Exodus 15

Only three days after the incredible victory and song at the Red Sea, the Israelites face a test to see if they believed what they sang.

²² Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. We aren’t sure what Shur means or where Shur is but we can be sure that Shur is surely in the wilderness, and it’s also a spiritual place I’m sure you will visit many times. (Psalm 66:10[notes1] )

Remember that Moses is following the cloud that is leading them, that great column of cloud that went before and shaded them from the intensity of the sun. For three days it led them until they arrived at the first watering hole. Any water they had would have been carried with them. They were probably about out of water for themselves and their herds.

²³ When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) They finally arrive and the water is undrinkable. I don’t know if it was called Marah before or if something had polluted this spring before they arrived and so they called it Marah.

Many generations later Naomi will change her name to Marah because she is bitter over the death of her husband and sons. (Ruth 1:20[notes2] ) Bitterness can be a condition of the heart or a taste that makes something unpalatable.

The people started to become bitter about the bitter water. They began to complain. After all, they had children and elderly among them. Did they remember that just a few days earlier they had been singing that the Lord was their strength, their song, and their salvation?

Sometimes when we declare something, the Lord will test us to show us that we haven’t quite attained to the stature we thought we had. We understand something with our mind, but the first test that comes along reveals our heart is not really at rest, at home, with the truth.

²⁴ And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” Why are they grumbling against Moses? The cloud led them there! Well, some people have the good sense to realize it’s not a good idea to complain to God, especially after He has marvelously delivered you. So, instead, they again pick on His servant. “He’s an easy target. He’s meek. What’s he gonna do, call down a lightning bolt? Complain to him! He’s the one that came and got us out of comfortable Egypt. There was plenty of water there!” It is so easy to only remember the good and forget the painful circumstance they were escaping. Murmuring is often irrational.

Realize that they have a legitimate and urgent need. Our complaints are often something very legitimate, but an illegitimate response. What would the right response have been to the circumstance? It would have been to look to the One that they sang was their salvation and their strength. (Psalm 50:15[notes3] ) Why didn’t they ask Him for the answer to the situation?

Grumbling against God ordained leadership is deeply entrenched tendency of the flesh. It is one that that generation will never really walk in victory over and it will cause them immense problems, and eventually their death.  God has divinely appointed servant leaders. They give their life to serve. When we complain against them -unless there is obvious sin in their life – we are complaining against God.  Moses was following the cloud. That is why the New Testament tells us to not entertain an accusation against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses. (1Timothy 5:19 note 4) Leaders are often targets because they take a stand.

10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.

[notes2] Ruth 1:20 (ESV)

20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

[notes3] Psalm 50:15 (ESV)

15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Note 4: 1 Timothy 5:19 (ESV)
¹⁹ Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

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