Journey from the Sea into the Wilderness: The next major section of Exodus is the journey from the sea to Sinai. It begins inauspiciously in verse 22 of Exodus 15 and continues through Exodus 16 and 17. During this journey the people encounter difficulties finding water and food. The Lord uses these opportunities to build new faith and trust. The NIV says God “tested” them, translating a word (nasah, v. 25) that means “trained” or “proved.” The Lord proved that the people could learn to follow God’s instruction for their own well-being. The training, which was not easy, could be described as “trial runs.” In the narratives, however, the people did not pass or fail the “tests.” They learned more about, and proved their trust in, the Lord. The texts give little negative comment about their g…