Character Revealed in Hardship
Exodus 17: Then all the congregation of the children of
Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to
the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no
water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the
people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”
So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do
you tempt the Lord?”
3 And the people thirsted there for
water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it
you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and
our livestock with thirst?”
4 So Moses cried out to
the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready
to stone me!”
5 And the Lord said to
Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of
Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river,
and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on
the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of
it, that the people may drink.”
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 So
he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of
the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted
the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
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After GOD provided manna and quail for everyone to eat, the
children of Israel were satisfied. GOD then told them to go into a part of the
wilderness where there was no water. The people complained so much, that they
were ready to stone Moses.
My Observations:
- GOD
sent the children of Israel to a waterless place, possibly to address
their disbelief in HIS power.
- When
times got hard, the people turned against Moses and questioned whether the
LORD was among them or not.
- GOD
told Moses to strike the rock and water will come out.
During hard times, humans show their belief in GOD and their
character comes out. In this instance, GOD sent them to a waterless place on
purpose. The children of Israel were furious when humility was needed. They
were ready to used stones as weapons to kill Moses. Instead, GOD told Moses to
strike the very weapon they would use to kill him, to bring life preserving
water.
When times get difficult, our character is tested. GOD gives
us opportunities to grow during difficult times. Our character can be adjusted when
we realize that GOD is taking us through something to make us more like HIM.
Unfortunately, we don’t always make the best use of the difficult time when we
complain. GOD still provided, but the people were not thankful.
Challenge
- Why
does GOD remind Moses about the complaint from the children of Israel
regarding the waterless place?
- Have
you ever complained about your situation?
- Have
you asked GOD to show you how to respond to your difficult situations?
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