Exodus 17:1-7

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation¹ of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded.² They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’³

Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’⁴
But 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?’⁵
So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people?⁶ They are almost ready to stone me.’
The 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. I will be standing there⁷ 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.’ ⁸
Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.⁹ He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord,¹⁰ saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’¹¹



1 The unity of the people through this wilderness time is so clear that it might sometimes pass unnoticed. But they were clearly one nation, with one purpose, traveling together.

2 Though their lack of trust is about to be emphasized, it still notes that they are faithful in obeying at least this much.

3 A fairly strange thing to rely on Moses for. Have they become overdependent? Or is the situation simply that dire?

4 Moses again connects complaints against him to complaints against God.

5 The same incredible complaint they had made in the previous story, and before at the sea. Even though they had been brutally oppressed, they claim they would rather return to that oppression than face this hardship.

6 Fascinating that Moses's cry to the Lord is not about water, but a complaint against the people.

7 God affirms his presence to Moses.

8 The fourth miraculous provision by God in a row, following the bitter water made sweet, the quail, and the manna.

9 Elders are there to witness how God provides.

10 The food provision was a test for the people, now the people are testing God.

11 To us it appears crazy they would ask this question. But we must ask whether we exhibit the same craziness.

Take-home: Another difficulty arises, and the Israelites test God in response. Once again God shows his willingness to give provision in response to their complaint, and demonstrates clearly that he is with his people.