Speak to the Rock

022608: Devotion
Numbers 20:11-12
11And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

12And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in (rely on, cling to) Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore [b]shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Psalm 28: 1UNTO YOU do I cry, O Lord my Rock, be not deaf and silent to me, lest, if You be silent to me, I become like those going down to the pit [the grave].

Mark 5:28-29
28For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.

29And immediately her flow of blood was dried up at the source, and suddenly] she felt in her body that she was healed of her [distressing] ailment.

In Numbers, it gives an account of when the Israelites were grumbling to Moses and Aaron that there was no water. The Israelites were frequently grumbling. They grumbled about there being no food, then God sent Manna. They grumbled about no meat, then God sent them quail. Now, they were complaining about water and God told Moses and Aaron that if they would just speak to the rock, then water would flow forth from it. But possibly in anger and resentment, Moses and Aaron spoke to the people (not the rock) and also struck the rock twice. What they were told to do was to speak to the rock, not yell at the people and strike the rock. There were consequences for disobedience because what they had done was made the water flow from the rock from their anger, from their resentment, and so God was not glorified by the miracle. The Lord only asks for us to depend on His strength. In Psalm 28, David refers to God as his Rock not because rocks are silent and still, but because rocks are strong and stable. Jesus only needed one touch from this woman who believed in Him. The Lord does not need us to make a show of our religion, but just a humble obedience to depend on Him in all situations.

Wow, Lord! This is a lot to take in. I really need to ask myself, am I doing things for show or am I depending on Your strength? I know that there are things I need to prune back on. I'm doing way too many things which is making it hard for me to focus on my true mission. Hmm...what is my true mission? Lord, I know that I need to stop forcing miracles to happen. Like, I need to stop trying to command healing in sick people. I should stop trying to please You with extra religious stuff and just walk step by step. When I look at all the things I feel I need to do, it just makes me paralyzed and I can't move forward. I need to just touch You. I need to just speak to You, Jesus, whenever I encounter an obstacle and trust that You will pour forth Your healing water. Today, I lift my hands in surrender. I'll stop trying to be so "in control."

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for this new day. I pray for Your forgiveness for all the times that I try to do miracles on my own strength. Lord, help me to depend on You totally! I trust in You alone, Lord. Please transform me into the woman You designed me to be! May all my actions and words point back to Your strength and Your power. Help me to be humble. Show me where I should set my priorities today and always. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.