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Early in their journey through the wilderness, God led His people to a fertile part of the peninsula called Rephidim, which means “places of rest or refreshment.”(1) But it turned out to be a place that didn’t quite live up to its name. They couldn’t find any water there to drink! Though they were apparently surrounded by luscious vegetation, just like they had seen in previous oases, there was no spring in Rephidim from which they could quench their thirst.

And we read, “So once more the people grumbled and complained to Moses.”(2) As if Moses could do something about it! Had Moses parted the Red Sea? Had he turned the bitter water into sweet at Marah? Was it Moses who was providing the manna every morning – including that very morning? Are you starting to wonder why these people are not sensing a pattern here?

Are you getting exasperated as you read this and want to call out to them – “People, H-E-L-L-O, have you tried calling upon Jehovah God? You know, the One who is leading you with that large pillar of cloud up there in front! What part of ‘God is your Provider’ do you not understand? All this grumbling and complaining is doing is giving you, Moses and everyone around you one giant headache! I’m not even there; I’m just reading about it, and you’re giving me a headache!”

But as their thirst increased so did the volume of their complaints, including repeated choruses of “Take Us Back To Good Ol’ Egypt”. The people were working on their solution to the problem – they were determining how best to stone Moses. That would have solved everything! At least Moses wouldn’t have needed to listen to their complaints!

As i recount what is happening here, albeit “somewhat tongue in cheek,” i am again reminded that i have done the exact same thing. Time and again God has faithfully provided, and time and again as i have encountered a crisis, i am ashamed to confess, He is the last one i have turned to! i have allowed the dryness of my throat to restrict the blood flow to my brain, hardening my heart, blinding my eyes, and deafening my ears to the reality that He is my Answer!

He is my Source! He is the only One who can take this situation – whatever it is – and transform it for my good. Perhaps it is time for me to drop the stones i was preparing to throw at the one on whom i am projecting blame, and drop to my knees and call upon the only One who can truly make a difference. If God has led me to Rephidim, He intends to refresh me.

i’d like to report that the Israelites came to this reality, turned to the Lord, and experienced, not only His provision, but through it, a greater intimacy with His Person. But that didn’t occur that day. That day they determined in their hearts to test the Lord and defiantly cried out at Him while shaking their clenched fists: “Is the Lord going to take care of us or not?”

But Moses turned to God and pleaded on behalf of the people. And because of His promise to Moses, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob – even to the people themselves – God provided the water, and the people were able to drink. God met Moses at the rock by Mount Sinai, and as the people looked on, the water gushed out. Because of God’s promise and His faithfulness, the people experienced His blessing – the water; but because of their obstinance and their arrogance, they missed the intimacy of His presence.

That place and that time would thenceforth be remembered as Massah and Meribah – “the place of testing and of arguing” – not Emmanuel – “God with us” or Emunah – “the place of faithfulness”.

The other unfortunate part of this event is that the people appear to have been content with just experiencing His blessing without experiencing His presence. They were content to settle for that which would only temporarily satisfy instead of the deeper blessing that God desired to give them through a more intimate relationship with Him.

What about us? Do we thirst for the water that will temporarily satisfy our immediate need or do we thirst for a deep drink of Living Water that will always satisfy and can only come through an intimate relationship with our Living Lord? The choice that day at Rephidim was much like the choice on the day many years later, when the Samaritan woman encountered Jesus at the well. She chose Living Water – an intimate relationship with the Son of God – and left her bucket at the well – never to thirst again.

Which will we choose today? Will this place in our lives be known as Meribah – the place of arguing – or will it be known as Emunah – the place of faithfulness?

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You can read about the day God brought forth water out of a rock at Rephidim in the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Exodus.

This post is taken from chapter 18 of my book, The Journey Begins. For more information about the book, click here.

(1)  Exodus 17:1-7 (NLT)

At the LORD's command, the people of Israel left the Sin Desert and moved from place to place. Eventually they came to Rephidim, but there was no water to be found there. So once more the people grumbled and complained to Moses. "Give us water to drink!" they demanded. "Quiet!" Moses replied. "Why are you arguing with me? And why are you testing the LORD?" But tormented by thirst, they continued to complain, "Why did you ever take us out of Egypt? Why did you bring us here? We, our children, and our livestock will all die!" Then Moses pleaded with the LORD, "What should I do with these people? They are about to stone me!" The LORD said to Moses, "Take your shepherd's staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile. Then call some of the leaders of Israel and walk on ahead of the people. I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come pouring out. Then the people will be able to drink." Moses did just as he was told; and as the leaders looked on, water gushed out. Moses named the place Massah--"the place of testing"--and Meribah--"the place of arguing"--because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD going to take care of us or not?"

(2)  Exodus 17:2 (NLT)

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