17 August Exodus 17

Where God guides, He provides.

Exodus 17:1-7 (MSG)1-2 “Directed by God, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages from the Wilderness of Sin. They set camp at Rephidim. And there wasn’t a drop of water for the people to drink. The people took Moses to task: “Give us water to drink.” But Moses said, “Why pester me? Why are you testing God?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, “Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?” 4 Moses cried out in prayer to God, “What can I do with these people? Any minute now they’ll kill me!” 5-6 God said to Moses, “Go on out ahead of the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile. And go. I’m going to be present before you there on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will gush out of it and the people will drink.” 6-7 Moses did what he said, with the elders of Israel right there watching. He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Meribah (Quarrelling) because of the quarrelling of the Israelites and because of their testing of God when they said, “Is God here with us, or not?”

God always provided for Israel. He freed them from Egyptian bondage and plagues, crushed the Egyptian army in the Sea, and transformed the waters of Marah to provide drinking water. He then provided manna and quail after they grumbled about their food. He guided them by a visible pillar of light both day and night. They had no reason to doubt God.

We must have faith in God to provide for us when we stay in His will in the wilderness—allowing Him to lead us daily through the Holy Spirit.

God cares for you in the wilderness. Hosea 13:5-6 (MSG ) “I’m still your God, the God who saved you out of Egypt. I’m the only real God you’ve ever known. I’m the one and only God who delivers. I took care of you during the wilderness hard times, those years when you had nothing. I took care of you, took care of all your needs, gave you everything you needed. You were spoiled. You thought you didn’t need me. You forgot me.

He promises to provide for your needs. Isaiah 55:1-5 (MSG) “Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk. Buy without money—everything’s free! Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love. I set him up as a witness to the nations, made him a prince and leader of the nations, And now I’m doing it to you: You’ll summon nations you’ve never heard of, and nations who’ve never heard of you will come running to you Because of me, your God, because The Holy of Israel has honoured you.”

In difficult times, we must keep on walking in God's will, Letting Him lead us daily. Where He leads, He will provide. Isaiah 58:11(AMP) “And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail”.

Matthew 6:31-34 (AMP) “Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right, the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”.

God provided living water in the desert for His people. Because the water flowed from the rock, the rock symbolised God’s provision in the wilderness. Psalm 105:41(AMP) “He opened the rock and water flowed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.” Like Israel, God will also test you to show you what is in your heart. If you can face a trial and stay faithful to God, he promises to bless you.

I conclude with Romans 8:28 (AMP) “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose”.