Remember Massah/Meribah - Don’t tempt God

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did – and were killed by poisonous serpents;” 1 Corinthians 10v9 (AMP)

Beloved, from the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness, we are told not to tempt God, try Him, test His patience, exploit His goodness, or critically appraise Him. One day, when the Israelites were thirsty, Exodus 17v1-3 (NLT) records “At the LORD’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place, Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?” But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” Now, the LORD provided water for them, but Exodus 17v7 (KJV) says “And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” Child of God, it is one thing when the enemies of God or other people are testing God and making a mockery of His ability. But for you, a child of God, who has tasted of God, seen His power, experienced His blessings to begin to test God. When you start murmuring, complaining, questioning if God is even with you in all of this perhaps because of a momentary affliction, frustration, or challenge, you are testing God. Child of God, trust God, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11v6).

Supplementary Text

And they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, and the people became impatient (depressed, much discouraged), because [of the trials] of the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and we loathe this light (contemptible, unsubstantial) manna. Then the Lord sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died. And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that He may take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people” (Numbers 21v4-7, AMP).

Prayer

Father, please forgive me in anyway I have tempted You, in my words, thoughts or deeds in Jesus name, amen. I ask for the grace to remember and be grateful always in Jesus name, amen.