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Feb 27, 2005

Feb 27, 2005 Water Ex 17:3-7

In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?" So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? a little more and they will stone me!" The LORD answered Moses, "Go over there in front of the people,
along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink." This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel. The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD in our midst or not?"

The water flowed from a rock at a place where the people had tested the Lord. They were grumbling about their thirst and complaining about leaving Egypt this time and yet God had pity on them. The staff that struck the river before now struck the rock and water flowed. There is a sort of rock in the area of this event that breaks easily and there are spots in the same area where there is water under the rock. The staff is an important sign a reminder of the power of God from the miracle at the river when the people escaped Pharoah's soldiers. To this day the staff is an important sign of the shepherd, the leader of the people of the Church. The pope, the bishop and the abbot or abbess all have coziers which are staffs. The people complain and are stubborn and yet God continues to be merciful and give to them.