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Pre-Lent · Septuagesima Sunday

Exodus 17:1-7

Water from the Rock

February 1, 2026

Moses Striking Water from the Rock, Nicolas Poussin
Moses Striking Water from the Rock, Nicolas Poussin, 1649Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · public domain
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 20:1-16
Epistle1 Cor. 9:24-10:5
Old TestamentExod. 17:1-7
PsalterPs. 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

Exodus 17:1-7 (Old Testament) Working Preacher

Weekly exegesis of this reading by a named seminary scholar.

Exodus 17 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse by verse devotional notes on the water from the rock episode.

Exodus 17 BibleStudyTools

Full chapter text with linked classic commentary for quick reference.

Background & Word Study

Exodus 17:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries and Hebrew word study tools on the passage.

Sermons & Reflections

Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7 1517.org

A Lutheran homiletical helps article on preaching this exact text.

Podcast

Looking Forward to Sunday Morning: Septuagesima (1-Year Lectionary) Issues, Etc.

A Lutheran radio preview of the Septuagesima propers including this reading.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated image index for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Moses Striking the Rock Web Gallery of Art

A classic painting depicting the scene of water from the rock.

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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