It’s Friday…Survive the Wilderness

Twice between Egypt and the Promised Land, the Israelites grumbled about their lack of water in the wilderness. Both times, God brought water out of the rock, satisfying the thirst of a whining people. It was a merciful response to a slanderous charge. When God’s people are dehydrated and grumpy about it, God rains grace on them anyway.

Hundreds of years later, when Israel was turning to manmade idols, God promised another “outpouring,” this time of His Spirit. And then He gave them a not-so-subtle reminder with this essential message: “I’m the same God who can satisfy your thirst from a rock. In fact, I AM your Rock. I may appear solid and stagnant, but life comes out of Me. I’m a Rock that flows with whatever you need to flourish.”

“You are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”  (Isaiah 44:8)

We live in a world that craves life but seeks it in idols. It complains about its suffering and turns to things that are emotionally satisfying for nothing more than a brief moment. All the while, God the Rock is ready to gush with life. All He waits for is a reasonable acknowledgement that temporal things can’t satisfy eternal desires. Only He can do that.

Let’s not be drawn into the world’s idolatry. Our culture, entertainment, trends, styles, material prosperity, transient relationships, and recreational pursuits may bubble over with promises of life, but they are false promises. Our life-giving substance comes from The Rock. Only eyes of faith can see that.

So, let’s walk through this world with eyes of faith. There is no other way to avoid the bitterness and disappointments of the wilderness, and there is no other way to recognize all the false promises of counterfeit springs. Survive The Wilderness by drinking deeply from The Rock that flows. Immerse yourself in His mercy, wash yourself in His promises, and always let Him satisfy your thirst.

Have an enjoyable weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who can’t get enough of Him because they know firsthand that nothing in this world comes close to satisfying their needs like He can.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)