The wilderness journey was one of testings and trials, but it was also one which proved the all-sufficiency of God to meet their every need. It put faith to the test. Sadly it also revealed the lack of faith on the part of many who “could not enter in (to Canaan) because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:1919So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)). This world is now a “wilderness” to us as Christians, and how often we find ourselves tested by the trials of the way!
Blaming or Loving Others?
When the children of Israel came to Rephidim, they could not find water to drink. Instead of turning to the Lord and asking Him for it, they began to murmur again. The Lord had always met their need in the past, so why not trust Him on this occasion? Sadly, they blamed Moses. And don’t we often do the very same thing ourselves? We get into some trouble, and then we start to blame others. It is an old habit which began when Adam blamed his wife, then Eve blamed the serpent, and so it has continued down to our day. But it is a very serious thing to do. God is over all, and nothing happens except what He allows. May we learn to take everything from His hand! Let us look up and seek His help in every time of need, but let us be careful not to blame others. If we do, then there is a message for us, as well as for the Israelites, in the words of Moses, “Wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?” (ch. 17:2).
Moses still loved the people of God, although they were almost ready to stone him at this time. Let us learn a lesson from this, for we should never cease to love and care for the children of God no matter how badly they treat us. We should love them because they are His people, not because of the good we see in them. If we find a feeling of bitterness arising in our hearts against some person who has been unkind to us, we can do as Moses did here, we can pray for that person. It is the easiest way I know to gain the victory over such feelings, and so in Moses’s case the years that follow show how patiently he loved and cared for the children of Israel all through their journey.
Fresh Water From the Rock
Moses was then told to take his rod, with which he had smitten the river, and go to the rock. The Lord told him that He would stand before him upon it, and that when Moses smote the rock the water would come out so that the thirsty Israelites might drink. What a sight to see that vast multitude drinking the fresh, sparkling water flowing from the smitten rock! But this is more than just an interesting story, for God has told us that “that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:44And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4)). What a beautiful figure of the Lord Jesus, who was “smitten of God” (Isaiah 53:44Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)) for us at Calvary. Through the work that He accomplished there, when He bore the full stroke of God’s judgment against sin, we can drink freely of the water of life. Our thirsty souls can find perfect satisfaction in Christ, and may we repeat God’s invitation to any unsaved reader of these lines, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)). We can also see in this a figure of the Spirit of God who indwells the believer to bring him into the present good of his portion in Christ (John 7:37-3937In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37‑39)).
Further Meditation
1. What should we do if the Lord shows us there is bitterness rising in our hearts toward someone else?
2. How did Moses respond later in the wilderness when the people complained again about a lack of water?
3. The author makes a passing reference in this chapter to the coming of the Spirit of God to indwell a believer. This lovely subject is very thoroughly and simply presented in Another Comforter by W. T. P. Wolston