The Biblical account of how the children of Israel when led into the desert of Zin, which was without water, rebelled against Moses and Aaron and even questioned why they were brought into the wilderness is a story familar to all Bible students. Although the Lord directed Moses to take the rod and assemble the congregation before a rock and to speak unto them, Moses was angry because of the lack of faith on the part of the people. Had they not already received abundant proof of God's protection, care, and guidance in the dividing of the Red Sea and in the manna supplied from heaven? Unfortunately, he allowed a sense of anger over their ingratitude and doubt to possess him instead of the needed compassion, patience, and love, saying (Num. 20:10), "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" Nevertheless, when he smote the rock, the water came out of it abundantly and he heard God say (Num. 20:13), "This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them."
In giving place to anger instead of sanctifying God, Moses lost the opportunity of leading the children of Israel into the promised land. Thus, by not meeting the problem scientifically with divine Love, it became indeed bitter for him.
In our journey from a material sense of things to the promised land of spiritual understanding we too may sometimes pass through the water of Meribah. Despite the evidence of the material senses that we are in the desert of human want, doubt, or fear, we are called upon to demonstrate our spiritual faith in God, in His love and power to guard, guide, comfort, and heal us completely. This spiritual faith will then become for us a rock or spiritual source from which the healing and sustaining waters of Truth will flow.
