Bitter Beginnings, Sweet End
“So 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.” Exodus 15:22-25
In Exodus, we find the Israelites in the middle of their journey. Fresh from the miraculous escape through the Red Sea, they traverse the desert and come upon Marah, only to find its waters undrinkable, bitter and full of death!
This episode, nestled in their three-day trek without water, is loaded with pictures of Jesus and lessons for our faith today.
1. The Bitterness of the World
“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.” Exodus 15:23
At Marah, the Israelites’ disappointment is palpable. They’ve been led to a source of life, only to find it brings death. The waters of Marah mirror the sin and despair that pervade our world, often leaving us feeling disillusioned and bitter. This bitterness, if left unaddressed, is spiritually lethal, much like the undrinkable waters of Marah.
2. The Three-Day Journey
“So 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.” Exodus 15:22
The journey to Marah wasn’t just a physical trek; it was a spiritual passage. Three days in the wilderness without water tested their faith and endurance. This duration echoes the three days Jesus spent in the tomb, symbolizing a period of waiting and uncertainty that culminates in the triumph of faith and resurrection. For us, it’s a reminder that though we may face periods of spiritual drought, renewal is within reach through faith in God.
3. The Tree of Salvation
“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” Exodus 15:25
The solution at Marah came through a single tree, which Moses cast into the waters, making them sweet. This act is a powerful foreshadowing of Christ who hung on a single tree, through which the bitterness of sin is transformed into the sweetness of salvation.
Just as the tree brought life to the waters of Marah, the cross brings eternal life to us, offering a pathway from death to life, from bitterness to sweet communion with God.
This story reminds us that amid the bitterness of life, God provides a way to transformation and salvation. Through faith, the bitter waters can become sweet; through Christ’s sacrifice, we find our eternal life.
Let us embrace the journey through our own wilderness, trusting in God’s provision and the salvation power of His love. In every bitter experience, there’s an opportunity for sweet redemption, guided by the hand of God.
