Exodus 15:23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) (After traveling three days in the desert without finding water, God's people have finally arrived at what had appeared from a distance to be a watering place in the desert sands only to find the waters are undrinkable. Though they may have felt hope when they saw some vegetation in the distant desert, they discover the water is so bitter it is not drinkable. After having just experienced a miracle of deliverance through the Red Sea, the people had begun their journey into the desert likely assuming that the Lord would continue to make a way for them through the ordinary means of the spring there in the desert. However, though water is at hand, it is not usable. After their very recent experience of the Lord's miraculous provision, now, in a shocking turn of events, the people have a choice about how to respond to this new water emergency. The same is true for us as well. When situations arise that are unexpected after we have experienced an intimate season with the Lord, sometimes He leads us to a place where we have to confront bitter water, but we have to remember the situation is not a surprise to Him. Like the Israelites then, now we get to choose today whether to react in fear and anger or in faith and trust in God Who has already repeatedly shown Himself as our Great Deliverer.)
