He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" He named the place Massah and MeribahThe naming of the place is significant in biblical tradition, as names often reflect the events that occurred there. "Massah" means "testing" and "Meribah" means "quarreling" in Hebrew. This dual naming serves as a perpetual reminder of the Israelites' lack of faith and trust in God. The act of naming places in the Bible often carries a deeper spiritual lesson, encouraging believers to remember and learn from past mistakes. The historical context here is crucial, as it reflects a moment of crisis and doubt among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. because the Israelites quarreled
The word "quarreled" indicates a serious dispute or contention among the people. In Hebrew, the root word "רִיב" (riv) suggests a legal dispute or a challenge to authority. This highlights the gravity of the situation, as the Israelites were not merely complaining but were challenging Moses' leadership and, by extension, God's provision and plan. This serves as a cautionary tale for believers to maintain faith and unity, especially in times of trial. and because they tested the LORD
The phrase "tested the LORD" is derived from the Hebrew word "נָסָה" (nasah), which means to try or prove. This testing was not a mere questioning but an act of unbelief and rebellion. It reflects a deeper spiritual crisis where the Israelites doubted God's presence and power. In a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a warning against the sin of unbelief and the importance of trusting in God's promises, even when circumstances seem dire. saying, 'Is the LORD among us or not?'
This question encapsulates the heart of the Israelites' doubt and fear. It reflects a crisis of faith, questioning God's presence and involvement in their lives. Historically, this moment is pivotal as it reveals the Israelites' struggle to trust in God's covenant promises. For believers today, it serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and the assurance of God's constant presence, as promised throughout Scripture. Theologically, it challenges Christians to reflect on their own faith journey and to trust in God's unwavering presence and guidance. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. He is the one who names the place Massah and Meribah. 2. The IsraelitesThe people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt. They are the ones who quarreled and tested the LORD in the wilderness. 3. Massah and MeribahThese are the names given to the place where the Israelites quarreled and tested God. "Massah" means "testing," and "Meribah" means "quarreling." 4. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and provided for them in the wilderness. 5. The WildernessThe setting of this event, where the Israelites wandered after leaving Egypt and before entering the Promised Land. Teaching Points Trust in God's PresenceThe Israelites questioned God's presence among them, despite His continuous provision. We must trust that God is with us, even when circumstances are challenging. Avoiding Quarreling and ComplainingThe Israelites' quarreling reflects a lack of faith. As believers, we should strive to maintain a spirit of gratitude and trust rather than complaining. Testing GodTesting God shows a lack of faith and understanding of His nature. We should seek to deepen our faith and trust in God's promises. Remembering God's FaithfulnessReflecting on past experiences of God's faithfulness can strengthen our trust in Him during current trials. The Importance of ObedienceObedience to God's commands is crucial. The Israelites' disobedience serves as a warning to us to follow God's guidance faithfully. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the naming of Massah and Meribah reveal about the Israelites' relationship with God at that time? 2. How can we apply the lesson of trusting in God's presence to our own lives when we face difficult situations? 3. In what ways do we "test" God today, and how can we avoid this behavior? 4. How does reflecting on God's past faithfulness help us in our current walk of faith? 5. What steps can we take to ensure that we are obedient to God's commands, even when we face challenges or doubts? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 6:16This verse warns against testing the LORD as the Israelites did at Massah, emphasizing obedience and trust in God. Psalm 95:8-9This passage reflects on the rebellion at Massah and Meribah, urging believers not to harden their hearts as the Israelites did. Hebrews 3:7-9The New Testament references the events at Massah and Meribah as a warning to Christians to remain faithful and not test God. People Aaron, Amalek, Amalekites, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, MosesPlaces Egypt, Horeb, Massah, Meribah, Nile River, Rephidim, SinaiTopics Angry, Calleth, Chiding, Contention, Faultfinding, Israelites, Massah, Meribah, Mer'ibah, Midst, Named, Proof, Quarrel, Quarreled, Saying, Sons, Strife, Striving, Tempted, Test, Tested, Tried, TryingDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 17:7 5889 ingratitude
8832 testing Exodus 17:1-7 4278 spring of water
5473 proof, through testing
5924 quarrelsomeness Exodus 17:4-7 8614 prayer, answers Exodus 17:5-13 4512 staff Exodus 17:6-7 1416 miracles, nature of Library Nature of the Renderings
From the text we now turn to the renderings, and to the general principles that were followed, both in the Old and in the New Testament. The revision of the English text was in each case subject to the same general rule, viz. "To introduce as few alterations as possible into the Text of the Authorised Version consistently with faithfulness"; but, owing to the great difference between the two languages, the Hebrew and the Greek, the application of the rule was necessarily different, and the results …
C. J. Ellicott—Addresses on the Revised Version of Holy ScriptureJehovah Nissi
'And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi [that is, the Lord is my Banner].' --EXODUS xvii. 15. We are all familiar with that picturesque incident of the conflict between Israel and Amalek, which ended in victory and the erection of this memorial trophy. Moses, as you remember, went up on the mount whilst Joshua and the men of war fought in the plain. But I question whether we usually attach the right meaning to the symbolism of this event. We ordinarily, I suppose, think …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The War of Truth
Now, beloved, this scene of warfare is not recorded in Scripture as in interesting circumstance to amuse the lover of history, but it is written for our edification; for we remember the text which says--"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our profit." There is some profit to be derived from this--and we believe a peculiar profit, too, since God was pleased to make this the first writing commanded by Divine authority as a record for generations to come. We think that the journeys …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 How Churches Can Help Ministers.
Text.--And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses's hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side: and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.--Exodus xvii. 11-13. You who read your Bibles will …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion Exhortation to Prayer.
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John Newton—Olney Hymns The Waters of Meribah
'Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Intercessor
'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Reaction against Egypt
THE XIth DYNASTY: HARMHABI--THE HITTITE EMPIRE IN SYRIA AND IN ASIA MINOR--SETI I. AND RAMSES II.--THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA: MINEPHTAH AND THE ISRAELITE EXODUS. The birth and antecedents of Harmhabi, his youth, his enthronement--The final triumph of Amon and his priests--Harmhabi infuses order into the government: his wars against the Ethiopians and Asiatics--The Khati, their civilization, religion; their political and military constitution; the extension of their empire towards the north--The countries …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 5 Jehovah. The "I Am. "
WHEN Moses in the desert beheld the burning bush God answered his question by the revelation of His name as the "I Am." "And God said unto Moses, I am, that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exod. iii:14). He who spake thus out of the bush to Moses was the same who in the fullness of time appeared upon the earth in the form of man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is no less person, than the I AM. If we turn to the fourth Gospel in which the Holy …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory "Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. "
Rom. viii. 7.--"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Unbelief is that which condemns the world. It involves in more condemnation than many other sins, not only because more universal, but especially because it shuts up men in their misery, and secludes them from the remedy that is brought to light in the gospel. By unbelief I mean, not only that careless neglect of Jesus Christ offered for salvation, but that which is the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [136] . Gregory to Augustine, &c. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14); because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died, that it might not reign in heaven alone; even He by whose death we live, by whose weakness we are made strong, by whose suffering we are rescued from suffering, through whose love we seek in Britain for brethren whom we knew not, by whose gift we find those whom without knowing them we sought. …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Exodus 17:7 NIVExodus 17:7 NLTExodus 17:7 ESVExodus 17:7 NASBExodus 17:7 KJV
Exodus 17:7 Commentaries
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