“The LORD said to Moses,’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 they and their livestock can drink.’ ” (Numbers 20:7-8)
If you’ve been following along in Numbers 20 this week, here’s a question? Did the Israelites earn a miraculous salvation from God? Did they deserve for him to give them water out of a rock? Remember how they responded to the crisis of dryness? They panicked, blamed, complained, wished they were dead, and told off their leaders (indirectly telling off God himself).
As a group, they had responded that way before, sometimes resulting in harsh consequences or even death. This time, though, God apparently responds to the nation at large only with mercy. Moses and Aaron came to him in humility, and he promised to provide. He would save his people.
Why? Because that’s who God is. He is patient. He is merciful. He does not easily turn away even his rebellious children when they need him. He loves to give good gifts to his own. And he longs to show us why we should keep trusting him.
Of course, sometimes he lets us follow our rebellion to our own pain. Sometimes, he answers our faithlessness with discipline. But his heart is for his people. He finds joy in providing what we need, especially as we learn to trust him more. His grace toward us reveals his true heart: he loves us even when we don’t deserve it.
Think: Have you ever been aware that God came through for you even when you didn’t deserve it? Do you think of God as someone who owes you something or someone who has given far more than you could ever pay back?
Pray: Thank God for giving you mercy and grace in spite of your wrong choices and lack of trust in him.
Do: Read what Jesus said about the Father who gives good gifts in Matthew 7:7-12.