Water in a Desert Exodus 15:23-2723And 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. 24And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed 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, 26And 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. 27And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:23‑27)
AS the large company of Israel moved on from the Red Sea, the country was still a dry desert; springs or wells were far apart. They may have carried some water with them, as people do crossing deserts, yet with so many persons there was not enough, and they came to a place where there was water, but it tasted so bitter they could not drink it, so they were very much disappointed. Then the Lord showed Moses a certain tree to put into the water and it became good to drink.
Soon after, they camped at a place where there were twelve wells and many palm trees, so it must have been a pleasant spot, and plenty of water for all the people and animals.
Later, as they moved on, they again needed water and could find none (Chapter 17:1-7). The people spoke against Moses, and asked, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” Surely, with the cloud over them day and night, they could know the Lord was caring for them and would give them water! He told Moses to take some of the men and go on ahead to a rock and to strike the rock with his rod. Moses did so, and the Lord “opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in dry places like a river” (Psalm 105:4141He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river. (Psalm 105:41)).
The Lord wanted the people to learn that He would give them all they needed in the desert. And do you know He wants also to teach us by the things which happened to them? That is why He had these events written (1 Corinthians 10:1111Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)).
The bitter water was made sweet by the tree, so the Lord Jesus on the cross took the bitter punishment of sins, and gives a blessing instead. And His side was pierced that His shed blood could save us from dying in our sins, as the great rock was opened to give those people water that they should not die of thirst. The Lord Jesus is called The Rock, the One Who gives us “Living Water.”
ML 03/28/1937