From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some men for us and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.
Exodus 17:1-13
In this passage from Exodus, Moses became tired, disillusioned, not knowing what to do as he led the Israelites to an unknown Promised Land. He went to his hiding place, our Lord God, when the people complained for lack of water. “What shall I do with this (complaining) people?” he asked. “They are getting ready to stone me.”
Fear. Moses’ hands grew tired. Weariness. Moses and the people wondered if they would endure to defeat the Amalakites. Disillusionment.
But God, our hiding place, gave water from a rock. He sent helpers to hold up Moses’ hands and staff until the Amalakites were defeated. He brought reassurance to a doubting nation.
I, too have been weary and disillusioned of late. I am thankful for the worship chorus of my younger days, based on Psalm 27:5
“You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You. “
And the God of all faithfulness will give me the strength to endure.

Annette Anfinrud

Appointed readings for today: Jeremiah 11:18-20, Psalm 7:6-11, John 7:37-52