Exodus 17:1-7

Pentecost + 15 - Year A

Exodus 17:1-7

Quarrels among a "religous" people are not new. Almost anything can set them off. It may be the lack of a survival resources, the color of a bathroom wall, a word of encouragement or correction, a business deal gone sour, a political perspective, a question as basic as "is G*D with us or not?", an undigested piece of cheese.

And so we escalate every smaller grievance to an ultimate one. After all, G*D is involved and it is mandatory to protect a G*D we have bet will protect us when push comes to shove or creeks rise.

What's the out? Complain to G*D about the folks giving you a hard time? Well, that doesn't work out so well [see also Numbers 20:1-12 and Deuteronomy 32:48-52]. Perhaps there is only proceeding as best one can and agreeing to not get the credit earned or the followers due.