Daily Devotion - November 24, 2023

The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” (Ex. 17:5-6)

Many of us remember Bible stories as they were presented in Sunday School. I recall the picture in my children’s Bible depicting what happened after Moses struck the rock to bring forth water in the wilderness. The illustration showed a little stream flowing gently into a pool for a few surrounding children and sheep.

But when we realize that this water had to supply more than a million people and millions of animals, we know that the children's Bible picture was far from adequate. The stream was a torrent of water needed for the masses of people and herds God blessed. 

The torrent understanding is needed not just for explaining God’s greatness, but also his grace. God provided the river of blessing for people who were fearful, complaining, and rebelling. God had every right to turn off the spigot of his blessing; instead, he opened the floodgate – and he would do it again, when the people and Moses sinned worse. 

If you think God will only provide streams of mercy from thimbles of grace for a few worthy creatures, come to him with millions of other sinners and bring a bucket to get all the mercy you need!

Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus to provide a river of mercy for millions of sinners like me – and me! Help me to believe and rejoice that you have enough grace to fill my bucket of need.