Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for reading “the Lord.” Regardless of which is chosen, it was Christ who was with the Israelites in the wilderness, and it was He whose patience they tried to the utmost with their rebellion and murmurings. Christ is ever present with His people by His Spirit, to teach, protect, guide, and deliver them (see Matt. 28:20; John 14:16-18; 16:13). Let believers beware of the folly of trying the Saviour’s patience by insisting on retaining their old appetites, customs, and desires, instead of gladly abandoning everything that pertains to the old unregenerate life in favor of the provisions the Lord in love makes for them.

 Gr. ekpeirazō, “to tempt to the limit,” “to tempt thoroughly,” “to try to the utmost.” Ekpeirazō occurs elsewhere in the NT only in Matt. 4:7; Luke 4:12; 10:25, and in each case of the testing or tempting of Christ. The command may be translated, “Let us cease tempting.” Paul alludes to the incident recorded in Num. 21:4-6, when the people, who had grown weary and discouraged by the long journey in the wilderness, reproached Moses for bringing them out of Egypt and complained of the manna. Their complaining and dislike of the food God gave them resulted in the plague of “fiery serpents,” by which many of them died (see Num. 21:6).