Thirsty?
We know that drinking enough water is important to the proper functioning of our bodies. Walking around in the heat makes you thirsty. Water is an essential for life.
1The Israelites left the desert and moved from one place to another each time the LORD ordered them to. Once they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for them to drink. 2The people started complaining to Moses, ” Give us some water!”
Moses replied, ” Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the LORD to the test?”
3But the people were thirsty and kept on complaining, ” Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?”
4Then Moses prayed to the LORD, ” What am I going to do with these people? They are about to stone me to death!”
5The LORD answered, ” Take some of the leaders with you and go ahead of the rest of the people. Also take along the walking stick you used to strike the Nile River, 6and when you get to the rock at Mount Sinai,I will be there with you. Strike the rock with the stick, and water will pour out for the people to drink.” Moses did this while the leaders watched. 7The people had complained and tested the LORD by asking, ” Is the LORD really with us?” So Moses named that place Massah, which means ” testing” and Meribah, which means ” complaining.”
The Israelites are in the desert, and they are thirsty. The reality of this journey is that it is hard. It is using up their resources. They are having to rely on God – and they are not finding it easy. They are a very moany people – they are not giving Moses an easy time of it!
Moses knows that the Lord will provide, but the people are not sure. They want their thirst quenching and they want it now!
“Is God really with us?” they ask. It doesn’t feel like it to them.
“Is God really with me?” Is that a question you are tempted to ask? Are you weary, thirsty, worn out? Do you want to sit down, have a rest, let someone else have the struggle? Are you crying out to God in the wilderness?
“I will be there”. “Water will pour out”. Those are God’s promises. But God didn’t give them the water there and then, it was a little further on in the journey – but they could make it that far. God has gone ahead and prepared what they need.
The water to quench your thirst may not be here in the Desert, but it is just a little way ahead. It will be there, waiting. God supplies what is needed, but it may be a few steps further along.
Lord,
give me patience
and strength.
All I need,
you provide –
at the right time
not my time.
When the journey through the desert is tough
keep me strong
in the knowledge
that you will be there.
When we wonder if you really will be
may we be assured
that you are,
and equip us
to be able to carry on
Pam's Perambulation 