Marah Means Bitter

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Exodus 15:23-25

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.

This passage has been coming to mind alot lately, and I think that it is so because sometimes I'm tempted to be bitter about some of the things that are going on with me right now. These are difficult times, and they aren't going to get easier, but will get more difficult. The recorded entries we find in scripture are for our learning and strengthening. When Moses swished the tree into the bitter waters, the waters became sweet. Interesting fact that Miriam, whose name means "bitter", just a few verses prior to this was singing praises to God for helping them escape the Pharaoh's armies. The name Mary also means bitter. And from Revelation 8:10-11 we learn that a star will fall from heaven named wormwood, which means bitter or poison, which will make one third of the rivers and streams bitter/poisonous. 

Jesus was put to death on the cross, but one of the ways it is referred to in scripture is that He was hung on a "tree".... so swishing a tree in bitter waters to make them sweet, is an interesting metaphor. Jesus was offered bitter gall to drink while hanging on the tree, but He refused it, and water poured out of His side when the Roman centurion pierced Him. 

Just trying to piece these together as I endure some difficult times, knowing that others are going through much more difficult times than I am, and praying that Jesus will make the bitter waters sweet....in His time.

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