God revealed Himself as El-Shaddai to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and God told Moses that He will reveal His personal Name to him. The first account as the Israelites left Egypt turned out to be an important encounter. More than just complaining because of disappointment, unmet desire and unfulfilled expectation – it revealed the condition of the hearts of the Israelites. The condition of the water which they could not drink was a reflection of the condition of their hearts. After years of oppression and pent-up anger and frustration, God needed to deal with the bitterness in their hearts. God also revealed the solution, i.e. the tree. The cross is the solution to the bitter condition of our hearts. Just as the tree must touch the bitter waters, we must embrace the cross where Jesus died in our hearts and lives. What Jesus did on the cross must be translated into our responses to the bitterness in our lives. God intended our hearts to be of sweet water instead of marah – bitter – waters. Jesus experienced the rejection, betrayal, etc. and chose to forgive – will we also embrace the cross?
Exodus 6:3, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Exodus 15:22-26, Jeremiah 17:9, Hebrews 12:5