At Meribah

Psalm 81:7

You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

God answers from the storm – the place where the thunder hides. Hallelujah! He hears our cries and answers in our distress! We can be assured of this for one main reason – He is with us.

God often tests us in our lack. Will we grumble and complain, or will we trust and continue to praise Him? While in the wilderness, the people complained to Moses because they had no water. They questioned if he had led them out there to die. Was God really in their journey, or had he abandoned them? Did they take a wrong turn somewhere, or was God leading them to a place to destroy them?

When we experience the storms or the dry places of life, we are tempted to ask the same questions. What got me to this place? Where is God in all of this? After Moses took the matter before God, He told Moses to go to the rock at Horeb. There, God would be with him. He was to strike the rock, and water would flow from it. Moses did as God commanded, and two fountains formed. He named one of them “Massah” and the other “Meribah.” The water flowed from the rock not because Moses struck it but because God was with Him.

“Massah” means “testing place,” and “Meribah” means “striving or argument.” They were named such so that the Israelites would remember, “This is where we were tested, and this is where we argued, grumbled, and complained.” These fountains were signs of God’s goodness in the midst of bad behavior, and they were given to draw the people to repentance.

Are you in lack today? God is with you. Are you struggling today? God is with you. Are you hurting today? God is with you. Trust that where He is leading you is good, and He will provide. Stop your grumbling and complaining, and give Him some praise!

Have a blessed day!