"Is the Lord Among Us or Not?"
Exodus 17:7: "And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, 'Is the Lord among us or not?'"
In 1965, the Rolling Stones released the song, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." This seems to be the theme song of the Israelites in their wilderness journey. Despite the Lord's consistent provision for their needs, every new challenge brings a new complaint and accusation. As they faced thirst in Rephidim, they quarreled with Moses and posed the question: "Is the Lord among us or not?"
The irony of this question is that without the Lord they would still be slaves in Egypt. Without the Lord, they would not know where to go in the wilderness. Without the Lord, they would have died of hunger and thirst. It was the Lord who delivered them. It was the Lord who led them through the Red Sea. It was the Lord who destroyed the Egyptian army. It was the Lord who led by the cloud and the pillar of fire. It was the Lord who provided water, quail, and manna. Could the Lord's presence be more prominent or obvious?
The question was not really whether the Lord was among them or not. The question was whether they would choose to honor him, obey him, trust him, and look to him. The people were not satisfied with God's presence and work in their lives. As we saw in Egypt, the Lord did not work according to their timing. They wanted water before they felt intense thirst. The Lord wanted them to feel the thirst, then to look to him to quench that thirst. Maybe they weren't satisfied because they weren't looking to the right source of satisfaction.
Only in looking to the Lord would the nation of Israel find satisfaction for their souls and provision for their bodily needs. May we change the words of the song, "In the Lord alone can I get satisfaction." Let's stop doubting, stop quarreling, and start trusting.
Reflection:
Do you struggle to feel satisfied in this life? What would the Lord have you to know about this struggle and about his presence and provision?
In 1965, the Rolling Stones released the song, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." This seems to be the theme song of the Israelites in their wilderness journey. Despite the Lord's consistent provision for their needs, every new challenge brings a new complaint and accusation. As they faced thirst in Rephidim, they quarreled with Moses and posed the question: "Is the Lord among us or not?"
The irony of this question is that without the Lord they would still be slaves in Egypt. Without the Lord, they would not know where to go in the wilderness. Without the Lord, they would have died of hunger and thirst. It was the Lord who delivered them. It was the Lord who led them through the Red Sea. It was the Lord who destroyed the Egyptian army. It was the Lord who led by the cloud and the pillar of fire. It was the Lord who provided water, quail, and manna. Could the Lord's presence be more prominent or obvious?
The question was not really whether the Lord was among them or not. The question was whether they would choose to honor him, obey him, trust him, and look to him. The people were not satisfied with God's presence and work in their lives. As we saw in Egypt, the Lord did not work according to their timing. They wanted water before they felt intense thirst. The Lord wanted them to feel the thirst, then to look to him to quench that thirst. Maybe they weren't satisfied because they weren't looking to the right source of satisfaction.
Only in looking to the Lord would the nation of Israel find satisfaction for their souls and provision for their bodily needs. May we change the words of the song, "In the Lord alone can I get satisfaction." Let's stop doubting, stop quarreling, and start trusting.
Reflection:
Do you struggle to feel satisfied in this life? What would the Lord have you to know about this struggle and about his presence and provision?
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