Exodus 15:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Almighty performed this miracle for their benefit, revealing numerous profound signs in Egypt, while also leading those who followed His guidance safely across the sea, solidifying their faith that He alone is God and unlike the lifeless idols made by human hands. He demonstrated His supreme authority over creation and fulfilled His will effortlessly. To further astonish and benefit them, He instructed them to depart with abundant resources and pursue the land promised to their forefathers under Moses' wise leadership. The Scriptures narrate the subsequent events: Moses guided the Israelites from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur, where they journeyed for three days without finding water. Upon reaching Merah, they discovered the water there was bitter and could not drink it, hence the name Merah. The people grumbled against Moses, demanding, "What shall we drink?” Moses cried out to the Lord, who directed him to a tree. He cast it into the water, which then became sweet. Here, God established for the people a statute and a law, testing them. He proclaimed, "If thou shalt obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and shalt do that which is pleasing in his sight, and shalt heed his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon thee any of the diseases which I brought upon Egypt: for I am the Lord thy healer." They then arrived at Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the waters (Ex. 15:22-27).

Notice how wisely He prevents them from indulging too soon in overwhelming joy, as they were not yet fully established in faith, lest they forget the One who could deliver them and fall back into the errors of the Egyptians. For labor and hardship often lead to God. The prophet reflects this: "Lord, in his distress he sought Thee; he poured out silent supplications when Thy chastisement befell him" (Isaiah 26:16). Similarly, as the Israelites traversed a vast and barren land devoid of water, their necessity for life was unmet. After three days of thirst, they found no relief until they came upon the bitter waters at Merah that offered no hope of survival. They endured this with difficulty, blaming Moses, which caused him distress. But when God, in His all-knowing wisdom, showed him the tree and he cast it into the bitter waters, they were transformed into sweet drinking water. Drinking from this blessed water, they marveled at the divine miracle and set up camp at twelve springs, surrounded by the seventy date palms. Here, their faith brings about their salvation, a truth revealed to them through shadows and symbols. Thus, God commanded the lamb to be slain in Egypt to indicate that those marked with its blood would be spared from death, foreshadowing their faith. Some may rightly argue that this was a foreshadowing of true faith. For how could death be afraid of a mere sheep's slaughter? This act serves as a symbol of the sacrament—Christ, by His blood, redeems those sanctified in faith and grants victory over the decay of death.

Now, as to the significance of the events at Merah, we can draw a parallel with the Divine word being likened to water. Just as physical water sustains life, so too does the Divine word nourish the soul. For this reason, Christ extended an invitation to the Jews: "If anyone thirsts, come to Me and drink" (John 7:37). To the Samaritan woman, He stated, "Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst again" (John 4:13-14). Thus, the Israelites, having rejected the idolatrous service of the Egyptians, aimed to fulfill God's will. Yet, lacking true understanding of the heavenly laws and being spiritually parched, they faced Merah's bitter waters. After Moses cast the tree into the water, its bitterness was remedied. What, then, does Merah signify? It may represent the letter of the law, which is bitter when it punishes. Paul also states that one who rejects Moses' law, under the testimony of two or three witnesses, faces dire consequences (Hebrews 10:28). The law, even for those striving to follow it, can be unbearable.

Furthermore, the blessed Apostles advised those tempting others to return to servitude under the law (Acts 15:10). Paul described the commandment from wise Moses as a ministry of condemnation, stating, "For if the ministry of condemnation is glorious, much more does the ministry of justification abound with glory" (2 Corinthians 3:9). He further emphasized, "The letter kills, but the spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). Here, "letter" refers to the law, while "spirit" denotes the new ministry of the gospel. The law, representing bitterness, contrasts with the sweet liberation found in Christ.

The law cannot revive on its own because no one can be justified through it (Galatians 3:11). However, when perceived as a foreshadowing of Christ's mystery, the law becomes enlivened. Indeed, "the end of the law is Christ unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Romans 10:4). The tree represents the Saviour’s cross, and those who embrace this truth will find sweetness in what was once bitter. For believers, the law transforms from being an accuser to a source of life when approached with the right understanding, guiding us to God's will, illuminating the path that leads to eternal goodness while liberating us from the dread of punishment. "For every pestilence, it is said, which I have brought upon the Egyptians, I will not bring upon you" (Ex. 15:26). Thus, those who have partaken of this sacrament, though they may not follow the law, can still harbor hope in escaping punishment. The Saviour spoke to the Jews, saying: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and cometh not into judgment, but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). And once again, "He that believeth on the Son shall not be condemned" (John 3:18).

