“TYPES OF CHRIST”
Christ throughout the Scriptures
“THE BITTER WATERS AT MARAH”
Exodus 15:22-25,26-27

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25 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,

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:22-25,26-27)

Moses brought Israel from the Red sea = Israel had just been delivered. Like today, the world does not realise they have been delivered from the Red Sea with all their sins paid for … past, present and future.

the wilderness of Shur = Shur in the Bible stands for a place at the ‘end of the world’ … at the end of a journey with no where else to go … a place of desolation. Dear Reader, this is often the place where a person must end up at to meet Christ … that is … having run out of options. Many people start out on a journey to find themselves, only to end up in a personal wilderness.

The LORD found Hagar, and Ishmael, at Shur, a place of loneliness … at the ends of her wits having run out of options.

three days in the wilderness = When you see three days and/or three nights in the Bible, we are reminded of Jonah ending up in the belly of the whale (Matthew 12:40) before he meets the Lord. Christ was dead for three days and three nights before his resurrection as well (Matthew 20:19).

This three day time period signifies the end of something ‘bad’ with the promise of better things to some.

found no water = water equals life. Yes Dear Reader, out in the wilderness of the world there is no water to drink either. But Christians have the water of the word to drink (Ephesians 5:26). Put it this way, there is water in the world but it will kill you … it is poisoned, bitter and deadly.

they could not drink of the waters of Marah for they were bitter = the waters of the world are bitter. Yes Dear Reader, people wander into the world, headed for their Promised Land like Israel, only to find that the wilderness of the world can kill them with bitter waters. The feeling and the meaning of the word “bitter” is found when Esau lost his inheritance (Genesis 27:34) … he was devastated and cried bitter tears. Like the prodigal son having forfeited his inheritance.

Like today, people cry bitter tears for many years lost in the world … with no hope.

the people murmured = disappointed people often murmur and complain. Here in the desert, these are only the start of Israel’s murmuring and as we know God is a God of longsuffering … up to a point (Exodus 34:6). Read Numbers chapters 14-16 for the end result of continual murmuring.

As Paul points out, it is one of the five ‘deadly major’ sins for a Christian (1 Corinthains 10:6-10) … along with lust, idolatry, fornication and tempting Christ.

what shall we drink = This is always the Pastor’s dilemma … “What shall I preach on this week?” Answer? Point them to Jesus … the Bible is full of Jesus. The mistake many pastors make is they preach on the topic of the day eg immorality in the world, homelessness, caring for others and so on … the fons et origo … the popular topic of the day … sugary drinks that last for but a moment.

he cried unto the LORD = always the first place to go to. Unlike the people who cried and murmured to Moses, he went to the LORD for advice and counsel.

and the LORD shewed him a tree = Christ is the tree (Romans 11:16-26). Not only that, Christ is the root, the branch (Jeremiah 33:15; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12), the first fruit and the lump.

which when he had cast into the waters = The waters signify the waters of the world which are a bitter place without Christ … the sea of the world as it were (Matthew 13:47; Jonah 2:5) 

the waters were made sweet = Everything is better, not bitter, with Christ (Hebrews 1:4; 6:9; 7:7; 7:19; 7:22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16; 11:35; 11:40;12:24)

Indeed for the Christian today, this is Christ taking over from Moses with the curse of the law (Galatians 3:10, 13). 

I will put none of these diseases upon thee = In the Old Testament, Israel had physical healing from diseases (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:15) but did not have the eternal salvation of being healed from sin. Today we have eternal deliverance from the diseases of sin and sins, but are not guaranteed physical healing (1 Peter 2:24)

I am the LORD that healeth thee = healed them of physical diseases and sins (1 Peter 2:24). Indeed when Christ was on earth, he would heal them from sin by fulfilling the law on Israel’s behalf.

twelve wells of water = these represent the twelve apostles of Christ under the kingdom of heaven dispensation

threescore and ten palm trees = this is the Israel of seventy souls that entered Egypt (Exodus 1:5) that also spent many years in captivity.

 CONCLUSION:
Dear Reader, where are you on your journey?
Will you continue to drink the bitter waters of the world?
Are you murmuring and complaining about the world and your situation?
Are you de-hydrating … drinking the waters of the world?
Christ is the ONLY sweet tree that you need to drink from, for the eternal water of life and salvation.

As the scriptures say …

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)

“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21:6)

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1)

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

 Harley Hitchcock

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TYPES OF CHRIST
Christ throughout the Scriptures
THE MANNA WAS A TYPE OF CHRIST




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 Australian Bible Ministries, PO Box 5058 Mt. Gravatt East 4122 Qld, Australia
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