How like life this is. We do not go long from victory to trial. Third, the multitude for the problem. This was not a rebellious multitude being punished for their rebellion. They were going where the Lord (by means of the cloud) led them. So they experienced this trial on the path of obedience. Obedience does not exempt us from trial. In fact, Scripture says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19). • The defilement of the water. “The waters of Marah … were bitter” (Exodus 15:23).