Standing on the Rock

​Meditation
Exodus 17:6—“I am going to stand there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; when you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink.” Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

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An entire nation was thirsty and understandably they didn’t like it one bit.  So they did what any large body of people feeling deprived do. They complained. They told their trailblazer, Moses, to give them water. Their frustrated leader asked why they were whining to him. How was he supposed to produce water while traversing through the Wilderness of Sin?  He accused them of testing the LORD.  But they were not interested in theological discussion, they were thirsty so they grumbled against God’s hapless, humble servant.  Moses cried out to God, “What should I do with these people?  In a little while they will stone me!” (17:4)
            
I love what God does next.  He gives Moses clear instructions on how to get water gushing from a rock. But did you notice that He said He was going to stand in front of Moses on the rock?  No doubt He was invisible because God would not let people see Him and live (33:20).  Nevertheless, His presence was there.
            
Have you ever considered that during some of the worst, most difficult times of your life that God may have actually been right in front of you, standing on the rock?  You see He does that.  His love is so great that often when we are completely famished, done, overwhelmed by what we don’t or can’t have, Yahweh is right there! He fixes. He restores. He weathers the griping to give the purest water.  Moses would later proclaim in song, “For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name. Declare the greatness of our God!  The Rock—His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true” (Deuteronomy 32:3,4).  Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, declared, “There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no one besides You!  And there is no rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).  
            
The Rock gives water knowing how frail we truly are. He blesses despite venomous words of discontent.  If He can bring water from a rock and assuage the thirst of a wandering people, He can certainly quench our dryness.  It’s not easy traveling to the Promised Land.  It won’t get easier.  But the Rock is with us and we will make it—we just have to keep our eyes on His hidden self.  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
We see every fire God allows but none that He prevents.—David Jeremiah in Searching for Heaven on Earth
 
©2021 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)