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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Immediately after their incredible deliverance, the Israelites are plunged into a three-day journey in a dry wilderness. This highlights that even the most miraculous acts of God don't instantly remove all hardship; rather, they often prepare us for the trials that will test our faith in new ways.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh off their miraculous escape from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites are now faced with their first serious challenge in the desolate wilderness. Moses leads them into the arid expanse of Shur, but after three days of marching, they find not water, but a desperate thirst that threatens them all.
You've just experienced the greatest miracle of your life – God drowned your enemies and saved you! But what happens next? The journey isn't over; in fact, it's just beginning, and it’s going to be tough.
The incredible victory at the Red Sea was just the beginning of Israel's journey. While they were free from Pharaoh's chains, they weren't yet free from hardship. This verse highlights a crucial truth: God’s deliverance doesn't always mean immediate comfort.
From Celebration to Challenge
Immediately after singing praises to God for their miraculous rescue, the people plunged into the 'wilderness of Shur.' This wasn't a pleasant stroll; it was an arid, desolate place. They traveled for three days, a significant amount of time in a desert environment, without finding any water. This shows us that even after experiencing God's powerful intervention, we can still face difficult trials. These challenges are not a sign that God has abandoned us, but rather a part of the journey He is leading us on.
Three days without water in a scorching desert. This wasn't just a physical challenge; it was a divine test designed to reveal what was truly in their hearts.
The three days spent searching for water in the wilderness of Shur served a critical purpose: it was a test. Imagine the growing thirst, the fear, and the doubt that must have crept in. This wasn't random suffering; it was orchestrated by God.
Why the Test?
God allowed this hardship for several reasons:
Ask a follow-up
This moment wasn't about punishing them, but about shaping them into a people who would learn to depend fully on Him.
Understand the original words
midbar · Hebrew Noun
An uncultivated, desolate region. In biblical theology, the wilderness is often a place of testing, refinement, and dependence upon God's provision.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following the ten plagues, God liberated the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
Crossing the Red Sea
God miraculously parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape the pursuing Egyptian army, which was then annihilated by the returning waters.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Wilderness of Shur Journey Begins
Immediately after their miraculous deliverance, Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea into the arid Wilderness of Shur, beginning their journey toward Mount Sinai.
c. 1446 BC
Discovery of Bitter Water at Marah
After three days without water, the Israelites found a water source at Marah, but it was too bitter to drink, leading to their complaint against Moses.
c. 1446 BC
Arrival at Elim
Following the bitter waters of Marah, the Israelites arrived at Elim, a lush oasis with twelve wells and seventy palm trees, providing a much-needed respite.
This Psalm reflects on God's faithfulness to Israel, directly referencing their journey from the Red Sea and comparing it to His guidance of them through the wilderness, mirroring the experience in Exodus 15:22.
John 6:35Jesus declares Himself as the 'bread of life' and promises that those who come to Him will never go hungry. This connects to the Israelites' desperate need for sustenance and God's provision in the wilderness, highlighting Jesus as the ultimate provision.
1 Corinthians 10:13This passage assures believers that God will not allow them to be tempted beyond what they can bear and will always provide a way out. It speaks directly to the Israelites' trials in the wilderness, framing their struggles as tests where God ultimately provides.
Hebrews 3:8This verse warns against hardening hearts, citing the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness as an example. It highlights the spiritual danger lurking even after great deliverances, as seen when the Israelites immediately faced hardship and grumbled.
Numbers 33:8This verse provides a parallel account of Israel's journey, naming the wilderness as 'Etham' and confirming the duration of their travel before finding water. It corroborates the geographical and temporal details of the Exodus account.
gillExodus 15:22: "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water."
So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea,.... Or "caused them to journey" (a), which some think was done with difficulty, they being so eager and intent upon the spoil and plunder of the Egyptians cast upon the sea shore, the harness of their horses being, as Jarchi observes, ornamented with gold and silver, and precious stones;…
cambridgeExodus 15:22: "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water."
22 . led … onward ] properly, made … to journey ( Exodus 12:37 ); so Psalm 78:52 a. from the Red Sea ] The Arabs regard ‘Ayûn (or ‘Oyûn ) Mûsâ , the ‘springs of Moses,’ 9 miles below Suez, on the E. side of the gulf, and 1½ miles from the coast, as the station at which the Israelites first halted, after their passage of the Red…
Immediately after their incredible deliverance, the Israelites are plunged into a three-day journey in a dry wilderness. This highlights that even the most miraculous acts of God don't instantly remove all hardship; rather, they often prepare us for the trials that will test our faith in new ways.
Fresh off their miraculous escape from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites are now faced with their first serious challenge in the desolate wilderness. Moses leads them into the arid expanse of Shur, but after three days of marching, they find not water, but a desperate thirst that threatens them all.
Fresh off their miraculous escape from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites are now faced with their first serious challenge in the desolate wilderness. Moses leads them into the arid expanse of Shur, but after three days of marching, they find not water, but a desperate thirst that threatens them all.
"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." — Immediately after their incredible deliverance, the Israelites are plunged into a three-day journey in a dry wilderness. This highlights that even the most miraculous acts of God don't instantly remo…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026