And, because I thought it might be interesting to throw a little side quest into it, I'm going to add the next two verses:
When they came to Mara, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah). So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
This is three whole days after they stood on the shore of the sea, freed by astonishing events from their captors. Seventy-two hours after the praise dance rejoicing over their deliverance. Now they are complaining. And, here's the side quest...I'm going to count as we go through this desert journey. This is the second time since leaving Egypt that the Israelites complained.
Of course, Moses prayed and God had him throw in a piece of wood to make the water sweet.
Hey, I'm not explaining this. I don't know why it worked. God did it, the people had water, and they made it to an oasis where they camped for a bit before heading into the Desert of Sin ('Zin' in some translations).
In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out to this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." Ex. 16:2-3 (Grumble count: 3)
Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.' " While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in a cloud. Ex. 16:10
That night, quail fell on the ground and they ate meat, and the next morning, When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. (Ex. 16:25). The Israelites called the flakes 'manna.' They were given instructions ..only gather enough for one day, except for the sixth day, when they were to gather enough for the seventh day as well. There were some problems in the beginning, but the people soon caught on and fell into the routine. The final instruction regarding manna had to do with a memorial:
Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' " (Ex. 16:32).
This is the first memorial they were instructed to make.
The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" Ex. 17:1 - 2 (Grumble count: 4)
They had some more words with Moses about dying from thirst, Moses cried out to God and was given instructions to strike the rock with his staff...and they had water. They were also attacked by the Amalekites while they were at Rephidim; a deed that earned the Amalekites a heavy penalty. Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands so that he could intercede for the battle and Joshua led the army to their first military victory.
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God. Ex. 18:5
In addition to bringing Moses' family to him, Jethro gave Moses some excellent advice about dealing with the day-to-day administration of the people, and Moses followed that advice, designating leaders to judge disputes and answer questions.
Then, In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt - on the very day -- they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. - Ex. 19: 1 - 2
So, Moses brought the people to the place where he first met God. Three months it took them to get there...and in those three months they had seen many marvelous and incredible things.
They would camp there at the foot of the mountain for almost a whole year.
But the Israelites learned much in those three months. They learned that God would protect them...first from the Egyptians, and then from the Amalekites; they learned that God would lead them and they learned that God would provide for them. And, if they paid attention, they would also have learned that God heard them when they grumbled.
That should have been a comfort...and a warning. God hears the grumbling and...God HEARS the grumbling. Ain't nobody gonna hide a bad attitude. God hears.
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