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1. What really happened in Massah and Meribah?
Exodus 17:7
And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
{ Massah means testing and Meribah quarreling. }
2. Do you know the consequences of Maasah and Meribah?
Numbers 20:24
"Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.
Psalm 106:32
By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
Numbers 27:13-14
13 After you (Moses) have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was,
14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes." (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)
3. What is the lesson?
Deuteronomy 6:16
Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.
Deuteronomy 95:8
Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert,
Conclusion
Trouble can come to us, disciples, leaders if we quarrel or test the Lord. If we keep on testing and quarrelling we may end up loosing trust in God and disobey Him.
Numbers 20:12
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
Similarly the New Testament also calls us to make the job of our leaders a joy and not a burden.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
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