Exodus 15

Bitter Waters (2004) (7 7/8" x 3 3/8" x 2 1/2")

mixed media construction in wood box

During the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness they came upon a a source of water but it was too bitter to drink. God showed Moses a piece of (charred?) wood which was thrown into the water so that it became drinkable. As a scientist, I know that activated charcoal can be used to remove trace contaminants from water, which is possibly the "explanation" of this miracle.

However, the miracle consists of the proper knowledge imparted to Moses just when he needed it, and the existence of the very wood near at hand. It is somewhat the same as the coincidence of me happening to find an old medicine bottle which had an inscription containing the words "Moses," "formerly," "bitter," and "wood."