Song # 940.1 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. In the Book of Numbers in chapter 20, we read that Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt to a place called Kadesh in the Desert of Zin. Miriam died and was buried there (Numbers 20:1). Now there is no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron (Numbers 20:2). They quarrelled with Moses and said “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord!” (Numbers 20:3). “Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?” (Numbers 20:4). “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” (Numbers 20:5). Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell face down, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them (Numbers 20:6). The Lord said to Moses (Numbers 20:7), “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so that they and their livestock can drink” (Numbers 20:8). So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as He commanded him (Numbers 20:9). He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock, and Moses said to them “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10). Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank (Numbers 20:11). But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron “Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12). These were the waters of Meribah (means quarrelling), where the Israelites quarrelled with the Lord and where He showed Himself Holy among them (Numbers 20:13).
Thought for today: you have all you need in life, when you have God in your life.
Thought for the future: Trust in God today and prepare for your tomorrow. Where will you spend your eternity?