Israel’s journey through the wilderness was not always a journey of confidence and celebration. At the beginning of Exodus 17, the Israelites arrived at Rephidim only to discover that there was no water to drink. Their immediate response was to argue with Moses and question whether God was really with them (vv.2-3,7). ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’ is a question that we can all relate to. When things get tough, circumstances become difficult, and prayers seem unanswered, or when the resources we depend upon run dry, we may find ourselves wondering whether God is really present.

What’s striking is that even though the Israelite’s doubted, God didn’t leave them; he didn’t withdraw his presence. Their faith was weak, but God remained faithful. God told Moses to take the staff with which he struck the Nile and go to the rock at Horeb. There Moses was told to strike the rock, and water would flow from it for the people to drink (vv.5-6). The provision came not because Israel had demonstrated sufficient faith or deserved God’s blessing, but because God was gracious.

For Christians, this event points to something more – Paul later connects the rock with Christ:
‘…they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 10:4). The God who provided water in the wilderness has revealed himself fully in Jesus Christ, the one through whom God’s grace and life are freely given.

The story encourages us to see our thirst differently. Our deepest need is not simply for circumstances to improve or for our immediate problems to disappear; our deepest need is for God himself – and in Jesus Christ, God has already given himself to us. God’s relationship with humanity is not something we have to create. In Christ, the Son has united himself to us and brought us into relationship with the Father through the Spirit. God’s presence does not depend upon the strength of our faith or spiritual maturity. Even when we ask ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’ the gospel declares that God has come near and remains faithful.

This does not mean that our difficulties and hardships are insignificant. Israel really was thirsty. Their need was real, and God met them in the middle of that need. Likewise, grace does not deny our struggles; it assures us that we do not face them alone.

If you are going through a tough time now, where the things you usually rely on seem gone, think about the rock. Remember Christ. The God who met Israel in the wilderness has revealed, in Jesus, that his desire is not to abandon us but to share his life with us. We may sometimes question whether God is with us, but his presence with us remains certain. In Christ, the answer to Israel’s question is wonderfully clear: yes, the Lord is with us, and in Jesus Christ, he is always with us.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church