This morning I felt like I should revisit a reflection from 10 years ago where I was thinking about the story of 'the water from the rock' found in Exodus 17:1-7 NIV:
[1] "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.”
[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?”
A couple of things pop into my mind immediately:
First, the Hebrew people were persistent in their unbelief and ungratefulness. They were always more worried about what God was going to do today, rather than thinking about what God did yesterday and how that revealed His character and faithfulness in caring for them. I am reminded of how often I am exactly like this, immediately starting to complain if something doesn't go my way.
Secondly, they were in this place because they were following God, as He directed them. God had a plan. He always does! He was going to provide for them, as He promised He would, but the people weren't willing to wait on God.
Their perspective, once again, was limited by the present situation, not having learned about God's blessing and provision from His previous acts and interactions. He had previously provided manna and quail, had purified poisoned water, and safely protected them from the pursuing Egyptian army! A location without water was not going to be a problem for God. The people, however, were quick to complain and grumble.
I know that by following the Lord, I have several times found myself in what appear to me to be difficult situations, and in those times I am quick to follow the Hebrew people's example of grumbling and complaining. As I think about this, I realize that this is a symptom of an unrenewed mindset, and wrong identity. The Hebrew people were no longer slaves, they were God's chosen people, the people of His promise, but their mind-set was still slave-like. Slaves have no choice and no freedom, and when things are difficult they complain and grumble, for that is all they can do. Slaves are justified in their complaints against unfair and cruel masters.
The problem is that God isn't like their former masters and they were no longer slaves, they were His chosen people. He loved them, chose them and promised to take care of them and protect them. The people didn't trust God, didn't trust Moses, and were convinced they would have been better off to have stayed in Egypt. They were deluded in their thinking, as we can clearly see from our perspective looking back, but in the midst of it all, they could not see their wrong perspective.
In the same way, my sometimes struggles in believing God is good and for me are the result of an unrenewed mind, and wrong identity. I am thinking like someone who hasn't met or experienced God's love, and I am not embracing my identity as His son, whom He greatly loves. As Paul says in his letter to Ephesians 1:3-10,15-21 NIV:
[3] "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. [4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace [8] that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, [9] he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."
[15] "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, [16] I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. [17] I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [18] I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength [20] he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
Following those wonderful thoughts I am reminded of Paul’s writing found in Colossians 3:1-4,12-14 NIV:
[1] "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. [3] For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
[12] "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Lord, I pray that I might fully embrace this reality, this truth that not only have I been chosen, invited into sonship and given every spiritual blessing, redeemed, set free and now am hidden in You! It is too much to comprehend, but it is my inheritance!
I pray that You might expand my experience, my understanding of Your Glorious love. I pray that I might better represent You and Your blessings and provision to those around me! Help me to clothe myself with Your characteristics and above all, Your love! Help me Lord to embrace my identity as Your son, holy and dearly loved. Help me to fully believe in You, Your Word, Your promise and Your timing.
Help me to see things from Your perspective, rather than from an earthly slavish mindset! There is no doubt that You can provide water from a rock, pools in the desert, and blessing in the midst of the most difficult seeming circumstances!
Amen and Amen!
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