Do we want to be Massah (The Place of Testing), Meribah (The Place of Arguing)?
Introduction
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us today for this worship service. I hope you are all doing well and feeling God's love and grace in your lives.
Today, I want to talk to you about a topic that is very relevant and important for our spiritual growth and our relationship with God. The topic is: Do we want to be Massah (The Place of Testing), Meribah (The Place of Arguing)? (Exodus 17:7).
Massah means “testing” and Meribah means “quarreling” or “arguing”.
These names were given by Moses to commemorate the events that happened at Rephidim, where the Israelites camped after leaving Egypt.
There was no water for the people to drink, so they grumbled against Moses and God, saying, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” (Exodus 17:3).
They accused Moses and God of bringing them out of Egypt only to kill them in the desert.
They also questioned God’s presence and power, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7).
What do these names mean, and why are they significant? Well, these are the names of two places where the Israelites camped in the wilderness, after they left Egypt and before they entered the promised land. These are also the names that Moses gave to these places, to commemorate the events that happened there. And these are also the names that remind us of the attitudes and actions that the Israelites displayed towards God and His servant Moses, and the consequences that followed.
Massah means "testing", and Meribah means "quarreling" or "arguing". These names reflect how the Israelites tested and argued with God, by doubting His goodness and faithfulness, by complaining about His provision and protection, and by rebelling against His authority and wisdom. These names also reveal how God responded to the Israelites' testing and arguing, by being displeased and angry with them, by withdrawing His favor and presence from them, and by punishing them and preventing them from entering His rest.
Now, why am I telling you this? Am I trying to scare you or condemn you? No, of course not. I am telling you this because I want you to learn from the mistakes of the Israelites, and to avoid the same pitfalls that they fell into. I am telling you this because I want you to experience the blessing and the peace that come from trusting and obeying God, and not from testing and arguing with Him. I am telling you this because I want you to grow in your faith and love for God, and to live in harmony with Him and with one another.
So, in this sermon, we will explore the following questions:
- What does it mean to test God, and what are the dangers of doing so?
- What does it mean to argue with God, and what are the consequences of doing so?
- What does it mean to trust and obey God, and what are the benefits of doing so?
Have you ever faced a challenge or a crisis that made you question God’s goodness or faithfulness?
- Have you ever felt like God was not listening to your prayers or meeting your needs?
- Have you ever blamed God for your problems or circumstances?
- Have you ever disobeyed God’s commands or ignored His voice?
We will also look at some examples from the Scripture, both from the Old Testament and the New Testament, that illustrate these points. And we will also apply these lessons to our own lives and situations, and see how we can respond to God in a way that pleases Him and honors Him.
So, are you ready to join me on this journey? Are you ready to examine your hearts and see if you are testing or arguing with God, or trusting and obeying Him? Are you ready to receive God's word and His wisdom for your life? If so, let us pray and ask God to speak to us and to guide us. Let us pray.
We will see how testing and arguing with God can lead to a hard heart and a broken relationship with Him, and how trusting and obeying God can lead to a blessed life that experiences His presence and His power.
We will also learn from the examples of Jesus and the early church, who showed us how to live in harmony with God and with one another.
We will also apply the lessons from the Scripture to our own lives and situations, and see how we can grow in our faith and love for God.
1: Testing God leads to a hard heart
The Israelites tested God by demanding water from a rock, even though He had already provided them with manna and quail (Exodus 17:1-6).
The Israelites tested God by putting Him to the test as if He had to prove Himself to them or meet their demands.
They did not remember or appreciate how God had already shown His grace and mercy to them by freeing them from slavery, parting the Red Sea, and giving them food from heaven.
They did not trust God to provide for them or protect them in the wilderness, even though He had promised to be with them and to bring them to the promised land.
They did not worship God or thank Him for His goodness, but instead they murmured and complained against Him and His servant Moses.
