Is the Lord Among Us or Not? (Exodus 17:1-7)

 As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, we often talk about the “wilderness.” For many of us, the wilderness isn’t just a place in a Bible story; it’s a feeling. It’s that season of life where resources feel thin, our patience is wearing out, and we aren’t quite sure if we’re on the right path.

In this week’s reading from Exodus 17:1-7, we find the Israelites in exactly that spot. They had seen God do amazing things—bringing them out of Egypt and parting the Red Sea—but now they are thirsty. And in the desert, thirst isn’t just an inconvenience; it feels like a death sentence.

1 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do for this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The text tells us the people “quarreled with Moses” and complained, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” (Exodus 17:3).

It’s easy to judge the Israelites for their lack of faith, but if we’re honest, we do the same thing. When life gets hard, we forget the ways God has shown up for us in the past. We start to look backward, thinking that our “Egypt”—our old life, even with its chains—was better than the uncertainty of the present.

We are strong believers in the grace of God. God is always active and present before we even realize it. But when we are parched and tired, it’s hard to see that grace. We start to ask the same question the Israelites asked: ”Is the Lord among us or not?”

God’s response to Moses is beautiful and unexpected. God doesn’t punish the people for their thirst. Instead, God tells Moses to take his staff—the same one used to part the sea—and strike a rock at Horeb.

When Moses obeys, water flows out. Even in the driest, hardest place imaginable, God provides. This story reminds us of a few core truths for our Lenten journey:

• Our complaints don’t drive God away. God hears the cries of the thirsty, even when those cries sound like grumbling.
• Provision often comes from unexpected places. We might look for solutions in our own strength, but God can bring life out of a literal rock.
• Faith is a journey of memory. Lent is a time to practice remembering that the same God who led us into the wilderness is the one who sustains us through it.

If you are feeling “parched” today—spiritually, emotionally, or physically—know that you aren’t alone. The desert is a hard place, but it is also the place where we learn that God’s grace is sufficient for us.

Let us pray:

God of the wilderness, we thank you that you do not abandon us when we are thirsty and afraid. Forgive us when we lose heart and forget your goodness. We ask that you would open our eyes to see the “water” you are providing in our lives today, even in the hard and rocky places. Guide our feet through this Lenten season and remind us daily that you are indeed among us. We pray this in the name of Christ, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.