Still celebrating their victory, the Israelites, led by Moses, enter the first stage in the desert, a suitable setting to see how ready the freed people are to accept the gift of freedom. The story highlights that they find water but cannot drink it, prompting a quick complaint. The details of the complaint are unclear; what matters is that Moses calls out to the Lord, who responds by showing him how to turn the salty water into fresh water. This event emphasizes the importance of divine assistance in the desert. There is a connection between water, a vital element necessary for life, and the laws and commands given by the Lord, whose obedience will always ensure the people’s life and health (25f), serving as a preview of the well-being that follows the observance of divine laws. This first stage ends in a paradise-like place with “twelve springs and seventy palm trees,” where they camped (27).