Exodus - A Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation , Sarah Barry
WATER FROM THE ROCK
Passage: Exodus 17:1~7  
Key verse: 6
Water From the Rock
17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,(A) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,(B) but there was no water(C) for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water(D) to drink.”(E)
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”(F)
3 But the people were thirsty(G) for water there, and they grumbled(H) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die(I) of thirst?”
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone(J) me.”
5 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(K) with which you struck the Nile,(L) and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.(M) Strike(N) the rock, and water(O) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah[a](P) and Meribah[b](Q) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Footnotes
- Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing.
- Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling.
Cross references
- Exodus 17:1 : S Ex 16:1
- Exodus 17:1 : ver 8; Ex 19:2; Nu 33:15
- Exodus 17:1 : Nu 20:5; 21:5; 33:14
- Exodus 17:2 : Nu 20:2; 33:14; Ps 107:5
- Exodus 17:2 : S Ex 14:12
- Exodus 17:2 : Dt 6:16; Ps 78:18, 41; 106:14; Mt 4:7; 1Co 10:9
- Exodus 17:3 : S Ex 15:22
- Exodus 17:3 : S Ex 15:24
- Exodus 17:3 : S Ex 14:11
- Exodus 17:4 : Nu 14:10; 1Sa 30:6; S Jn 8:59
- Exodus 17:5 : S Ex 4:2; S 10:12-13
- Exodus 17:5 : Ex 7:20
- Exodus 17:6 : S Ex 3:1
- Exodus 17:6 : Nu 20:8
- Exodus 17:6 : Nu 20:11; Dt 8:15; Jdg 15:19; 2Ki 3:20; Ne 9:15; Ps 74:15; 78:15-16; 105:41; 107:35; 114:8; Isa 30:25; 35:6; 43:19; 48:21; 1Co 10:4
- Exodus 17:7 : Dt 6:16; 9:22; 33:8; Ps 95:8
- Exodus 17:7 : Nu 20:13, 24; 27:14; Ps 81:7; 106:32
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
The LORD led the Israelites from the Desert of Sin to Rephidim where they camped. Unfortunately, there was no water. The people demanded water. They bitterly complained that they would die of thirst. Following God to Rephidim seemed to make life worse, not better. In fact, God did this to help them to know and trust him better. Would they remember how God had delivered and provided and then turn to him in faith? They did not and by grumbling, they put the LORD to the test.
2. The rock points to Christ (5-7)
God told Moses to take his staff and in the presence of the elders, strike the rock at Horeb. When Moses did so, water came forth for the people to drink. The rock points to Jesus Christ (1 Co 10:4). When mankind suffered in sin, God provided Jesus who was struck for us. Anyone who is thirsty is invited to drink from Jesus (Jn 7:37). All who drink the water Jesus gives will never thirst again (Jn 4:14).
Prayer: Father, when circumstances are overwhelming, please help me to trust you in faith and know Jesus better. Forgive my unbelief.
One Word: Turn to Jesus our Rock