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Exodus 15:22-27

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Bitter Water Made Sweet

22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of 1Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
23 When they came to 2Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. [a]
24 And the people 3grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink? ”
25 And he 4cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, [b] and he 5threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord[c] made for them a statute and a rule, and there he 6tested them,
26 saying, 7“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the 8diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, 9your healer. ”
27 Then 10they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.
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Exodus 15:22-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 15

This chapter contains the song of Moses, and of the children of Israel, on the banks of the Red sea; in which they celebrate their passage through it, the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in it, and the glory of the divine perfections displayed therein, interspersed with prophetic hints of things future, Ex 15:1-19 which same song was sung by the women, with Miriam at the head of them, attended with timbrels and dances, Ex 15:20,21, an account is given of the march of the children of Israel from the Red sea to the wilderness of Shur, and of the bitter waters found at Marah, which occasioned a murmuring, and of their being made sweet by casting a tree into them, Ex 15:22-25 when they were told by the Lord, that if they would yield obedience to his commandments, they should be free from the diseases the Egyptians had been afflicted with, Ex 15:26, and the chapter is concluded with their coming to Elim, where they found twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and there encamped, Ex 15:27.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
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Exodus 15:22-27 Study Resources

Sermons

From Red Sea to Bitter Water
From Red Sea to Bitter Water
Dr. Jeff Schreve

Why would God lead His people from the thrill of the Red Sea miracle straight into a dry, bitter desert? In this powerful message from Exodus 15, Pastor Jeff Schreve reminds us that the path to blessing often runs through the wilderness. Bitter waters are part of life, and they usually come right after our greatest victories. Discover how God uses these hard seasons to humble our hearts, strip away self-reliance, and teach us to trust Him daily—especially when life doesn’t taste sweet.
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Your Bitterness Can be Healed Part 1
Your Bitterness Can be Healed Part 1
Pastor Ed Taylor

Recently on Abounding Grace we’ve been tracing the steps of the Israelites… delivered from slavery in Egypt, and more recently from the pursuing Egyptian army at the Red Sea. We couldn’t help but see the power and faithfulness of God through it all. But now they come to Mara, a place with bitter water. If we were to look back on our lives, we could probably identify a season of Mara. Where we became bitter. It happens to us all at times, just as it did for the nation of Israel. But here’s the good news, “Your Bitterness Can Be Healed!”
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The Bitter Made Sweet
The Bitter Made Sweet
Pastor Jack Morris

In Exodus 15, we read how the Israelites, wandering in the desert, found only bitter water to drink. But when God instructed Moses to throw a tree branch into the water, it miraculously became sweet and drinkable. This powerful moment reveals how God can transform the bitterness in our own lives into something good. Today, Pastor Jack Morris explores how God’s grace, healing, and provision are always available to turn our struggles into blessings. Join us as we discover how trusting in Him can bring renewal and sweetness where there was once bitterness.
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An Instrument of God
An Instrument of God
Pastor Jack Morris

Today Pastor Morris delves into the incredible journey of Moses as he guided the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. We'll explore how God worked through Moses to demonstrate His faithfulness, provision, and guidance. Be encouraged to see how God can use each of us as instruments of His will, providing and leading us through every challenge we face. Exodus 15:25-26 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
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Cross References 10

  • 1. 15:22 Gen. 16:7; 25:18; 1 Sam. 15:7
  • 2. 15:23 [Ruth 1:20]
  • 3. 15:24 ch. 16:2; 17:3
  • 4. 15:25 ch. 14:10; 17:4
  • 5. 15:25 [2 Kgs. 2:21; 4:41]
  • 6. 15:25 ch. 16:4; Deut. 8:2, 16; Judg. 2:22; 3:1, 4; Ps. 66:10
  • 7. 15:26 See Lev. 26:3-13; Deut. 7:12-15
  • 8. 15:26 Deut. 28:27, 60
  • 9. 15:26 ch. 23:25; Ps. 103:3; 147:3; Hos. 6:1
  • 10. 15:27 Num. 33:9

Footnotes 3

  • [a] 15:23 'Marah' means 'bitterness'
  • [b] 15:25 Or 'tree'
  • [c] 15:25 Hebrew 'he'

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