Photo by Eradio Valverde, Jr. based on Exodus 17:1-7
We Like it Just The Way It Is!
From Exodus 17:1 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 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?" 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
Most of us were wired to like things just like they are. I can't explain it, I'm as guilty as the next person when I face change. But given what I know about God, God is an active, ever moving God trying to reach all that have not yet been reached. The story of Israel on the move from slavery and bondage to freedom and the land God had promised them was not an easy journey. It was a formative journey that took 40 years to cover a journey that would not have taken as long, but God knew His people and guided them as they needed. Notice the name of the wilderness where they started, Sin.The word has nothing to do with sinfulness but it sure would be easy to apply it to the behavior of the people towards God. The word means literally, the moon. The name and location are not that important to this lesson.
The first change in this particular passage was that they found themselves in a true camping trip, and found themselves with no water. I would be upset too. Just today as we returned from visiting with a pastor whose son is gravely ill, our grandson awoke from a needed nap and immediately asked for water. Not receiving any right away he whined the need for water. Again and again. Grandpa had to stop and buy some at a convenience store. The people of God quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" Moses had the absolute trust in God that God would provide. The only thing was that Moses did not know the exact time, but he knew God would deliver. The people did not have that faith. They had seen signs and wonders, yet they still mumbled and griped. They immediately started with their rehearsed litany, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt?, forgetting it was about their constant prayers for freedom. Did you bring us out here to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" Never mind they had suffered and died under the cruelty of slavery. Moses turns to God and he did daily and asked, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." Moses is then guided by God to what they were to do, they being the elders of Israel. Using the staff he had used to part the Nile, he was ordered to strike the rock at Horeb and water came out of it, and this was the water they were to drink. The elders saw this and they had their answer and Moses responds by naming the place, Gripers and Mumblers, which can be translated to Always Unhappy God-Testers. And after the naming Moses said, "Is the Lord with us or not?"
The one furthest removed from his or her deliverance tends to be the one who has forgotten the power and grace of God to save, and usually reacts negatively to those still in need of God. The most recent converts are the ones with hearts full of joy and excitement about the possibilities ahead. Our prayer should be to stay young and in love with God and what God shares with us each and every day. Routine and ritual tend to cloud our vision and thinking and we find ourselves lamenting every new suggestion or new presence of people in OUR church and OUR pew/seat. Ruts are the remnants of where living water once flowed. And it's hard, if not impossible, to find our way out of them. Ask the question, "Is God among us or not?" and what answer do you give? Is it the same answer for your church? Count the young marrieds in your midst. Count the youth. Count the children. Is there is less than 20, rituals and routines have done their job and your church is dying. But it does not have to die. Fight ruts and climb out and live out the purpose for which God established His church among you.
PRAYER: Dear God, forgive us for the ruts we have allowed to be formed in our lives, the life of our church, and our society. Bless us with courage and strength to rise above and out of those things that kill and maim us. We want to be faithful in reaching all people, especially those whom nobody else wants or see. We pray this in the name of He who challenged ruts by bringing living water, Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
