“Is the Lord Among Us or Not?”
Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:1–7
Have you ever been in a hard situation and thought, “God, are You even here?”
That’s exactly where the Israelites found themselves in Exodus 17. They had just witnessed God’s mighty deliverance—ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, bitter water turned sweet, daily manna falling from heaven—and yet they still doubted His presence. This story is not just about ancient Israel; it is about the human heart that forgets God’s past faithfulness when faced with present problems.
The Setting
The people journeyed through the wilderness, moving from place to place at God’s command. They arrived at Rephidim, only to find—no water. Instead of praying, remembering God’s miracles, or trusting His plan, they quarreled with Moses and accused him of bringing them out of Egypt just to die of thirst.
The Meaning of Massah and Meribah
After God provided water from the rock, Moses named the place Massah (“testing”) and Meribah (“quarreling”). These names served as a lasting reminder:
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Massah—they tested the Lord, questioning if He would act.
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Meribah—they contended and argued against God’s chosen leader.
The most painful part? They asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (v. 7). This was after they had walked on dry ground through the Red Sea and seen Pharaoh’s army swept away. How quickly gratitude faded into doubt.
The Lesson They Should Have Learned
God’s past faithfulness should have been their anchor. The Red Sea, the manna, the pillar of cloud and fire—all testified that He was with them.
The lesson? Present trials do not erase past mercies, and they should not make us doubt God’s presence. If He could deliver them from Egypt, He could certainly give them a drink of water.
Jesus: The Water of Life
This moment at Rephidim points us to Jesus Christ, the true Water of Life. When our souls are parched and our hearts weary, He alone can satisfy.
Jesus said:
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“Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst” (John 4:14, NKJV).
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“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37, NKJV).
The Israelites needed physical water, but their greater need was spiritual refreshment—just as ours is today.
Jesus: Our Rock
Paul makes the connection clear in 1 Corinthians 10:4: “They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
The rock Moses struck was a picture of Christ, who would be struck for our salvation (Isaiah 53:4–5). From His pierced side flowed blood and water (John 19:34), the very source of eternal life for all who believe.
Just as the rock was smitten once to bring forth life-giving water, Christ was struck once for our sins, and now we drink freely from His grace.
How About Us Today?
The Israelites named that place Massah and Meribah—a reminder of testing and quarreling. What will our trials be remembered for? Will they be remembered as the moments we doubted God, or the moments we trusted Him?
The next time life feels dry and empty, remember:
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He is with you.
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He is the Water of Life.
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He is your Rock.
Come to Him and drink deeply, and you will never thirst again.
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