I AM THE LORD WHO HEALS

Passage: Exodus 15:22-27

Key verse: 26

NIV

The Waters of Marah and Elim

22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(A) of Shur.(B) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(C) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[a](D)) 24 So the people grumbled(E) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(F)

25 Then Moses cried out(G) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(H) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.(I) 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep(J) all his decrees,(K) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(L) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(M) you.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped(N) there near the water.

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Footnotes
  1. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Bitter Water Made Sweet

22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of (A)Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to (B)Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.[a] 24 And the people (C)grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he (D)cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log,[b] and he (E)threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord[c] made for them a statute and a rule, and there he (F)tested them, 26 saying, (G)“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the (H)diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, (I)your healer.”

27 Then (J)they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

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Footnotes
  1. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitterness
  2. Exodus 15:25 Or tree
  3. Exodus 15:25 Hebrew he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Water for thirsty people (22-25a)

The people forgot God's grace and power in three days--for they could find no water in the desert. Then, they found a spring--but the water turned out to be bitter. They were disappointed and forgot God. They didn't pray--they grumbled against Moses. They were deeply infected with a slave mentality. When Moses cried out to God in prayer, God showed him what to do, and the water was healed.

2. Listen to God's word and be healed (25b-27)

God was testing his people. Just as he healed the water, he would heal them of the diseases of Egypt-if they would listen to his word and obey it. They were infected with a slave mentality and all of the habits of life and ways of thinking that go with it. Slaves quickly forget grace. God heals men through his word. The next stop was Elim, where there was abundant water. This was a sign of God's abundant blessing.

Prayer: Lord, heal me of my slave mentality that makes me forget your grace.

One Word: God's word brings healing