There are a couple of stories in the Bible about bitter water. Today I am going to discuss the bitter waters of Marah found in Exodus 15: 22-26. This story takes place during the time when the Israelites were wandering around the desert. Moses and the Israelites were looking for water. They went three days into the wilderness and did not find any drinkable water.
Typical of the Israelites they began to complain. At this point the Israelites knew who their God was. They knew that of all the people in the world, that they were His chosen people. They has witnessed His power and miracles. God had even released and saved them from their oppressors. Despite all that, they became fearful and complained. They were afraid that they would all die of thirst.
Some might say that the Israelites were already bitter because they complained so much. But the truth is they were unable to put their faith into the God who had done so much for them. Their only focus was that they had finally found water and it was too bitter for them to drink. They did not even think to ask their God, who has proved that He could do anything, to fix it for them.
You see, drinking bitter water is not good for you. Aside from it not tasting good, it can be harmful to your body. Especially when you are already dehydrated and feeling the effects of thirst. Drinking bitter water can make you sick, it can weaken your flesh and it may even kill you.
Drinking bitter water can affect you physically but it can also affect you spiritually. Feeding on negativity, anger, bitterness, rejection, worry, depression and hatred, is bitter water for your spirit. And it can be just as destructive to you. We have to remember that we are both physical and spiritual beings and the health of both is important to all of us.
Think about it, when you are around a negative, angry or depressed person, you can see it on them. And sometimes it will cause that person to become physically sick. Our minds, bodies and souls are connected in ways that we may not ever fully understand. That is why we have to pay attention to the waters that we drink from... mentally, spiritually and physically.
To finish the story about the Israelites… Moses knew better that the Israelites. He went to God on their behalf. God showed Moses a tree. And when Moses threw that tree in the water it changed the quality of the water. The water went from being bitter to being sweet and refreshing. Again God proved Himself to them.
When there are things going on in our life that we cannot control. Like all the violence going on in the world today, trust God to fix it. Trust that it will serve it's purpose in His plan. Trust that His plan is perfect, even if we do not understand it. Put all of your faith and trust in Him because there are so many things out of our control.
Drink of His waters and remember that God is in control.
Spit the bitter waters out because they are not good for you anyway.
Exodus 15:22-2622So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23And 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. 24And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25And 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, 26And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Numbers 5:2424And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.
John 4:13-1513Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.