Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Where's God?
Today's Verse:
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? ~Exodus 17:7
How strong is your faith in God? The strength of our faith is best determined during times of difficulty and testing. It is when our resources are lacking and there are no immediate answers. It is when we receive unexpected news and we feel like our world is crashing. It is during those moments when we might be like the children of Israel and grievously ask, “Where’s God?”
We see a site.
Israel had been traveling in the wilderness for less than 30 days. With such a large mass of people to care for, they were concerned about their daily needs. They came to a site named Rephidim. Rephidim means “rest” or “resting place.” God’s intention for Israel is that they would rest their souls in the land of promise. This rest begins when we are willing to trust God for everything. When you get saved, you are a new creature in Christ. Everything starts new. We must learn to rest in God’s Person, promises, and performance for us.
We see a struggle.
At Rephidim, they did not see any water sources. They were very thirsty. The hot desert setting and climate made this large congregation thirsty. To their physical eyes, they saw no water. They chided with Moses. This means there was strife and contention between the people and Moses. They murmured against him. They blamed him for bringing them to this “terrible place.” The first thing they did was look for somebody to blame and that happened to be Moses. They rejected his leadership and the place where they were at.
We see a sin.
However, their real struggle was with God! They blamed God for bringing them there. Strife and contention are a sin! “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction” (Proverbs 17:19). Do you complain and murmur? Are you someone who contentiously has to prove that you are always right? Do you have a gatekeeper personality where people have to go through you or get your approval on a matter? The entire camp turned against Moses and God. They displayed ugly unbelief. There was sin in the camp.
We see a supplication.
In meekness, Moses brings this matter to God. He prayed for them. He begged God to show him where to provide them water. He prayed for wisdom and discernment. He knew he needed God to do something for them. When you are at a place where there is no water and the voices around you are causing you to second guess your judgment and God’s power, be sure that you are on your knees and praying.
We see a symbol.
God told Moses to take that rod with which he smote the Red Sea, and with that same rod he would smite a rock so that water would come forth. Years earlier, that rod was turned into a serpent and God told him to “take it by the tail.” Here was a situation where Moses, by the power of God, needed to take it by the tail. The rod throughout his ministry was a constant reminder of God’s power in his life. Don’t forget what God has placed into your possession and stewardship. By God’s power, take it by the tail!
We see the suffering.
The name of the location was changed to Massah and Meribah. This means "temptation" and "strife." It became an infamous reminder that instead of trusting God, the people were tempted and strove with God. This location would be remembered as the place where hearts were hardened and the people spitefully asked, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”
All of the adults perished in the wilderness, save Caleb and Joshua. Unbelief is defiling and destructive. Be careful that you do not strive with God!
Have a submissive God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 9-16
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