Exodus 17:1-17
~17 min read
TRANSCRIPT
I greet to all of you in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our text for tonight's message is taken from Exodus 17:1-7. The whole journey in the wilderness was a spiritual journey, and as a spiritual journey, there were spiritual lessons to be learned. Often times in spiritual lessons, we have to learn the same lesson not just once, twice, but several times. Why? Because we always forget. That was the case with the children of Israel. They had just murmured and complained against God about the lack of water. Then they experienced God providing them with water at Marah, manna, and quails in the morning and evening.
However, no sooner had they experienced God's gracious provision, again they turned against Him. But this time around, it was more than just murmuring and complaining. They were charging God; they were testing God; they were putting God on trial, so to speak. Dear friends, we must never put God on trial. We must not test God. We must not commit the same sins like the children of Israel. So the title of our message is, "Do Not Test God."
I. The Circumstance
Firstly, let us consider the circumstances that led the Israelites to commit this most serious offence. Let us begin with verse one, Exodus chapter 17. "And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink." Once again, the children of Israel were out in the wilderness, and they were experiencing what they had experienced at Marah, where the waters were so bitter that it was impossible to drink. Take note of the phrase "according to the commandment of the LORD," which means God was the one who had led them to this place, and it was not without any rhymes or reasons. It was for a spiritual purpose so that they would learn to trust in His provision.
The word Rephidim means resting place, but to the Israelites, it was a great disappointment that this place was called a resting place; there was no water to drink. By now, they should have learned how to handle such a situation. They should have gathered together to pray and wait for God to provide, right? But they did the exact opposite. They did exactly what they would usually do, which was to complain.
Verse two, "Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?" In the past, the children of Israel had complained against Moses so many times. But this time, their complaint was brought to another whole new level because the word "chide" was different from the usual word used for murmuring and complaining. Here, this word was with intensity. It was a very strong word, which means to strive, to contend, to fight. They accused Moses of committing mass genocide by bringing them into the wilderness to kill them with their children and their cattle, and they demanded that he provide them with water.
Although it may appear as if they were fighting against Moses, the reality was that they were fighting against God. That was why Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? I'm just following instructions, following the commandment of God. Why do you put the LORD to the test? Moses was only a servant of God. He was appointed a prophet by God himself. He did not lead the children of Israel to Rephidim because he knew where the water was. He was as clueless as them. It was the LORD himself who had led them according to the commandment of the LORD. As a servant, he was just following instructions. He was just obeying what the LORD told him to do. So the people were not rejecting him per se, they were rebelling against God; they were testing God. That was why God said to the psalmist in Psalm 95:8-9, "Harden not your heart, as in the provocation,and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work." God was referring to this incident at Rephidim.
Dear friend, when we are dissatisfied with whatever circumstances we are in, we are showing our dissatisfaction and disappointment with God. Our complaints, all of them, go straight to God, who rules over everything in the universe, including the events, situations, and circumstances that surround our lives. You and I may give reasons for our discontentment, but whatever be the reasons, what it really shows is that we are unhappy with what God has given us. It is a great sin. It is not wrong to bring our troubles and struggles before God, and we do that through prayer. But it is another thing altogether to disobey His word, to reject His sovereign will, to quarrel with His servants. Are you a quarrelsome person? Are you someone who likes to quarrel with the leaders? If the leaders are called by God, if they are serving God faithfully, you are not quarrelling with them per se. You are quarrelling with the almighty God who has called them.
II. The Complaint
Let us move on to our second point: “The Complaint”. Oftentimes, people do not think much about complaints. But if we know that our complaints are actual grumbling and murmuring made against God, then it is more serious, right? But exactly how serious are they? Let us consider the three statements that the Israelites made against God. Remember, they are not directing at Moses, but at God himself. The first statement was, "Give us water that we may drink." Here the sin was to question God's provision. Notice they were not asking for it or waiting for God to provide it. They were insisting on having it. They were telling God that He must give them what they wanted. Isn't it true that we often do the same thing as well? When we are sick, we want to be healed. When we lose our jobs, we want a new job. When we are in need, we want to be provided for, and we insist on having our own way. Our mindset is, "God, you are not doing what I think you ought to do." We do not consider God's will. We do not even pray and ask. We just complain and demand that God provides based on our own terms. We are so ungrateful. We are so unreasonable when we do that. May the Lord forgive us.
