3-8-15. Exodus 17:1-7. God Provided Life Giving Water From A Smitten Rock -my devotional

Exodus 17:1-7                                                       Kevin E. Jesmer

Key verse 17:6                                                       3-8-15

“I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

Part 1: The Necessity Of Prayer To Complete The Mission  (1- 4)

Verses 1-4, “The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” (NIV)

Moses and the leaders were trying to obey God by leading the people according to the will of God. Look at verse 1a, “The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded….”  

     Though they were doing as the Lord commanded, they were being led into more arid areas, where there was no water and the people were very, very thirsty. Verse 1b reads, “…They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.”  It might seem strange that God, who declared his love to Israel, should lead them into the desert where they were being pressed to their human limits once again. What is that all about?

There are times, that, even though we are following the Lord according to his commands, we are led into very difficult circumstances. We wonder if the place that we are being led into is just one big mistake. After all, isn’t Jesus supposed to be our Good Shepherd and isn’t he supposed to be leading us into green pastures and quiet waters? Some of the places where we find ourselves are far from that…in fact, they are places that are leaving us very stressed. What could be happening? This is not surprising when we take a survey of the Bible. Think about Abram. He answered God’s call and went to the land that God would show him. But when he got there, there was a famine in the land. He and his whole tribe fled to Egypt to escape the famine. Think about Jesus Christ. When he began his earthly messianic ministry, he was 30 years old. The first place that the Father led him was into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. It seems that when people answer the call of God in their lives they also are called to embrace a baptism of suffering of sorts. This should not surprise us. God is treating us like his beloved children.

Hebrews 12:5-13 reads, “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”

God was treating these ancient Israelites as true children. He was trying to help them know that their hearts were filled with unbelief.  And he was leading them so they could experience his faithfulness. Think about it. It is only in the desert that God could reveal what he can be to those who trust him for everything. Those who have experienced such spiritual lessons can declare that without God there is nothing, but with God there is everything. There is a saying, “You don’t know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you’ve got.” There is something about those who face extreme suffering and yet have held onto Jesus through it all. They can experience the Lord in deep and personal ways.

Though God was treating them as his children, the people did not respond well to God’s training. Look at verse 2 and 3 again, “So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Once again the people complained about their problem instead of praying. They needed to stop and look around. They were harvesting manna every morning. Convoy, after convoy of quail were flying into the camp every evening. It was happening everyday for them. It was all from God. It was the Lord’s provision. Could they not extrapolate? If God was providing these items for them faithfully, everyday, then he could not provide water for them? They had no concept of the spiritual world. They lived on a material level, not being able to see God. They began to take the bread that fell from heaven for granted. Why get all bent out of shape and stop trusting God when thirst comes upon them? They should remember and apply the truth that they are experiencing to their lives.

There is a limit to grumbling and complaining. At the beginning I mentioned that being able to complain a little was OK. It was necessary to vent a little stream and bounce things off their leaders and get some feedback. That may have been acceptable in the beginning of their journey, but now the people were allowing their complaining to escalate out of control. It was leading to outright rebellion. They doubted God’s love and concern for them, asking, is the Lord among us or not? The people were even contemplating stoning Moses. They were full of a spirit of rebellion. This is what happens when complaints grow and fester, unchecked in peoples’ hearts. We must not allow any bitter root to spring up among the people of God.

There needs to be prayer in any mission. Think about the Exodus as one huge mission. The grumbling of the people, if not properly mediated, could usurp the mission to the Promised Land even before the people set foot there. What were Moses and the leadership to do? The grumbling of the people had grown to become like an uncontainable monster. But when Moses reached his human limits he cried out to the Lord in prayer. Prayer is the key. Look at verse 4, “Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

When difficulties came, Moses always came to God in prayer. (Ex 15:25; 24:15; 32:30; 33:8; Numbers 11:2,11; 12:11; 14:13-19. ) (The Expositors Bible) When it comes to dealing with peoples’ complaints, there are some problems that can be solved by listening with careful thought and the willingness to rearrange some priorities. Some complaints can be solved by discussion and good counsel. But there are some problems can be solved only by prayer. We should pray when we feel that our complaining is escalating out of control. Excessive complaining elevates our level of stress, but prayer quiets our hearts. Prayer prepares our minds and hearts to listen. But keep in mind that the call to prayer does not negate the need for meaningful dialogue either.

I want to learn prayer from Moses. Not only do I have to stop and listen to people, but I need to pray. The mission we are involved in requires much prayer. The mission cannot just be propelled with good management decisions. It must be undergirded with prayer. May God bless the various prayer groups that have sprouted up on both sides of the border.

Part 2: Grumbling, Thirsty Souls Can Be Quenched By Living Water (5-7)

Verses 5-7, “5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (NIV)

There are some leadership tips here in this passage. Look at verse 5, “The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.”

First, Go out in front of the people, even when it is uncomfortable. Do not just do things behind closed doors when you are a leader. Be visible. Be transparent. Go out in front of the people. Do not send someone else to do what you need to do. Show up, even though it may be very uncomfortable.

