Bitter Water Made Sweet at Marah

Three days into the wilderness, thirsty Israel found water at last - but it was too bitter to drink. At God's word, Moses cast a tree into it, and the water turned sweet.

Only three days after crossing the Red Sea, Israel traveled through the wilderness of Shur without finding water. When they finally reached Marah, the water was too bitter to drink, and the people murmured against Moses, asking what they should drink. Moses cried to the LORD, who showed him a tree; when Moses cast it into the waters, they were made sweet. There God made a statute and an ordinance for the people and revealed Himself with a new name: 'I am the LORD that healeth thee.' The miracle taught a newly freed nation that the God who saved them would also sustain them.

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Details

Category: Provision
Testament: Old Testament
Performed by: God through Moses

Key Chapters

Exodus 15 The Song of Moses 4 min read God turns bitter water sweet and reveals Himself as the LORD who heals, inviting...

Key Passages

The Waters Made Sweet

Exodus 15:22-26

God turns bitter water sweet and reveals Himself as the LORD who heals, inviting His people to trust and obey Him.

S²²o Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

²³ And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 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, ²⁶ And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.