The second statement was, "Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" Here the sin was to question God's protection. In fact, they were not only accusing God of not protecting them; they were committing a more serious charge, accusing God of committing sin. And what was that sin? The sin of murder. They were complaining that God's purpose of leading them out of Egypt was, in fact, to kill them. Can you see? It was not just a complaint. It was such a serious sin. It was not just something that we think as trivial. They were accusing God of committing the sin of murder. Again, oftentimes we commit the same sin, especially when we are suffering and going through pain. We complain, "Why God? Why must you do this to me?" The moment we do that, we are not only questioning God's protection; we are actually accusing Him of trying to harm us. Do you realise that? "Why are you doing this to me?" is, in fact, accusing God of trying to harm us.
The third statement was found in verse seven, "Is the LORD among us, or not?" Here the sin was to question God's presence. The lack of water had caused them to wonder if God was really with them. Can you see how the trials of life can cast doubts in a person's heart so much so that he or she would question the presence of God? In good times, we would say we are always in God's presence. But in difficult times, we question God. "Are You really there? If You are there, why are You not delivering us out of this affliction? Why are You not supplying all our needs? Why are You not dealing with all these enemies who are giving us so much trouble? Why are You not doing this and that?" When we do that, are we not guilty of questioning and denying God's presence? You and I are always in the presence of God at every moment of our lives. Never will there come a moment whereby we are not in his presence.
One theologian gave an interesting assessment of the Israelites, and he said this: “they were suffering from severe spiritual amnesia”. What does he mean? They had lost their memory in regards to God's provision, God's protection, and God's presence. They had just witnessed God's powerful deliverance of them out of Egypt by demonstrating his power with the ten plagues and opening up of the Red Sea right before their eyes. They had just witnessed the bitter water at Marah turned into pure sweet water that could quench their thirst. And even at this very moment, they were still receiving the daily bread from Heaven every morning, and the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night was still hanging over their heads, guiding them at every step of the way – they had forgotten all that. That was why this theologian said they were suffering from severe spiritual amnesia. How true! If it can happen to them, it can also happen to us as well. We are the forgetful people, are we not? Oftentimes, our complaints would include these three things: questioning God's provision, questioning God's protection, and questioning God's presence.
The only way for you and I not to fall into this sin, not to have severe spiritual amnesia, is to constantly remember what God has done for us. Whenever we are in need, we must first pause to remember the past, how God has graciously supplied all our needs, whether it be food we put on our tables, clothes we wear, or the roof over our heads. Whenever we are sick and in pain, we must first pause to remember the past. How God has graciously protected us from danger and blessed us with good health and strength. Our remembrance will cause us to recognise and acknowledge that God is our provider, our protector, our ever-present help in times of trouble. Our remembrance will cause us to trust Him, whatever be the situation, not just in good times, in adversities as well, without murmuring and complaining.
III. The Courtroom Trial
Our third and final point is: “The Courtroom Trial”. Why do we call it a courtroom trial? Well, remember the Israelites were charging God for neglecting to provide for them, for failing to protect them, for not being present with them. And they were accusing God of committing a capital offence, namely murder. Verse three, "Why did you to bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" As we have said, although they were charging Moses, but as he was God's representative, they were actually charging God himself. And what was their verdict? God was guilty. So they decided to stone His servant. Look at verse four, "And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me."
In those days, stoning was a way to carry out the capital punishment or the death penalty. In other words, it was as if they had some sort of a trial. Most certainly, it was a kangaroo court. A kangaroo court is a court that ignores the standards of law and justice. It is a court that arrives at a verdict without going through the necessary process of investigating the evidences.
What was the verdict? God's servant Moses was guilty. That was exactly what the Israelites did, and they were about to stone him. For God, it was different. If God were to conduct a trial, it would be a proper trial. It would be a righteous trial. Look at verse 5, "And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go."
