Water from the Rock

Exodus 17:1-7 (NLT)

Water from the Rock

17 At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. ² So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.

“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”

³ But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”

⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”

⁵ The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. ⁶ I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

⁷ Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?”

I want us to make this story personal so we can better grasp the lesson. Where does the Lord have you right now? Are you in a wilderness of sorts? Are you on the road to some sort of freedom? Have you been called out from a place of bondage? Is the Lord calling you to a new place in Him where He can bless you? For the children of Israel, the journey was a 40 year one from Egypt to the Promised Land. We pick up with them in the scripture as they are camped at Rephidim where there happens to be no water for them to drink. What do you feel like is missing from the place the Lord has you? Are your dreams still unfulfilled? Are the finances tight? Are you simply unsatisfied? Has stepping out to go to the new place been harder than you expected? Perhaps it didn't fix as many problems as you thought it would or this place presents a set of needs you didn't anticipate. The Israelites complained against Moses and tested the Lord. How's your attitude right now? They were tormented by the thirst and argued that Moses only brought them out to die. Do you question your own calling to step out? Do you doubt? Do you think you missed God or God misdirected you? Moses called out to the Lord on behalf of the people and God took care of their need by giving them water from a rock. Notice the water came from the rock as the elders looked on. In other words, there were witnesses present to see Moses' faith and God's provision. Could it be the Lord is waiting for you to call out to Him for the provision of your needs in your wilderness? Perhaps He is getting the witnesses in place to see how He works for your good and His glory. Let's not overlook that the miraculous rock is this story is our Jesus..."For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ." I Corinthians 10:4b The same ROCK travels with you and meets your needs!