Exodus 17:5-7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Moses led the Israelites from the wilderness of Sin, then to Rephidim which would be the last stop, before reaching the Promise Land where they would remain for many years.
The Lord instructed Moses to pitch tents as there was no water there, and they had traveled through the desert for many miles. Once again the people began to grumble that Moses had led them, their children, and cattle to die of thirst in the wilderness. Moses cried to the Lord for help as he felt threatened, likely to be stoned to death. The Lord instructed Moses to go before the people and the elders, with the rod in hand to smite the rock, so water would spring forth.
The people had a problem with God
The people focused their complaint against Moses, but he understood their problem was with the Lord. God purposely, planned and allowed these circumstances to help them grow in their trust in Him. Moses faithfully did what Israel should have done. Moses had the proper response and placed the situation before God in prayer.
The doubts of the people
Moses did what God told him to do and struck the rock with his staff and the water flowed.!! They witnessed a great miracle of God’s provision to the unbelieving Israelites.
The attitude of the Israelites was their great sin, as they posed the question..” Is the Lord among us, or not?”. They doubted the love, care and presence of the Lord.The Bible tells us to “ look for the hand of God in all our situations “, we want to strive to a greater relationship with God through faith.
The Israelites were learning to be people of God and they were experiencing the meaning of God’s name, Jehovah, the “I am that I AM” (Exodus 3:14).
Are you doubtful or grateful?
How do we maintain a heart of gratitude for the things God has done and trust in His faithfulness for the future?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.
God’s provision of water was to be a reminder to future Israelite generations (and us) of His ability to meet their (and our) needs as well as a warning not to murmur against His appointed leaders which is really murmuring against Him.
