Much Quarrelling

 

Haiku of testing

In the wilderness,

 

pitched their tents at Rephidim.

 

Dry, with no water.

 

 

The people quarrelled

 

with Moses. We need water,

 

can you give us some?

 

 

Don’t quarrell with me!

 

The Lord brought us to this place;

 

Why do you test God?

 

 

They kept complaining.

 

You brought us out from Egypt

 

to kill us with thirst!

 

Moses cried to God.

 

What shall I do with this mob,

 

they might just stone me?

 

Take your staff and go

 

with some elders to Horeb,

 

I’ll be at the rock.

 

Strike it with your staff,

 

water will spring from the rock;

 

the people can drink.

 

 

It was as God said,

 

the elders saw the wonder;

 

the Lord passed the test!

Massah, Meribah;

 

good names for a testing place

 

with much quarrelling!

 

Is the Lord with us

 

or not? It seems the people

 

were the ones tested.

 

© Ken Rookes 2023