“Strike The Rock”
From
the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by
stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim,
but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with
Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you
quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” But the people thirsted there for
water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us
out of
Exodus 17:1-6
Do
you know the sound of our LORD’s voice? Can you
recognize the soft whisper that seems to come from your conscience? That is the
LORD in you, speaking through the Spirit. When it came time for Moses to strike
the rock in the desert to get water for the Israelites, his part was very small
– just strike the rock. Anyone could have done it. The key thing was what God
was doing in the heart of the earth to provide the bountiful river of water.
The two of them, God and Moses, worked together. God in the
depths of the earth, and Moses before the people. In this case they were
fellow workers.
There
are always two agents in every fruitful work: willing workers and a faithful
God. The human part is to do whatever God has asked us to do – strike the rock.
God’s work is to make the water flow.
Do
you think Moses was weighted down with anxiety that day as he approached the
rock, thinking that he might fail? I doubt it. He had only to follow the LORD
in obedience. God had promised to do the rest. And Moses had seen God work mighty
miracles in the past.
Are
you anxious about the task God has given you to do today? Do you believe
everything depends on you? Just strike the rock. God is working in secret to
pour out rivers of water for every man, woman, and child. And when living
waters begin to flow, praise Him.
Just
do your part, and God will do His. Jesus has told us,
“Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
Our Daily Bread –