Show how this attitude displeased God and provoked His anger (Psalm 95:7-11).
God was not pleased with the Israelites’ testing, because it showed their lack of faith and gratitude.
God was angry with the Israelites, because they hardened their hearts and did not listen to His voice.
God swore in His wrath that they would not enter His rest, which was the promised land of Canaan, where they would enjoy His blessing and peace.
God called them a stiff-necked and rebellious people, who always went astray in their hearts and did not know His ways.
Testing God can lead to a hard heart that refuses to listen to His voice and enter His rest (Hebrews 3:7-19).
The writer of Hebrews warns us not to follow the example of the Israelites, who tested God in the wilderness and failed to enter His rest.
He urges us to hear God’s voice today and not to harden our hearts as they did.
He reminds us that we are God’s people and His house, if we hold on to our confidence and hope in Christ.
He exhorts us to encourage one another daily, so that none of us may be deceived by sin and fall away from the living God.
He cautions us that an evil and unbelieving heart can lead us to turn away from God and miss His promise.
Illustration: The story of Gideon, who asked God for a sign twice before he obeyed God’s command to fight against the Midianites (Judges 6:36-40).
How Gideon’s testing showed his fear and doubt, and how God was patient and gracious with him, but also how God reduced his army from 32,000 to 300, to show that the victory was not by human strength, but by God’s power (Judges 7:1-8).
The point is: Gideon’s testing did not increase his faith or obedience, but rather led him to make an ephod out of the spoils of war, which became a snare to him and his family, and caused the Israelites to worship idols (Judges 8:22-27).
Application: What this story means to our lives by asking us to examine our motives and attitudes when we ask God for a sign or a miracle, and to challenge us to trust and obey God without testing Him.
2: Arguing with God leads to a broken relationship
The Israelites argued with God by questioning His presence and His power, even though He had already delivered them from slavery and oppression (Exodus 17:7).
The Israelites argued with God by quarrelling with Him and His servant Moses, as if they had a right to dispute or challenge God’s authority or wisdom.
They did not acknowledge or honour God as their Lord and King, who had rescued them from the tyranny of Pharaoh and the plagues of Egypt.
They did not believe or rely on God’s presence and power, which was manifested by the pillar of cloud and fire, and the staff of Moses.
They did not fear God or respect Him, but instead, they accused Him of abandoning them and failing them in the desert.
This attitude grieved God and caused Him to withdraw His favor and protection (Numbers 20:1-13).
God was grieved by the Israelites’ arguing, because it showed their contempt and ingratitude for Him and His servant Moses.
God was hurt by the Israelites, because they broke His heart and His covenant with them.
God withdrew His favor and protection from the Israelites, because they forfeited His blessing and His presence by their sin and rebellion.
God punished the Israelites by not allowing them to enter the promised land, and by not allowing Moses and Aaron to enter either, because they disobeyed His command and dishonored Him before the people.
Warning: Arguing with God can lead to a broken relationship that hinders our prayers and our fellowship with Him (Isaiah 59:1-2).
The prophet Isaiah warns us that our sins and iniquities can separate us from God and hide His face from us, so that He does not hear our prayers or answer our cries.
He lists some of the sins that can cause this separation, such as lying, violence, injustice, oppression, rebellion, and evil thoughts.
He calls us to repent and turn from our wicked ways, and to seek the Lord while He may be found, and to call on Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6-7).
He promises us that if we confess our sins and forsake them, God will forgive us and cleanse us, and restore our relationship with Him (1 John 1:9).
Illustration: The story of Jonah, who argued with God by refusing to go to Nineveh and preach repentance, because he hated the Ninevites and wanted them to perish (Jonah 1:1-3).
Jonah’s arguing showed his pride and prejudice, and God disciplined him and corrected him, by sending a storm, a fish, a plant, and a worm, to teach him a lesson (Jonah 1:4-2:10; 4:1-11).
