THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Regarding Exodus 15:22-27 and the tree revealed to the esteemed Moses, the Israelites, after their escape from Egypt and the oppressive burden of servitude, traversed the sea as if it were dry land with remarkable ease. The waters behaved obediently to divine command and stood firm like a wall. Upon witnessing Pharaoh and his army engulfed by the sea, those who had previously subjected them to relentless cruelty lamentably met their end. In response, the people sang praises to God, offering songs of gratitude, proclaiming, “I will sing unto the Lord, for He is highly exalted; He hath cast horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:1-2).
This miracle was a substantial demonstration of God’s power. Though He displayed many marvelous wonders in Egypt, He further illustrated His love by guiding those who followed Him across the sea, aiming to solidify their faith and trust in Him as the true God, rather than the false deities of human craftsmanship, bound to mere materials like wood and stone. He, as the Sovereign of all, commands creation with ease, executing His will flawlessly. To amplify their sense of awe and benefit, He directed them to proceed with abundant provisions toward the land promised to their ancestors, led by the wise Moses. The Scriptures reveal what ensued next, stating that Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea and into the wilderness of Sur, where they traveled for three days without finding water. They arrived at Merah, but could not drink the bitter waters, which is why the place was named Merah. The people murmured against Moses, questioning what they would drink. In turn, Moses prayed to the Lord, who revealed a tree to him. When Moses cast this tree into the water, the bitter waters became sweet. There, God established a statute and a law for the people, testing them by declaring, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord, your healer” (Ex. 15:26). They then arrived at Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees; thus they camped there beside the waters (Ex. 15:22-27).
Note how wisely God did not permit them to revel in overwhelming joy when they had not yet fully learned to depend on Him, lest they quickly forget their Deliverer and revert to the follies of the Egyptians. For toil and tribulation draw one closer to God, as the prophet states: “Lord, in distress they sought You; they poured out a silent prayer when Your chastisement was upon them” (Isaiah 26:16). Similarly, the Israelites traversing a vast and arid land faced the absence of life’s necessities, enduring three days of thirst before finally discovering what they sought, only to find it utterly disappointingly bitter—offering no hope of survival. Despite their struggles, they grumbled against Moses, who felt deep sorrow. When God, who knows all, instructed him to add the tree to the waters, they were miraculously transformed into sweet, potable water. After partaking of this refreshing water, they marveled at the divine sign and set up camp by twelve springs, surrounded by seventy date palms, enjoying their rest.
Thus, faith alone reveals the means to salvation, which God conveyed through shadow and symbolism. He ordained the lamb to be slain in Egypt, assuring that those anointed with its blood would evade the death that struck the firstborn. Is it not just to say that this was a precursor to faith? For how could death be frightened by the slaughter of a sheep? This event served as a prototype of the sacrament. Christ, in His sacrifice, delivers the sanctified through faith, granting them victory over the decay of death. Now, what can we discern from the occurrence at Merah? The divinely inspired Scriptures liken the Divine word to water. Just as physical water sustains life for the body, the Divine word nourishes the soul when it touches the mind. For this reason, Christ invited the crowd of Jews, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). To the Samaritan woman, He stated, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again” (John 4:13-14).
Having forsaken the godless practices of the Egyptians, the Israelites sought to fulfill God's desires. However, lacking spiritual understanding and not yet grasping the higher truths, they approached Merah, where they found the bitter waters (Ex. 15:23). Yet once Moses added the wood, the waters lost their bitterness. What, then, is the significance of Merah? It symbolizes the letter of the law, which is indeed bitter when it serves as a means of punishment. As the Apostle Paul asserted, “If anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses” (Hebrews 10:28). Notice how burdensome it was, even for those who sought to adhere to it. Hence, the Divine disciples clearly warned those who urged believers to revert to the bondage of the law after they had received faith (Acts 15:10). The blessed Paul even termed the commandment delivered through wise Moses as a ministry of condemnation, stating, “For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory” (2 Corinthians 3:9). In another context, he declared, “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (v. 6)—the letter denoting the law and the Spirit referring to the ministry of the Gospel. The law is inherently bitter, and Merah, indeed, signifies bitterness. It is unnecessary to mention that the law, in its types, cannot revive; “For by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 3:11).
