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.)
Moses had already proved the value of turning to God to meet any difficult situation; and now, when at God's command he stirred the water with a branch from a nearby tree, it became fresh and palatable. Moreover, this incident presaged a glorious challenge to the doubting Israelites. They received one of the earliest assurances of healing and protection recorded in the Bible, contingent on their obedience to certain specified conditions. They could never forget the disastrous plagues which had harassed the Egyptians. Now they were promised that if they would listen to God's voice and act rightly, consistently obeying His statutes, they would never encounter such plagues, for God said, "I am the Lord that healeth thee" (Ex. 15:26).
Their response to this great opportunity is not recorded. Even the discovery of no fewer than twelve good wells or springs at Elim, as they traveled toward Mount Sinai, provides no indication of special gratitude. Their arrival at the wilderness of Sin marked more grumbling on the part of the Hebrews. They had recently questioned the quality of the water available to them; now they complained of a shortage of food. They proclaimed unanimously that they would rather have died as slaves in Egypt, where food was plentiful, than face the possibility of dying of starvation in the wilderness. Yet here again the supply they desired was forthcoming in abundant measure, in spite of their criticism of Moses and Aaron and their failure fully to trust God's promises.
Evening after evening quails settled around their camp, providing the necessary meat. Each morning witnessed the provision of manna, the nature of which is uncertain, although it fed them throughout the wilderness period (see Ex. 16:35). Shortly afterward, at Rephidim, the Hebrews again complained of lack of water, accusing Moses of conspiring to kill them with thirst. But once again their need was met when Moses struck a rock at God's command, and water poured out (see Ex. 17:1-6). In the light of these proofs of bountiful supply, the people were surely being prepared to fulfill some great destiny; but the persistence of their doubts and their constant opposition to Moses' leadership proved their need of laws, rules, and specific demands if they were to be kept in check and prepared to complete the task assigned to them.
These laws were soon to be provided in what we know as the Ten Commandments.
