Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:1-7
The only thing worse than having a physical need unmet, is having a physical need without faith. Moses leading them to a waterless site, the children of Israel contended with him to the point of doubting God was with him. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? If we don’t get what we want when we want it, God is not blessing us. Moses saw this as really tempting God. And so intense was their pressing him, Moses thought they were going to stone him. Anyone in leadership knows how hard it can be to please people. If fact, the term “Customer service” has really a different meaning for us today. Whether you are dealing with federal government, and or state officials, or just plain old department store employees, it is hard to find persons who are looking out for your best interests. But here is where our faith intersects with reasoning. God knows what we need and if your a child of His, His promise is to never leave us or forsake us. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) For us today, those who are living and abiding in Christ, can be content in every situation because of this promise. It gives 5 negatives in describing this statement of promise, the impossibility of Christ ever deserting believers. It’s like saying: “There is absolutely no way whatsoever that I will ever, ever leave you.”
Now the leadership of Moses being tested, led him to turn to God in prayer. Our faith is tested on the principle of addressing our concerns to the Lord, then having the faith to believe He knows exactly what I need, and when I need it. His timing is perfect. God is never late. Nor does He ever give us more than we can handle. Apparently the murmurings and complaints of the Israelites was an on going thing, where it led Moses to prayer, they didn’t seem to want to cry out to God. No, they saw it as their chance to put blame on Moses, to the point of even questioning if God was really leading them.
I see a great need in our families today. Whoever is in leadership, We need to be in constant prayer over the needs of our families. Faith and trust in the Lord and His Words of promise, will ward off seeds of doubt and despair that often if left unrepented from, will breed roots of bitterness. This is destructive behavior that is demonic in nature, because it wants to destroy what God wants to build up. Strong healthy Christian families are not without trial of testing, but it is the exercise of our faith and trusting in what Jesus Christ has done for us, He who is the Author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) wants us trusting in His provision for our lives. Whatever the need may be, we tend to think of the physical need as even more important than the spiritual need. And brethren guess what? God will never put your physical need before your spiritual need. He knows you need water to live, daily bread for sustenance for strength for endurance. Through the eyes of faith are we to look at our circumstances. Am I trusting in the Lord for what I need today? This biblical view point is what will carry you and those you love through the difficult times in which we live. Though Moses may have been upset with the Israelites, there is no indication that God was upset with them, for food and water are both of our most important physical needs, therefore are natural needs for us to have. I think it is when we react to our situations with anger, that is where we are not using our right to exercise faith, and be in prayer to God for what we need. So Moses, like our life needs to be, was characterized by prayer.
Behold, I will stand before you at the rock in Horeb—By these words in His instruction to Moses, the Lord reinforced both the position of Moses in leadership, and Himself as ahead of him and His presence to act of his behalf. Even to the miraculous intervention which occurred through out their wilderness journey. Through the circumstances they experienced, Israel had learned how God provided food and water for them. They had to learn through warfare, both physical and spiritual warfare that God would bring them victory over their enemies in the promised land. These same lessons are for us to learn.
Beloved friend, There before us is our Old Testament example of living by faith and not by sight. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: “I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) And it was Jesus Himself who said, “If any man thirsts let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39) But for us today, Jesus is glorified, He died for our sins, and He rose and conquered the grave on our behalf. Now anyone who has a hunger and thirst for Him, will be satisfied, will taste the victory of eternal life. And even now, as we live in this world, has the promise of every spiritual blessing in Christ has already been given to us (Ephesians 1:3). So go forth today, and speak to the Rock: Don’t let your heart be troubled, God invites us to speak to the Rock as a man speaks to his friend and be comforted by His love for you.
May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!
