What is the significance of Meribah in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Meribah, meaning "quarrel, provocation, strife," in Hebrew, signifies the locations where the Israelites disputed with God over their need for water in the desert. The first incident occurred at Meribah near Mount Horeb (Exodus 17), where the Israelites accused Moses of leading them into the wilderness to die of thirst. Moses struck a rock as God commanded, and water came forth. But later, at Meribah Kadesh (Numbers 20), in a similar situation, God commanded Moses to speak to a rock to bring forth water. Moses disobeyed God's command, striking a rock twice. Because Moses failed to uphold the Lord as holy before the people, he was barred from entering the Promised Land. These events serve as reminders of the Israelites' lack of trust and obedience. Despite their faithlessness, God remained faithful in providing for His people. Today, Meribah stands as a lesson of God's unwavering faithfulness even when we doubt, urging us to trust in His provision and obey His commands.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Meribah means "quarrel, provocation, strife, or contention" in Hebrew. In the Bible, Meribah was the name given to two places where the Israelites quarreled with God about their need for water in the desert.
• The first location was a rock at the foot of Mount Horeb (also called Mount Sinai) in an area known as Rephidim shortly after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea during their escape from slavery in Egypt. This account is recorded in Exodus 17:1–7. The Israelites camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Fearing they would die of thirst, they accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt only to kill them in the desert. Moses asked, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" (Exodus 17:2). Then he turned to God and said, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me" (Exodus 17:4). God commanded Moses to take some of the elders with him, go to the rock at Horeb, and strike the rock with his staff. When Moses obeyed, potable water gushed forth. Moses then "called the name of the place Massah [meaning testing] and Meribah [meaning quarreling], because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying 'Is the LORD among us or not?'" (Exodus 17:7).
• The other location by this name is closer to the Promised Land of Canaan in the southwestern Negev Desert; it is also called Meribah Kadesh because it is near Kadesh-barnea. Kadesh-barnea was the chief site of encampment for the Israelites during their forty years of wandering. Numbers 20:1–13 records another account, later in their forty years, where the Israelites needed water and doubted God's provision. It reads, "They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "…Why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink" (Numbers 20:2–5). Moses and Aaron turned to the LORD, and He instructed them to speak to a rock in front of all the people, promising, "So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle" (Numbers 20:8). Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it twice with his staff (Numbers 20:11). God did bring forth water from the rock, but He punished Moses and Aaron for not trusting Him enough to follow His instructions. God said, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them" (Numbers 20:12). The account concludes, "These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy" (Numbers 20:13).
• This second location of Meribah Kadesh is referenced in other passages in the Bible. God confirmed in Deuteronomy 32:51 that Moses was being prohibited from entering the Promised Land due to his behavior there. In Psalm 81:7 God states, "I tested you at the waters of Meribah." The psalmist in Psalm 106:32 recalls, "They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account." Later in Ezekiel, Meribah Kadesh is listed as the future southern boundary of the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28).
• The earlier Meribah is mentioned by the psalmist in Psalm 95:8 when he warns readers, "Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness."

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Meribah is not mentioned in the New Testament.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Both Meribahs are locations remembered for the Israelites' lack of trust in the Lord. It is interesting, however, that God did provide water in both places. The Israelites' faithlessness had no effect on God's faithfulness to provide for His people. Second Timothy 2:13 teaches that even "if we are faithless, he remains faithful." The miracle of water at both Meribahs is an example of that truth. Because God can be trusted, we should heed the guidance of the author of Hebrews who wrote, "do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years" (Hebrews 3:8–9). May our hearts be softened and filled with faith in God's faithfulness to provide.

UNDERSTAND

• In Hebrew, Meribah means "quarrel, provocation, strife," reflecting disputes between the Israelites and God at this location.
• The Israelites quarreled with Moses at Meribah near Mount Horeb (Exodus 17). A similar situation occurred decades later at Meribah Kadesh (Numbers 20) when Moses struck a rock instead of speaking to it as commanded.
• Moses' disobedience at Meribah Kadesh led to him being prohibited from entering the Promised Land.

REFLECT

• How do you relate to the Israelites' moments of doubt and quarreling with God in your own life?
• Reflect on Moses' disobedience at Meribah Kadesh. Are there times when you've struggled to obey God's commands fully? What helps you choose obedience?
• How can the story of Meribah remind you of God's faithfulness despite your faithlessness?

ENGAGE

• How do the incidents at Meribah near Mount Horeb and Meribah Kadesh reflect different aspects of the relationship between God and His people?
• Discuss the implications of Moses' disobedience at Meribah Kadesh and its consequences. How does it speak to the importance of obedience and trust in God?
• How does God's response to the Israelites at Meribah reflect His character? What does it reveal about His grace and justice?