How quickly the Israelites forget!  After witnessing the miracles that brought about their safe exodus from Egyptian bondage, they begin their never-ending complaining.  We may be tempted to wonder why they couldn't acknowledge God's very presence with them. We may wonder about their lack of faith that He will miraculously provide for them. When we begin these wonderings, we must take a look at our own lives.  Do we complain?  Do we fail to acknowledge God's presence with us in the form of the Holy Spirit?  Do we lack the faith that God will provide?

And speaking of wondering about the Israelites wandering... ever wonder about the route of the Exodus journey?  There are about as many routes as there are "experts" who map them out.  The locations of the places named in Scripture are in dispute, even among the "experts". After spending several hours trying to discover a commonality with these "experts" as to the location of the places and the route taken by Moses and the Israelites, we decided to just look at Scripture and see if we could discern the Exodus route.  Here is what Scripture says.

The Isralites camped about a three-day journey from Goshen (exact spot from which they left is unknown but Succoth is mentioned) and there they celebrated a festival to the Lord.  Actually, this festival began in Egypt on the 15th day of the first month.  But it was a week-long festival.  They left Succoth and camped at Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the Sea opposite Bael Ziphon. (Exodus 14) A three-day journey would have placed them at the tip of the northern end of the Red Sea, which is about 60-75 miles from the outskirts of Goshen. So these places named in Scripture must have been at the far northern end of the Red Sea.  The Red Sea forms the shape of a "Y" and splits Egypt from Arabia with a wilderness in between.  The left arm of the Y is the Gulf of Suez. The right arm of the Red Sea is the Gulf of Aqaba.  Apparently once Pharaoh decided that they weren't coming back, he sent the army after them.  It seems as if it is here at the Northern tip of the Red Sea where the crossing occurred.  Had the crossing been farther down near the southern end of the Red Sea, it would have been a lengthy journey not only for the Israelites but also for Pharaoh's army, and much, much longer than a three-day journey.  Scripture then says that after the crossing of the Sea, Moses led them across the wilderness for three days until they arrived at a place called Marah where they found bitter water. Again this would have been a journey of about 60-75 miles, but probably less, because they were in no hurry.  Their pursuers were dead.  Their next encampment was exactly one month after leaving Egypt at a place named Elim. If they traveled south via the Red Sea, it would have necessitated another crossing of the Red Sea (across the right arm of the Sea - the Gulf of Aqaba) in order to get to Midian, where they met with Moses' father-in-law.  If, however, they traveled across the wilderness (which Scripture seems to indicate) then they would have arrived at Midian at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba ,  the right arm of the Red Sea. If this has been confusing, email us - we have maps!

Once they camped at  Elim, the people began to grumble.  It is at this time that God sends them their daily manna - their daily bread.  The glory of the Lord also appeared to them in the form of a cloud. Seems as if once people experience this, how can they continue to grumble and complain?   And yet...they do.

After spending some time at Elim, the journey continues until they reach Rephidim where God miraculously provides water. The Israelites defeat the Amalekites at that place.  Rephidim may be located near the mountain of God because they are there when Moses is reunited with his wife and children and his father-in-law.

As we read of the journey of the Israelites there is an interesting pattern that emerges, one that is often overlooked. God tells the people that He will protect them from diseases if they will just listen to Him and follow His commands. At this time the only new commands they had were the ones given to them as they traveled, commands such as gathering manna daily six days a week. How hard was that??? It is only later when the people have consistently disobeyed and grumbled and complained that God sent Moses from the mountain with a set of laws carved in stone.

We often equate “carved in stone” as something that is unmoving, unwavering, unchanging, consistent, completely fixed. Yet some people today want to bend and change the Ten Commandments when they literally were carved in stone. Shouldn’t that tell us something?

There is a great lesson to be learned concerning the manna. The Israelites had to trust God daily to supply their needs. Shouldn’t we do that too? Just wake up each morning trusting God to meet our every need. Meet Him with this request, "Lord, here I am, what would you have me do today?"