In those days, the assembly of the elders was sometimes used to pass judgment on important matters. So Moses was commanded to gather the elders. He was like performing a court proceeding with the elders as the jury, with the elders as the witnesses. Verse six, "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." Notice what Moses did when the people were about to stone him. Instead of blaming God, instead of murmuring and complaining, he cried out to the Lord.
Remember, when God first called Moses at a burning bush, it was at Horeb. Now God was going to appear before him in that same place, Horeb, and God reminded him to take up his rod, which was given to him at the burning bush at Horeb. So Horeb was a very significant place, a place whereby Moses would be brought to remembrance of how God has called him and given him the rod. You know the rod was a sign of God's presence, power, and authority. In other words, God was like saying to him, "Do you not remember how I first called you at the burning bush at Horeb? Do you not remember how I gave you the rod and how I demonstrated my power to you? Striking the rod upon the river? Will I not protect you? Will I forget and forsake you? Most certainly not." So Moses was brought to Horeb, and most certainly, it will bring to his mind all these things that God had done, calling him, empowering him to do his work.
Dear friend, this is an important lesson for you and I to learn. As we serve the Lord, there will always be trouble. The saddest part is when the trouble comes from within, when it comes from the church, from people who are familiar to us, from people who are supposed to support us, stand with us. Whether we serve as pastors, elders, deacons, or fellowship leaders, like Moses, often times, we will be the target of attack. What should we do? We should always remind ourselves that God is the one who has called us to serve Him. And if He's the one who has called us to serve Him, He will never forget, neither will He forsake us. He will stand with us, like the way He stood with Moses on the rock.
By the way, this incident at Rephidim should not be confused with a similar incident from the book of Numbers chapter 20. Although in both cases, water flowed out from the rock, the incident recorded in Numbers chapter 20 was different. It happened much later; it happened after the Israelites received the law at Mount Sinai, and Moses handled that situation very differently. He disobeyed God. Remember, he struck the rock twice instead of speaking to the rock. So, these were two different incidents.
Let us move on to verse seven. “And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”. “Massah” means to test; “Meribah” means to strive or disapprove. Both these names were legal terms.
People would often put God to the test in the same way. They would judge God on the basis of their experiences and the circumstances of life. When things go wrong, when the situation does not meet their expectations, they are quick to judge God. They are quick to demand an explanation from God. They are quick to put the blame on God and challenge God to prove Himself. It is all so wrong. Remember, that was exactly what the Devil did when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He tried to get Jesus to prove Himself, didn't he? He took Jesus through the highest point of the temple, and then he said, "If you are the Son of God, then prove yourself. Throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the stone'" (Matthew 4:6).
The devil was like putting Jesus in a courtroom trial, so to speak. He was testing Jesus, challenging Him to prove Himself that He was really the Son of God. But Jesus did not submit Himself to the Devil's trial, not because He could not pass the test, but the trial itself was wrong. So Jesus said, "It is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Have you ever wondered where did Jesus quote that verse from? Where did He get it from? Deuteronomy 6:16 says, "Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God as ye tempted Him in Massah." This is exactly what God said in verse 7 of Exodus 17: "And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”
Dear friend, we must never put God to the test. We must never put God on trial, so to speak. When God said to Moses, "I will stand before thee on the rock," the word "rock" is very significant because throughout the Bible, God was often referred to as the Rock. For example, He is called the Rock of Israel (Genesis 49:24). He is called the Rock, the Fortress, the Deliverer (Deuteronomy 32:8). He is called the Rock (Psalm 18:2). He is called the Rock of our Salvation (Psalm 95:1). To be precise, this Rock was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. How do we know? Well, scripture must interpret scripture.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 10, as we come to the conclusion. First Corinthians, chapter 10, look at verse one: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea”. God opened the Red Sea so that the Israelites could pass through on dry ground and enclosed the waters upon the Egyptians. He guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Verse two: "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;"
Here, the word "baptize" does not refer to the sacrament of water baptism, nor does it speak of immersion, which some people would insist it speaks of immersion. Remember, the cloud went in front of the Israelites and gave them direction and, most certainly, they were not immersed in the water. They walked through as on dry land. The word "baptize" means to be identified, which is one aspect of the meaning of baptism. When you and I trust in Jesus Christ, we are baptised in Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him. We are one with Him. The Israelites believed in the Lord Jehovah. They believed in His servant Moses. So, when the Bible says they were baptised unto Moses, it means they were identified with him as God's appointed servant. They were now under his leadership.
