Midrash sur Les Nombres 33:15

(Ibid. 2) "And they journeyed from Refidim and they came to the desert of Sinai": Is it not already written (Ibid. 1) "they came to the desert of Sinai"? __ Their journeying from Refidim is being likened to their coming to the desert of Sinai. Just as the latter was in a state of repentance, so, the former. Variantly: Their coming to the desert of Sinai is being likened to their journeying from Refidim. Just as in their journeying from Refidim, they angered the L rd for a short time, repented, and were accepted, so, in their coming to the desert of Sinai.