MASSAH, AND MERIBAH !

God has a plan. In the 17th chapter of the book of Exodus the children of Israel were on a long journey, wandering around in the desert.These Israelites were a type of many Christians today. Okay....in our past as well. They were on a journey....in a dry desert....and the worst things got, the more the moaning and groaning. The Bible says here in the 17 chapter of Exodus, that they began to Chide with Moses the leader.
NO water to drink, imagine that. They said" Moses give us water that we may drink" oh my...look at verses 1-4.  Moses ask them why do u chide with me? Why di u tempt the Lord? Chide means to contend. To be contentious. Well i imagine they were thirsty. Thats a serious matter. Put yourself in their shoes. Dry desert, no water. They are past cooking with it, they are THIRSTY. Okay now enough is enough. Now they want to Moses to explain to them why Moses has led them up out of Egypt, to kill them and all connected with them with thirst?

Here it comes, the best part, Moses crys out to God and ask what shall i do with these people? According to the word of God, these people had been going thru at least 8 stages since coming from the desert of sin.  At one point back in chapter 15, the children of Israel were singing songs of praise ro the Lord. Now here we go again. Now here come the redemption story again.God tells Moses exactly what to do. Get some elders, your rod, you know the rod u used to part the river. Go! Take it in your hand and Just GO!
The next part...oh look at it.....verse 6 Behold i will stand before thee, there upon the rock in Horeb. Moses, strike that rock, and there shall come water out of that rock. And Moses did this in front of the elders. And the people did drink.
You must see verse 7. The name of this place Massah and Meribah, because of the chiding[ contending]
the children of Israel did, they tempted the Lord by asking.....are u with us, or not?
Massah meaning ( proof) and Meribah(contention) My brothers and sisters, this thing called Christianity is not for the timid.
We proudly proclaim victory in Jesus. Yet we are a weak powerless flock. Not complaining, I'm not. We must have Victory in Jesus. Ask, beg, plead, contend, with our lord, if u expect victory. Pray. Very little real prayer in Gods houses like it should be. I personaly can feel in my body, and in my life, when other Christians are praying for me. Now....lets start contending with God for our needs. Do u think God answered there request when He did not want to? All thru the scripture God contends with us. So lets contend back. Father in heaven, u are Holy. You alone are worthy to be praised. Lead us to the water so we can drink. All our earthly needs, and our worship of you, we ask you to help us.  When you do this for us, we know you and u alone get the glory and praise. AMEN!