In the Midst of a Trial, Look Up

Scripture Reading

Exodus 17:1-7 Water from the Rock

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massahand Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Devotional

Just to paint the picture, Moses has led the Israelites out of Egypt. God parted the sea and has dwelled with and guided the Israelites toward the Promised Land by way of a pillar of clouds by day and a pillar of fire at night (ref. Exodus 13:21-22). At this point people are getting extremely thirsty due to the lack of water and that has them murderously angry at Moses and they even suggest maybe it was better for them to stay slaves in Egypt. Despite God’s presence being evident before and throughout the entire exodus from Egypt, they begin to not only doubt Moses, but God himself. In fact, people are laying the heat on Moses so hard that Moses cries out to God for help. They are more or less calling God out and saying “if you’re really there, prove it.”

First of all, let me just say that you’d think that a gigantic pillar of clouds and fire leading the path would be enough evidence that God is with you, but I believe what this passage is saying is that when we face an obstacle or trial, we can become so fixated on it that even though God is right there directing us, we get tunnel vision. That tunnel vision leads to doubt and the testing of God. What’s not said, but can be inferred from this scripture, is that God was going to provide for them no matter what, but the Israelites lacked faith. So, God ends up standing on a rock and asks Moses to strike it. The result is water comes out and the Israelites now have water to drink. Although the people missed God in the gigantic pillar in front of him, they didn’t miss what God did through Moses to give them water.

The scripture ends with naming of the place to represent the testing of God and quarreling. There are a couple important things to note here. The first is, when you catch yourself in a middle of a trial, look for God and ask him to remove the veil from your eyes if you don’t see him in your circumstance. The second is when God gets you through the trial, make record of it. You’ll notice throughout the Bible, places are marked, altars are built, significant events are written down, and believers do things in remembrance of how God delivered them. Why should we bother with all of that, surely we’ll remember what all God has done for us, right? I think it’s safe to say that the answer is no. It’s important that we make note of how God has made a way for us and answered our prayers, so that when we are facing that drought in our life, we can look and be reminded of how God has always been faithful to us and will continue to be.

Today you may be facing a physical ailment, financial hardship, a spiritual drought, or maybe you just don’t see God in your life. I encourage you to look up to the Lord (yes, literally do this) and ask for him to be like a pillar of clouds and rain down his blessings - make his presence known. And my friends, when he does, write it down and share it because that note will serve a blessing to both yourself and others through your testimony. Let’s pray.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for your mercy and patience with me. Help me to avoid tunnel vision and instead remember all the ways you’ve shown me throughout my life that you love me and are ever-present. My obstacles may seem impossibly large to me, but surely they’re not as big as pillar of clouds. Help me to keep my focus on you no matter what my situation may be, to keep record of your blessings and deliverance, and to share my testimony so that they may be a word of encouragement to others. Amen.