MIRACLES AND REALITY
For several generations, the life of the children of Israel was slavery, oppression, humiliation, suffering. This was their perception of reality. More, this was their reality. Then, with a series of dazzling miracles, gross departures from the natural order of things, their life of slavery came to an end and Israel's tormentors were soundly punished.

Next came the glorious Exodus, but with it, another dose of reality. The people had the Sea in front of them, mountains to the left and right, and a pursuing Egyptian army coming from behind them. Another set of miracles and they were protected by Cloud and Fire. Then the Miracle of Miracles, the Splitting of the Sea. What the simplest person at the Sea saw, Yechezkeil HaNavi didn't see in his most vivid visions. And this miracle brought Bnei Yisrael to an unprecedented level of Emuna, belief in G-d and in Moshe His servant.

For three days after K'ri'at Yam Suf, the people traveled in the wilderness in search of water. When they finally found it, it was undrinkable. This latest dose of reality overshadowed the wondrous miracles and evoked from the people another bitter complaint against G-d and Moshe. And another miraculous event came to the rescue and the water was sweetened.

At this point, we have a statement of policy, so to speak, from G-d. If we follow G-d's commands and remain completely faithful to Him, then we'll be fine. Perhaps we can (and should) infer from this that it isn't that reality is bad and miracles make things better (albeit temporarily), it is rather that we must remain committed to G-d and the Way of Life He has in mind for us.
And then the food we brought from Mitzrayim runs out. The people are hungry. More reality. Apparently, we cannot drink or eat miracles.

Ah, but we can. And the manna will come to the rescue. Miracle, once again, saves us from reality. And this time, the miracle is not a brief, bright flash in the pan (as the expression goes, no doubt dating back to the early days of photography before flash bulbs). The miracle of the manna will be with the people for forty years, and a sample of the manna will be kept so that the memory & message will not leave us.

It is no wonder why the Meraglim wanted to prolong the stay in the Midbar, knowing (but perhaps not appreciating) that entry into Eretz Yisrael will mean living with reality.

But that reality was to be filled with different kinds of miracles, the miracles of nature, and the blessings from G-d for our being His Nation. It takes a lot of time for us to realize that our reality is a true Torah Life.