God’s plans are sweet in drought and heat.

“NOTHING” MAY NOT BE “NAUGHT”AS IT SEEMS

In Exodus 17:1-7, Israel journeyed from a frontier city in Egypt named Sin (pronounced seen), as God commanded them. The congregation set up tents in Rephidim, also known as “a desert place”. While researching, I learned that the root word of rephidim is “raphad”, which means “to spread”, “make” and “refresh”. What’s interesting is that Rephidim is also synonymous with rphiydah, which means “perhaps support”.

So, in Rephidim, a location that holds the possibility of obtaining support; a place designated “to spread, make, and be refreshed”, there was no water in sight for the people to drink. Naturally, Israel went OFF on Moses and accused him of endangering their lives because he brought them to a desert place with no perceivable resources. Prior to this moment , God delivered the congregation from the hand of Pharaoh, their slave master. The people were given God’s commandments and blessing to move forward into a fruitful land God promised them.

The congregation fought with Moses, and demanded water, while questioning both Moses’and God’s intentions. Moses cried out to God and the LORD told Moses that he would go before him on a rock in “Horeb”. What’s interesting is that Horeb is a mountain in Sinai defined as “waste”. The root word of Horeb is charab. It means “to be dry or dried up”. The primitive root word of “charab” is , “chareb” {khaw-rabe’}” means, to parch (through drought)”.

LET’S RECAP

God instructed Moses to gather the elders and congregation in the “waste, dried up, parched through drought” place. There, God told Moses to “strike the rock” with the rod he had in his hand. God said, that thereafter, water would flow from the rock.

God went ahead of Moses to provide water in a void place, that could not, under natural circumstances produce water. God supplied the congregation of Israel with what they needed through an unlikely source of His choice.

Moses obeyed the instructions of God in the dry, waste place. Water flowed from the rock —just as God said. The people drank, even though they tempted the LORD. Exodus 17:7 says, God renamed the place Massah, and Meribah because the congregation criticized and rebuked Moses while they “tempted the Lord, saying, is the Lord among us, or not?”

Round II 🥊

Numbers 20:1-13

In Numbers 20:1-13, we find the congregation “turning up” on Moses again in Zin (tseen),  a desert area noted to be near Kadesh-barnea. Kadesh, also known as “Qadesh” is defined as a “sacred” place and “…sanctuary — in the desert.” In verse 1, the scripture notes two things for the season they were in:

1. The whole congregation of Israel now abode in Kadesh, aka the “sacred place; the sanctuary in the desert”

2. Miriam, Aaron’s sister, died and was buried there.

The Holy Spirit lead me to dig for deeper, contextual meaning. I was shocked to learn that the name Miriam is derivative of Meri, and it means rebellion. Miriam also comes from the name Mara which means, “bitter, contentious, disobedient, disobeyed and rebels”.

😳 😳 😳

Oddly, the meaning of “Miriam” describes the behaviors the congregation exhibited in uncertainty. I sensed the LORD saying, before walking into the promise, disobedience, rebellion and bitterness cannot go. It must be buried in the sacred part of the desert.

BACK TO ROUND TWO 🥊

In Numbers 20:1-13, again, the congregation gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron when they became thirsty and hungry. Even after witnessing the first miracle of water from the rock in the desert, their hearts were still hardened.

PIVOTS TO EPIPHANIES

This time, Moses sook the LORD, and God gave different instructions. Though Moses was told to carry the same tool God anointed to perform the former miracle, God wanted to use Moses’ voice to provide the water in the sacred place. In Numbers 20:8-9, This time, God said, “take the rod but speak to the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water…”

INTERESTING OBSERVATION 🧐

I noticed that God didn’t tell Moses exactly what to say to the rock. God said, “speak to the rock”. I believe the Holy Spirit is revealing the authority God assigned to Moses’ voice. Irrespective of Moses’ issues with speaking, God still told Moses to command the water from the rock, because God already prepared the rock— an inanimate object, to obey Moses’ voice.

HOL’ UP

God said, speak to the rock but Moses in his anger, spoke to the people. God still provided water however, thereafter, God corrected Moses and Aaron with consequence after revealing the purpose for the whole demonstration. The LORD intended to sanctify Himself in front of the people. God purposed to “be set apart, consecrated, and to manifest holiness” in Israel’s sight and within THEM.

Israel was in the right conditions and location and to receive exactly what they needed. Though didn’t look like where they were could produce anything, God made what seemed impossible, possible. God brought them to a void place to demonstrate his power, protection, provision and love for them.

A NOTE FOR GRACE

Patience, patience, patience!

The Holy Spirit reminded me that the congregation of Israel just left slavery in Egypt. They were exposed to a melting pot of idolatrous spiritual practices, habits and methods of survival that were not of God. They were not assured of themselves nor God. The desert/wilderness was purposed for God’s glory.

God. with great kindness and mercy provided water a second time —- in spite of Moses’ disobedience and the people’s heart posture. The congregation was unaware that the desert and wilderness was divinely prepared for them. They were lead to and through the waste, dry, place to the sacred part of desert place for their benefit. Where there seemed to be nothing, God was sanctified before them and in them. The desert was made for revival, restoration and refreshing.

Though challenging to the flesh, the desert is meant to develop faith. It is where we become anchored in God’s love and ability in a way we may have not seen or experienced. The desert also reveals what’s in us and what we truly believe. May God grace eyes to see and ears to hear.

1. The wilderness/ desert is part of the process. Even Jesus went through it before walking into purpose and promise.
2. The desert is where God is sanctified in our sight, spirit and mind, heart and soul.
3. What looks void, barren or impossible are perfect conditions for God to demonstrate omnipotent power, glory and strength.
4. Rebellion, bitterness, strife, complaining and unbelief must be buried in the desert before walking into the promise .
5. Though God may tell us to pick up something we used before, He may not purpose for us to use it the same way. Listen to instructions. Trust God’s plan.
6. Belief + obedience = exactly what God promised.

SOURCE REFERENCES

#7508. Rephidim, #7507. rephidah, 7502. raphad, #2722. Choreb, Charab 2717, #5221 nakah Smite, #4532 Massah , #4809 Meribah , #6946 Kadesh/Qadesh, Sanctify #6942 Strong’s Concordance Biblehub.com, Genesis 1:2-3, Miriam, Numbers 20:1-13, Exodus 17:1-7, John 14:1, Exodus 4:10, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Proverbs 3:5-6 Biblegateway.com, Mountain in desert by Vanzyst from Getty Images Pro.

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