THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
On Exodus 15:22-27 - Concerning Marah and the tree revealed to the revered Moses
The Israelites, after their liberation from the harsh burdens of slavery in Egypt, traversed the sea as if on dry land, an effortless crossing made possible by the waters that stood firm as divinely commanded barriers. Witnessing Pharaoh and his army's destruction, those who had previously tormented them met their tragic end, prompting the Israelites to sing praises to the Lord. They uplifted their voices in 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 profound miracle served a greater purpose, as the God of all mankind, having shown them numerous signs in Egypt, led them through the sea. This act was intended to solidify their faith, distinguishing Him from the false deities crafted by human hands, made of wood and stone. He, as Lord of all, commands creation to act according to His will, effortlessly fulfilling His decrees.
To instill a deeper sense of wonder and benefit in them, He directed them to proceed with abundant resources toward the land promised to their ancestors, under the guidance of the wise Moses. The Scriptures will delineate what transpired next. It is recorded that Moses guided the Israelites from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur; they traveled three days without finding water, and upon reaching Marah, they discovered the waters there to be bitter, leading them to name the place Marah. Frustrated, the people grumbled against Moses, asking, “What shall we drink?” Moses sought the Lord’s aid, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast the tree into the water, it transformed, and the bitter waters became sweet. There, God established for the people a decree and a regulation, testing them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord your healer." They then arrived at Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the waters (Ex. 15:22-27).
Notice how wisely God does not allow them to indulge in joy too easily. He refrains from letting them grow idle, knowing that if they quickly forget the One who liberates, they might relapse into the errors of the Egyptians. Indeed, toil and hardship lead us to God. As the prophet states, "Lord, in distress, they sought You; they poured out silent prayers when Your discipline came upon them" (Isaiah 26:16). Similarly, the Israelites, journeying through a vast and parched land, found themselves in dire need. After their thirst lingered for three days, they struggled to find any water, and upon discovering Marah, they realized the water was bitter, offering no hope to quench their thirst. In their distress, they complained, and Moses was troubled by their lamentation. However, when the all-knowing God revealed the tree to him, its addition to the bitter water caused it to become sweet. Having drunk from this revitalized water, they marveled at God's miraculous sign and set their camp by the twelve springs and seventy date palms. There, they experienced joy.
In faith alone resides the way of salvation, as God has conveyed through types and shadows. This is why He commanded the lamb to be sacrificed in Egypt, to assure them that those marked by blood would be spared from death inflicted upon the firstborn. Some might rightly inquire if this was not a preparation for faith. How could death fear the slaughter of a lamb? This act symbolizes a deeper sacrament; Christ, through His precious blood, redeems those sanctified in faith, granting them victory over the corruption of death.
The significance of the events at Marah can be further elaborated. The water there symbolizes the Divine Word. Just as regular water sustains the body, the Divine Word, when it touches the heart, nourishes the soul. Therefore, Christ called out to the crowd, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). To the Samaritan woman, He said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again” (John 4:13-14). After abandoning the idolatrous practices of Egypt, the Israelites embarked on their journey to fulfill God's will. However, they had not yet matured enough in spirit, nor tasted the heavenly waters but found themselves spiritually parched. Upon reaching Marah, they could not drink the bitter water (Ex. 15:23). Yet, once Moses placed the tree into the water, its natural bitterness was transformed.
What, then, is the significance of "Marah"? I would suggest that it represents the letter of the law, which is indeed bitter as it chastises. As Paul articulated, "Anyone who has rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses" (Hebrews 10:28). It is evident that even those who strive to fulfill it find it bitter and burdensome. Thus, the Divine disciples admonished those who, after receiving faith, sought to revert to the law (Acts 15:10). Blessed Paul termed the commandment given by wise Moses as a ministry of condemnation, stating, "For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory" (2 Corinthians 3:9). He also noted, "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (v. 6), where "the letter" refers to the law, and "the Spirit" signifies the gospel ministry; for indeed, the law is bitter, and Marah denotes bitterness.
