Three Days to Grumbling
The Temptation of Forgetfulness
It’s astonishing how quickly things change.
Three days earlier, the people of Israel were singing. Praising. Rejoicing in the triumph of their God over the armies of Pharaoh. The song of Moses rang out with glory and confidence—“The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation” (Ex. 15:2). But now, just seventy-two hours later, the melody has faded. And the people are grumbling.
A Sudden Shift, A Common Sin
The Israelites had just witnessed one of the greatest miracles in all of Scripture—the Red Sea parting before their eyes. And yet now, with throats dry and no clean water in sight, they begin to question everything.
The tragedy is not the thirst—that is understandable. It is the grumbling. The complaining. The immediate assumption that because their situation has changed, God must not be faithful.
This is the human condition on display. We are quick to rejoice when God’s blessings are visible, and just as quick to complain when they are not.
Matthew Henry notes, “Three days’ journey in the wilderness made them forget the glorious works of God; their memories were short, and their faith shorter.”
This episode reveals a deeper issue: forgetfulness is not just a lapse in memory—it is a lapse in trust. When we forget what God has done, we begin to doubt who God is.
Grumbling in the Wilderness: A Pattern of the Heart
Grumbling becomes a recurring theme in Israel’s journey through the wilderness. The people grumble about water (Ex. 15), food (Ex. 16), leadership (Num. 12), and even the Promised Land (Num. 14). Each time, it reveals a heart that wants control more than it wants trust.
In the New Testament, Paul warns the church against repeating Israel’s sin:
John MacArthur explains, “Grumbling is not merely about discomfort—it is a form of rebellion. It expresses dissatisfaction with God's provision, plan, and pace.”
This is deeply convicting. Because how often do we do the same? When life doesn’t go as expected, when suffering comes, when plans fall apart—do we grumble, or do we trust?
The Doctrine of Providence and Our Response
One of the core doctrines that undergirds this passage is the providence of God. Nothing that happened to Israel was random. The wilderness was not an accident. The bitter waters of Marah were not a failure in navigation. God led them there.
This wasn’t a detour—it was discipleship. The Lord was shaping them, proving them, and teaching them to rely not on circumstances, but on Him.
William Perkins wrote, “The wilderness is God’s classroom. There He teaches His people to depend on His Word, not their feelings.”
It’s easy to praise God in Red Sea moments. It’s harder to trust Him at Marah. But the same God who delivers is the One who leads into difficulty for our growth.
Encouragement for the Church Today
This portion of Exodus speaks directly into the experience of every believer and every church that finds itself walking through transition, loss, or uncertainty.
As a congregation, we’ve just stepped away from a physical building. From a space that was familiar. Comfortable. Predictable. And we now find ourselves in a season that may feel a little like a wilderness. New rhythms. New space. New challenges.
And that’s where the temptation to grumble arises.
The challenge for us is to resist the pull of grumbling and instead embrace the posture of faith. God has not abandoned us. He has not changed His character. And if He brought us through the Red Sea, He can sustain us through the desert.
Practical Takeaways
Even three days after a miracle, faith can falter. But God is patient with His people, and He is present in every dry and bitter place. May we be a people who remember, who trust, and who refuse to grumble—because we know the One who leads us.
Three days earlier, the people of Israel were singing. Praising. Rejoicing in the triumph of their God over the armies of Pharaoh. The song of Moses rang out with glory and confidence—“The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation” (Ex. 15:2). But now, just seventy-two hours later, the melody has faded. And the people are grumbling.
“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. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah, because it was bitter… And the people grumbled against Moses.” (Exodus 15:22–24)
A Sudden Shift, A Common Sin
The Israelites had just witnessed one of the greatest miracles in all of Scripture—the Red Sea parting before their eyes. And yet now, with throats dry and no clean water in sight, they begin to question everything.
The tragedy is not the thirst—that is understandable. It is the grumbling. The complaining. The immediate assumption that because their situation has changed, God must not be faithful.
“They soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.” (Psalm 106:13)
This is the human condition on display. We are quick to rejoice when God’s blessings are visible, and just as quick to complain when they are not.
Matthew Henry notes, “Three days’ journey in the wilderness made them forget the glorious works of God; their memories were short, and their faith shorter.”
This episode reveals a deeper issue: forgetfulness is not just a lapse in memory—it is a lapse in trust. When we forget what God has done, we begin to doubt who God is.
Grumbling in the Wilderness: A Pattern of the Heart
Grumbling becomes a recurring theme in Israel’s journey through the wilderness. The people grumble about water (Ex. 15), food (Ex. 16), leadership (Num. 12), and even the Promised Land (Num. 14). Each time, it reveals a heart that wants control more than it wants trust.
In the New Testament, Paul warns the church against repeating Israel’s sin:
“Do not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroyer.” (1 Corinthians 10:10)
John MacArthur explains, “Grumbling is not merely about discomfort—it is a form of rebellion. It expresses dissatisfaction with God's provision, plan, and pace.”
This is deeply convicting. Because how often do we do the same? When life doesn’t go as expected, when suffering comes, when plans fall apart—do we grumble, or do we trust?
The Doctrine of Providence and Our Response
One of the core doctrines that undergirds this passage is the providence of God. Nothing that happened to Israel was random. The wilderness was not an accident. The bitter waters of Marah were not a failure in navigation. God led them there.
“Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea…” (v. 22)
In other words, God’s appointed leader led them directly into a trial.
This wasn’t a detour—it was discipleship. The Lord was shaping them, proving them, and teaching them to rely not on circumstances, but on Him.
William Perkins wrote, “The wilderness is God’s classroom. There He teaches His people to depend on His Word, not their feelings.”
It’s easy to praise God in Red Sea moments. It’s harder to trust Him at Marah. But the same God who delivers is the One who leads into difficulty for our growth.
Encouragement for the Church Today
This portion of Exodus speaks directly into the experience of every believer and every church that finds itself walking through transition, loss, or uncertainty.
As a congregation, we’ve just stepped away from a physical building. From a space that was familiar. Comfortable. Predictable. And we now find ourselves in a season that may feel a little like a wilderness. New rhythms. New space. New challenges.
And that’s where the temptation to grumble arises.
- “Did we make the right decision?”
- “What if this doesn’t work?”
- “Why did God bring us here?”
But what if this season is exactly where God wants us? What if the absence of familiar comforts is meant to draw us closer to Him?
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me…” (Psalm 23:1–2)
Even when the path feels unclear, the Shepherd is not absent.
The challenge for us is to resist the pull of grumbling and instead embrace the posture of faith. God has not abandoned us. He has not changed His character. And if He brought us through the Red Sea, He can sustain us through the desert.
Practical Takeaways
- Grumbling is a heart issue. Ask the Lord to expose the places where you’re tempted to complain and turn those into opportunities for prayer.
- Remember God’s past faithfulness. Keep a journal of answered prayers. Sing the song of the redeemed often.
- Trust God’s present leading. The path may feel uncertain, but the Guide is trustworthy. The wilderness may be dry, but it is absent of Yahweh.
- Encourage others. Help your brothers and sisters see that Marah is not the end of the journey. Speak words of encouragement, not complaint.
Even three days after a miracle, faith can falter. But God is patient with His people, and He is present in every dry and bitter place. May we be a people who remember, who trust, and who refuse to grumble—because we know the One who leads us.
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