Blessed Lord, take the hand of this dear reader and guide them gently through the day to Your path; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Exodus 17: 1 Directed by God, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages from the Wilderness of Sin. They set camp at Rephidim. And there wasn't a drop of water for the people to drink. 2 The people took Moses to task: "Give us water to drink." But Moses said, "Why pester me? Why are you testing God?" 3 But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, "Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?" 4 Moses cried out in prayer to God, "What can I do with these people? Any minute now they'll kill me!" 5 God said to Moses, "Go on out ahead of the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile. And go. 6 I'm going to be present before you there on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will gush out of it and the people will drink." 7 He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Meribah (Quarreling) because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because of their testing of God when they said, "Is God here with us, or not?" (The Message)
What if we re-named ourselves at certain points of our lives, what would your name be? What if we re-named our churches every year, what name would we give to them? Can you imagine wearing a name or placing a sign based on where you were in relationship with God? DOUBTER. QUARRELER. TROUBLE-MAKER. SWEET SPIRIT. HELPER. ANGEL ON EARTH. DIVIDER. IN LOVE WITH GOD. TESTED. TESTER. BORED. Hos about your church? QUARREL CENTER. GOSSIP CENTRAL. DON'T BOTHER US. COUNTRY CLUB. FRIENDLY TO US. WHAT DO YOU WANT? LEAVE US ALONE. WHAT MAY WE DO FOR YOU? HOW CAN WE HELP BRING HEAVEN TO YOU?
You can begin to understand the wanderings in the wilderness by a people being formed by God as God's people. Moses was leading the people by following God. There was no real estate that Moses' feet touched that were not touched first by God. Moses led by trusting God. The people grumbled as they followed and found fault every three yards. Today's text tells of a very important need that God's people faced and that was thirst. We all know that we can go longer without food than we can without water. We die very quickly without water. Moses led the people to this place and there appeared to be no water. The people started with their favorite hymn, "Why Did You Bring Us Here? We Were Better Off Where We Were!" Moses prayed to the Lord with all his heart and God answered him quickly and showed him where to touch the rock with the same staff that had done the miracles in providing their liberty.
How do you journey with God on a daily basis? Do you quickly forget what God has done in your life and then grumble and gripe because you think God has never done anything for you before? Do what Moses did; stay in touch with God.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to stay in touch with You. Forgive my quickness to forget what You did yesterday or earlier today that blessed me. Remind me I am never alone; You journey with me. I thank You and praise You, in the Name of Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
