“And there was no water for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:1).

As the children of Israel journeyed in the wilderness, they came upon a “NO WATER” situation. Considering the fact that the congregation numbered from two to three million people plus livestock, this was a desperately critical problem. Humanly, there was nothing that could be done to bring relief. How would they react to such an adverse circumstance?

Elijah had a similar incident in his life. Day after day God miraculously supplied his need in the wilderness beyond Jordan, then, “THE BROOK DRIED UP” (I Kings 17:7). How would he react to his “no water” situation?

In Exodus 17:1–7, Israel reacted to their seemingly big problem in the following ways: (1) They chided against Moses and tempted God (17:2,3). (2) They murmured against the leadership even to the point of wanting to stone Moses (17:3,4). (3) They failed to give God the glory for what He had already done: their deliverance from Egypt (17:3). (4) They drew a false conclusion as they looked at the circumstances (17:3). Moses, they reasoned, brought them into the wilderness to kill them with thirst. (5) They evidenced a complete lack of faith concerning the Lord’s immediate presence. “They tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” (17:7).

Elijah, on the other hand, never murmured or complained when his brook dried up. He daily lived in the assurance of God’s presence which brought him contentment, regardless of the circumstances.

Elijah’s faith, rather than Israel’s distrust, should be the example of how we, as believers, should react to the “NO WATER” situations of life. The word of God should be explicitly trusted. “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). NPS