The law itself can only bring life and sweetness when understood as a foreshadowing of Christ’s mystery; since “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4)—that is, if interpreted spiritually. This is evidently illustrated through what transpired at Merah. The tree symbolizes the cross of the Savior. When the followers of the law receive this understanding, they will find that bitter things become sweet. For those who believe in Christ, the law shifts from being an accuser and punisher to a source of life, provided we transform history into spiritual contemplation that leads us to Christ, who is life itself. Only then will the law guide our justifications and judgments, leading us towards what pleases God, illuminating the path to the greatest of blessings, and freeing us from the fear of condemnation. “For I will put none of the diseases on you that I brought upon the Egyptians” (Ex. 15:26). Hence, there remains good hope for those who, devoid of the law, have received this sacrament. This aligns with what the Savior proclaimed to the Jewish people upon His arrival: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life; he does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). Again, “Whoever believes in the Son is not condemned” (John 3:18). Thus, when we accept the justification bestowed by Christ, we will ascend to Elim, symbolizing ascent, rising from spiritual immaturity to a perfected understanding. Upon reaching the fullness of Christ’s stature (Ephesians 4:13), we will delight in the springs of living waters.
The twelve springs represent the countenance of the holy Apostles. The seventy date palms recall the Lord’s choice after the holy Apostles of seventy others (Luke 10:1). The Divine Disciples are indeed springs that pour forth the life-giving, salvific words necessary for life, as God assures those justified by the law: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). The righteous are compared to thriving figs, as proclaimed by the divine Psalmist: “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree” (Psalm 91:13). Do not marvel at this, for Christ is also referred to by the same imagery in sacred Scripture. In one place, the spiritual bride, identified as the Church, speaks of her Bridegroom descended from above, “I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of its branches” (Song of Solomon 7:9). This tree perpetually blossoms, offering sweetness, strong roots, and a nourishing essence. Such is Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
It would not be unwise—nay, rather unworthy—for those just entering this state to be approached with lenience, as they are not yet firmly established, moving as if on unsteady ground, still recovering from weakness. Meanwhile, the experienced must face stricter governance, aimed at endurance through challenges, compelling them towards self-restraint as if by necessity. The discussion will become clearer if we thoroughly explore what the ancients achieved in educational growth. It is documented: “And Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea, and they entered the wilderness of Sur; and they traveled three days in the wilderness, and found no water. They came to Merah, but could not drink the bitter water” (Exodus 15:22-25). Having quickly emerged from Egypt and shedding the heavy and intolerable weight of servitude, the Israelites, responding to God's summons, rushed to claim the land promised to their forefathers. Their initial challenge arose from a lack of water, which was scarcely available to quench their long-standing thirst; even that, they found to be bitter, as noted. Yet, through the divine instruction given to Moses, the tree was added and transformed the bitter into something sweet and pleasant. Therefore, instructed by God's law, it is preferred to follow Him, who liberates from passion's bondage and the tyranny of demons. This endeavor demands diligence, presenting the relentless struggles of virtue through temperance against the aggressive tendencies of the flesh, culminating in a crown of glory. The first battle we face when striving for abstinence is indeed against our own flesh. I believe that no one can effectively pursue virtue without confronting such challenges. The thirst experienced by the ancients in the wilderness symbolizes the ascetic struggle, with bodily needs heralding the commencement of spiritual disciplines.
Moreover, we notice that the Israelites did not instantly engage in battle; those newly embarked on the path towards virtue may find it daunting to face strongholds and authorities (Eph. 6:12). Their initial struggle against passions necessitates gradual fortitude, as God aligns the difficulty of their trials with their developing capabilities. This resonates with the scripture that states, “You have not been tempted beyond what is common to man; and God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1 Cor. 10:13). However, the arduous pursuits of virtue, which may feel overwhelming, are rendered sweet by Christ, referred to as the tree of life; as He Himself asserted, “If they do this when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23:31). The tree made known to Moses symbolizes the Son, for only the Father reveals the knowledge of the Son: “No one knows who the Son is except the Father” (Luke 10:22). In Jesus, the tree of life, the bitter is made sweet, the unbearable becomes manageable, and what is naturally harmful is transformed for life’s necessity.