When we receive Christ's justification, we ascend to Elim, meaning "ascent." We rise from our previous immaturity into a mature understanding, and as we grow in Christ's fullness (Eph. 4:13), we rejoice in the springs of living water. The twelve springs symbolize the holy Apostles, and the seventy palm branches represent them as well, as the Lord chose seventy others after the Apostles (Luke 10:1). The Apostles serve as springs, pouring forth the life-giving word of salvation, as God has instructed: "And in joy you shall draw water from the springs of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). Additionally, the righteous man is likened to a flourishing fig tree (Psalm 91:13), which should not surprise us, for Christ is called by the same name in the sacred texts. In one instance, the bride proclaimed, referring to Christ, "I will ascend to the fig tree, I will hold its height" (Song of Solomon 7:9). This tree persistently blooms, bearing sweetness and stability. Such is Christ, through whom, and with whom, be glory to God the Father with the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

In considering the initial struggles of those recently brought to faith, it is reasonable and fitting to guide them gently, for they are not yet fully committed and may show signs of weakness, while those who are more experienced should face stricter discipline to encourage resilience against temptations and to foster self-restraint. Indeed, it becomes evident, upon closer examination of what the ancients achieved in terms of education, that Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur, where they traveled for three days without water, finally reaching Merah, where they encountered bitter waters. When the divine Moses cried out to the Lord in their distress, God instructed him to put a tree into the water, resulting in its sweet transformation. In this way, God teaches His people to faithfully pursue Him while being freed from the shackles of their passions, needing great effort to endure and attain the glory that accompanies self-control over fleshly desires, parallel to the first struggle believers face in avoiding indulgence. The thirst the Israelites endured foreshadowed the ascetic endeavors they would face, where the physical challenge serves as a prelude to spiritual discipline.

Consider that the Israelites did not immediately plunge into battle against the forces of darkness but were tested through physical deprivation, with God regulating the level of challenge according to their capacity to withstand it. This aligns with the understanding that temptation is limited by God’s faithfulness: "You have been tempted by no other than human temptation; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength, but will also provide a means of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Therefore, the arduous tasks before them, though bitter in their essence, become sweet and bearable through Christ, whom we recognize as the tree of life. He said concerning Himself, "If they do this to the green tree, what will they do to the dry?" (Luke 23:31), alluding to His vitality and fruitful nature. The Father alone reveals the Son, who transforms bitterness into sweetness and transforms burdens into bearable trials. If strenuous labors feel overwhelming yet lead to eternal life, as Paul endorsed, "When I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10); and, "If our outward man decay, yet our inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16), who would dare to endure such struggles without the sweet hope found in Christ? Certainly, no one would. Therefore, reflect on the Israelites in the wilderness, parched and complaining against wise Moses, yet not suffering God's judgment because those who are new to virtue may be forgiven, while those displaying persistent cowardice and unchecked desires receive no leniency.

To the east, Stony Arabia is bounded by the Idumean Mountains, which extend from the southern rim of the Dead Sea to the northern shore of the Gulf of Elanite (eastern Gulf of the Red Sea), separating it from the Desert of Arabia and part of Happy Arabia. On the west, it shares a border with northern Egypt. To the south, it fills the area between the two gulfs of the Red Sea, namely the eastern Gulf of Elanite and the western Gulf of Suez, and is referred to as the Sinai Peninsula, named after Mount Sinai. The northern region of this peninsula is primarily sandy while the southern area is characterized by rugged mountain formations. Flora is present in valleys and ravines, though freshwater springs are limited and mostly saline.

The lengthy journey of the Hebrews through the rocky terrain of Arabia was both a divine punishment for their misconduct at Kadesh-Barnea, which occurred a year post their exodus from Egypt, and a demonstration of God's love for them. During this period, the Hebrews were distanced by God from pagan influences, fostering a deepening faith in the one true God and a commitment to Him. This era marked a significant time in the history of their relationship with God, which He Himself likens to the cherished early days of a marriage—a time characterized by tender affections. "I remember the devotion of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown," says God to the people of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 2:2). Furthermore, the challenges of the harsh desert landscape refined the Hebrews, instilling in them patience and bravery, thus preparing them for the impending trials as they aimed to conquer Canaan. Their inadequacy to confront the local inhabitants following their exit from Egypt was clear from their fearful reaction upon hearing the report from the spies about the Canaanites’ strength and aggressive nature. The entire nation lamented throughout the night, revolted against Moses, and considered returning to Egypt (Numbers 13:32-34; Numbers 14:1-4).

Moses then guided them into the wilderness of Sur, a desert corridor on the eastern side of the Gulf of Suez. During their three days in this wilderness, they found no water to sustain them. It is likely that they quenched their thirst from the springs at the location where they had crossed to the Arabian shore.