Exodus 15

22–24 Within three days of their marvelous deliverance, the Israelites were tested by the Lord: they found no water to drink. So they grumbled against Moses (verse 24). But since God controls all circumstances, they were really grumbling against Him (Exodus 16:8)—which is not a wise thing to do! (Numbers 16:41–49; 1 Corinthians 10:10). Grumbling indicates, above all, a lack of faith in God (see Numbers 11:1–3 and comment).

25–27 After three days in the desert without water, the Israelites were understandably desperate. And then to find water at Marah⁴⁵—but have it turn out to be bitter, undrinkable! Surely this was a severe “testing” from the Lord.

What was the solution to their desperate situation? As always, the solution was to look to the Lord, not at their circumstances. The LORD showed [Moses] a piece of wood (verse 25). How simple! The Israelites had searched and searched for a solution—for drinkable water. But the “solution” had been there all the time: a piece of wood. But it was only the Lord who could show it to them.

This is a lesson some of us have to learn over and over again. God desires to “test” us—to test our faith and obedience—by bringing us into difficult circumstances (James 1:2–4). When we have reached our “limit” and feel we can bear no more, then God shows us the way out of our difficulty (1 Corinthians 10:13). But for us to see the way, to see the solution, we must be listening to God’s voice and walking in His will, obeying His commands and desires (verse 26). We don’t have to frantically search for the solution; we need only to look to God and do what He says.

There is no natural explanation for how that piece of wood made the water sweet: it was a miracle of God designed to teach a lesson to the grumbling Israelites—and to us (see 2 Kings 2:19–22).

God made a promise to the Israelites at Marah: He told them that if they obeyed Him they would be spared all the diseases that He had brought upon the Egyptians. Notice that God’s promises are always conditional; He will heal us and bless us—if we obey Him.

However, this is not some mechanical or automatic rule. Sometimes God chooses not to heal us or bless us in a physical or earthly way. Believers die; they get sick; they have problems (2 Corinthians 12:7–10). These are all forms of “testing”—or, to use another word, discipline (Proverbs 3:11–12; Hebrews 12:7–11). The Lord disciplines us for our good—to strengthen our faith, to make us holy. He sometimes disciplines us so that we might be a witness and an inspiration to others (1 Peter 1:6–7). He may even allow us, in unusual circumstances, to be martyred for the sake of Christ. All of these circumstances are for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28), and advance God’s purposes in our own lives and in the lives of those around us (see Deuteronomy 7:15 and comment).