Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.
Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink."—Exodus 17:1-5
Even though God had abundantly provided for all their needs, God’s people still complained. If this pattern sounds familiar to you in your own life, you are not alone. I can behave just as badly. Sigh! The wilderness does not seem to be bring out the best in them, nor in us, does it? Earlier in Chapter 15 God had tested them similarly. They had failed that test so here, in Chapter 17, we find them being tested a second time and failing. The people once more complain against Moses about the water situation and blame him for taking them out of Egypt (cf. Ex. 16:3). This time, however, they do more than murmur and complain…here at Rephidim, they quarreled with Moses. As I read I thought of these very convicting verses from the book of James.
What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God]. You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.—James 4:1-3 AMP
The hearts of God’s people did not want what God wanted. They wanted to be back in Egypt. They were unbelieving and unthankful. In complaining and quarreling (Moses says in verse 4 that they were ready to stone him!) they were really saying that God was not good and neither was He trustworthy. They wanted to go back to their old life…the life with which they were familiar.
I really hate when I behave as the Israelites did here. In my spirit I truly want to trust God and accept whatever He has for me in the moment. I want to be thankful. I want to press forward and not look back. But like the Israelites my tests often become opportunities for temptation because my attitude is wrong. Beloved…every hard thing God allows in our lives can be a test that can help us grow spiritually or a temptation that will feed our flesh and make it stronger.
Father, help me to be thankful and grow in grace! Help me not to complain against you or worse contend with you. I do not want to be unbelieving but believing. I want to trust You and graciously give way to Your perfect will for me.
You call me in Your word to be thankful and by Your Spirit, that is how I want to live. When I obey this command my whole attitude changes. Being thankful makes me kinder and more gracious. It cultivates humility. Being thankful in all things and for all things, sets my mind on You because You are the source of all good. You have blessed me as a believer with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. You have justified me by the unmerited, undeserved and priceless gift of forgiveness that is found by faith in Your Son. In You, truly, I have everything I need.
Oh Father! Make my life one long song of thanksgiving. Your steadfast love to me never ceases…Your mercies never come to an end. You are faithful, sovereign and change not. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. I can return to my rest for You have dealt bountifully with me. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.—Psalm 73:25-26
