Today’s Old Testament reading from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer for the Third Sunday of Lent brings us to the Book of Exodus. The setting takes place not too long after the people of Israel had crossed the Red Sea, yet already they were complaining once again to God. Let’s take a look at what they felt they had to complain about, and what we can learn for our own lives.
As chapter 17 begins in Exodus, it had only been a little over two months since the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, where Yahweh had held back the water on either side, and the people crossed on dry ground, saving them from Pharaoh and his army (Exodus 14). Only days before that He had performed the miraculous ten plagues upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians, yet sparing the Israelites from those judgments (Exodus 7:14-12:36). All of the people here had been eyewitnesses to all of that. Within a few days, the people ran out of fresh water in the wilderness, finding only bitter and undrinkable water available. The Lord provided a miracle for them, making the bitter water drinkable (Exodus 15:22-27). Then they complained to the Lord about wanting fresh meat in their diet. In answer to their moaning and grumbling the Lord sent quails, and then manna every day for the people to eat (Exodus 16:12-31). With so many undeniable miracles of the Lord shown to the people, all within just a handful of weeks, one would think that their faith and trust in Yahweh would be strong, yet that was not the case.
As we read in the opening verses of chapter 17, the people were without water again, and they came to Moses to complain. They wanted water, and they wanted it right then. Their anger and protesting was so strong that Moses feared they might kill him (vs. 4). When the people faced a problem, such as lack of water, what did they do? They complained and protested, and then threatened God’s servant. When Moses had a problem, such as his own physical safety at the hands of the violent crowd, what did he do? Moses turned to the Lord God, bringing the problem to Him (vs. 4). Do we complain about our problems, or do we bring them to God in prayer? Complaining only raises our level of stress. Prayer quiets our thoughts, emotions, and prepares us to listen to God. Murmuring always exhibits unbelief.
The people were thirsty, and Moses prayed to the Lord for them. God would provide them with water, but not in the normal or usual way. He told Moses to strike a large rock there with his staff to bring water. The obedience of Moses here shows his great faith and trust in God. If God told us to do something that would seem completely fantastic like what He told Moses, would we believe? Would we obey, especially with an angry mob surrounding us? Moses believed and obeyed, and water gushed from the rock.
God had led the people to a place where there was no water so that they would come to see the unbelief in their hearts, and to know the unfailing faithfulness of God’s heart. God can quench our spiritual thirst in the most unlikely circumstances. When by faith we believe the promises of God’s Word, we can experience rivers of living water (John 7:37-39), and grace for our daily needs.
Our Scripture passage is more than just an account of God providing water to the people. We see several types, or patterns of Jesus in this account. The rock that Moses struck at God’s command was a type of Christ (I Corinthians 10:1-4). The rock was smitten to provide for the people. Jesus, the Rock, was smitten for our salvation (Isaiah 53:4). The water coming out of the rock was a type of the Holy Spirit, the living water that Jesus sent. The water (the Holy Spirit) was not available until the rock (Jesus Christ) was smitten (crucified) (John 14:16-20).
This place where the people demanded water was called Massah and Meribah (vs. 7). The word Massah in Hebrew means “temptation” because the people tempted God. The word Meribah in Hebrew means “strife” or “contention” because they fought against God and against Moses, God’s servant. Do we test God with our complaints and murmurings against Him? Are we fighting against Him and His will in our life? In a desert situation we are totally dependent upon God for everything. The people were not given the water because they were righteous, but because of the grace of God. Without God, we have nothing. With God we have everything.
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