After the Israelites celebrated their great deliverance from the Egyptian army, they began their march across the Wilderness of Shur. This was a country very unlike the land of Goshen. No waving fields of grain could they see, no grassy pasture-lands could they find for their flocks and herds. On every side the country looked barren and dreary. By and by they came to a camping-place called Marah, and here they found more trouble.
The Israelites began to learn that trouble came in other countries besides Egypt, and from other causes besides wicked taskmasters and proud, hard-hearted, selfish kings. In this wilderness they were suffering because they could find no water to drink. The cattle and sheep were thirsty, too, and every one was tired from the long march across the barren country. At Marah they found a spring of water, and with a glad cry they ran forward to get a drink. But the water was so bitter they could not swallow it. How unhappy they felt! They looked un-kindly at Moses and were ready to blame him again for their troubles. Moses, too, was thirsty, and he felt sorry for the people. But instead of growing impatient and ugly, he cried to God for help. And God told him what to do.
Near the spring where the bitter water was found grew a tree. God told Moses to cut this tree down and throw it into the spring. Moses did so, and the waters became sweet. Then the people drank deeply and were satisfied. The cattle and sheep, too, had an abundance to drink.
God wished to teach the people to trust him for their helper when troubles came. He probably wished to show them by this miracle how he could heal their bodies when sickness should come upon them. He also promised that if the people would obey his voice and do right, he would not let them suffer from any of the diseases that he had sent upon the Egyptians.
From the camp at Marah the Israelites moved forward again, and came to another stopping-place. Here they found a beautiful grove of palm-trees and twelve wells of water. The name of this place was Elim. The people pitched their tents beneath the trees and drank from the wells. “They were glad to find such a pleasant place to camp in the wilderness.