It need not be reiterated that the instruction of the law, when understood solely in types, cannot bring revival. For no one can be justified by the law before God, as it is written (Galatians 3:11). Yet, the law can only be vivifying and free from bitterness when perceived as a type of Christ’s mystery: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4). Thus, when interpreted spiritually, this also finds confirmation in the account of Marah. The tree represents the Savior's cross or His commandment, and if it is embraced by those under the law, they will transform bitterness into sweetness. For believers in Christ, the law does not become an accuser or punisher but rather a source of life. History must be rightly transformed into spiritual insight, guiding us to Christ, who Himself is life and life-giving.
Only then does the law determine our justification, as it directs us toward what pleases God, illuminating the path to eternal blessings while liberating us from the fear of punishment. "For the plagues that I brought upon the Egyptians, I will not bring upon you" (Ex. 15:26). Thus, for those unbound by the law who have embraced this sacrament, a hopeful escape from punishment remains. This reflects what the Savior promised to the Jews: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and 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).
Therefore, when we accept Christ's justification, we ascend to Elim, which signifies "ascent." From our former spiritual infancy, we rise to a mature mind, and having attained the fullness of Christ’s stature (Ephesians 4:13), we will rejoice in the springs of living water. These twelve springs symbolize the countenance of the holy Apostles. The seventy date palms also represent the Apostles, echoing that the Lord chose seventy others after the holy Apostles (Luke 10:1). The Divine Disciples are indeed springs, bestowing upon us the Divine and essential word for salvation. This truth is clearly signified to those justified by the God of all when He declares, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). The divine Psalmist similarly proclaims, "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree" (Psalm 92:12).
Do not be astonished at this, for Christ is also referred to by the same imagery in sacred Scripture. For it is written that the Church, viewed as the bride, speaks of the Bridegroom descending from heaven, saying, “I will climb up into the palm tree; I will take hold of its branches” (Songs 7:9). This tree is ever-blooming, sweet to taste, deeply rooted, and life-sustaining. Such is Christ, through whom and with whom glory be to God the Father, and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
It is not unreasonable to suggest that those newly introduced to their faith should be treated gently since they are not yet firmly grounded in zeal, akin to the unsteady foot still recovering from weakness. Conversely, those more experienced must face discipline founded in punishment and fear to endure trials and restrain their passions.
As for the matter itself, it becomes clearer through examining what the ancients accomplished in their formation. The Scriptures record, "And Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea, and they entered the wilderness of Shur; and they traveled three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore, the name of that place was called Marah. The people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?' And Moses cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, and he cast it into the water, and the water became sweet" (Exodus 15:22-25).
Having just emerged from the bondage of Egypt, and shedding the heavy yoke of servitude, the Israelites, called by God, swiftly advanced toward the long-promised land. Their first trial was the absence of water, difficult to find for those parched with thirst, and even that source was tainted: "for it was bitter," as recorded. Through the divine revelation given to Moses, the water became sweet when the tree was cast into it.
Thus, we are taught by the law of God to earnestly follow Him, who frees us from the struggles of our passions and the oppression of demons. We must endeavor diligently to attain the crown of glory, excusing carnal passions through asceticism, taming the unbridled desires for pleasure. Hence, the initial conflict within those desiring abstinence is wrested "against the flesh," as virtue cannot be achieved without facing such struggles.
The thirst faced by the ancients in the desert serves as a precursor to our spiritual endeavors, initiating the practice of asceticism. Notice how the Israelites do not immediately engage in battle; newcomers to the fight against the spiritual rulers (Ephesians 6:12) require time to build courage and resilience. Instead, they bear the struggles against the flesh with divine assistance, as God calibrates the difficulty of their tribulations to match their capacity. This reflects the truth in the saying: "You have not been tempted beyond what humans can bear; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The challenging feats of virtue, though inherently bitter, find sweetness through Christ, who is identified as the tree of life. As He stated in the Gospel, "If they do this to the green tree, what will they do to the dry?" (Luke 23:31), calling Himself the flourishing tree. God revealed the tree to Moses, for it is only the Father who knows the Son: “No one knows who the Son is except the Father” (Luke 10:22). In Christ, the tree of life, bitterness transforms to sweetness, burdens become bearable, and that which harms by nature becomes essential for living.
If we consider that arduous labors might exhaust the body, yet confer eternal life on the soul (as Paul expressed, "When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10), and "Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16)), who would take on such bitter hardships without the sweet hope in Christ?