Exodus 15:22-27

Listen to Exodus 15:22-27

22 Forsooth Moses took Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the desert of Shur; and they went three days by the wilderness, and they found not water (and they went three days in the wilderness, but found no water).

23 And they came into Marah, and they might not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; wherefore he putted a covenable name to the place, and called it Marah, that is, bitterness. (And they came to Marah, but they could not drink the water there, for it was bitter; so they put a suitable name to that place, and called it Marah, that is, Bitterness.)

24 And the people grouched against Moses (And the people grumbled against Moses), and said, What shall we drink?

25 And Moses cried to the Lord, which showed to him a tree; and when he had put that tree into the waters, those (waters) were turned into sweetness. There the Lord ordained commandments and dooms to the people, and there he assayed the people (There the Lord ordained commandments and judgements for the people, and he tested, or proved, the people there),

26 and (he) said, If thou shalt hear the voice of thy Lord God, and shalt do that that is rightful before him, and shalt obey to his commandments, and shalt keep all his behests, I shall not bring in on thee all the sickness, which I have put in Egypt, for I am thy Lord Saviour (then I shall not bring in on thee all the sickness, which I have put on Egypt, for I am the Lord thy Saviour).

27 Forsooth the sons of Israel came into Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and they setted tents beside the waters. (And the Israelites came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and they pitched their tents beside the waters.)

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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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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 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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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

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

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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