Exodus 17:2
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Two passages of story are recorded in this chapter, I. The watering of the host of Israel. 1. In the wilderness they wanted water (Exo 17:1). 2. In their want they chided Moses (Exo 17:2, Exo 17:3). 3. Moses cried to God (Exo 17:4). 4. God ordered him to smite the rock, and fetch water out of that; Moses did so (Exo 17:5, Exo 17:6). 5. The place named from it (Exo 17:7). II. The defeating of the host of Amalek. 1. The victory obtained by the prayer of Moses (Exo 17:8-12). 2. By the sword of Joshua (Exo 17:13). 3. A record kept of it (Exo 17:14, Exo 17:16). And these things which happened to them are written for our instruction in our spiritual journey and warfare.
Open source ↗17:2 testing the Lord is explained in 17:7. They doubted that God was really with them or cared for them, and they demanded that he prove his presence and care. God invites a test based on faith (“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief,” Mark 9:24), but he abhors a test based on doubt (i.e., I don’t believe, and I think God should prove himself to me, as in John 6:30). The test based on doubt makes us the judge and God the defendant.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved.
Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.
We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
Again and again they tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”
where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works.
Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work.
Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”