Exodus 17:2
So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."
Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?"
How long do you think the Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness at this point? One year? Five years? 20 years?
No. It had not been nearly that long. Exodus 17 occurs about two-and-a-half months after they leave Egypt. Just two-and-a-half months. Amazingly, this isn't even the first time the people grumble against Moses, and ultimately God. They had actually started this sinful, selfish habit immediately upon their exodus from Egypt. They began this behavior at the Red Sea, shortly after leaving Egypt, because Pharaoh and his army started to pursue them. This isn't even the first time they complained like little children about not having water. The first time is just two chapters earlier, right after they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, at the Waters of Marah.
Yes, despite the Israelites having witnessed with their own eyes the power and love of God (the Passover, the plundering of the Egyptians, the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire to lead them, etc.) they still grumbled and complained to Moses about just about anything and everything. Truly these people showed themselves to be the children of Israel.
Unfortunately, as the spiritual children of Israel, we often display this same bad behavior. We want what we want when we want it- Right Now!! Yes, like the Israelites in Moses' day God has revealed his power and love to us; not in exactly the same ways, but he has none the less. Actually, he has revealed it to us in a much more powerful way: Jesus.
While the earthly redemption of the Israelites in Exodus is full of symbolism that points to the coming Messiah, Jesus is the fulfillment of all of those promises. In Jesus all people are offered eternal redemption from sin and death.
The Israelites were saved on the night of Passover by the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. We are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God shed on the cross.
The Israelites left a land of slavery for a land "flowing with milk and honey". Christians will one day leave this land of slavery to sin and death for the Promised Land of heaven.
The Israelites were led by God's chosen prophet, priest, and king (Moses) to the Promised Land (Canaan). We follow God's Prophet, Priest, and King (Jesus) to the ultimate Promised Land (heaven).
God is faithful. He fulfills every one of his promises. It may not always be the way we expect, or want, but he always does what he says. He loves each of us more than we can imagine. His ways are higher than our ways. His understanding is higher that our understanding. We can trust our loving God to do for us everything he has promised, because he has already fulfilled the most important promise: The promise of a Savior.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.- John 3:16
God bless
Jason Fredrick
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