Exodus 17:1-7. Meribah, the place where Moses struck a rock with his rod and water came forth to satisfy the needs of the Israelites. Also in Numbers 20 the same thing happened and that is when Moses did not do right, he should not have struck the rock, he was told by God to speak to the rock and this was the incident that caused him to be banned from entering the promised land, Canaan.
So what does this mean to us? Maybe you’re in a place where things seem hopeless. You’re looking for answers and none seem to be evident. What is the place of your testing? Is 2020 a test of our faith? Of our willingness to adopt the mind of Christ in difficult circumstances? And maybe having nothing to do with the virus.
What do we learn in moments like this? What should we know about God when we arrive at our own Meribah?
1. God is greater than our circumstances. He supplies all of our needs. In Phil. 4:19 Paul says he not only does this, He does it richly. 1 Cor. 10 applies as well. Jesus supplies the water to quench all of our spiritual thirst.
2. God will act in His time and encourages our endurance when tested. We want an answer right now, today, this week or maybe next month. God has His own plan. He acts when it is the right and wise time to do so. It is not our business to question His timing. James says count it all joy when you encounter various trials. That is not our natural reaction.
3. God’s restoration and vindication of the righteous is assured. It all ultimately ends well for those who stay the course – story after story in the Bible illustrates this. Look at the parable of the wheat and tares in Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43. We need to focus on being the wheat, that the seed God provides is working in our life.
Conclusion: We need to leave Meribah. We should cry out in trust rather than complain when we find ourself in a place of testing. Look at:
Psalm 107:4-9
Psalm 46:10-11
God is our refuge and strength. Be still and know that I am God, He says to us. We will have no lack if we lean on God, abide in Him, be calm knowing He is in charge and are knit together with others with similar attitudes.
Plenteous provision promised:
The plea of the Lord, Psalm 81. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it up, verse 10. I would feed you with the finest of wheat and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you, verse 16.
Acts 3:19, only in His presence is refreshing.
