Lenten Season · Third Sunday of Lent · Year C

If First Scrutiny of the Elect: Exodus 17:3-7

Water from the Rock

March 19, 2028

Roman Lectionary

GospelLuke 13:1-9 Alt. GospelIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: John 4:5-42 orJohn 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

First ReadingExod. 3:1-8a, 13-15 Alt. 1st ReadingIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Exodus 17:3-7

Responsorial PsalmPs. 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11 (8a)Alt. PsalmIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)

Second Reading1 Cor. 10:1-6, 10-12 Alt. 2nd ReadingIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Overview & Insights

“Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7)

Quarreling and Water from a Rock: The people continued their journey, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. It sounds like a good beginning. The Lord was their personal guide in the wilderness and they followed. Exodus 17, however, presents two new serious encounters, both rife with conflict. The people quarreled with Moses (vv. 1–7) and were attacked by the Amalekites (vv. 8–16). The internal and external threats provided new opportunities for growth. Their escalated quarrel with Moses revealed the internal dysfunction of their nascent relationship with the Lord and God’s chosen leader. The external threat from Amalek confirmed the ongoing need for the Lord’s protection and Moses’ leadership. These crises also confirmed the leadership of the elders and Joshua and the presence of the Lord.

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Commentary

Exodus 17 Commentary: God's Provision and Protection Enduring Word

Verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the water-from-the-rock episode and its Christ typology.

Exodus 17:1-7 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching-focused commentary on the testing at Massah and Meribah.

Exodus 17 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-by-verse study notes with cross references on Israel's grumbling and God's provision.

Commentary on Exodus 17:1-7 workingpreacher.org

The one Lutheran voice on the water-from-the-rock reading for this Sunday.

Exodus 17 (Haydock Commentary) haydockcommentary.com

Catholic Haydock notes on Israel testing God at Massah and Meribah.

Background & Word Study

Commentary on Exodus 17 by Matthew Henry Blue Letter Bible

Classic word-by-word exposition of the passage for background reading.

Exodus 17:6 Interlinear biblehub.com

Hebrew text and parsing for the striking of the rock.

The Church Fathers

Against Marcion, Book III (Tertullian) New Advent

Tertullian reads the struck rock as a figure of Christ, citing 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Sermons & Reflections

Exodus 17:1-7 Commentary cepreaching.org

Reformed preaching commentary on the murmuring and provision narrative.

Worship & Prayers

Lent 3 (A) sermons episcopalchurch.org

Anglican preaching resources for the Sunday that pairs Exodus 17 with the Samaritan woman.

Art & Music

Moses Striking the Rock (Bloemaert) Web Gallery of Art

A classic painting of Moses striking the rock for visual meditation.

Study Hub

Exodus 17 biblehub.com

Aggregator chapter page linking multiple commentaries.

Questions preachers ask

What happens at Massah and Meribah?

Thirsty and quarreling, Israel tests God at Rephidim; the Lord tells Moses to strike the rock at Horeb, and water pours out (Exodus 17:1–7). The place-names mean “testing” and “quarreling.”

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