Thirsty
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.” (Exodus 17:2-4)
As the people of Israel - who, with God's direction, had escaped slavery in Egypt - were journeying to the promised land they camped in a desert place called Rephidim. We don't know how long they camped there, but at some point they complained to Moses that there was no water and that they, their children and their livestock, were in danger of dying from thirst. Only as a response to the people's grumbling did Moses beg God for help. Although Moses seemed exasperated at the people's complaint, God simply supplied the water they requested and needed. Wasn't Moses thirsty too? Moreover, if God could see the need, why wait until everyone complained before telling Moses how to get water?
We are often like Moses. We tend to go through life trying to keep our head down and just get through. We talk to God about our problems when they seem "big enough" rather than giving each thing that we are dealing with over to God. Maybe we think that if God didn't want us to deal with something, then God wouldn't have allowed us to encounter it. But maybe God is just waiting for us to turn to God - to accept our limitations, and surrender to the One who can truly handle it all. God doesn't ever want us to mistake God's power for our own, or mistake God's provision for our own cleverness or creativity. We can't handle it all and we're not supposed to! God is ready and willing to provide, to make a way, to bless, to quench our thirst - as soon as we are ready and willing to acknowledge and humbly seek God.
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD! 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. (Psalm 25:1-9)
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