By Christopher Dryden
All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
Exodus 17:1-4 (ESV)
We would say it’s being childish.
The parent and the child are in the store, the child conveniently uses that time in the store to say how hungry he is. In a considered and controlled manner, the parent will inform the child that they will be fed later. The child, however, will kick up a fuss, nagging and crying that they’re hungry. The wise parent will give the child that look which speaks volumes as to what will take place later because of this outcry.
The people of Israel had just experienced the amazing provision of God in giving them food in the middle of a wilderness – not just regular food either, but the right food for the setting – sufficient for their everyday needs. Now they are in another situation where they cannot find anything to drink. Is there an enquiry looking to God who delivered and provided? Is there a trust that this God who has been so faithful will remain faithful?
It’s one thing to express a concern – the children of Israel are threatening an all-out riot. It’s even worse than that child kicking up a fuss. They have the audacity to suggest that they’ve been delivered from Egypt to be killed in the wilderness of thirst. You know things are bad when even Moses has to look for some relief from the grief.
We read this and shake our heads tutting at the apparently extraordinary behaviour of these ungrateful people. Whilst we shake our heads though, there’s a nagging thought in the back of our minds – are we capable of that? Are we so grateful to God for what He has done, that we won’t complain or grumble when things are not going so well, or we find ourselves in trying situations? Are we really? Are we so mindful of God’s faithfulness that we would never question Him as the people of Israel did when He leads us through challenging situations? Are we really?
We know the answers to those questions. We know what we’re like. We see it in the way riots genuinely do take place for a variety of causes and reasons. We see it in the uproar that takes place among us when the going gets tough. We see it in our hearts and so we see the need to read these episodes and look to God to help us and have mercy on us.
Ask – Why were the people wrong to respond as they did to water lack?
Seek – Where do you think you could be putting God to the test through complaining?
Knock – Pray that God will unlock those areas where you put Him to the test and that they will be surrendered to the Lord to be replaced by faith.
(Inner Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels)
(Upper Photo by Amine M’Siouri from Pexels)
