Psalm 95

For the past few weeks I've been reading a Psalm a day for my devotion. Here's what I wrote in my journal for Psalm 95.


Psalm 95:8 refers to the Israelites complaining of no water (see Exodus 17:2-7). Moses, according to God's command, strikes the rock and water comes forth. Jason learned in one of his classes that this was a common practice among Bedouin shepherds. Because of the terrain (lots of limestone) in that area, water would filter down into rocks and eventually calcify providing a well of sorts in the rock. A good shepherd would know how to strike the rock just right for water to come gushing forth.
In verse 7, God calls us the sheep of His hand. It was the shepherd's job to provide pasture (God provided manna and quail) and water (from a rock) for his sheep. Many of the Israelites were shepherds, so they were familiar with the job description. The nation of Israel should have known (and I should know) that if the Lord claims to be the Shepherd, He will provide for the needs of His sheep. It's what shepherds do.
When God told Moses to strike the rock, in effect He was telling the Israelites to remember, in a not-so-subtle way, that He was their Shepherd and He would provide for their needs.


Isn't it funny when God uses regular everyday stuff to remind us that He is God? Striking a rock to produce water was something that many of the Israelites had at least seen, if not done, themselves. The Israelites are an easy target, but I try very hard not to pick on them. The truth is that I am very much like an Israelite. It takes God using the Duh! moments to get my attention. How patient and loving He is with me!
Kinda' like a Shepherd with His sheep...