The Israelites knew that feeling all too well, not just physically, but spiritually too. Their journey through the desert wasn't just about finding oases; it was about finding connection.
Think about it: they were wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus, right? A moment came in Marah where the water was… undrinkable. Bitter. Why? Well, the sages tell us it wasn’t just happenstance. The Midrash, and particularly Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, suggests a fascinating reason: for three whole days, the people had neglected studying the Torah, the sacred scroll containing God's teachings.
Can you imagine? Just three days without engaging with their spiritual heritage, and suddenly, even water turns against them. According to Legends of the Jews, this incident became a pivotal moment. The prophets and elders of Israel established a new custom: reading from the Torah during public services on Saturdays, Mondays, and Thursdays. The goal? To make sure that no more than three days ever passed without the people connecting with God's word. What a beautiful solution!
From Marah, they moved on to Elim. Now, picture this: from afar, Elim looked like paradise, a lush haven promising respite. Palm trees swaying in the breeze... a mirage, perhaps?
As the Israelites drew nearer, the truth became clear. There were only seventy palm trees, not nearly enough to provide ample shade or fruit for such a massive group. And even worse, these palm trees were stunted, struggling to survive because of a lack of water. Twelve wells were present, yes, but the soil was so barren, so sandy, that the water wasn’t enough.
Disappointment must have washed over them like a wave. Had they escaped slavery only to face hardship after hardship in the desert?
But here's where the story takes another turn, a testament to the unwavering grace watching over them. The meager water supply at Elim, barely enough for those seventy struggling palm trees, miraculously satisfied sixty myriads of people. Sixty myriads! That's hundreds of thousands of people sustained by what seemed like an impossible trickle.
As Legends of the Jews points out, this episode reveals God's incredible intervention, a divine favor ensuring the survival of Israel despite seemingly insurmountable odds. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? How often are we sustained by blessings we don't even fully recognize, miracles hidden in plain sight, perhaps even in the bitterest of circumstances?