My Massah and Meribah
By Lexi Cole
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.”
Psalm 95: 8-9
It seemed like another beautifully-written poem. “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” As I read Psalm 95, the song that echoes this verse came to mind. But the eleven-verse psalm quickly turns to a less-idyllic melody. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah...”By Lexi Cole
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.”
Psalm 95: 8-9
I assumed I would journal about the first seven verses - - God’s greatness. But I kept wondering, What are Massah and Meribah?
As I looked into it, I found Massah and Meribah are referenced five times in the Old and New Testament. There’s some debate about whether they’re one place or two, but scholars identify the main story as an event told in Exodus. (1) Here, the Israelites complain about not having enough water (even though God had miraculously provided food one chapter before). God provides water for the people, and Moses calls the place Massah and Meribah as a reminder of God’s faithfulness. (2)
Historical significance aside, the question becomes, “What is my Massah and Meribah?” When have I tested God or doubted His providence? When have I seen God’s hand at work one minute, and the next moment forgotten His goodness? We serve an active God - - not only active in our lives personally, but also active in our church, our community and our world. Because of this, we are fortunate to see His goodness and have His guidance daily. His faithfulness is everywhere, from a beautiful sunset to a friend saying just what we need to hear. However, like the Israelites, I know there have been times when I have seen God’s goodness and then, the next second, forgotten to go to Him and His Word.
Moses gave a name to the time when the people forgot to rely on God. He identified a place so it would serve as a reminder, so it could be referenced later in Scripture as a loud “Remember this? Don’t make the same mistake! Learn from your past.” While the psalm begins with God’s goodness, the second part - - the reminder of Massah and Meribah - - is equally a great reminder that we need to look back and remember God’s great faithfulness.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Think about the times you’ve recognized God’s faithfulness and the times you’ve forgotten to rely on Him. What can you do today to increase incidences of the first?
2. What could you create as a tangible reminder to keep your heart soft and free from doubting God’s provision?
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 95; Exodus 17; Numbers 20
Lexi is an Elementary Education major at Bethel University. The last two summers, she’s been the Children’s Ministries intern at Oakwood.
(1) Orr, James. General Editor. “Entry for ‘Massah and Meribah.” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 1915.
(2) Exodus 17: 7
