Wednesday 13th September
Read Numbers 20:6-8
“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. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 ‘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.’” (NIVUK)
Moses and Aaron, designated as those who go-between Yahweh and His people, bring their complaint before Him. There remains, at least this far in the story, humility in the face of unjust accusations. There is also grace from Yahweh. He will provide water for them and their livestock in an act of under-appreciated compassion.
Although written at a later time and for a different circumstance one can’t help but feel that the psalmist captures what the appropriate response by the people should be…
“Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.” (Psalm 107:4-9) (NIVUK)
Though they didn’t cry out to the Lord He satisfied their thirst regardless. What has He done for you that you have not appreciated and for which thankfulness is the only sensible response?
