Meribah : Because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?

Exodus 17:1-7

They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 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?”

They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.

The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?

God shows Moses the place. Sinai limestone is known to retain moisture. This incident, and the names Massah and Meribah, became a byword for rebelliousness. The test is a neutral word in Hebrew, unlike English 'tempt'.

Why?

Once again people of Israel quarreled with Moses and compared their needs with before in Egypt.

The Lord gives the power to Moses with his staff and struck the rock, then the water is flowing out. Once again God is with his people. Moses did not prepare any food and water with these 6 million people out from Egypt, all their needs are provided by the Lord. This is the grace, why they were quarreled with Moses and the Lord, for they were satisfied with the living style in Egypt, even they were slaves.

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百姓向摩西發怨言沒有不好，但是總是提到埃及，這是第三次了。第一次在馬拉，第二次在迅的曠野。吃喝的問題。在埃及當奴隸，生命隨時不保，怎麼埃及會比較好，因為對神沒有信心。以前的問題神都解決了，難道現在的問題神不能解決嗎？我們遇到困難抱怨是正常，但是不可去比較過去，會給撒旦留地步。

神站在摩西面前，是服伺的意思。應該摩西服伺神，神屈就自己為了保護摩西。神會帶領我們走過困難。

以色列人因為爭鬧，這次沒有水應該有以前的經驗，將地名改為瑪撒（就是試探的意思），米利巴因以色列人爭鬧，又因他們試探耶和華，爭鬧的意思。神讓我們經歷神蹟，要我們生命成長，學習信心成長的功課。

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How?

When we are born in the Holy Spirit, do not compare the good with before, for we have a new identity, we belong to the Lord, son of God. We are free from sins. And the Lord will lead my way forward.