Verse three: "And did all eat the same spiritual meat”. The Israelites received the manna from Heaven on a daily basis. And the word "spiritual" simply means it was provided for them supernaturally. Finally, verse four, look at verse four: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."
So, God provided them with water, spiritually and supernaturally, and through who? Through the Rock. And who was the Rock? The Rock was the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself testified this truth that He was the Rock when He said to Peter, remember Matthew 16:18, "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church." Jesus was not referring to Peter; the church could not be built upon Peter. This is the idea that the Roman Catholic Church has, which is wrong. Peter is “Petros”, which means a stone, a pebble. Jesus said, "Upon this rock” – “Petra”, which means the solid foundational rock, which was Christ Himself. The church was built on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear friend, isn't that comforting? Isn't that assuring that the church, the body of believers, you and I, are built on the foundational Rock, which is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? And this solid Rock cannot be moved. This solid Rock is secure. And when we are built upon this solid Rock, do you think Jesus will forget or forsake us? Surely not. Jesus said, "You are built on me, the Rock. I will always be with you. I am your Provider. I am your Protector. I am your ever-present Lord. Do not be afraid. Do not worry. Just look to me. Even the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." That is how assuring it is. Even the gates of Hell cannot prevail against this most wonderful truth that we are built on this solid Rock, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Do you believe in Him? If you believe in Him, then whatever be the circumstances of life, whatever troubles, whatever pain, whatever things you are going through, even when you are lying on your deathbed, you will not murmur and complain. You will not put God to the test because you know that my God, the Rock, is always with me, just as He stood before Moses, He is with me. What can man do to me? Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for reminding us once again. Indeed, there are times whereby we have committed this sin like the Israelites. We are a forgetful people. We experience Your goodness at one moment, and we forget the very next moment, and we turn against You. When we murmur and complain, we often do not take into consideration what our complaints would involve. The reality is that we are questioning Your provision, Your protection, and Your presence in our lives. Oh Lord, forgive us. Forgive us of our much murmurings and complaints. Thou hast reminded us once again that we ought not to test Thee. We must not put Thee on trial. God forbids. Thou art our rock, our church, our lives. All of us are built on Thee and Thee alone. And if our lives are built on Thee, will Thou forget us or forsake us? Most certainly not.
This is a most assuring and comforting truth. Help us always to remember the church is built on the rock, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Even the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. So our hearts, once again, are being assured. We are reminded that God is our Provider, our Protector, our ever-present Help in times of trouble. So we will not test Thee. We will not complain. But we will always bring our troubles and struggles today in prayers, knowing that Thou will answer. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF EXODUSGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassExodus 1:1-7
From Prosperity to PersecutionFrom Prosperity to PersecutionExodus 1:8-14
God’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesGod’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesExodus 1:15-21
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedExodus 1:22-2:10
Moses in EgyptMoses in EgyptExodus 2:11-15
Moses in the Desert of MidianMoses in the Desert of MidianExodus 2:16-25
Moses and the Burning BushMoses and the Burning BushExodus 3:1-9
Who Are You?Who Are You?Exodus 3:10-15
Who Am I?Who Am I?Exodus 3:10-15
God’s Message to Israel and EgyptGod’s Message to Israel and EgyptExodus 3:16-22
What If They Still Don’t Believe?What If They Still Don’t Believe?Exodus 4:1-9
Send Someone ElseSend Someone ElseExodus 4:10-17
Moses’ Return to EgyptMoses’ Return to EgyptExodus 4:18-20
When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseWhen Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseExodus 5:10-21
When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesWhen We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesExodus 5:22-6:5
