Exodus 17:1–7 “Blinded by Grace”

Exodus 17:1-7 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• You Never Let Go – Matt Redman
• Even When It Hurts – Hillsong UNITED
• Way Maker – Leeland

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Unexpected Lesson 1 | Water from the Rock | Exodus 17 | Preschool | Calvary Bible Church – Lesson for Kids
• Stand Together | Kingdom Rock VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Give it Away | Weird Animals VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Forever Love, Forever God | Cross Culture Thailand VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Sometime later, the cloud that had remained above the camp lifted, and the Israelites broke camp and departed from the Wilderness of Sin. According to Numbers 33:11–14, after leaving the Wilderness of Sin, they camped at Dophkah and then at Alush, and after leaving Alush, they camped at Rephidim (v.1). This indicates that there was a considerable time gap between the events recorded in chapter 16 and those in chapter 17. As previously mentioned, the exact locations of these campsites cannot be definitively identified today, as landscapes and names of places have changed.

Wherever the cloud settled, there was an oasis, so the Israelites could set up camp and stay there. However, Rephidim had no oasis. As a result, the people began to demand water from Moses, speaking harshly and insisting that he provide them with drinking water. Moses interpreted their actions as “testing the Lord” (v.2) because it was not Moses who had chosen this campsite, but God Himself. As time passed, their suffering from thirst grew more severe, and their complaints and resentment intensified (v.3).

Unable to endure it any longer, Moses cried out to God. His words— “They are almost ready to stone me!” (v.4) – were likely not an exaggeration. The people had lost so much faith that they questioned, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (v.7). In response, the Lord instructed Moses to take some of the elders and go to Mount Horeb. There, using “the staff with which [he] struck the Nile” (v.5), he was to strike the rock, and water would flow from it (v.6). Moses obeyed, and sure enough, water gushed out.

Because of this event, later generations came to call the place “Meribah” (meaning “quarreling”) and also “Massah” (meaning “testing”) (v.7).

Meditation:

When the cloud stopped at Rephidim, the Israelites must have hesitated, realizing there was no oasis there. The water they had brought from the Wilderness of Sin would last only a few days. Still, Moses and the elders set up camp in obedience to God’s command. They believed that if God had led them there, He would somehow provide a solution.

But even after their water ran out, the clouds did not move. No matter how hard they searched, no oasis could be found. Their livestock grew weary. And the people’s trust in God began to evaporate. They became so angry that it seemed they might even kill Moses. In their growing unbelief, they asked one another, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (v.7).

Situations like this can happen at any point in the journey of faith. The Israelites were living each day in the very presence of God. With His mighty power, He had freed them from slavery in Egypt, allowed them to cross the Red Sea as if on dry ground, and had made a way for them in every crisis. Most remarkably, they ate the manna that God provided each morning. They were literally consuming a miracle each day. And yet, because of one unmet need—lack of water—they lost sight of all the miracles that surrounded them. They became blind to grace and asked, “Where is God?”

We get used to God’s grace and miracles and grow numb to them far too easily. When we first awaken to God’s presence, the whole world seems like the Kingdom of God. But before long, our eyes dim and grow dull. The very fact that we are alive today is God’s grace. Every breath we take is a miracle. And yet, when trouble comes, we so easily forget this truth. We ask, “Is the Lord among us or not?” or “Does God really love me?” Today’s passage reminds us of the tragic consequences of becoming blind to the grace, miracles, and mysteries that surround us daily. To live wrapped in God’s grace and still be blind to it—that is a profound misfortune.

Prayer:

Lord, do we truly have faith? Do we have the kind of faith that trusts and relies on You even when it feels like You are absent? We do not know. Only You know, Lord. Please give us that faith. Just as we believe the sun is still shining even in the darkest night, help us trust in You even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Even when we can’t see God working, He is still with us. Just like the Israelites who forgot God’s miracles when they were thirsty, we sometimes forget how much God has already done for us. But God is always present, even in hard times, and He wants us to trust Him.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Can you remember a time when God helped you or your family? What happened?
  • Why do you think the Israelites forgot all the good things God had done for them when they didn’t have water?
  • When you feel worried or scared, who can you talk to? How can you remember that God is with you?
    
• For Youth
  
  • Why do you think it’s easy to forget God’s grace when life gets hard? Have you ever experienced that?
  • The Israelites asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?” How would you answer that question today in your own life?
  • What are some “miracles” or small blessings in your everyday life that you may have overlooked?