This happened at Meribah, where the people of Israel complained against the LORD and where he showed them that he is holy.

"You also made the LORD your God angry when you were at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth Hattaavah.

They complained to Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses answered, "Why are you complaining? Why are you putting the LORD to the test?"

When you were in trouble, you called to me, and I saved you. From my hiding place in the storm, I answered you. I put you to the test at the springs of Meribah.

"Don't be stubborn, as your ancestors were at Meribah, as they were that day in the desert at Massah.

do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God, as they were that day in the desert when they put him to the test.

There they put me to the test and tried me, says God, although they had seen what I did for forty years.

He said, "Lord, if you really are pleased with me, I ask you to go with us. These people are stubborn, but forgive our evil and our sin, and accept us as your own people."

When that happens, I will become angry with them; I will abandon them, and they will be destroyed. Many terrible disasters will come upon them, and then they will realize that these things are happening to them because I, their God, am no longer with them.

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, said to them, "Now we know that the LORD is with us. You have not rebelled against him, and so you have saved the people of Israel from the LORD's punishment."

Let everyone who lives in Zion shout and sing! Israel's holy God is great, and he lives among his people."

The city's rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money---and they all claim that the LORD is with them. "No harm will come to us," they say. "The LORD is with us."

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.

Moses is the one who said to the people of Israel, 'God will send you a prophet, just as he sent me, and he will be one of your own people.'

"But our ancestors refused to obey him; they pushed him aside and wished that they could go back to Egypt.