In the Bible Book of Exodus is a great story of God providing for the Israelite people. They had fled from Egypt and now were wandering in the desert around Mount Sinai, barren, dry, no food or water to drink. And, of course, the people blamed Moses for their problems: “why have you brought us out here to perish from hunger and thirst?” “It would have been better to have stayed as slaves in Egypt, where we had food and water.” And so they complained to Moses and to God. “Where is the God you said would lead us and take care of us?” And in turn, Moses complained to God; “Lord, what can I do? The people are about ready to stone me!” And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the Elders of Israel, and take in your hand the Rod with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the Rock of Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that people may drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah (that is, “Proof”) and Meribah (that is “contention”, because of the fault finding of the children of Israel, and because they put the Lord to the proof by saying, “Is the Lord among us or NOT?”
When and Where has been your “Massah” and your “Meribah” - your time of contention and doubting of God? You see, we’re just as human as those Hebrews who were following Moses. They have times of trouble, distress and questioning: Is God with me, or NOT? Is He going to help me through this “water” that is “up to my neck?” And going to have enough to get through this day, this week, this month, this year?
Will God provide or NOT?” There is a saying, “To err is human”, but I think another is just as true: “To Doubt is human.” Can you still doubt, can you still question when you have seen some of God’s miracles? The answer is “Yes” isn’t it? We still do. God has delivered us from slavery - to sin, and death - eternally, in hell; and do we not also some times slide back (I think that’s called “back-sliding”), and question God’s Grace?
