Exodus 17:1-7: a reflection

1All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, starting according to the LORD’s commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” 4Moses cried to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5The LORD said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”

When Israel came to Rephidim and found no water, the people quarreled with Moses and, in their thirst and fear, began to doubt whether God was even with them. The place was named Massah and Meribah, the account explains, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? Under the pressure of hardship, they doubted God's presence, wondering whether he was with them at all. And yet, even as they doubted, God graciously provided: he had Moses strike the rock, and water came out for the people to drink. Their doubt did not cut off his provision; he met their need even as they questioned whether he was there. God graciously provides even when we doubt his presence in hardship; his provision is not conditioned on our confidence, and he can meet our need even as we ask whether he is with us. God gave water even to a people asking, is the LORD among us?

Notice the graciousness of God's provision despite the people's doubt. In their hardship they doubted God's presence, quarreling and testing him, asking whether he was even among them. This was a real failure, a doubting of God under pressure. And yet God did not respond by withdrawing his provision; he graciously gave them the water they needed, striking the rock so that streams flowed out. His provision was not conditioned on their confidence; he met their need even as they doubted whether he was there. This is a gracious thing: God providing for a people who were doubting his presence, meeting their need even amid their unbelief. It tells us that God's care for us is not cut off the moment we doubt; he can be gracious to us, provide for us, meet our need, even when we are questioning whether he is with us. His grace is not so fragile as to fail at our first doubt. God provides even for the doubting, meeting our need even as we ask whether he is present. His grace reaches even our unbelief.

That is worth resting in, for God graciously provides even when we doubt whether he is with us. In hardship we can doubt God's presence, wondering whether he is with us at all, quarreling and questioning as Israel did at Massah; but even as they doubted, God graciously provided the water they needed. His provision is not conditioned on our confidence; he can meet our need even amid our doubt. God's grace is not cut off the moment we question whether he is there. When you doubt God's presence in hardship, remember that he provided water for a people asking whether he was among them. Rest in the truth that God graciously provides even when we doubt his presence in hardship, as he gave Israel water from the rock even while they quarreled and asked, is the LORD among us or not; for his provision is not conditioned on our confidence, and his grace is not so fragile as to fail at our first doubt, but can meet our need even as we question whether he is with us, so that our doubting his presence does not cut off the God who graciously provides even for the doubting.

Lord, when Israel came to Rephidim and found no water, the people quarreled with Moses and, in their thirst and fear, began to doubt whether you were even with them. The place was named Massah and Meribah, the account explains, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? Under the pressure of hardship, they doubted your presence, wondering whether you were with them at all. And yet, even as they doubted, you graciously provided: you had Moses strike the rock, and water came out for the people to drink. Their doubt did not cut off your provision. Show me the graciousness of your provision despite the people's doubt. In their hardship they doubted your presence, quarreling and testing you, asking whether you were even among them. This was a real failure. And yet you did not respond by withdrawing your provision; you graciously gave them the water they needed. Your provision was not conditioned on their confidence; you met their need even as they doubted whether you were there. This tells me that your care for me is not cut off the moment I doubt; you can be gracious to me, provide for me, even when I am questioning whether you are with me. Your grace is not so fragile as to fail at my first doubt. Let me rest in that, for you graciously provide even when I doubt whether you are with me. In hardship I can doubt your presence, wondering whether you are with me at all, as Israel did at Massah; but even as they doubted, you graciously provided. Your grace is not cut off the moment I question whether you are there. When I doubt your presence in hardship, help me remember that you provided water for a people asking whether you were among them, Lord, and that your grace can meet my need even as I question whether you are with me.