Exodus 15:23-26 [NKJV version]
Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”
The Israelites have just walked across the Red Sea on dry land. They have had a wonderful service of praise and thanksgiving. They really are free! The horse and rider have been thrown into the sea!
Annnnnd then, three days later, they come to Marah. Here, the waters are too bitter to drink. They complain against Moses. That word translated “complain” is luwn. In luwn, there is a grudge, a harboring, staying in a frame of mind. Moses is up against a lot of thirsty, angry people.
Moses cries out to the L_RD. The L_RD shows him a tree. When cast into the waters, the waters become sweet. I searched for what scholars think the tree was. [There are a lot of theories, from Moses having a piece of the tree of life, to other spiritual-sounding ideas.] I didn’t find anything convincing.
From chemistry class, I learned that adding a something sour [acid] to something bitter [base] creates a salt. That’s why we Yankees [i.e. Vermonters] use vinegar on vegetables. We learned that vinegar on spinach, kale and Brussels sprouts improves the flavor. I also like it on dandelion greens, although Mr. Bove [yes, that Mr. Bove] said no, it should be sauteed in olive oil and garlic. #respect.
Bitter + sour = salt. But what changes bitter to sweet? An enzyme process is needed. Dry wood wouldn’t have active enzymes. Only a live tree would.
I looked up Middle East trees with enzyme action.
I found Moses’ tree!
The acacia, or vachellia nilotica, is antiprotozoal, antihelmintic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It supplies all this through its enzyme-related activity. Acacia is used in traditional medicine for treating infection, ulcers and inflammation.
It wasn’t a surprise to G_d that the waters were bitter. It didn’t surprise Him that the Israelites would be upset. The L_RD already had the tree growing, waiting. Not only is He about to perform another miracle, He uses this opportunity to teach them more about Himself.
What? with a new conditional law? how does that teach anything?
Much of scripture’s promises come in an “if-then-else” format. There at Marah, G_d says,
“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”
If they [we] diligently listen to Him, and do what is right, then those plagues that led to Israel’s deliverance from slavery aren’t meant for us. Ok, cool! Is that all, though? No!
The L_RD goes a step further [as I find He always does]. He doesn’t stop at the plagues. He teaches something about His character, who He IS.
“I am the Lord who heals you.”
The Lord is Healer.
He isn’t just about laws and obedience. His heart is for our wholeness. That’s what He’s really saying by turning bitterness to sweetness. He wants to change our bitterness to sweetness.
I can feel His loving Heart saying, “Oh, children, I want to do this in you! I have provided a Tree* for your healing.”
Amen, dear L_RD, and thank You. <3 <3 <3
*Tree - Isaiah 11.
Proofreader caveat: I use brackets [ ] because the parentheses don’t work on this keyboard. It relates to an unfortunate coffee incident. I also can’t type zeroes!
