The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 21

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 22-27.-Marah and Elim. "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur," etc. 'l'he main topics here are- I. TnE SWEET FOLLOWED BY THE BITTER. Singing these songs of triumph, and pra.ising God with timbrel and dance, on the further shores of the Red Sea, the Israelites may have felt as if nothing remained to them but to sing and dance the rest of tbetr way to Canl,lan. They would regard their trials as practically at an end. It would be with regret that they broke up their pleasant encampment at the Red Sea at all. 'l'heir thought would be, "It is good for us to be here, let us make here tabernacles" ( cf. Matt. xvii. 4). But this was not to be permitted. The old call comes-" Speak to the children oflsrael that they go forward" (eh. xiv. 15), and the halcyon days of their first great exuberant joy are over. 'l'heir celebration of triumph is soon to be followed by sharp experience of privation. 1. The Israelites were conditcted by the wilderness of bhur. 'l'here they went three days without water. God might, as after- wards at Rephidim (eh. xvii. 6), have given them water; but it was his will that they should taste the painfulness of the way. 'l'his is not au uncommon experience. Every life has its arid, waterless stretches, which may be compared to this "wilderness of Shur." "There are moments when the poet, the orator, the thinker, possessed, inspired with lofty and burning thoughts, needs nothing added to the riches of his existence; finds life glorious and sublime. But these are but moments, eveu in the lifo of genius; and after them, and around them, stretches the weary waste of uninspired, inglorious, untimeful days and years" (Dr. J. Service). It is the same in the life of religion. Seasons of spiritual enjoyment are frequently followed by sharp experience of trd. We are led by the wilderness of Shur. Spiritual comforts fail us, anu our soul, like hrael's at a later period, is "much discouraged because of the way" (N um. xxi. 4). _We are brought into" a ury anu ihirsty land, where no water is" (Ps. !xiii. 1). A certam sovereignty is to be rccugnis~tl iu the (lispen,mliuu \If Di l'iue curufurt:,;. liutl  22 TIIE BOOK OF EXODUS. [en xv. 22-27.