Our Supply

Exodus 17:1-7
1All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And 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 grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, 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.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The miracles just keep on coming at the Children of Israel spend time in the desert. Along with those miracles comes the on-going lack of faith and never ending complaining. The gripe this time is the lack of water. Just as He had provided at the well called Marah (Bitter) God now provides water yet again in an incredibly dramatic fashion.

 

 
  

The pictures above were taken at a spot in the desert that is believed to be the location of this particular miracle. Of course we cannot know for certain that this is the exact location, but the archeological evidence is fairly compelling. I’m particularly fascinated by the picture of the large rock at the base of the mound with a round hole beat into it by the water. Regardless if these are actually pictures of the location or not the Bible text tells us this story took place so we know it to be a true event.

Possibly of more importance than the actual miracle is the miserable attitude of the people as they daily get to witness the power of God in their lives through His visible presence in the pillar of cloud/fire, the delivery of Manna, Quail, and now an abundance of water flowing like a fountain from a rock. They are quick to hate Moses and blame God for their momentary discomfort. Why are we so slow to learn? And I saw “we” because we are no different than they were. Are we not also quick to grumble and slow to humbly pray? I think we certainly can be.

Thanksgiving is soon upon us (in the United States) and maybe this year we could begin early with the practice of giving thanks rather than summoning up complaint. God graciously provides for my every need on a regular basis and my attitude can always use a little adjustment in that department. These dramatic pictures of what was probably an amazing fountain in the desert remind me that God can do anything necessary to care for me – anything.

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