IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Life Giving Water from a Smitten Rock

Date: Nov. 10, 2015

Passage

Exodus 17:1-7 

Water from the Rock

17:1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Exodus 17:6

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

First, completing the mission by prayer (1-4). Moses and the leaders were leading the people according to the will of God. Though they were sincere, Israel was led into more arid areas. It seemed strange that God, who declared his love to Israel, should lead them into the desert where they were being pressed to their human limits once again. God was treating them like his beloved children (Heb 12:5-13). They could experience the Lord, growing in faith. But the people allowed complaints to escalate out of control. When Moses reached his human limits he cried out to the Lord.

Second, God reveals the way to blessing (5-7). God came through, revealing his grace and truth by telling Moses to strike the rock. Moses would never think about striking a rock for water. It was all because God gave him the best, wisest and most timely instructions. Trust God to show us the way.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for seeing our thirst and our deep spiritual need. We hold onto you as we pass through this dry and weary land.

One Word: God provides water that quenches our spiritual thirst

Daily Bread

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

Read More

Intro Daily