And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people's question, "What shall we drink?" wasn't just about thirst; it was a veiled accusation against Moses, essentially asking him to solve a problem only God could fix. Their disbelief and demand reveal a deeper lack of trust, even after witnessing God's miraculous power at the Red Sea.
And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Freshly delivered from Egypt and miraculous waters, the Israelites now face a new hardship in the wilderness: a three-day journey without finding any drinkable water. When they finally discover water, it’s undrinkably bitter, leading them to immediately grumble and accuse Moses, questioning his leadership and God's provision. This complaint sets the stage for God to reveal Himself as their healer and provider, testing their faith in the midst of their discontent.
Imagine walking for three days, completely parched, with no water in sight. Then, you finally find some, only to discover it's undrinkable. This is the Israelites' reality, and it reveals a crucial pattern.
God had just performed an astonishing miracle, parting the Red Sea and saving His people from the Egyptian army. But just days later, facing a physical need – thirst – their faith faltered.
A Pattern Emerges
This wasn't just a momentary lapse. The biblical text notes this 'murmuring' (or 'grumbling') as a recurring behavior for the Israelites in the wilderness. It shows that experiencing God's power doesn't automatically eliminate human doubt and complaining.
Immediate Reactions
Instead of remembering the Red Sea or crying out to God, their first instinct was to direct their frustration at Moses. This reveals a tendency to focus on the immediate problem and the human leader, rather than on God's provision and sovereignty.
The water at Marah was undrinkable, but was the problem only with the water, or was something else at play?
The place where the Israelites found bitter water was named Marah, meaning 'bitter.' This bitterness in the water serves as a powerful metaphor for the bitterness that had taken root in the people's hearts.
A Mirror to the Soul
Commentators suggest that God allowed this bitter water not just to test their faith, but also to expose the hidden bitterness, rebellion, and ingratitude within them. Their outward complaints reflected an inner spiritual state.
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God's Purpose in the Bitter
God's intention wasn't to punish them cruelly but to reveal their need. By experiencing this lack and disappointment, they would be driven to seek Him. As one commentator put it, 'that our wants, and disappointments in the creature, may drive us to the Creator.' The bitterness was a means to point them toward the true source of refreshment.
Understand the original words
lun · Hebrew Verb
To murmur or complain, reflecting a lack of faith in God’s provision and character. It expresses discontentment with God’s leadership and sovereignty.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following the ten plagues and the Passover, the Israelites departed from Egypt after 430 years of slavery.
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 drowned.
c. 1446 BC
Journey into the Wilderness of Shur
Three days after crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites entered a desert region where they found no water.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Arrival at Marah and Bitter Water
The Israelites discovered water at Marah, but it was undrinkably bitter. They grumbled against Moses, questioning what they would drink.
c. 1446 BC
Water Made Sweet at Marah
Moses cried out to the Lord, who showed him a tree. Casting the tree into the water made it sweet, and God established statutes and ordinances there.
c. 1446 BC
Arrival at Elim
The Israelites journeyed to Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees, providing a place of rest and abundant water.
This passage mirrors the Israelites' grumbling and questioning of Moses' leadership when faced with hardship, echoing the same spirit of doubt and complaint seen in Exodus 15:24.
1 Corinthians 10:10Paul directly references the Israelites' 'grumblings' in the wilderness, warning the Corinthians against similar rebellious attitudes and reminding them of the consequences.
Philippians 2:14This verse advises believers to 'do all things without grumbling or disputing,' directly addressing the kind of attitude the Israelites displayed when they lacked water.
Psalm 106:13This psalm recounts the Israelites' impatience and quickness to forget God's works, highlighting their persistent tendency to murmur, as demonstrated by their reaction to the bitter water.
gillExodus 15:24: "And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?"
And the people murmured against Moses,.... For bringing them into a wilderness where they could find no water fit to drink; saying: what shall we drink? what shall we do for drink? where can we drink? this water is not drinkable, and, unless we have something to drink, we, and our wives, and children, and servants, and cattle, must all perish.
cambridgeExodus 15:24: "And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?"
24 . murmured ] as Exodus 16:2 ; Exodus 16:7-8 , Exodus 17:3 , Numbers 14:2 ; Numbers 14:27 ; Numbers 14:29 ; Numbers 14:36 ; Numbers 16:11 ; Numbers 16:41 ; Numbers 17:5 , Joshua 9:18 †. Cf. ‘murmurings,’ Exodus 16:7-9 ; Exodus 16:12 , Numbers 14:27 ; Numbers 17:5 ; Numbers 17:10 †.
The people's question, "What shall we drink?" wasn't just about thirst; it was a veiled accusation against Moses, essentially asking him to solve a problem only God could fix. Their disbelief and demand reveal a deeper lack of trust, even after witnessing God's miraculous power at the Red Sea.
Freshly delivered from Egypt and miraculous waters, the Israelites now face a new hardship in the wilderness: a three-day journey without finding any drinkable water. When they finally discover water, it’s undrinkably bitter, leading them to immediately grumble and accuse Moses, questioning his leadership and God's provision. This complaint sets the stage for God to reveal Himself as their healer and provider, testing their faith in the midst of their discontent.
Freshly delivered from Egypt and miraculous waters, the Israelites now face a new hardship in the wilderness: a three-day journey without finding any drinkable water. When they finally discover water, it’s undrinkably bitter, leading them to immediately grumble and accuse Moses, questioning his leadership and God's provision. This complaint sets the stage for God to reveal Himself as their healer and provider, testing their faith in the midst of their discontent.
"And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”" — The people's question, "What shall we drink?" wasn't just about thirst; it was a veiled accusation against Moses, essentially asking him to solve a problem only God could fix. Their disbelief and dem…
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Last reviewed October 2026