Exodus 15:22-27

Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea,¹ and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went for three days in the wilderness and found no water.² When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. And the people complained³ against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ He cried out to the Lord;⁴ and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.⁵

There the Lord made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he put them to the test.⁶ He said, ‘If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes,⁷ I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians;⁸ for I am the Lord who heals you.’⁹
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees;¹⁰ and they camped there by the water.

1 Moses's role as leader has not diminished with release from the Egyptians – in fact, it appears to have cemented.

2 New kind of crisis arises

3 It looks like more unfaith, for they are suddenly complaining again. But no water for three days seems like a valid reason for worry. But why complain against Moses for that? Shows deeper discontent.

4 Moses knows that the Lord can provide a solution.

5 The miracles of God are not limited to plagues – God can give miraculous provision as well.

6 “put them to the test”. Until now God has cared for the Israelites out of pure mercy, for they are his people and they were oppressed. But now he begins to test them.

7 I believe this is the first sign that God has commandments for them to follow.

8 The punishments that God set upon others who disobeyed can be applied to them as well.

9 God is not just a God who punishes, but also a Lord that heals.

10 Very symbolic local – 12 springs for the 12 tribes, and 70 palm trees showing complete provision.

Take-home: A short story in the transition from fleeing the Egyptians to the time in the wilderness, it is packed with details about what is to come. The first of many coming trials appears, as well as the clear lesson that God can bring them through those trials. For the first time God lets them know that his provision has conditions, and he has commandments that he asks them to be obedient to. The potentials of God as a healer and a provider of good things begin to be shown.