Psalms 81:7 “Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.”
How do we do when we are tested with troubles? The Lord “proved” Israel “at the waters of Meribah”, which means strife and contention. In this context, to “prove” is to test, to reveal strength, durability, and faithfulness. The Lord knew how they would behave, but the people didn’t know how they would behave until they were tested. They had just seen the mighty Hand of God as He had delivered them from Egyptian Bondage, delivered them across the Red Sea, and defeated their ferocious enemies right before their eyes. Furthermore, they had heard the Promises Of God to convey them into the Land of Canaan. By now, they should have had sufficient evidence to know that their Lord was going to protect them, provide for them, and ultimately deliver them into Canaan. But, when there was no water, they failed to remember the mighty Hand of God that was caring for them. So when “the people thirsted there for water” they “murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (Exodus 17:3). The people were so anguished that they were about ready to “stone” Moses (Exodus 17:4). They miserably failed their faith test! But, once again the Faithful Lord demonstrated that His great power was sufficient to care for His people. He told Moses, “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” (Exodus 17:6). Because of their faithless behavior, Moses “called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7). So, is there a “Meribah” in our life? How do we do in difficult situations, during serious troubles, when we don’t know what to do or how to do? In times of severe troubles, let us remember to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13), to “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10), and to spend our trying hours “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). And do remember that over and over again our Lord told Israel and us, that He will not “forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:8) and “I will be with thee” (Deuteronomy 31:23). Let us steadfastly worship and faithfully serve our Lord; though He sometimes proves us, He is our Almighty “friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24)!