DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-06-22
WRITTEN AT: Villa Ridge, MO

SCRIPTURE FROM: Numbers 20:10-12
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁰ Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” ¹¹ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.
¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”

APPLICATION: Things that are logical to mankind will hardly cause an unbeliever to imagine that it originated with God. None the less we often see where movies and plays add special effects when trying to help an audience understand how miraculous God’s awesome power is. It seems like Moses tried to do this when God told he and Aaron to simply speak forth water from a rock. I realize that part of the problem was that Moses was so upset with his people over the disrespect and distrust in God to provide them with water, especially after God had done such an awesome job at doing just that since they left Egypt. They remind me of children who are spoiled rotten. They want it, and they want it NOW. It doesn’t matter that mom and dad may not have the money, they want their request now, or they will yell and scream until they receive it. Like me, it’s enough to make you lose your patience with them as well, right? At a glance, you may read over this biblical account and wonder what made God so angry at Moses and Aaron. I believe that God wanted one more opportunity to show His people that they could trust Him for all their needs, including providing water for them when there appeared to be no water available out in the desert for so many people and animals. Friends, God has declared in His Word that He will provide a way for us, even when there seems to be no way. He said that ALL things are possible, when we place our trust in Him. God made streets out of rivers for the Israelites and He sent them food out of the sky, to name just a few examples of what He did. If you were among that crowd, wouldn’t you be quick to trust Him when He said that He would provide your every need? But wait, isn’t this the same God that we look to for our needs today? Are you able to place your faith and trust in this holy God to provide your answers to all your cares and concerns? I know you can, and furthermore I believe that I too can trust Him in every aspect of my life. I believe it is also incumbent upon us to also lift up our Holy God for who He is. Yes, He answers our prayers, and yes, we must shout that from the mountain tops and let the whole world know that Jesus is alive, and He is more than able to meet their needs also, if only they would learn to trust Him. Our successes, our healing, our restored sight, our miraculous baby, our escape from serious injury in that awful wreck – these were not happen-chance; they were not our lucky day; they were not because of anything we did, other than simply placing our faith and trust in the God who can do all things – the One who promised to answer our prayers and watch over us, if only we would trust Him and allow Him to be God. Tell the world my friend. No need to pretty it up, or supersize it for effects. Simply tell them what God has done, and He will do the rest. It’s all about Him, my friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God worked miraculously through two simple men, even though they thought they needed to magnify His work, or help their people believe in the miracle, because of the actions they saw from two great leaders. He’s still God, and there’s nothing we could do to help Him complete His work in us!

PRAYER: Thank You precious Lord for taking such good care of us every day. Thank You also for hearing our cry when we feel like the mountain is too high to cross over, and the valley too low to endure. You made us Lord, so You already know our weaknesses. Please forgive us for not only failing to trust You with our problems, but failing to tell the world after we have seen You perform a miracle in our lives. How will they know You, if we hide Your work from them. Please help us to obediently follow You; be thankful for Your miraculous works; and be ready and willing to tell the world about You, without feeling like we need to add special effects to make You look good. Your grace is enough and Your power is all we need. Thank You Jesus for loving us enough to complete Your work in us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!