Psalm 95:7-9
Where does your need drive you? Where does your pain take you? What do you do with that gnawing desire? How do you handle that moment when you can't take it any longer? Where will disappointment take you? Will your painful moment become a point of contention instead of a point of connection?
The scripture that begins this week's thought actually refers to events in the wilderness wanderings of Israel that can be found recorded in Exodus chapter 17 and Numbers chapter 20. These events are driven by the people's need for water, and how the supply of the water was handled. Each time, the people threatened their leaders and hardened their hearts against God in a struggle to relieve their physical pain. You just have to shake your head as you read these accounts because you can see the deja vu and also the differences in the events.
Here is a snap shot view of both events:
Event # 1 (Exodus 17): In the Wilderness of Sin – in a resting place - no water – the thirsty people threaten their leader, and deny their God– the leader pleads with God in the wilderness– God gives a plan to acquire water from the Rock. This is the first “Meribah” - “strike the Rock”. The Rock was struck by the Rod of Moses and out came all the necessary water. God was sanctified but how, by contention or connection?
Event # 2 (Numbers 20): Death in the wilderness is now a reality – in the Wilderness of Zin – in a Holy place – the thirsty people once again threaten their leader and deny their God – the leader pleas with God at the door of the tabernacle – God gives a plan to acquire water from the Rock. The second “Meribah” - speak to the Rock – Moses speaks his anger to the people and then proceeds to strike the Rock instead of speaking to the Rock… not once but twice. Moses now finds that He has hindered the process of setting the Lord in a special place in the midst of the people, and he is denied access to Promised Land (remember that Canaan is not Heaven!) God is sanctified but how, by contention or connection?
Look at the similarities of the 2 events and the differences; for the sake of time - we are not going to swim in all the theological implications found in these passages. My humblest apologies to those people who love to squabble over the deeper Biblical implications of passages of scripture, but in the midst of the story of the waters of “Meribah” is a basic truth that God wants us to take away. The need that gnaws at your life is not to create strife and contention between you and your God, but to further provoke a closer relationship with Him.
When you are faced with a great distressing need in your life, what you do in those moments will either walk you into even more pain and disappointment (contention), or a deeper more grateful understanding of God's loving care for you (connection). The reality in these events is that God will be Set Apart. He will either be set apart as an adversary or as a loving advocate.
The reality for His kids is He will always be our advocate (because of the Grace extended via Christ's blood that was shed for us) – He will take care of us. He will put up with our complaining in the pain. He will put up with our disappointment with timing; and He will put up with our disappointment with Him. But when an event crushes in on us and we hear His voice ... don't contend; connect and let Him begin His healing care for us. OH, by the way – weeping may endure for a night season (and He is there), but joy will finally come in the morning (knowing He is there). Don't spend the night season wrestling with yourself ... Wait on the the Lord!!
HLFA,
Jeff