Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 15:22-27

"And Moses led Israel onward 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. 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? An he cried unto Jehovah; And Jehovah showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them; and he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that healeth thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees: and they encamped there by the waters." — Exodus 15:22-27 (ASV)

In the wilderness of Shur, the Israelites had no water. At Marah, they had water, but it was bitter, so they could not drink it. God can make bitter for us that from which we expect the most, and he often does so in the wilderness of this world, so that our needs and disappointments in the creature may drive us to the Creator, in whose favour alone true comfort can be found. In this distress, the people fretted and quarrelled with Moses.

Hypocrites may show fervent emotions and appear earnest in religious exercises, but in the time of temptation, they fall away. Even true believers, in seasons of sharp trial, will be tempted to fret, distrust, and murmur. But in every trial, we should cast our care upon the Lord and pour out our hearts before him. We will then find that a submissive will, a peaceful conscience, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost will render the bitterest trial tolerable, even pleasant.

Moses did what the people had neglected to do: he cried to the Lord. And God provided graciously for them. He directed Moses to a tree, which he cast into the waters, and immediately they were made sweet. Some interpret this tree as a type of the cross of Christ, which sweetens the bitter waters of affliction for all the faithful and enables them to rejoice in tribulation.

But a rebellious Israelite will fare no better than a rebellious Egyptian. The threatening is only implied; the promise is expressed. God is the great Physician. If we are kept well, it is he who keeps us; if we are made well, it is he who recovers us. He is our life and the length of our days.

Let us not forget that we are kept from destruction and delivered from our enemies to be the Lord's servants. At Elim, they had good water and enough of it. Though God may, for a time, order his people to encamp by the bitter waters of Marah, that will not always be their lot. Let us not faint at tribulations.