Bitterness is a poison that brings many ills: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and yes—even physically. There are many causes of bitterness, but it begins with an offense of some kind. Generally, the seed of offense is watered by unforgiveness, which can develop into a root of bitterness, or vice versa: Bitterness can keep a person from forgiving, and the vicious cycle is unending.
The Scripture warns us to keep our spiritual radar programmed to look for bitterness: “…Looking diligently lest anyone fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).
We are told four things about the root of bitterness:
- 1. It affects many.
- 2. It springs up quickly—it is a fast-growing root.
- 3. It is a troublesome root, that is, it is poisonous.
- 4. It defiles—contaminates a person’s spirit. That is, it chokes out good seed.
I repeat: It has a twofold defilement: It injects the heart with poison, and chokes out good seed.
This is why we are told to be continually on guard. The Wiseman said: “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The heart provides the soil where seeds are sown.
According to the law of Genesis, every living thing begins with a seed, “and every seed after its own kind” (Genesis 1:11-12). Since bitterness is a root, and a root begins with a seed, we should ask the question What is the seed that produces a root of bitterness?
The seed that produces a root of bitterness is offense. When a seed of offense is planted in someone’s heart, it can germinate into a root of bitterness. Note that I said can, because it doesn’t have to if we avail ourselves to the grace of God. However, if we fail to receive the grace of God when we are offended, a root of bitterness can spring up quickly. God’s grace will never fail—but we can fail to avail ourselves to His grace. Grace delivers us from bitterness, and that helps us to forgive those who offended us.
Jesus said: “It is impossible, but that offenses will come” (Luke 17:3). In Matthew 24:10, He said this would be one of the major signs of the end times before His return: “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” As in Hebrews 12:15, it will be the case of “many.”
James wrote: “For in many things we all offend. If anyone offend not in word, the same is a perfect man…” (3:2). The bottom line is: At some point, we all offend, and we are all offended. At some point, you and I will be an offender or an offendee! It’s unavoidable.
So the next question we should raise: Since all of us will suffer offense or commit offense at one time or another, why do some—actually, many—become bitter, while others do not?
Just because I’m offended, doesn’t mean I have to become bitter. I don’t have to live the rest of my life carrying the baggage of bitterness in my heart. What can we do when we know we must forgive, but we are battling the poison of bitterness, which will not let us tap into the healing stream of forgiveness?
The Waters of Bitterness
In Exodus 15:22-27, the Israelites had crossed over the Red Sea in an unparalleled epic of God’s miraculous power, only to arrive into a wilderness with no water. After three days, they finally came to a place of water, but the water was bitter and undrinkable. Their hearts sank! They called the place “Marah,” which means “bitter.” The people murmured against Moses: “What are we supposed to drink?”
Moses called to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a TREE. Mind you, there probably weren’t many, if any, trees there, but God had one tree that He would use to heal the waters and bring life to them again. Moses was told to cast the tree into the bitter waters, and when he did, they were made sweet and pleasant for the people to drink.
God could have told Moses to use his miracle-working rod like he had done in Egypt and at the Red Sea. Instead, He chose the tree, because it pointed to Calvary, where Jesus would heal the bitterness that sin has brought on man: curses, and death, and hell: “Cursed is he that hangs on the tree” (Galatians 3:13).
When everyone had drunk of the sweet waters and was refreshed, God tested—proved them, and made an ordinance, a binding law with His people:
“If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the lord your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the lord that heals you” (Ex.15:26). i am jehovah-rapha.
This shows a direct correlation between the healing of the bitter waters by the tree, and the healing of their bodies by obedience to the Word. So if we are having a problem forgiving someone, we should bring the bitterness we are carrying to the Tree—to the Cross!
On the cross, Jesus cried to His Father: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus could require His Father to forgive them, because He had already forgiven them, and was paying for their offenses. Paul wrote to us: “Be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
We are to forgive even as God forgave us. He didn’t do it because we deserved it, but because Jesus asked Him to on the cross. The Father forgives us for Jesus’ sake. Now we are to forgive others even as He did—for Jesus’ sake. Unforgiveness hardens the heart. Forgiveness tenderizes the heart.
At the cross, we will receive the power to forgive—and to be forgiven, through its cleansing stream. When we confess our faults, God will cleanse us, and release the sweetness of forgiveness in our hearts. This then opens the door to physical healing that we may need because of sicknesses brought on by bitterness and unforgiveness. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
Exodus 15:27: “And they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water, and three score and ten palm trees (70): and they encamped there by the waters.” Imagine—12 wells of water—one for each tribe! Once the bitterness was eliminated by the healing properties of the tree, they drank of the sweet waters and were refreshed, and God’s healing power flowed to their bodies. Then He led them to a place of abundant blessings.
Banish the bane of bitterness, and blessings will follow!
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