Meribah & Massah.

Never before have I ever been so excited to study the bible as I was tonight.
I finally learned what Psalm 95:8 is referring to.. Exodus 17. This is a great story. It sums up the grace and mercy of our God.

So.. here is the run down, if you don't already know...

The children of Israel were on a journey that God commanded and they were led by the pillar of cloud and fire. They came to a place where there was no water for them to drink - I am pretty sure that in the previous chapter they were provided with manna and something else.. so why would they worry now.. but how many times do we do this daily. the Lord provides and then we freak out when something else happens.. like He isn't there.. but back to the story - This was a trial of their faith and sometimes we are brought into these times, but God is glorified in our relief. They began to question whether or not God was with them (even though they were being led by the pillar of cloud and fire.. curious). This sis how they were "tempting God", which signifies distrust after they had not had proof of his power and goodness.

God then graciously appeared to them when He told Moses to hit the rock with the stick that he hit the Nile with. Then water came from the rock.. WOW. This shows the Lord has patience with sinners. It reminds me of the verse that says, "when we were still sinner, Christ died for us."

Then one thing that the commentary I was reading said that just made me take a deep breath, overwhelmed with the love of Christ. "The Son of God is smitten for us."

A new name was given to the place where the children of Israel has this trouble. The name was in remembrance, not of the mercy of their supply - but of the sin of their murmuring. "Massah" which means temptation.. because they tempted God. & "Meribah" which means strife.. because they argued with Moses. Sin leaves a blot upon the name.

So... It is not just some story in the Old Testament that we hear in Sunday School as children.. but instead it is mentioned in about 4 other places in the Bible that I know of right now.

This is a real story that we can use to guide our own lives. Proverbs talks about learning from the fools land... and we can use this story of the children of Israel's distrust to know that God is always with us and He will provide. We just need to trust!!!

-HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.