21 Days of Prayer - Day 20

My Dan, 1993
(At Devils Tower: 867 foot, mountain of igneous intrusion rock in the Black Hills of Wyoming)

"I tested you at the waters of Meribah - Selah" (Psalm 81:7c)

              Over these 21 Days of Prayer, I've meditated on, pondered, considered, contemplated, thought about, and chewed and chewed and chewed Psalm 81 - particularly verse 7. The Scriptural genesis of the "waters of Meribah" named here is found in Exodus 17 in the account of the wilderness journey of Moses and the children of Israel. The story goes -

             "At the Lord's command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually, they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses....tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses,...'Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?'
              Then Moses cried to the Lord, 'What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!'
             The Lord said to Moses, 'Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile...I will stand before you on the rock at Mt. Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.'
             So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out...Moses named the place Massah (which means 'test') and Meribah (which means 'arguing') because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, 'Is the Lord here with us or not?'"

            I'm 57 years old and have heard the rock water fountain story since nursery school, but I've NEVER recognized the position of the Lord during that miracle! Almighty God was BEFORE Moses and ON the rock! SELAH (REST)!!!

            O Christian, do not fear, doubt, or complain! May the Holy Spirit reassure you today, free you from doubt, give you great confidence, strengthen you, and enliven you with understanding that, in whatever desperate need you face, Almighty God is BEFORE you and ON the resolution of your great need!

"Sing for joy to God our strength...you called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from where the thunder hides...I am  Yahweh your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it...I would satisfy you with honey from the rock!" (Psalm 81:1-16)