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Lent · Third Sunday in Lent · Year A

Exodus 17:1-7

Water from the Rock

March 8, 2026

Moses Striking the Rock, Abraham Bloemaert
Moses Striking the Rock, Abraham Bloemaert, 1596The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
A Utrecht mannerist's crowd, twisting figures packed into the foreground, all of them reaching for the water at once.Is the Lord among us or not? The reading is a thirsty crowd asking that question, and Bloemaert painted the crowd.Abraham BloemaertA Utrecht painter and the teacher of a whole generation, whose drawing book was used for training long after his death.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe largest art museum in the Americas, founded in 1870 by a group of New Yorkers who wanted one and had no collection to start from.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelJohn 4:5-26 (27-30, 39-42)Jn 4:5-26 (27-30, 39-42)
EpistleRom. 5:1-8Rom 5:1-8
Old TestamentExod. 17:1-7Ex 17:1-7
PsalterPs. 95:1-9Ps 95:1-9

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

Working Preacher: Exodus 17:1-7Working Preacher: Ex 17:1-7 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis on wilderness complaint and testing the Lord.

CEP: Exodus 17:1-7CEP: Ex 17:1-7 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on Massah, Meribah, and God's provision.

Enduring Word: Exodus 17Enduring Word: Ex 17 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the chapter.

Precept Austin: Exodus 17 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Ex 17 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-level study helps, Hebrew word notes, and gathered quotations.

BibleHub: Exodus 17:1 CommentariesBibleHub: Ex 17:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on the water from the rock.

Background & Word Study

Sefaria: Exodus 17 (Hebrew)Sefaria: Ex 17 (Hebrew) Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the passage.

BibleHub Interlinear: Exodus 17:1BibleHub Interlinear: Ex 17:1 BibleHub

Hebrew text with parsing for Massah, Meribah, and the rock at Horeb.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Exodus 17Catena: Ex 17 Catena

Patristic comment chain gathering the Fathers on the chapter.

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