Water From a Rock

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WATER FROM A ROCK

Exodus 17:1-7

A God-Directed Crisis – v. 1

We know this crisis is “God-directed” because –

1) God is leading them by the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (13:22)

2) Today’s text says they “moved on…by stages” –

-They left Egypt in an ordered formation (13:18) and continued to travel that way

as God had directed.

3) And it clearly says this way “according to the commandment of the LORD) (17:1)

Once again, God has led them to a campsite where there is no water to drink.

-Just like He did in the wilderness of Shur where there was no water (15:22)

-And just like He did wilderness of Sin where there was no food (16:1)

-Once again, we have another God-directed crisis of no water at Rephidim (17:1)

Here’s what we have seen about these God-directed crisis –

-God leads them to a place where there are no human answers.

-The problem will not be solved through human ingenuity, strength, or

determination.

-There is nothing they can do individually or collectively to solve the problem!

-God does this to text their faith –

-God tests faith so that we will learn to trust in His provision and obey His Word.

So, here they are at Rephidim –

-There is wilderness in every direction –

-There’s no water to drink and no way of getting it.

-There’s no human way out –

-BUT GOD!

A Faithless Response – vs. 2, 3

By this time, we’d like to see someone step up and say –

-I know we are thirsty, and I know how hard it have problems out of our control –

-But remember the mighty hand of God against the Egyptians?

-Remember how God parted the waters of the Red Sea and we walked across on

dry ground…!

-Remember in the wilderness of Shur? There was no water there and God

provided!

-Remember the wilderness of Sin? God gave us food…!

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-But that’s not the way they respond!

Their response is a faithless response –

-They “quarrel” with Moses –

-In quarreling with Moses, they accuse him of having evil intentions.

-They “test” the LORD.

-They don’t question God’s ability, but they question His goodness.

Consider the word “test” –

-The Hebrew word can mean “to ascertain the quality of something” or “to put on trial.”

-Is it a good idea to put God on trial?

-God, as the defendant, and you, as the prosecutor, bringing evidence against His

goodness???

-While we may not understand why God does what He does, we must realize that God is

saying through all these stories “Trust Me!”

Before we look at His gracious response, we should be warned that God’s patience will run

out!

-Numbers 14:20-23

A Gracious Yet Underserved Provision – vs. 4-6

In answer to Moses’ cry, God gives three instructions and a promise –

-Three instructions –

1) Pass before the people

-This was a public demonstration so that everyone would know that God’s

solution would come through His man, Moses –

2) Taking some of the elders

-To be witnesses to what happens.

3) Take the staff in your hand

-The LORD makes special note that this is the staff that Moses tapped the

river of the Nile and it turned to blood.

-Now he will tap the rock and it will give life!

-Most important, God promises His presence –

-v. 6 – “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall

strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.”

God leads you out to draw you in!

-Exodus 19:4 – “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore

you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

A Memorial to Human Failure – v. 7

The way Moses memorializes this event is interesting –

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-He doesn’t call the place “God will provide!”

-He doesn’t call the place “Hallelujah, water!”

Instead, Moses uses two words to memorialize the place where this event happens –

-Massah = to test

-Meribah = to quarrel

-v. 7 – “…they tested the LORD by saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?”