Because of Israel’s disobedience and departure from God, they were allowed to be brought into close places and to suffer adversity; their enemies were permitted to make war with them, to humble them and lead them to seek God in their trouble and distress. “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.” This took place immediately after the children of Israel had given themselves up to their rebellious murmurings and to unjust, unreasonable complaints against their leaders whom God had qualified and appointed to lead them through the wilderness to the land of Canaan. The Lord directed their course where there was no water, to prove them, to see if, after receiving so many evidences of His power, they had learned to turn to Him in their affliction, and had repented of their past rebellious murmurings against Him. They had charged Moses and Aaron with selfish motives in bringing them from Egypt to kill them and their children with hunger, that they might be enriched with their possessions. In doing this the Israelites ascribed to man that which they had received unmistakable evidence was from God alone, whose power is unlimited. These wonderful manifestations of the power of God He would have them ascribe to Him alone, and magnify His name upon the earth. The Lord brought them over the same ground of trial repeatedly to prove whether they had yet learned His dealings and repented of their sinful disobedience and rebellious murmurings. In Rephidim, when the people thirsted for water, they were again proud, and showed that they still possessed an evil heart of unbelief, of murmuring, of rebellion, which revealed the fact that it would not yet be safe to establish them in the land of Canaan. If they would not glorify God in their trials and adversity, in their travels through the wilderness to the Canaan in prospect, while God was continually giving them unmistakable evidence of His power and glory, and His care for them, they would not magnify His name and glorify Him when established in the land of Canaan, surrounded with blessings and prosperity. Because the people thirsted for water, they were provoked, so that Moses feared for his life. {2T 106.2}

På grund af Israels ulydighed og bortgang fra Gud, fik de lov til at være på lukkede steder og lide modgang; deres fjender fik lov til at føre krig imod dem, ydmyge dem og lede dem til at søge Gud i deres trængsler og kval. »Derefter kom Amalekitterne og angreb (107) Israel i Refidim.« Dette fandt sted straks efter at Israels børn havde overgivet sig selv til oprørsk knurren og til uretfærdige og urimelige klager mod deres ledere hvem Gud havde oplært og udvalgt til at lede dem gennem ørknen til Kanaens land. Herren ledte deres vej hvor der ikke var vand, for at prøve dem og se, efter at have fået så mange beviser på hans kraft, om de havde lært at vende sig til ham i deres lidelse og havde angret deres tidligere oprørske knurren mod ham. De havde i deres selviskhed beskyldt Moses og Aron for at bringe dem ud af fra Ægypten og dræbe dem og deres børn med hunger, så de kan blive beriget med deres besiddelser. Ved dette tilskrev israelitterne, mennesker, det som de havde fået som umiskendeligt bevis fra Gud alene, hvis kraft er ubegrænset. Disse vidunderlige tilkendegivelser af Guds kraft havde Gud gerne set tilskrevet ham alene og hans navn på jorden blev lovprist. Herren bragte dem gentagende gange over den samme prøvelsesgrund for at se om de havde lært af hans behandling og angret deres syndige ulydighed og oprørske knurren. I Refidim, da folket tørstede efter vand, var de igen hovmodige og viste at de stadig var i besiddelse af et ondt hjerte af vantro, knurren, oprør, som afslørede at det stadigt ikke ville være sikkert at etablere dem i Kanaans land. De ville ikke forherlige Gud i deres prøvelser og modgang, i deres rejser gennem ørknen med Kanaen i sigte, selvom Gud til stadighed gav dem umiskendelige beviser på sin kraft og herlighed. I Guds bekymring for dem, kunne de lovprise hans navn og forherlige ham når de havde bosat sig i Kanaens land, omgivet med velsignelser og ejendomme. Fordi folket tørstede efter vand, blev de provokeret, så Moses frygtede for sit liv.