What happened when Moses cast the tree into the bitter waters at Marah?
When the tree was cast into the bitter waters, the waters were made sweet. This pictured the work of the cross: instead of remaining bitter, the waters became sweet, and in tribulations, disappointments, and sorrows believers should race to the foot of the cross, where everything has been satisfied.
Les explains that the tree cast into the bitter waters made the waters sweet, and this illustrates the work of the cross. If we try to bypass the cross, we are hopeless as the Jews were in Egypt. When tribulations, disappointments, and sorrows come, we should race to the foot of the cross, because that is where everything has been satisfied. After that bitter experience was made sweet, Moses led them by the cloud and pillar of fire—the very presence of Jehovah—and brought them to an oasis. Les admits he cannot fully explain the twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, but it was a place where they could drink and picture rest, relaxation, and satisfaction of thirst.
And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed 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,
More Questions
Was the tree Moses threw into the bitter water at Marah just a branch that caused a chemical reaction?
The explanation that Moses merely found a branch in the desert and threw it into the water so that some chemical reaction made it fit to drink loses the whole thought of the passage.