Like a River

He opened the rock and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river. Psalm 105:41

Here we see an accounting of God’s supernatural provision in the lives of His people while making their exodus from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. During their journey, the Israelites could in no way make claim to God’s glory for meeting their needs every step of the way.

It’s like that for us today. Even though we may think we got where we are without any help from God, it’s simply not true. And since God isn’t one to stand up and take the credit for the good things in our lives, it’s up to us to give him the praise and thanks He deserves.

As believers, we can find ourselves in a desert place in one or more areas of our lives, feeling as though we’re lost in the wilderness for weeks, months and even years. It can be overwhelming, confusing, discouraging and depressing all at the same time. Sadly, the same wilderness that was only meant to be a temporary passage can easily become our final destination. But even when we completely lose hope in God’s promises, it is His nature to resurrect and bring to life again to that which has experienced death. An impossible situation is where God loves to shine.

Was anyone surprised when God brought forth water from the rock? I think so. It’s not like there was a faucet or shower head on the rock and someone said, “Hey, look at that – why didn’t we think of that before?” No, there was nothing they did or could have done to assist God in His supernatural provision, causing water to flow out of a rock to quench the thirst of more than a million people. In fact, many of them were not modelling good behaviour. There was little to no faith and a whole lot of grumbling going on in the camp.

The point is that sometimes God performs a miracle in our lives despite us. Sometimes God performs a miracle in our lives because He wants to. Sometimes God performs a miracle in our lives because it is simply a matter of His timing. God may have stretched your faith a little in the desert to show You what He can do all by Himself. He may have stretched your faith in the desert to show You what you cannot do for yourself. He may have stretched your faith in the desert to show You how far your faith really could go; it may have been a step short of His provision or a mile short of His provision. The point is that God remains faithful, even when we are not.

If you’ve never had your faith stretched beyond your capacity to believe, then you haven’t walked with God long enough. Trials and temptations will come and go and you won’t always pass with flying colours, but that’s okay. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and though you may fall, Psalm 37:23-24 says the Lord will uphold you with His hand.

God is about to cause water to gush forth from the rock, the driest place in your life. Whether it’s your faith or a situation with your finances, your job, your marriage, your family or a combination of the above, God can cause waters to gush forth from the most unlikely places. When He performs a miracle, it not only meets your need, but it will overflow to meet the needs of others in your life. Remember the leftovers from the feeding of the four thousand and the five thousand. Remember Peter’s miracle of a catch so great it began to sink the boat. You may not even be expecting it, but your miracle is coming.

Lord, I pray for Your people right now. Open the rock and cause water to gush forth. Father, You know everything we’ve done and tried to do to make our own way, but now we ask You to do what only You can do. Bring glory to Your name and give us a testimony that will touch and change the world, in Jesus’ name.