Can the story of an event, which occurred almost three thousand years ago have anything meaningful or significant to say to us in our contemporary, human situation? The exodus of the people of Israel out of enslavement in Egypt happened that long ago. It is a story with which most of us are familiar; our lesson is a part of that story.

In the lesson we find the people of Israel somewhere in the desert wilderness of the Negev, or Sinai area of the southern part of Israel, on their journey toward the promised land. It is only a short time prior to their receiving the Ten Commandments.

The scene is a familiar one. They are in the desert and in need of water. The people of Israel began to grumble and murmur, questioning the faithfulness of God and the leadership of Moses. "Is the Lord among …