Topical Bible: Prayer: Answered: Moses, at the Waters of Marah

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The account of Moses at the Waters of Marah is a significant event in the narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, illustrating the power of prayer and God's provision in times of need. This episode is recorded in the Book of Exodus, specifically in Exodus 15:22-25.

Context and Background

After the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, the Israelites began their journey through the desert of Shur. They traveled for three days without finding water, which led to a dire situation for the multitude. When they finally arrived at Marah, they discovered that the waters there were bitter and undrinkable. The name "Marah" itself means "bitter," reflecting the condition of the water and the growing discontent among the people.

The People's Complaint

Faced with the undrinkable water, the Israelites began to grumble against Moses, expressing their frustration and desperation. This reaction was not uncommon during their wilderness journey, as the people frequently struggled with trust and faith in God's provision. Their complaint at Marah was a test of their faith and a challenge for Moses as their leader.

Moses' Prayer

In response to the people's grumbling, Moses turned to the Lord in prayer. This act of seeking divine intervention is a testament to Moses' leadership and his reliance on God in times of crisis. The text does not provide the specific words of Moses' prayer, but it emphasizes his immediate recourse to God for a solution.

God's Answer

The Lord responded to Moses' prayer by showing him a piece of wood (or a tree, as some translations suggest). God instructed Moses to throw the wood into the waters of Marah. Upon doing so, the waters were miraculously transformed from bitter to sweet, making them safe for the Israelites to drink. This divine intervention not only provided for the physical needs of the people but also served as a powerful demonstration of God's presence and care.

Spiritual Significance

The event at Marah holds deep spiritual significance. It underscores the importance of turning to God in prayer during times of distress and the assurance that God hears and answers the prayers of His people. The transformation of the bitter waters into sweet is symbolic of God's ability to change difficult circumstances and provide for His children in unexpected ways.

Furthermore, this episode serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and the Israelites. In Exodus 15:26, following the miracle at Marah, God sets forth a statute and ordinance, promising that if the people diligently listen to His voice and keep His commandments, He will protect them from the diseases that afflicted the Egyptians. This promise reinforces the connection between obedience, faith, and divine blessing.

Biblical References

· Exodus 15:22-25 : "Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What are we to drink?' And Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log. When he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened. There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them."

The account of Moses at the Waters of Marah is a profound example of answered prayer, highlighting God's faithfulness and the transformative power of His intervention in the lives of His people.

Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 15:25
And he cried to the LORD; and the LORD showed 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,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Moses, the Mighty Intercessor
... Moses got what he asked for. ... he heard by Almighty God when prayed, and always was
he answered by God ... It was a prayer on the order of Paul's when he prayed three ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/iv moses the mighty intercessor.htm

Marah; Or, the Bitter Waters Sweetened
... For suppose Marah had been sweet, then, Moses had not prayed to God, and then ... There
is a prayer I mean to continue to offer until it is answered, that God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/marah or the bitter waters.htm

Book 3 Footnotes
... the constant use of divine forms of prayer, praise, and ... all along from the days of
Moses and Joshua ... consulted the prophets sometimes, and were answered by them ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 3 footnotes.htm

Christian Meekness
... she lay on her deathbed, to forgive, she answered, I cannot ... falling into a rage,
he falls to prayer for them ... they wanted water, they fell a chiding with Moses. ...
/.../watson/the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/12 christian meekness.htm

Sin: Its Spring-Head, Stream, and Sea
... He told her the case, and she answered at once, "My ... Here they were "baptized unto
Moses in the cloud and in ... To go from prayer to robbery, from reading the Word ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/sin its spring-head stream and.htm

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... afraid to speak against my servant Moses?' (Numbers 12 ... show, says Bernard, his
earnestness in prayer and how ... Having answered these objections let me now pursue ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

Concerning Persecution
... against him in the senate-house, he answered he had ... 16:2). Now if persecution cannot
hinder Christ's prayer for us ... Moses had an eye at the recompense of reward ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/21 concerning persecution.htm

An Exhortation to Peace and Unity
... therefore, they, with one accord, continued in prayer and supplications. ... and pray,
and yet are not answered; it is ... are brethren.' And we read of Moses, in Acts ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exhortation to peace and.htm

A Mystery! Saints Sorrowing and Jesus Glad!
... Saith The Lord:" Or, The Book of Common Prayer Weighed in ... When Moses went in before
Pharaoh, the words which he ... we can expect is to have them answered by men ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/a mystery saints sorrowing and.htm