Moses led Israelites from Red Sea to the desert of Shur, they found the water at the oasis of Marah very bitter. The water in the oasis of Marah （瑪拉）is a big contrast with the springs in the oasis of Elim（以琳）. Marah represents for the unbelieving attitude of those who would not trust God, while Elim stands for God’s bountiful provision.
One month after leaving Egypt, they arrived the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. The entire community complained Moses and Aaron.The Lord promised to rain down food from heaven. Moses told the Israelites: “In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us.” God promised to meet Hebrews’ need for food in desert, but he decided to test their obedience.
Omer of Manna
The Israelites called the food “manna” （嗎哪）, it was white like coriander seed （芫荽子）and tasted like honey wafers. Manna appeared on the ground each day as thin flakes like frost. The Israelites gathered as much as they needed, the Lord commanded them to set aside what was left on the holy Sabbath day and never go out to pick up food on the seventh day, therefore the Lord provided two-day supply on the sixth day.
Israelites were instructed to fill the jar with two quarts of mannar, put it in a sacred place before the Lord to preserve it for future generations. Aaron placed it in the Ark of Covenant in front of a stone inscribed with terms of covenant. Israelites ate manna for 40 years until they arrived the land of Canaan.
Water from the rock
Eventually the Israelites left the wilderness of Sin and camped at Rephidim （利非訂）, but there was no water. The Lord instructed Moses to strike the rock with his staff, and water did gush out from the rock. Moses named this place Meribah (meaning arguing) because the Israelites argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying “Is the Lord here with us or not?”
Israel defeats the Amalekites
Warriors of Amalek attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses commanded Joshua （約書亞）to assign some men to fight against the enemies. Whenever Moses held up the staff in his hand, Israelites had the advantage, but when he dropped his hand, the Amalekites（亞馬力人） had the advantage. The Amalekites were descendants of Amalek, a grandson of Esau. They were a fierce nomadic tribe living in the desert region of the Dead Sea.
Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro（葉忒羅）, priest of Midian, knew about how God rescued Israelites from Egypt. Moses first son was named Gershom (meaning foreigner) and second son was named Eliezer (meaning God is my helper). Jethro visited Moses in the wilderness, together with Moses’ wife Zipporah and his sons. Moses told everything about the what the Lord has done. Jethro offered burnt offerings to God and said:
“Praise the Lord, for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and Pharaoh. The Lord is greater than other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”
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