Exodus 17:1–7
1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, when earthly hardships and trials come our way, teach us to go to you in prayer, trusting in your mercies and your care for us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who accomplished our salvation and made us children of God through faith in you. Amen.
“I Should Have Been Praying!”
Dear Fellow Redeemed,
I remember hearing a pastor once who argued that one of the reasons you should have children is that it teaches you to pray (or maybe forces you to pray). The comment made me laugh for a couple reasons. First, because you would think it shouldn’t take having children to teach you to pray. However, from my own experience, having children has certainly helped my prayer life. Children help our prayer life because there are certain things that are outside a parent’s control—like a safe delivery, good health, a good night’s sleep, and all sorts of other things. We pray because we realize we need God’s help and blessing.
In truth, we need God’s help for everything! Without the Lord’s help and blessing, all our earthly endeavors would be futile. No wonder Paul exhorts us to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is a gift from God in which we can speak to him from the heart, asking or thanking him for his blessings. The amazing thing about prayer is that we can speak to the almighty God of heaven and earth whenever and wherever we are and for anything. It’s a readily available tool in our Christian toolbox for all matters in life. Yet, sometimes when we are so busy and facing the different problems in our life, that we forget to pray.
I like what Martin Luther once said, “I have so much to do today that I’m going to need to spend three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done.” Now, most people would say, “I have so many things to do today, that I don’t even have three minutes to pray; I cannot afford the time.” But Luther thought that the more he had to do, the more he must pray, or else he wouldn’t be able to get through it. In our lesson this morning, we have a very different example of prayer in times of hardship. However, we can learn from both good and bad examples.
The Lord God had delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt through the ten plagues. He led them through the wilderness with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. He vanquished the armies of Pharoah in the waters of the Red Sea while saving the Israelites who passed through on dry ground. He sent manna from heaven to feed the Israelites on their journey. The Israelites were now continuing in their journey and were camped in Rephidim. Moses records, “But there was no water for the people to drink.” Of course, we recognize the importance of water even here in the Midwest where water is plentiful. Yet, in this desert climate, it literally was a matter of life and death. So, when the Israelites get to this region, what do they do? Do they go to God to ask for help? Do they hold God to his promise to be with them on their journey? No. Not at all. Right after telling us there was no water for the people to drink, Moses records, “Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’”
They were in trouble— “therefore…” the people argued and complained to Moses. It’s alarming how quick the Israelites turn on Moses and forget about God. It’s alarming because this is what we are so prone to do without even realizing it. Think about the different challenges you faced this week or are facing today. When you were in an argument with your spouse or coworker, did you say a quick prayer for discernment and patience, or were you trying to prove how right you were and how wrong they were. When your neighbor did something that annoyed or hurt you, did you pray for your enemy or complain and wish them harm. When your children were not sleeping through the night or misbehaved, did you complain or say a prayer for help and patience? When your parent handled a situation in a way that you didn’t like, did you complain about your parents or pray to God for help to respect the parents he gave you?
When we have problems in our life, our gut reaction is to complain and murmur like the Israelites. And the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh are cheering us on to get angry with God and give up. They don’t want us to pray to our heavenly Father. They want us to feel like there is no help, and it’s all left up to us—that we need to pave our own way.
God in his wisdom, gives us examples like the Israelites. He does this to show us that we are not the only ones to doubt and complain. He shows us that even his chosen people can be tempted to go down the wrong path. He shows us how unfounded our complaints and worries are. Yet, here is the truly amazing thing—God doesn’t abandon his people. He saves them! Our troubles shouldn’t drive us to despair, they should drive us to our Deliverer.
Moses, fearing for his own life, goes to the Lord for help. “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” So, the Lord commanded Moses to take his staff in his hand and strike the rock at Horeb. From the rock the Lord caused water to come forth so that the people could drink. He quenched their thirst in a miraculous way by providing water from a rock!
Moses struck the rock to produce water to satisfy the physical thirst of the Israelites. In the New Testament, another rock was smitten or struck to produce living water for our thirsty souls. St. Paul writes, “And that rock was Christ” (I Corinthians 10:4). But when was Jesus struck like the rock in the wilderness? When did water flow from him? St. John, much of whose Gospel relates to Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, tells us. He says, “But when they came to Jesus (on the cross) and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water” (John 19:34). As Moses struck the rock publicly for all to see so too was Jesus smitten publicly on Golgotha. Just as the rock was struck to provide water for all Israel so too was Jesus pierced for all people. He suffered for all our sins. We were all on our way to hell by nature, but Jesus took our place. He was mocked because of our sinful words and thoughts. He was flogged and scourged because of our sinful deeds. His side was pierced to wash all our sins away. As the hymn beautifully states, “Let the water and the blood, from Thy riven side which flowed, be for sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power” (ELH 286:1).
But where do we find this life saving blood and soul quenching water from the Lord’s wounded side? A theologian explains, “All the ancient fathers tell us that John speaks of blood and water coming from Jesus’ side not only to show us that He was dead, but also to show us how all the blessings of the cross flow to us. These blessings flow to us in the waters of Baptism, in the blood of the Holy Supper, and the Word which is spirit and life (I John 5:8; John 6:63).” Our Lord Jesus brings the treasures of the cross to us through the water and the word, where he cleanses us from all sin (Ephesians 5:26). His holy and precious blood flows to us in the communion cup so that we can receive that forgiving treasure and nourishment throughout our earthly journey. Through his word and sacraments, Jesus gives us the strength we need to face all the problems of this life.
If Jesus lived a perfect life for you, if he suffered what your sins deserve, if he died for you, if he rose on third day to show you his victory and your future, and if he gives you his word and sacraments to ensure that you have his forgiveness and love—don’t you think you can trust him to be with you in your other troubles in this life? Don’t you think you can go to your Savior with your worries and troubles? Paul puts it this way, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
The Lord wants us to trust in him. He wants us to go to him for all our needs. He wants to be our God, whom we fear, love, and trust above all things. He wants us to believe his word—that he forgives us, promises to care for us, and will never leave us nor forsake us. And he wants us to hold him to his word—just like Jacob who said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” or the Canaanite woman who would not turn away from Jesus, even though everything seemed to be going against her. There is no issue too great or too small to bring to God.
Like the Israelites, when we are facing a great problem, sometimes all we do is complain and the thought of prayer doesn’t even cross our minds. But that should be our first place to go. I know for myself, after trying many things to fix a problem, I find myself thinking, “I should have been praying!” In fact, this is how the Lord uses hardships for our good. He uses these as opportunities to drive us to his Word and strengthen our faith in him. When we are going through financial difficulties, he wants us to hold him to his Word—God will grant me my daily bread. When we are feeling lonely and distressed, he wants us to hold him to his Word—“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” When we are troubled by the turmoil in this world, he wants us to hold him to his Word—“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” When we have a baby who isn’t sleeping or some other trouble in the home, he wants us to go to our heavenly Father, who holds us in his hand. “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”
We come here today burdened by our sins of the past week. We haven’t handled everything perfectly. But every Sunday when you come to church you receive water from the rock of Christ who washes your sins away. He gives you the water of life which will truly quench your thirst and bring you eternal life (John 4:14). Every week you hear the words of absolution and are offered his holy sacrament where our Lord Jesus confirms unto you the forgiveness of your sins. He assures you of his love, care, and concern. The Lord uses the troubles we face in this life to drive us to Jesus, his life, death, and resurrection. He uses our hardships to teach us to pray and lean on Christ. He aims to teach us that he is our solid rock on which we stand, live, and hope. The Lord answers prayers, he knows your needs, so, Lord teach us to pray! Amen.