Slices
Prepare
My vicar’s wife used to frequently say, ‘You have the leaders you pray for!’ She constantly challenged the church to pray for her husband and other leaders within the church. How often do you pray for your church leaders?
Bible passage
Water from the rock
20 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarrelled with Moses and said, ‘If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! 4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no corn or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!’
6 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.’
9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’
13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarrelled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.
Explore
An extract from the memoirs of Pagiel, the eldest son of Okran, an Asherite: Moses is showing signs of the strain of leading the people. Things have recently been difficult for him personally with the loss of his sister. But there is also discontent in the camp. We have been staying in a most unsuitable place – no water for the people and all the flocks and herds. The grumbling turned into full-scale opposition as people accused Moses of bad leadership.
Over the years, Moses has borne the brunt of everyone’s discontent and anger. There have been several challenges to his leadership with various people feeling they could do a better job! However, Moses has always dealt with the complaints with grace and humility, even interceding with God on our behalf.
True to form, he and Aaron prostrated themselves before the Lord, and the Lord told them what to do to provide the much-needed water. But then Moses snapped, shouting at the people and hitting the rock. Not what God had told him to do! God provided water, but at what cost to Moses (v 12)?
Respond
Reflect on 1 Corinthians 10:12,13. Have you ever fallen? Praise God that he provides a way to resist temptation, but also forgives us and gives a fresh start when we do fall.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Job 9,10; Luke 16
Pray for Scripture Union
The central region provides catered villages for Faith Guide groups and small youth groups at the DTI and Limitless Festivals (29 July–10 August). This year, they are adding pitch side seminars in sports ministry to the programme. Pray that these events will result in some starting a journey with Jesus and others growing in faith.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
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