Isaiah 49:15 and 16 — Can a mother
forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her
womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16 I have engraved you
on the palms of my hands; Your walls are always before Me.
The love of Jesus is expressed in an
incomparable way, even more tender than the love of a mother for her child. The
tenderest love we know is that of a mother for her child, but the love of Jesus
surpasses it.
Her affection may change. Mothers can
become cruel, but Jesus will never, ever become inattentive, abrupt, or cruel
toward His children.
So let us never, ever show distrust
and lack of faith. So strong is [God's] love that it has under its control all
the affections of the divine nature, and employs all the vast resources to
bless His people. His love is permanent, without change or shadow of variation.
Let us never dishonor God by striving so hard to maintain control, fixing our
gaze upon ourselves and keeping self constantly in view. — Looking Upward, p.
180.
Oh, how easy it is to forget God,
while He never forgets us; He blesses us every hour with His mercies.
3. BITTERNESS IS TRANSFORMED INTO SWEETNESS
A • How did the waters of Marah become
sweet? Exodus 15:25. What practical lessons can we learn from this?
Exodus 15:25 — Then Moses cried out to
the Lord, and the Lord showed him a stick, and Moses threw it into the water,
and the water became sweet. There God made a statute and an ordinance for them;
and there he tested them.
God has provided help for every trial.
In the desert, when Israel came to the bitter waters of Marah, Moses cried out
to the Lord. God did not provide any new remedy; He drew their attention to
what was within their reach. A bush He had created was to be thrown into the
spring to make the water pure and sweet. Having done so, the people drank and
were refreshed. In every trial, if we seek Him, Christ will give us help. Our
eyes will be opened to understand the restorative promises recorded in His
Word. The Holy Spirit will teach us to take hold of every blessing that will
serve as an antidote to bitterness. For every bitter experience, we will find a
restorative branch.
We must not allow the future, with its difficult problems and insufficient prospects, to cause our hearts to despair, our knees to tremble, and our hands to weaken. “Let him take hold of My strength,” says the Mighty One, “and make peace with Me; yes, let him make peace with Me” (Isaiah 27:5). Those who surrender their lives to His guidance and service will never be placed in a position for which He has not made provision. Whatever our situation, if we are obedient to His Word, we have a Guide to direct our path; whatever our perplexity, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, loss, or loneliness, we possess a Friend full of compassionate interest.
The Real Purpose of God
Modern scientists and scholars have
had the opportunity to analyze the waters of Mara, which remain bitter to this
day, and have found that they are 100% potable and suitable for human
consumption; but why the bitter taste? Scientists have also stated that the
taste comes from the large amount of products and medicinal herbs dissolved in
the water, which automatically give it a bitter taste, but it is still suitable
for consumption.
This story is yet another
demonstration of God's care and providence toward His people. He intervened
again to provide drinking water for the Israelites, even in a desert and
hostile environment. Furthermore, this story also teaches us to trust in God in
times of despair. The Israelites despaired when they ran out of water, but
Moses cried out to God for help, and God answered his prayers.
A • What did the Lord promise to do
for His people, and what were the conditions? Exodus 15:26. Are there similar
conditions today?
Exodus 15:26 — Saying, “If you
diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in
His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will
not bring on you any of the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians, for I am
the Lord, your healer.”
B • What assurance is given to those
who are sick? Psalm 103:2-5; James 5:15 and 16.
Psalm 103:2-5 — O my soul, bless the
Lord, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from the pit; who
crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy good
things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
James 5:15 and 16 — And the prayer of
faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he hath
committed sins, he shall be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one
another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous man is powerful and effective.
The paralytic found in Christ both the
healing of the soul and the healing of the body. He needed to have health in
his soul before he could enjoy that of his body. Before the healing of the
physical illness, Christ needed to relieve the mind and purify the soul from
sin. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are thousands of people today
suffering from physical illnesses, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the
message: “Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). The burden of sin, with its
restlessness and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their illness. They
cannot find relief until they go to the Physician of the soul. The peace that
only He can impart would restore vigor to the mind and health to the body. —
The Science of Good Living, p. 77.
C • Why should we be meticulous in how
we care for our bodies? 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20; 1 Corinthians 10:31.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 10:31 — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
The sacred temple of the body must be
kept pure and uncontaminated so that the Holy Spirit of God may dwell within
it. We need to faithfully guard the Lord's property, for any abuse of our
faculties diminishes the time our lives can be used for God's glory. [...] By
using our faculties to their fullest capacity, in a proper way, in the most
useful occupation, keeping all parts healthy, safeguarding each organ so that
mind, tendons, and muscles work in harmony, we can render the most precious
service to God.
A • After leaving Mara, what was their next encampment? Describe the oasis they found there. Exodus 15:27.
Ex 15:27 — Then they came to Elim,
where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they
encamped beside the water.
B • Just as God provided food and
water for the Israelites on their journey through the desert, how does He
promise to supply the needs of His people shortly before they enter the
heavenly Canaan? Isaiah 33:16; Psalm 37:19.
Isaiah 33:16 — He will dwell on the
heights; his refuge will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given
him; his water will be guaranteed.
Psalm 37:19 — They will not be frustrated in the day of evil, and they will have plenty in the days of famine.
The Lord has shown me many times that it is contrary to the Bible to make any provision for earthly needs for the time of trouble. I saw that if the saints had food stored up by them in the field during the time of trouble, when the sword, famine, and pestilence would walk through the earth, it would all be taken from them by violent hands, and strangers would reap their fields. This time will be for us the time to trust completely in God, for He will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water would be guaranteed at that time, and that we would lack nothing and go hungry, for God is able to set a table for us in the desert. If necessary, He would send ravens to feed us, as He did with Elijah, or He would make manna rain down from Heaven, as He did for the Israelites.
Conclusion
The story of the water in Mara is
clear proof of God's care and providence for His people. Even in the midst of
adversity, God always has a solution and an answer for our needs. We can trust
that He is with us in all circumstances and that His love and care for us are
unwavering. We learn from this story that when we face challenges and problems,
we can cry out to God for help, and He will answer our prayers. And so, we can
rejoice in the hope that God will always be by our side, caring for us and
guiding us on our life's journey.
