Rephidim

(Exodus 17:1-6)

Journey by stages through Sin;

  so decently and in order; 

    following the Lord's command 

      all the way to life-threatening thirst. 

Rephidim, meaning "spread" or "support" 

  but which looks for all the world 

    like "grave" or "hole of thirsty death."

      Whose direction is Moses following?

How dare you bring us out

  to this God-forsaken place 

    leaving us fully bereft of

      life's second basic necessity!

What “gift” do you have next?

  Is the very air we breathe 

    going to suddenly form a vacuum?

      At least that would be a quick death!

What kind of crazy God

  sends leaders following Moses 

    out to Horeb – “land of the dried up”?

      What sort of elders follow?

Let the redeemed of the Lord say, 

  “Our hope and support were dried up 

    between Rephidim and Horeb; 

      God intervened with shepherd's staff:

life-giving water flowed;

  new life out of rock as if 

    it had been waiting eons for

      one with audacity to strike!”

What's next? Life emerging from tombs?

  Forgiveness and future emerging 

    as a dove from under baptism's water?

      What kind of crazy God is this who turns

desert rocks into pools of water,

  tombs into celebrations of life,

    water into grace and forgiveness,

      Church into healing hope for the world?

© 2015 Todd Jenkins