Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Scripture

“He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’” Exodus 17:7

Reflections

If you think you have it rough, imagine being the people of Israel.  They were wandering in the wilderness and had no water.  The wilderness was so dry and sandy that it was much like a lunar landscape.  People cannot survive much more than a few days without water.  No wonder they were panicking about dying of thirst.

But the Lord God was faithful.  He had brought them out of slavery, parted the Sea of Reeds, and provided manna and quail to eat.  If he could do all that, certainly he could provide water.  The Lord commanded Moses to strike the rock at Horeb.  So, he struck the rock and water came out of it.

It is hard to fault the people of Israel.  Under those circumstances, we would be likely to panic and complain as well.  Without basic things like food and water, we will perish.  We would be lured to think the Lord has abandoned us.  It takes a lot of faith to be confident in the face of that kind of adversity.

As much as we may be tempted to think the Lord is not with us, we do well to remember that He is the author and sustainer of all life.  We cannot make it without Him.  He is the One who promises life.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for getting me through to this day.  Help me to trust in you, even when I feel like I’m in an impossible situation.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Exodus 17:1-7