The Israelites were commanded not to test God as they did at Massah because testing God reflects unbelief, irreverence, and a lack of trust in His provision. At Massah, the people quarreled with Moses and demanded water, questioning whether the Lord was truly among them. This act of demanding proof from God despite His past faithfulness was considered rebellion.
“You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.” (Deuteronomy 6:16)
The original incident is recorded in Exodus 17:
“So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention… and because they tempted the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?'” (Exodus 17:7)
God had just delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and provided manna. Yet the people doubted Him at the first sign of difficulty. This dishonored God and provoked His anger. Moses reminded the new generation that such behavior was unacceptable. Trust in God must not be conditional.
To test God is to demand signs or assurances before obeying, rather than walking by faith. It treats God as if He must prove Himself again, rather than honoring Him as faithful and true. The warning at Massah was not merely about water… it was about the heart’s posture toward God’s character and promises.
