Where the Bitter Water Became Sweet: The Location of Marah (Podcast)

Do you remember the biblical account when God tells Moses to throw a tree into the water and the “bitter” water was made “sweet”? When I was young I pictured Moses tossing a stick of some sort out onto the water, and then the waters miraculously becoming drinkable. I missed some key elements of the story, for example, the word “tree” which can also mean “log.” Also, the fact that the account states that Moses “threw” this thing into the water.

Truthfully, there are quite a few things I did not realize about this story.

On this episode Jennifer and I discuss continuing research and discoveries from Dr. Gerald Aardsma on the route of the Exodus, and bring a real-world answer that you have never heard before to the mystery of this familiar story! You can learn where this happened, and how, in this particular location, a tree could cause undrinkable water to become drinkable.

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites journeyed along the north Sinai road. After three encampments, they struck out into the wilderness under Moses’ direction. They found no water after a journey of three days, but then came to a place called Marah, where there was water.

However, the water at Marah was bitter and they could not drink it. And this is where the Bible records that Moses then threw a tree in the water and the water became drinkable.

Knowing the right date leads us to the correct location of Marah… which then, once again, leads to a deeper, real-world understanding of the biblical account.

Also on this episode, we included a recording by our family of the old hymn “Satisfied” (sometimes known as “Hallelujah, I Have Found Him!”).

Other topics discussed include:
• Quote of Note from The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (my favorite quote so far)
• In the News: Jerusalem at the time of King David (encouraging news in the world of archaeology and radiocarbon dating)
• Helen’s View: Interview with Gene Sullivan about Dr. Aardsma’s Anti-Aging Vitamins

These discoveries continue to demonstrate that the accounts in the Bible are not myth nor are they only legend. They are more real than you ever imagined.

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