Pentecost Season · Proper 21 · Year A
Exodus 17:1-7
Water from the Rock
September 27, 2026
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 17:1-7 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis on wilderness complaint and testing the Lord.
CEP: Exodus 17:1-7 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on Massah, Meribah, and God's provision.
Enduring Word: Exodus 17 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the chapter.
Precept Austin: Exodus 17 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse-level study helps, Hebrew word notes, and gathered quotations.
BibleHub: Exodus 17:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on the water from the rock.
Background & Word Study
Sefaria: Exodus 17 (Hebrew) Sefaria
Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the passage.
BibleHub Interlinear: Exodus 17:1 BibleHub
Hebrew text with parsing for Massah, Meribah, and the rock at Horeb.
Enter the Bible: Exodus Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Exodus and the wilderness narratives.
The Church Fathers
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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