Exodus 15:25
And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
After three days without drinkable water Israel came to Marah, found its water too bitter to drink, and murmured against Moses until he cried to the Lord for help. The Lord showed him a tree close at hand to cast into the waters, which then became sweet, pure and refreshing, for God had put healing properties in what He created nearby yet the change came only through His own power. There He proved them and gave a statute and an ordinance, calling them to heed His voice and keep His commandments with the promise to spare them Egypt's diseases as their healer, to teach them to trust their unseen Leader instead of murmuring. The bitter waters stand for the diseases and troubles brought by sin, and their sweetening shows that God has a branch of healing for every bitter experience and can turn bitterness to sweetness for His people's good and His glory. That change comes when sufferers look to God and to Jesus in trusting faith, remembering past mercies, for His love and grace sweeten affliction and His followers are then to sweeten the bitter experiences of fellow pilgrims rather than add to them.
Bitter Water Made Sweet
On the journey from the Red Sea Israel went three days without finding drinkable water, and thirsty they gathered at Marah only to find its water bitter and undrinkable, so they murmured while Moses cried to the Lord for help. The Lord heard and showed Moses a tree close at hand, and when Moses cast it into the waters and the spring they were made sweet. The water became pure, drinkable and refreshing, safe and pleasant to drink, which quieted the complaints for a time.
God had placed in the tree the properties that changed the water, and He used what He had created and placed nearby as a lesson from nature for removing bitterness. The remedy was already at hand to show that He can provide help from what is present. Yet the tree itself had no power to sweeten the water; the change came through the power of the One who led Israel in the cloud.
There He proved or tested them and made for them a statute and an ordinance. He called them to heed His voice, do what is right, and keep His commandments and statutes, with the promise to spare them the diseases brought upon Egypt because He is their healer. The healing care promised was tied to hearing and obeying Him.
The trial was part of God's plan to teach obedience and to prove the people. It tested whether they had learned trust and obedience from His deliverances in Egypt and at the Red Sea, testing their trust in Him who had already delivered them and promised to care for them. It taught them to trust their unseen leader and healer and to wait for His help rather than murmur. It also showed them that Moses depended on God alone to deliver them from their difficulties. God brings His people into difficult places to reveal His power and glory by delivering them.
Healing for Bitter Trials
The bitter waters stood for the diseases that come through sin and disobedience, and their being made sweet showed that God is able to relieve troubles and heal the evils of the human heart for those who look to Him. For every bitter experience God provides a branch of healing, so that there is help in every trial. When people seek Him, Christ can open their eyes to the healing promises in His word, and the Holy Spirit teaches them how to receive the blessings that counter grief.
God is able to turn bitterness into sweetness for the good of His people and the glory of His name. On the desert journey He places bitter and pleasant conditions close together. Sometimes He changes the bitter experience itself into sweetness, and at other times He provides pleasant springs and palm shade alongside it. Those earthly changes and comforts are temporary, pointing forward to the final rest beyond life's desert.
The bitterness of Marah becomes sweetness when people look to God in trusting faith. That faith trusts Him to help in His own time rather than demanding immediate relief. It remembers His past mercies and care as the ground for present confidence. With that remembrance it goes forward with confidence in His presence and His help.
The love of Jesus can sweeten affliction and bring comfort to those who suffer. His presence and grace turn the mind from sorrow to what is precious and bright, make suffering bearable, and strengthen people even to face death while still leading others to Jesus. Those who follow Christ are to do the same work for fellow pilgrims, sweetening their bitter experiences by bringing comfort and blessing rather than adding to their suffering.