After their safe passage through the Red Sea, the Hebrews wholeheartedly joined with Moses in expressing gratitude in a triumphant paean of victory. True, they hailed the Lord as "a man of war," whose "right hand ... dashed in pieces the enemy" (Ex. 15:3, 6); but they also proclaimed His holiness, His power, His mercy, and the strength and salvation which He had granted to them.
This joyous act of thanksgiving completed, they set out expectantly toward the Promised Land. But between these high hopes and their eventual fulfillment lay many years of testing. The Hebrews had been in Egypt for more than four centuries, originally as welcome guests, but more recently as serfs. Having become accustomed to a settled life, most of them were doubtless unprepared for the nomadic experiences which lay ahead.
Moses had pleaded unsuccessfully with Pharaoh that the Israelites might go "three days' journey into the wilderness" to serve God (Ex. 8:27). Now free to pursue their plan, they took that projected journey through the wilderness of Shur, finding it waterless; while at Marah, such water as they found was bitter. Quickly the people turned upon their leader, crying, "What shall we drink?" (Ex. 15:24.)