Having to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceHaving to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceExodus 6:6-12
Faithful or UnfaithfulFaithful or UnfaithfulExodus 6:13-27
What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceWhat God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceExodus 6:28-7:7
The First Plague - The River of BloodThe First Plague - The River of BloodExodus 7:14-25
The Second Plague - The FrogsThe Second Plague - The FrogsExodus 8:1-15
The Third PlagueThe Third PlagueExodus 8:16-19
The Fourth PlagueThe Fourth PlagueExodus 8:20-32
The Fifth PlagueThe Fifth PlagueExodus 9:1-7
The Sixth PlagueThe Sixth PlagueExodus 9:8-12
The Seventh PlagueThe Seventh PlagueExodus 9:13-35
The Eighth PlagueThe Eighth PlagueExodus 10:1-20
The Tenth PlagueThe Tenth PlagueExodus 11:1-10
The First PassoverThe First PassoverExodus 12:1-13
The Feast of the Unleavened BreadThe Feast of the Unleavened BreadExodus 12:14-28
Departure From EgyptDeparture From EgyptExodus 12:29-42
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12
Redemption and ConsecrationRedemption and ConsecrationExodus 13:1-2, 11-16
Precious Lord, Take My HandPrecious Lord, Take My HandExodus 13:17-22
Between the Desert and the Red SeaBetween the Desert and the Red SeaExodus 14:1-14
Crossing the Red SeaCrossing the Red SeaExodus 14:15-31
The Song of PraiseThe Song of PraiseExodus 15:1-21
Will You Obey Or Not?Will You Obey Or Not?Exodus 15:22-27
The Danger of a Complaining SpiritThe Danger of a Complaining SpiritExodus 16:1-3
God’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsGod’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsExodus 16:1-10
The Test of FaithThe Test of FaithExodus 16:11-20
Lessons About the SabbathLessons About the SabbathExodus 16:21-36
Do Not Test GodDo Not Test GodExodus 17:1-17
Lift Up Your HandsLift Up Your HandsExodus 17:8-16
The Blessedness of ReunionThe Blessedness of ReunionExodus 18:1-12
Why Do We Have Leaders?Why Do We Have Leaders?Exodus 18:13-27
I Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsI Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsExodus 19:1-6
Approach God Fearlessly or FearfullyApproach God Fearlessly or FearfullyExodus 19:7-15
God Reached Out And SpokeGod Reached Out And SpokeExodus 19:16-25
Thou Shalt Have No Other GodsThou Shalt Have No Other GodsExodus 20:1-3
Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesExodus 20:4-6
Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameThou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameExodus 20:7
Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayThou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayExodus 20:8-11
Honour Thy Father And Thy MotherHonour Thy Father And Thy MotherExodus 20:12
Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not KillExodus 20:13
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
The Response To The Ten CommandmentsThe Response To The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20:18-21
How God Wants Us To Worship HimHow God Wants Us To Worship HimExodus 20:22-26
Why Would God Allow Slavery?Why Would God Allow Slavery?Exodus 21:1-11
The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeExodus 21:12-17
The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeExodus 21:18-36
The Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsThe Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsExodus 22:1-15
The Character Of GodThe Character Of GodExodus 22:16-20
Reaching Out To The Down-And-OutReaching Out To The Down-And-OutExodus 22:21-24
The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodThe Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodExodus 22:25-31
Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthTruth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthExodus 23:1-9
Remember Who God IsRemember Who God IsExodus 23:10-19
What Must We Do To Have VictoryWhat Must We Do To Have VictoryExodus 23:20-33
How We Ought To Worship GodHow We Ought To Worship GodExodus 24:1-4, 7
On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?Exodus 24:4-8
Responding To God’s InvitationResponding To God’s InvitationExodus 24:9-18
The Right Attitude Of GivingThe Right Attitude Of GivingExodus 25:1-8
There I Will Meet YouThere I Will Meet YouExodus 25:9-22
Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Exodus 25:23-30
Let Your Light So Shine Before MenLet Your Light So Shine Before MenExodus 25:31-40
The Veil That SeparatesThe Veil That SeparatesExodus 26:1-37
A Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandA Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandExodus 27:1-19
Who Can Represent Us Before God?Who Can Represent Us Before God?Exodus 27:20-28:14
If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
