“Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter… the LORD showed him (Moses – B.H.) a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.” (Exodus 15:23-25).

The children of Israel were on their journey to the Promised Land. They had been delivered from Egypt (Exodus 14). They had celebrated this deliverance (Exodus 15:1-ff, 20-21).

However, the journey was not always easy. There were four difficulties before they reached Sinai: (1) Lack of water and bitter water (Exodus 15:22-26); (2) Lack of food (Exodus 16:1-8); (3) Lack of water (Exodus 17:1-7); (4) Amalek attack (Exodus 17:8-16 cf. Deuteronomy 25:17-18).

God provided the way for them to make it through the wilderness. In this first difficulty, God provided a way to turn bitter water into sweet, drinkable water.

Some think that this means of a tree (or wood) may be a shadow (or type) of Christ (or cross). Consider these comments, “The word here rendered ‘tree’ actually means ‘a piece of wood’… the fact of Jesus’ both entering and leaving our world ‘in the wood’ (of the manger and of the cross) has led many to see in this a type of Christ who makes life’s bitter waters sweet” (James Burton Coffman, Exodus, pp. 212-213). {Not only are Jesus’ entrance and departure of this world connected with wood, but he was a carpenter (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55) [the original word tekton “denotes any craftsman, but especially a worker in wood (Vines); “Gloss: carpenter, woodworker, more generally: construction worker, including stonemason and metalworker. Definition: an artisan; and specifically, one who works with wood, a carpenter” (Bill Mounce)]} Also, consider these thoughts, “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. The Jews’ tradition is that the wood of this tree was itself bitter, yet it sweetened the waters of Marah; the bitterness of Christ’s sufferings and death alters the property of ours” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 267).

Application

1. We are not promised that our journey through life and to the Promised Land will be always easy (John 14:27; 16:33).
2. However, God has made a way for us to make it (John 4:13-14; 6:31-35; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13).
3. The hope which Jesus has provided makes the bitter waters of this life more tolerable to drink (Romans 8:18, 31-39; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1; Philippians 4:13; Hebrews 12:1-2).