"And Moses prayed before the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, and when he
casted it into the water, the water became sweet; there the Lord taught him laws and
ordinances, and there He tested him, and said to him, "If you will diligently hearken to
the voice of the LORD your God and will do that which is right in His sight and will
obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will bring none of these
plagues upon you which I have brought upon the Egyptians
for I AM the LORD your healer.
(Exodus 15:25-26)
Image courtesy/FaithGateway
In the wilderness of Shur, the Israelites had no water. At Marah, they had water, but,
it was bitter; so that they could not drink it. God can make bitter to us that from which
we promise ourselves most, and often does so in the wilderness of this world, that
our wants, and disappointments in the creature may drive us to the Creator,
in whose favor alone true comfort is to be had.
In this distress the people fretted, and quarreled with Moses. Hypocrites may show
high affections, and appear earnest in religious exercises, but in the time of temptation
they fall away. Even true believers, in seasons of sharp trial, will be tempted to fret,
distrust, and murmur. But in every trial we should cast our care upon the Lord
and pour out our hearts before Him.
We shall then find that a submissive will, a peaceful conscience, and the comforts of
the Holy Ghost, will render the bitterest trial tolerable, yea, pleasant. Moses did what the
people had neglected to do; he cried unto the Lord. And God provided graciously for them.
He directed Moses to a tree which he cast into the waters,
when, at once, they were made sweet.
Some make this tree typical of the cross of Christ, which sweetens the bitter
waters of affliction to all the faithful and enables them to rejoice in tribulation.
But a rebellious Israelite shall fare no better than a rebellious Egyptian.
The threatening is implied only, the promise is expressed.
God is the great Physician.
If we are kept well, it is He that keeps us; if we are made well,
it is He that recovers us. He is our life and the length of our days.
Let us not forget that we are kept from destruction, and delivered from our enemies, to
be the Lord's servants. At Elim, they had good water and enough of it. Though God may,
for a time, order His people to encamp by the bitter waters of Marah, that shall not
always be their lot. Let us not faint at tribulations.
-Matthew Henry's Commentary
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