Exodus 15 – The Song of Victory and the Bitter Waters Made Sweet
Exodus 15 opens with Israel’s first recorded song—a powerful declaration of God’s victory over Egypt. The Red Sea miracle becomes a chorus of praise. But the celebration is tested when the people face bitter water in the wilderness. This chapter reveals both the heights of worship and the beginning lessons of trust and healing.
From Song to Struggle—Faith Must Travel Further
Praise rises as the sea closes behind them, and Israel rejoices. God has triumphed gloriously! But soon the journey brings thirst and bitterness. The same God who brought them through the sea must now be trusted in the desert.
✔ Moses and Israel sing the first recorded hymn.
✔ God is praised as Deliverer, Warrior, and Shepherd.
✔ Marah’s bitter waters are made sweet.
✔ God introduces Himself as Healer.
📖 Key Verse: “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.” – Exodus 15:2
🔎 Worship is the right response to victory—but trust is the right response to testing.
Exodus Chapter 15 Overview
Exodus 15:1–21 – The Song of Moses and the Victory of God
📖 Exodus 15:1–2 – “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song… The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.”
🔎 This is the first song recorded in Scripture:
🔹 It flows naturally from a moment of supernatural deliverance.
🔹 God is praised as both strength (sustainer) and song (source of joy).
🔹 “Salvation” here is yeshua—a shadow of Christ’s name and mission.
➡️ Worship Insight: True praise doesn’t begin with music—it begins with a personal encounter with God’s saving power.
📖 Exodus 15:3–6 – “The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.”
🔎 God is revealed as a divine warrior:
🔹 This poetic line declares God’s victory and authority in battle.
🔹 “Right hand” symbolizes power, precision, and supremacy.
🔹 Pharaoh’s chariots and army are no match for the God of Israel.
➡️ Character Revelation: God is not passive in deliverance—He actively fights for His people.
📖 Exodus 15:7–10 – “Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them…”
🔎 God’s power commands the elements:
🔹 The breath of God (wind) becomes the force of salvation and judgment.
🔹 What lifted the waters for Israel drowned Egypt.
🔹 Nature obeys its Creator—His enemies do not.
➡️ Prophetic Echo: In the end, God will once again use creation as His weapon (see Revelation 16).
📖 Exodus 15:11–13 – “Who is like unto thee, O Lord…?”
🔎 The song turns from narrative to pure adoration:
🔹 God’s holiness, power, and mercy are exalted.
🔹 “Thou in thy mercy hast led forth…” – Deliverance is not just power—it’s compassion.
🔹 “Thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation” – a forward look to Mount Sinai and ultimately heaven.
➡️ Worship Deepens: Real praise moves from what God has done to who God is.
📖 Exodus 15:14–18 – “Fear and dread shall fall upon them… The Lord shall reign forever.”
🔎 The song becomes prophetic:
🔹 It foretells how other nations will tremble when they hear what God has done.
🔹 This includes Philistia, Edom, Moab, and Canaan—all future enemies.
🔹 The declaration ends in eternity: “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”
➡️ Victory Ahead: God’s past faithfulness gives confidence for future battles.
📖 Exodus 15:19–21 – “And Miriam the prophetess… took a timbrel… and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”
🔎 Worship is communal and celebratory:
🔹 Miriam leads the women in echoing the victory song.
🔹 She is called a prophetess—a rare and honored role.
🔹 Music and movement are used to reinforce God’s triumph.
➡️ Generational Praise: Everyone, from leaders to families, joins in celebrating God’s glory.
Exodus 15:22–27 – Bitter Waters and a Healing Promise
📖 Exodus 15:22–24 – “And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters… and the people murmured against Moses.”
🔎 From song to sorrow in three days:
🔹 After praising God, they walk three days into the wilderness—with no water.
🔹 At Marah, they find water—but it’s bitter.
🔹 The people immediately murmur, forgetting the miracle of the sea.
➡️ Faith Test: The first trial after deliverance often reveals the depth of trust. Triumph does not guarantee transformation.
📖 Exodus 15:25 – “And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree… the waters were made sweet.”
🔎 The remedy is revealed:
🔹 Moses cries to God—not the people. God answers with a symbolic solution: a tree.
🔹 When cast into the waters, the tree transforms bitterness into sweetness.
🔹 This is a clear picture of the cross—where bitterness of sin and sorrow is turned into life.
➡️ Prophetic Symbol: Christ (the Tree of Life) makes our bitter circumstances bearable—and even redemptive.
📖 Exodus 15:26 – “If thou wilt diligently hearken… I will put none of these diseases upon thee… for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
🔎 A conditional promise with a revelation:
🔹 Obedience and trust bring health and divine protection.
🔹 God introduces Himself with a new name—YHWH-Rapha, “The Lord who heals you.”
🔹 Healing here is holistic—spiritual, emotional, and physical.
➡️ Identity Insight: God doesn’t just want to be known for power—He wants to be known as Healer.
📖 Exodus 15:27 – “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees…”
🔎 A resting place follows the trial:
🔹 Elim is a place of abundance and refreshment—twelve wells and seventy palms.
🔹 The numbers speak of completeness and divine provision (12 tribes, 70 elders).
🔹 God brings His people not just through trials—but into seasons of renewal.
➡️ Hope Principle: God’s path goes beyond Marah. If you keep walking in faith, Elim is coming.
Exodus Chapter 15 - Deeper Study
Overview: Celebration Meets Testing
🔹 Timeframe: Immediately following the Red Sea crossing.
🔹 Setting: From the shores of the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur.
🔹 Theme: God who brings victory must also be trusted for provision and healing.
Key Takeaways
🔑 Worship should follow deliverance.
🔑 God is both mighty in battle and tender in provision.
🔑 Testing often follows triumph.
🔑 God reveals more of Himself when we obey in hardship.
🔑 Even bitter places can become altars of healing.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 The Song of Moses – Sung again in Revelation 15:3 before final deliverance.
🔮 Waters made sweet – Symbol of Christ bringing healing to life’s bitterness.
🔮 Elim’s 12 wells and 70 palm trees – Foreshadow rest, completeness, and spiritual nourishment.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Ancient songs of victory – Common after war, but Israel’s focused solely on God’s power and character.
📜 Marah’s water – Natural bitterness; God alters nature to meet needs.
📜 Divine healing – Introduced here as a core identity of God—“I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
💡 Final Reflection: Will You Trust Him Beyond the Song?
Victory is worth celebrating, but the journey isn’t over. Between the mountaintop and the Promised Land lie trials that test what we sing.
📌 Do you praise in victory—but question in bitterness?
📌 Will you trust the One who heals—even when the water turns sour?
📌 Have you brought your Marah moments before the cross?
🚀 Let worship rise—and let faith remain. The God of the sea is also God in the desert.
The Song of Moses
Exo 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exo 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
Exo 15:4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
Exo 15:5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Exo 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Exo 15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
Exo 15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
Exo 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Exo 15:10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Exo 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Exo 15:12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Exo 15:13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
Exo 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
Exo 15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
Exo 15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
Exo 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
Exo 15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
Exo 15:19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exo 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Bitter Water Made Sweet
Exo 15:22 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.
Exo 15:23 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.
Exo 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
Exo 15:25 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,
Exo 15:26 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.
Exo 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
Date Written
1446-1406 BC
Written By
Moses
Language
Hebrew
Verses
27