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Exodus 17:1-7
2010 LENTEN SERIES
Mid-Week Worship Service
Exodus 17:1-7
LOOK TO THE ROCK FOR
THE WATER OF LIFE!
I] Miracle water for thirsty lips;
II] Eternal water for thirsty lives.
WEDNESDAY, March 24, 2010
SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
Albuquerque, NM
INTRODUCTION.
Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know
what you got till it’s gone. There’s a refrain from a
golden oldie that hits the spot more often than not. Not that we couldn’t do
without crime and drugs, poverty and hunger and even a few less orange barrels
would be nice. Our world sure would be a nicer place without them.
But some things we can’t do without, at least not for long. OXYGEN AND
SUNSHINE, GAS AND ELECTRICITY, PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY. And of course,
water. I never gave water a second thought growing up next to that great big blue
bathtub known as Lake Michigan. Yeah, there was always water everywhere
and sometimes when it flooded, there was even too much.
Still, you don’t know what you got till it’s gone. And as we well know, water is
such a precious commodity living out here in the high desert of the great Southwest.
So we’re told over and over: REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE. Conserve is the
word. All it takes is a little sprinkle or a passing shower and, wow, my
weeds are growing in no time!
Yes, if bread is the staff of life, then water is the source of life. You can get by
without bread, at least for a while, but you can’t get by long without water in some
way, shape or form. I MEAN, IF WE ARE WHAT WE EAT – then even more we are
what we drink. Especially since the average adult body is between 50 and
65% water. That’s roughly 45 quarts; that’s a lotawatah!
Now what’s true for our flesh n’ bones (by the way, bones are up to 22%
water), is truer still for our heart (75%) and soul (0). So we return to the
shadows. Where as we go from the New Testament to the Old and then back again,
the good LORD encourages us to: LOOK TO THE ROCK FOR THE WATER
OF LIFE! Because it’s there that we find:
I] Miracle water for thirsty lips.
Last Wednesday we saw how God promised and then provided a steady diet
of mm, mm, mm, manna to the hungry Israelites! Oh, don’t forget the
quail…WE DIDN’T EVEN MENTION THAT! Quail for their sandwiches, their
casseroles and maybe even a little BBQ. Proving once again how marvelously
God cares for His creation: Lamentations 3:22-23.
But with all the goodies, now those picnickers were looking for something to
wash it down with. By this time they’d moved their camp down the dusty desert
road toward Rephidim and water was barely a memory – there wasn’t a drop of
agua fria in sight! NO WELLS, NO POOLS, NO FAUCETS, FOUNTAINS OR
HOSES…not even so much as a tempting and tantalizing mirage.
Here comes that song again: You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.
Didya’ ever notice how the intensity of a problem is compounded by its proximity to
your own personal experience? Listen to what was happening: vs 3. Not only
were those cotton-mouth Israelites consumed by their thirst, it seems some of
‘em – WERE ALSO BEING CONSUMED WITH RAGE AND ANGER.
So what do they do, they blame Moses; it was his fault, it was always his
fault. But instead of picking up his staff and going home, Moses turned to God for
help: vs 4. And in turn out of His abundant mercy…THE LORD TOLD MOSES
HOW TO TURN ON THE SPIGOT: vs 5. 1-2-3 (swack!) and voila – God was as
good as advertised; they had all the water they could drink.
OK, so it was a trifle strange and more than a little off-beat…looking to a
rock for the water of life. I mean, we talk about squeezing blood out of a turnip,
but I’m not so sure we could ever squeeze one drop of H O outta’ this rock. OH,
2
BUT GOD COULD IF HE WANTED TO! Because He can and He will use all the
means at His disposal to see to the needs of His people.
that water of life. When life and living threaten to fence you in and burn you
out, don’t just sip but splash in the sparkling water of life!
What’s more, Moses’ utter obedience to this rather odd command spotlights
our own need to follow God’s Word – His will and way for our life. Not that
any obedience on our part brings us one step closer to the Pearly Gates! BUT A
RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR…that walks the walk and talks the
talk of Jesus does speak volumes about what He means to us!
Yes, splash to your heart’s content, splash in God’s life-giving Word and let
it wash you clean from every sin. Drink long and deep until it refreshes you
– FOR YOUR CONTINUING JOURNEY THROUGH THIS DESERT OF SIN. Fill your soul,
fill your heart, fill your life with every drop of Jesus you can where the soothing
streams of salvation wash on over us. And keep us clean clear through!
II] Eternal water for thirsty lives.
Conclusion.
That’s the lesson from Rephidim. Just like the Israelites, we’re often plagued
with cotton-mouth, too. Ah, but more than a sip of Mountain Dew, what we need
is God’s eternal water for our thirsty lives! Water far more miraculous…FROM A
ROCK THAT IS FAR MORE MARVELOUS. Than anything out in some desolate,
dusty, bone-dry, dead-end, depressing desert.
Some 1500 years later the apostle Paul puts it all in proper perspective when
he writes to the Corinthian Christians: I Cor 10:3-4. This isn’t a fairy tale, it
wasn’t make-believe. Paul says that rock at Rephidim pointed ahead to the Rock
of Ages, to the One whom we believe, teach and confess is Jesus Christ. YES, TO THE
ONE OF WHOM WE’LL SOON BE SINGING: CW 389:1.
There’s no mistaking it. What, no, who’s the Answer for our thirsty lives?
WHY, IT’S JESUS, JESUS, ONLY JESUS! Only His precious blood shed on Calvary’s
cross can pay the price for our damning sins, can quench the fire in our thirsty souls.
Only His expiation and propitiation – can restore the connection between
Creator and creation, can restore the peace our first parents lost.
Sure enough, listen to Jesus’ outrageous offer: Jn 4:14. Talk about a miracle
rock and some marvelous, miraculous water, we have it, thank God Almighty, we
have it to spare…in the person and personality of Jesus! ON CALVARY’S HOLY
MOUNTAIN THE ROD OF GOD’S GRACE – struck the Rock of Ages and with that
precious blood Jesus opened the fountains of forgiveness.
So we don’t just look to the Rock for the water of life, we keep oncoming
back! Drinking long and deep as often as we can! Watch the youngsters come
in from recess on a warm and sunny day, jostling in line at the bubbler, waiting
their turn to get a drink. AND THEN GULPING AND DRINKING AND GULPING…until
you think the well’s gonna’ go dry.
Likewise, when the weight of our sins threatens to cut us off at the knees,
don’t just sip – BUT SPLASH IN THAT WATER OF LIFE! When Satan’s temptations
threaten to knock you over and turn you upside down, don’t just sip…but splash in
So like we said, water is the source of life; we need it to stay alive! Water for
our thirsty lips to keep us going from day to day; water for our thirsty lives to keep
us living for time and eternity! HEY, THAT’S THE WATER OF LIFE…that can only
come from Jesus, my friends! God help us keep coming back for more so
we never have to go thirsty again! AMEN.