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Exodus 15:22-27

Listen to Exodus 15:22-27

22 Moses led the Israelites away from the Red Sea into the Desert of Shur. They traveled for three days in the desert but found no water.

23 Then they came to Marah, where there was water, but they could not drink it because it was too bitter. (That is why the place was named Marah.n)

24 The people grumbled to Moses and asked, "What will we drink?"

25 So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When Moses threw the tree into the water, the water became good to drink. There the Lord gave the people a rule and a law to live by, and there he tested their loyalty to him.

26 He said, "You must obey the Lord your God and do what he says is right. If you obey all his commands and keep his rules, I will not bring on you any of the sicknesses I brought on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you."

27 Then the people traveled to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. So the people camped there near 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 Yes We Can to Christ Alone

Dr. Jeff Schreve

Feeling strong until life turns salty at Marah? In this episode, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares why self-reliance crumbles in the desert and how John 15 and Philippians 4:13 reframe the whole journey. Learn why God leads us into testing, how the enemy twists our view of God into a cruel teaser, and how to respond with trust and prayer instead of grumbling. This is a roadmap for moving from “I’ve got this” to “Christ strengthens me.”

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Your Bitterness Can be Healed Part 2

Pastor Ed Taylor

We’re in the middle of a new study in Exodus, and today we aim to complete chapter fifteen. We all go through adverse circumstances, and when we do we need to be careful how we react to them. We can very easily turn bitter and angry. But it’s during those times that our perspective very often needs to be realigned with Jesus at the cross.

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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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Holy Gratitude Pt 3

Al Pittman

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Why Suffering? Part 3

Jeff Johnson

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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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