Sweet Water

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 sweet. 

Exodus 15:25a

Life’s difficult circumstances can turn peace into panic. Our survival may depend on living through complicated medical treatments, making difficult decisions about our children, struggling with financial hardships, providing care for a loved one, coping with unhealthy habits, or confronting generational family dysfunction. But “hopeless” situations are the perfect ground for God to show us His glory, as he did for Moses and the Israelites. 

After their miraculous deliverance from the Egyptians at the Red Sea, they walked in the desert for three days with no water, only to find a pool of bitter and undrinkable water. The words grumble, murmur, complain are used in different versions of scripture to describe their reaction, but other synonyms could have just as easily been fear or panic. Three days without water . . . in the desert—it was a crisis! (Exodus 15:24)

The angry multitude of 600,000 men plus women and children not only prompted Moses to pray but cry out to the Lord! God showed him a piece of wood and instructed him to throw it into the bitter water. Moses obediently threw the wood into the water, and once again, experienced a miracle when the desperate situation changed and the water became sweet. (Exodus 12:37, Exodus 15:25)

What is your bitter situation today? What provision do you need from God to help you experience the “sweet water” in your life? It might surprise you to know that God’s instructions are often gentle whispers. He is just waiting for you to listen. If we live in fellowship with Him, if we communicate to Him, we are far more likely to hear from Him and experience the exact type of strength we need to cope with our difficulty.

The final verse in Exodus 15 shows God’s love expressed through His abundant blessings. When Moses and the people eventually found a campground in Elim, they found not one but twelve springs of “sweet” water and seventy palm trees. (Exodus 15:27) 

Father, thank you for the stories in your Word which teach us about your love, your power, your glory and your abundant blessing. 

Jill Hendrix