Second, work through elders. Do not just be an autocratic leader. God raises up elders…work with them and along side them. Even if some other elders were the ones who were complaining. Do not bypass them.

Third, always remember God’s grace in the past.  “Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile”.  When you are standing up in front of the people, have some historical connection to be reminded how God worked in the past. Don’t ignore the history of God. The leaders and the people must always be reminded of the grace of God when they act.

   Fourth, “and go.” Don’t second guess yourself. If God wants you to go forth on a mission, even a mission to speak to a grumbling crowd, go. Don’t hesitate. Trust God, that he will give you the words to speak. God will work a miracle. Mark 13:11, “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” In a one sense Moses is being judged by his own people. It is a type of trial where the people are the judge. In this case Moses needed to go and trust that God will help him to speak the right words and do the right thing.

And God came through, telling Moses the right thing to do. Look at verse 6, “6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” The Lord told Moses to strike the rock; when he did, fresh water gushed out. Moses would never, in a million years, think about striking a rock to make water flow out, and not only flow out, but gush out. It was all because God gave him the best and wisest and most timely instructions. We can trust God, that he will be right there to inspire those who are called to be his followers and leaders. We just need faith to follow his lead.

Let’s see where spiritual leaders are to lead their people in order to quench the thirstiness within. They must come to the Lord. There is a lot we can learn about God concerning his character, in this passage. We can see his grace and we can see Jesus alluded to.

First, we can see God’s grace in providing the water. God did not have to give the people anything. They were taking grumbling to an extreme. They were blaming God and blaming Moses and they were even about to stone Moses and go turn back to Egypt. God did not have to do answer anything for them. But he did. He forgave them, again and again. He never abandoned them but consistently considered them his own children. Just as a parent remains true to their child, God remained true to his suffering children and provided what they needed, vast amount of refreshing, life-giving water. God continues to be gracious even to those who allowed grumbling and complaining to go to the extreme. God was infinitely patient with his “treasured possession.” He was in their midst. God’s is ready to bless those who are mired in difficult times.

This passage is also a foreshadow of Jesus. The rock is a type of Christ (1 Cor 10:1-4.)

1 Corinthians 10:1-4, “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” (NIV)

This event looks forward to the time when Christ would be among his people, giving living water to those who trust him. (Jn 4:13,14; 7:37-39; 1 Cor 10:4) The Rock that was struck, typified the cross. (Is 53:4) The water coming that poured out from the Rock typified the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39) The water, was not made available until the rock was struck. Likewise the Holy Spirit was poured out on all who believe after Jesus was crucified. (John 14:16-20)

The world is in great need for the Living water that comes forth from the Rock …Jesus Christ. People think that they are O.K., appearing lovely and strong for a short time, but really they are staggering spiritually in a dry and weary land. Amos 8:12-14 explains this very well. “People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. 13 “In that day“ the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst. 14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria— who say, ‘As surely as your god lives, Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the god of Beersheba lives’— they will fall, never to rise again.” (NIV)   People really need to see their reality and come to the one who alone can quench their spiritual thirst.

Jesus is the Living Water. He promised in John 4:13-14, “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  A spring of water will well up with our souls, up to eternal life. This water will totally quench our thirsty hearts. It will overflow, from within us so that we can be a source of blessing to others. We will be quenched and God will quench others through us. King David confessed his spiritual thirst and the source of quenching in Psalm 63:1-3 which reads, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” (NIV) Identifying with and seeking God, beholding his power and glory, and experiencing his great love is key to drinking deep of the living water.

Actually John 4:13-14 is my life key verse. I was a very spiritually thirsty young man and out of my spiritual thirsts came many sins in my vain attempt to quench my own soul. But when I repented of my unbelief and believed in Jesus, God quenched my thirsty heart with his Spirit and his love. I was completely satisfied. I used to make others spiritually thirsty , just being around them for I was influencing them to sin. But now springs of living water flow from within me. By God’s grace I can be used to help others come to Jesus so that others may experience Living Water in their souls This is supported by the following text, John 7:37-39, “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

The making of the living water available was not easily obtained. The water was not given until the rock was struck. Jesus it the Rock. The Holy Spirit was not given, in his fullness, until Jesus suffered and died and rose again. John 7:39, “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”  Jesus was profoundly struck. Is 53:4, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”

It was so costly for Jesus to be living water to us. But he willing allowed himself to be struck. He did it to quench our thirty hearts and fill us with his Spirit. Now he can dwell with us. John 14:16-20, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” We are no longer thirsty orphans staggering here and there is and weary lead. The living water is within us because of the grace of God. Psalm 95:1, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.”

Prayer: “Lord, thank you for seeing our thirst and our deep spiritual need. Thank you for willingly allowing yourself to be struck so that living water can flow from within us. We hold onto you as we pass through this dry and weary land.”

One work: Jesus is the Rock and the Living Water that quenches our thirsty soul.

.