IMAGINE millions​—men, women, and children—​heading into a “great and fear-inspiring wilderness, with poisonous serpents and scorpions and with thirsty ground that has no water”!

Those words of God found at Deuteronomy 8:15 bring into focus what might have seemed to be an awesome journey looming before the Israelites as they exited Egypt and marched into the wilderness of the Sinai. One formidable problem: Who would provide enough food and water?

After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, the reality of Sinai soon dawned on them. They did not take the well-traveled trade route to the north but turned toward the tip of the triangular peninsula. By the time they had moved about 50 miles [80 km] through the wilderness, their need for water seemed critical. They could not drink what they found, for it was bitter and possibly bore diseases. “What are we to drink?” they cried. God intervened, turning the water sweet.​—Exodus 15:22-25.