In Exodus 17 one will find the Hebrews traveling through the wilderness of Sin and stopping at a place called Rephidim. Here they find that there is no water to be found to refresh themselves after the day's journey. The people then turn on Moses, grumbling and demanding that he give them water and eventually longing to be back in Egypt where they lived on the banks of the great Nile river and had no lack of water. Here Moses famously strikes the rock as God commanded and water comes forth.
Many take this account and accuse the Hebrews of lacking faith and put them down since they had already witness the parting of the Red Sea, the miracle of waters of Marah, and the miracles of the manna and quail. How foolish and stubborn the Hebrews were to not trust God to provide for them. However, note the following observations: the Hebrews had seen God turn water to blood, part the sea, and turn bitter water sweet, but they had never seen God provide water from nowhere in a barren and parched wilderness. Also, given the chronology in chapter 16, this event took place roughly two and a half months after leaving Egypt, and consequently the same time from Passover. Thus, with Passover usually taking place in March or April, this places this account around late May or June. The normal temperature for that time of year just North of that location in the hill country of Israel is well above 90 degrees. Therefore, this multitude of over 600,000 people on foot (see Exodus 12:37) had been walking from early in the morning, if not from during the night, until early afternoon when temperatures were near, if not above, 100 degrees and were finally stopping to rest and refresh themselves. Consider the fact that them stopping and setting up camp did not mean that they just pulled over and got out of the cabs of their trucks and RVs and went into the back to their campers; making camp meant unloading the pack animals, stretching out the tents, putting up the poles, driving the stakes, and then moving the belongings inside, which did not have fans or AC. The point being, the situation was not as if they had been gently walking along fields or valleys with a gentle breeze in comfortable temperatures and then started complaining because they could not find water. Rather, everyone was exhausted and battling heat exhaustion, maybe even heat stroke in some cases, they had journeyed for miles with little shade in the heat, and ended their exhausting day with setting up camp only to find there was no water to be seen. In light of this it is little wonder that they turned on Moses. However, God is merciful and miraculously gives them the water they need to recover from the day's journey and prepare for the day ahead.
Compare this with the following experience in a believer's life: The believer has gone through a seemingly endless trial - looking for work, a divorce, family issues, loss of a loved one, health issues, conflict in the church, financial troubles - and there is finally a moment where the believer stops and tries to get rest, maybe it is on Sunday and he/she has gone to church hoping to get refreshed from the services or by being with other believers, or just simply it is mid-week and there is a moment where the believer is alone. However, there is no rest, no end of the trial in site, and no one around to help. Some may like to believe that they would face such a situation and just push through it, but too often we react like the Hebrews and ask God if He is still with us and looking out for us. We have seen God at work in our lives in the past, but where we are at it is completely parched without even a hint of moisture; it is just dust and solid rock. We are children of doubt, questioning His presence and goodness, begging for the "good ol' days" when there was no struggle and no need to depend on God's provision. However, we are called to be children of faith. This does not mean that we pretend that there is water there when the ground is dust and rock, but it means that instead of wondering if He is with us, we ask Him to provide the water, knowing He is always with us and that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Consider the comfort of Matthew 7:7-11 where Jesus tells us to ask of God and He will answer, and that He knows how to give good gifts to His children. It is not wrong to ask for water, but there is a difference between trusting God and asking God for it out of weakness and complaining and doubting God's presence due to the absence of water.
Just as God knew what the Hebrews needed at the end of their day of traveling across the wilderness, He knows what you need, and He will provide for you. Interestingly enough, God actually knew what the Hebrews needed more than they did. He not only knew they needed water after their long journey, but that they needed water before going into battle with the Amalekites, who were already on their way to wipe them out. In the same way God knows you need refreshment from your journey through the wilderness and for what is coming ahead that you are completely unaware of. Therefore, do not ask God if He is there, but ask Him to provide, knowing that He is present and will answer. This principle is exactly what James talks about in verses two through eight of the first chapter of his letter, especially in verse six where he says, "But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." Do not think that I have this perfectly, for I too must work to live this out. However, this is how we must live, this is who we must be, as children of the LORD who sees and provides, Y--H Yireh.
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