Exodus 17: 1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" 3But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" 4So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
Sometimes it feels like God is hidden. Sometimes it feels like no matter where you look, there is tragedy, there is destruction, there is darkness. Sometimes you hit a string of luck that is so bad you wonder if there will ever be an end to your suffering, to your depression, to your despair. You begin to ask yourself, "Is God still around? What have I done to deserve this? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? And is that light truly daylight, or is it a train coming at me?" Sometimes it feels like God is hidden.
As the Israelites were traveling out of Egypt and headed to the promised land, they encountered many hardships. Life wasn’t always rosy and neat. They had left Egypt with their heads held high. They were dancing and parading around. The Egyptians had given them gold and parting gifts. They had a sense of excitement and giddiness. No longer were they slaves. No longer would Egyptian overseers crack their whips over their heads and across their backs. No longer would they have to make bricks and carry heavy burdens to satisfy their captors. God was gracious. God was good. God had given them their freedom and had promised a land flowing with milk and honey. It was a joy to be alive.
The first inkling of trouble came on the shores of the Red Sea. The Israelites had been camping there for several days when a cry went up. Scouts had come in and informed everyone the Egyptian army was approaching–intent upon bringing the Israelites back to Egypt to resume their slavery. Instead of trusting God at that moment, the people turned to their leader and began complaining. "You brought us out here so that the Egyptians would slaughter us. We would have been better off if we would have stayed in slavery!"
I can imagine the frustration God felt at that moment. God probably asked out loud, "Didn’t you see the signs I performed for you? Didn’t you see the water turn to blood? Didn’t you see the fierce plagues of locusts, flies, and frogs? Didn’t you see the cattle of your enemies die off? Didn’t you see how the people of Egypt were beset by sores and illness? Didn’t you see my hand travel through Egypt striking the firstborn sons of those who demanded the death of your firstborn sons? All of this happened, and not a single hair on your heads were damaged. Your crops were not destroyed. Your cattle lived. Your water remained pure. And now you begin to question me? Do you not think that I will deliver you once more? Quit your belly aching, and get ready to move."
Yet, while God may have had such thoughts, perhaps He also tempered them a little. After all, the people were slaves. They had been used to living their lives being told what to do and how to do it. They weren’t capable of trust just yet. They needed time. They needed to understand God hadn’t turned His back upon them. A grandiose miracle will help them believe.
And so the waters parted.
The people walked across the dry land.
As the enemy began crossing the same path, the waters returned. The enemy drowned, and God’s people were delivered once again. Song and dance ensued.
But it was also time to move on. It was time to travel towards the promised land. And now, the Israelites were headed into and through the desert. Sand and torrid temperatures awaited them. Thirst was a constant companion. The heat, the dust, and the close confines of walking amongst so many people elevated tempers and destroyed cool headed thinking.
The Israelites were forced to make a dry camp at Rephidim. They weren’t happy about it. They wanted water. Their thirst wasn’t satisfied. Freedom wasn’t enough. Delivery from the Egyptians at the Red Sea wasn’t enough. The people wanted more. They wanted everything right then and there. They didn’t trust God to provide. Their anger rose, and it became focused on Moses. They were ready to stone him because they felt like he was responsible for their thirst.
"Why do you test the Lord?" Moses asked.
But their anger was too great. They couldn’t see God’s hand in anything. They were overwhelmed with their fear and frustration. It didn’t matter what God had done. The people wanted water now. There was no such thing as patience–at least from them.
But God was patient with His people once again. Rather than offer punishment, God called forth Moses and gave him instructions to get the people water. Moses did what he was told, and the people were able to drink and be satisfied.
And Moses would work to remind them of their foolishness. Moses named the places Massah and Meribah, which is translated, "Is the Lord among us or not?" God had become hidden from the Israelites because they allowed their thirstiness to hide Him.
We might like to wonder how it was those folks who had seen so much suddenly wondered if God was with them or not. Ah, but how often do we do the same? How often do we continuously allow the circumstances in our lives to overshadow and blot out God’s work in the world? How often do we become consumed with the rat race of our lives so that we become blind to the reality of God? How often do we allow the worries of the world to grow and grow until they blot out the light of God’s love and life? How often do we come to that place where we, like the Israelites wonder, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
And how often do we strike out in anger? How often do we condemn the church? The pastor? The neighbor who asks to pray for us? The person who tries to point out God’s action in the world? How often do these folks become the object of ire and malice when all they are trying to do is help shine God’s light into the midst of the trials and tribulations of this world? And how often have you found yourself the object of such anger? How often have you tried to shine the light of the Lord only to be rebuffed to the point where you too begin to ask, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
Times like these are extremely difficult. They test one’s faith and resolve. But this story from Exodus shows us how dedicated God is. God did not abandon the Israelites. He heeded their cries because He understood them. He knew they needed guidance. He knew they needed His actions so that they could begin to trust in Him. God acted through Moses and brought the people something to drink, and God quenched their thirst.
And the reality for you and me is that God continues to do so in this day and age. We might think God is hidden, that He is not among us, but when this happens it is due to our weakness–our inability to see God. It isn’t because He isn’t there. The reality is: the Lord is among us. He always has been. He always will be. So calm your fears. Ease your anxieties. He is moving. He is active. He will quench your thirst as well. Amen.
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