Chapter 26—Israel Meets With Difficulties
This chapter is based on
Exodus 15:22-27
;
16
to
18
.
From the Red Sea the hosts of Israel again set forth on their journey
under the guidance of the pillar of cloud. They were full of joy in
the consciousness of freedom, and every thought of discontent was
hushed.
But for three days, as they journeyed, they could find no water.
The supply which they had taken with them was exhausted. There was
nothing to quench their burning thirst as they dragged wearily over
the sun-burnt plains. Moses, who was familiar with this region, knew
what the others did not—at Marah, where springs were found, the
water was unfit for use. With a sinking heart he heard the glad shout,
“Water! water!” echo along the line. Men, women, and children in
joyous haste crowded to the fountain, when, lo, a cry of anguish burst
forth—the water was bitter.
In their despair they reproached Moses, not remembering that the
divine presence in that mysterious cloud had been leading him as well
as themselves. Moses did what they had forgotten to do; he cried
earnestly to God for help. “And the Lord showed him a tree, which
when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.” Here
the promise was given to Israel: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the
voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight,
and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I
will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon
the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
From Marah the people journeyed to Elim, where they found
[201]
“twelve wells of water.” Here they remained several days.
When they had been a month absent from Egypt, their store of
provisions had begun to fail. How was food to be supplied for these
vast multitudes? Even the rulers and elders of the people joined in
complaining against the leaders of God’s appointment: “Would to God
we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we
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