The manner of the miracle is singular. God hides Himself behind Moses, and His miraculous power behind the material agent. Perhaps the manner of the miracle was intended to suggest a parallel with the first plague. There the rod made the Nile water undrinkable. There is a characteristic economy in the miraculous, and outward things are used, as Christ used the pool and the saliva and the touch, to help the weak faith of the deaf and dumb man.
What changes bitter to sweet for us?--the Cross, the remembrance of Christ's death. Consider Him that endured.' The Cross is the true tree which, when cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.'
Recognition of and yielding to God's will: that is the one thing which for us changes all. The one secret of peace and of getting sweetness out of bitterness is loving acceptance of the will of God.
Discernment of purpose in God's bitter' dealings--for our profit.' The dry rod budded.' The Prophet's roll was first bitter, then sweet. Affliction afterwards yieldeth the peaceable fruit.'
