Massah-Meribah And The Judgment Of God

The events that transpired at Massah and Meribah have fascinated me for years. While as a child I received the story on it's most surface level, that God was giving his people water so that they didn't die of thirst in the desert, a few considerations from men that I deeply respect have brought this passage to life for me in profound ways. Edmund Clowney helped me understand that what was going on in both of these texts is actually cosmic treason where God is on trial. My pastor helped me understand that this passage has profound implications for how God deals with his people. It is best at this point to have both of the events before us.

Jesus Christ: Our Ark

One of the podcasts that I listen to regularly is Christ the Center. On their most recent episode, they played a Sunday school lesson taught by Daniel Ragusa on the biblical theology of Joshua. In this lesson he talks about the crossing of the Jordan in Joshua 3 and goes into explaining the geographical context of the treachery of the Jordan river, especially at the time of its flooding, and then ties the discussion to baptism and the necessity of passing through judgment. As I was listening, it got me thinking about this pattern, one that I believe you see repeated many times in scripture. Fallen creation must pass through judgment in order to become new creation.