Thirst. I cannot say that I have ever truly experienced thirst. I've been thirsty after an afternoon of yard work. I've been thirsty as a result of eating too much salt the day before. But true thirst... No I have never been truly thirsty. I'm on a new health kick... trying to drink the amount of water I need each day. Want to know something??? I recognize my thirst more, now that I am drinking water regularly, than I did when I was only drinking water a couple of times a day.
I've noticed this happening in my spiritual life as well. I'm not sure I recognized how "thirsty" I was until I had tasted His goodness. When life is going by day by day, I don't notice my thirst. I am content with the drops of water I gather here and there... a quick devotional, a sermon online, a face book post, But after I've had a special encounter with God, where He called me to spend time with Him and showed me something new from His word... Then I realize how parched I have been.
Jesus says in John 7:37 , "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." That is an open invitation for us to come. All he asks is that we recognize our thirst or our need for Him. Pretty simple huh? Then why do I wait so long to go to Him? Why do I let life make me weary or frail before I run to him?
I'm reminded of the story in the Old Testament in Exodus 17 where the Israelites are complaining... as usual. They are questioning Moses as to why God has led them into the wilderness to let them starve and thirst to death. They have forgotten all of the wonderful things God has done just a few days before... leading them out of captivity saving them from Pharaoh's army by parting the Red Sea and so much more. In my own paraphrase, they are tired, grumpy, hungry and thirsty... not to mention unsure about the future. Moses goes to God on their behalf and God sets the stage.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. - Exodus 17:5-6
From that moment in time, God declared that only in Him could our thirst be quenched. This miracle is re told many times throughout the scriptures to remind God's chosen people of how God provided for them. I am so thankful that God chooses to use "my thirst" as a reminder of my role in His greater story.
He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers. Psalms 78:15-16
God caused the water to run down the rocks like rivers...
Is any image more breathtaking?
Oh God, my God I seek You
In this dry and desert land
You lead me to streams of mercy
Once again
You're an ocean to my soul
To my soul
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