The Whole Israelite community left the desert of Sin, moving from one place to another at the command of the LORD. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there to drink. They complained to Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."

Moses answered, "Why are you complaining? Why are you putting the LORD to the test?"

But the people were very thirsty and continued to complain to Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? To kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"

Moses prayed earnestly to the LORD and said, "What can I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

The LORD said to Moses, "Take some of the leaders of Israel with you, and go on ahead of the people. Take along the stick with which you struck the Nile. I will stand before you on a rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." Moses did so in the presence of the leaders of Israel.

The place was named Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites complained and put the LORD to the test when they asked, "Is the LORD with us or not?"

Exodus 17: 1-7

Most people have some bad habits. The people of ancient Israel had some of their own. They had just been delivered from slavery and they were complaining. They picked a fight with Moses, because he was their leader. However, in reality they were picking a fight with God.

To conquer the habit of complaining, count your blessings.

Our Daily Bread – September 16, 2003