Jonah’s arguing did not change God’s mind or will, but rather made him miserable and angry, and how God rebuked him and challenged him to care more about people than plants (Jonah 4:9-11).
Application: What this story means to our lives, by asking us to examine our hearts and see if we have any bitterness or resentment towards God or others, and to challenge us to surrender and obey God without arguing with Him.
3: Trusting and obeying God leads to a blessed life
Jesus trusted and obeyed God by praying for His will and submitting to His plan, even though He faced suffering and death (John 17:20-26).
Jesus trusted and obeyed God by praying for His will, not His own, in the garden of Gethsemane, where He was betrayed and arrested (Matthew 26:36-46).
Jesus trusted and obeyed God by submitting to His plan, which was to die on the cross for the sins of the world, and to rise again on the third day, defeating death and the devil (John 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Jesus trusted and obeyed God by glorifying Him and revealing Him to His disciples and to us, who believe in Him through their word (John 17:1-5; 20-21).
Jesus trusted and obeyed God by loving Him and loving us, and by giving us His peace and His joy (John 14:23-24; 15:9-11).
This attitude pleased God and resulted in His glory and His salvation (Philippians 2:5-11).
God was pleased with Jesus’ trust and obedience, because it showed His perfect righteousness and holiness.
God was delighted with Jesus, because He was His beloved Son, in whom He was well pleased (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).
God exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above every name, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).
God saved us and gave us eternal life through Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
Encourage: Trusting and obeying God can lead to a blessed life that experiences His presence and His power (John 10:10).
Jesus came to give us life, and life in abundance, not just in heaven, but also on earth (John 10:10).
Jesus promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age, and to send us the Holy Spirit, who is our helper, teacher, and guide (Matthew 28:20; John 14:16-17; 16:13).
Jesus empowered us to do greater works than He did, and to bear much fruit for His glory, as we abide in Him and His word (John 14:12-14; 15:1-8).
Jesus invited us to come to Him and find rest for our souls, and to cast all our cares on Him, for He cares for us (Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:7).
Illustration: The story of Abraham, who trusted and obeyed God by leaving his country and his family, and going to the land that God showed him, even though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8-10).
Abraham’s trust and obedience showed his faith and hope, and how God blessed him and made him a great nation, and gave him the land of Canaan as an inheritance (Genesis 12:1-7; 15:1-6; 17:1-8).
Abraham’s trust and obedience fulfilled God’s promise and plan, and how through his offspring, Jesus Christ, all the nations of the earth are blessed (Genesis 22:15-18; Galatians 3:6-9; 3:16).
Application: What this story means to our lives by asking us to examine our hearts and see if we are willing to trust and obey God, even when we do not understand His ways or His timing, and to challenge us to follow and serve God without hesitation or reservation.
Conclusion
In this sermon, we have learned that testing and arguing with God can lead to a hard heart and a broken relationship with Him, and that trusting and obeying God can lead to a blessed life that experiences His presence and His power.
We have also learned from the examples of Jesus and the early church, who showed us how to live in harmony with God and with one another.
We have also applied the lessons from the Scripture to our own lives and situations, and seen how we can grow in our faith and love for God.
Now, I want to ask you to examine your hearts and see if you are testing or arguing with God, or trusting and obeying Him.
Are you putting God to the test, by demanding a sign or a miracle, or by doubting His goodness or faithfulness?
Are you quarreling with God, by questioning His presence or His power, or by blaming Him or disobeying Him?
Or are you trusting and obeying God, by praying for His will and submitting to His plan, and by loving Him and serving Him?
If you have been testing or arguing with God, I want to invite you to repent and turn from your sin and unbelief, and to ask God for His forgiveness and His grace.
God is merciful and compassionate, and He will not reject a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).
God is faithful and just, and He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
God is loving and generous, and He will restore us and renew us by His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Let us pray together and ask God to help us trust and obey Him more and more each day.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
