'Rocks or Rivers'

S- Psalm 105: 41

 

‘He opened the Rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.’

 

O – This verse comes in the midst of many declarations as to what God has done in bringing about the liberation of His people. They were a people who had been surrounded by the miraculous and the delivering power of God. Every action was miraculous and a revelation of his presence, provision and purpose. Here He opens a rock! Was it an obstacle? The immovable? The unlikely or the unexpected? Irrespective He opened it and something totally unexpected occurred in the outcome. It was more than just a functional provision of water to quench a thirst. It was an unexpected flow of water that went beyond the needs of an individual and had a changing effect on the environment around them. I’m sure there was never the expectation that from a Rock such a powerful change and influence could flow.

 

A – I can never stop expecting God to do the unexpected from the most unlikely! God is able to open up anything in circumstances or an event for something powerful and miraculous to flow. I certainly cannot open up a rock for a river to flow and to change and environment. I can though carry an expectation and belief that he is able to do such because of who He is and His desire to provide and manifest power. I can only see rocks as immovable and obstacles to go around or need to be removed. God sees them as opportunities to be ‘opened’ for a greater and powerful result beyond any limitations. I wonder how many rocks I have been looking at and believing them to be immovable? He is the one who opens up the immovable, and obstacles of circumstance, for a powerful outcome. I need to see these obstacles as opportunities for the miraculous.

 

P – Lord I thank you that you are the great ‘Rock Opener’ – Help me to not see obstacles as immovable or intimidating. I thank you that you want to come and bring the miraculous out of that which I can only see as immovable.

                                                                                                                            

'Hammer and Nails'

S – Jeremiah 10:14

 

‘They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with Hammer and Nails so it will not totter’

 

O – Jeremiah brings a message of contrast between what people create as a source of strength and focus for admiration and worship. ‘Hammer and Nails’ are the tools used for fixing. It is a resource that man uses in limitation to build and to make strong. It is the present, the pragmatic that can focus on keeping something from falling over or to make it look good. No matter how good or great the craftsman – the hammer and nails process cannot create Life as the magnificence of God the Creator and Sustainer. Jeremiah was addressing their belief that in their ‘Hammer and Nails’ they had the ability to fix or create anything of strength or durability.

 

A – The ‘Hammer and Nails’ is a challenge to me to not rely on the pragmatism of my own methods, insights or ‘fix it’ in the Kingdom. I know how easy and often I can resort to ‘quick fixes’ another nail here or there to keep it together or to give the appearance of strength. This takes me into a wrong thought and belief that my hands can bring strength and building into the Kingdom. The Kingdom is not built on my pragmatism or 'fix it' mentality. Jeremiah brings to me the right perspective in verse 6; ‘No one is like you O Lord, you are great and your name is mighty in power’ – when I consider the mighty power of God at work in His Kingdom, my hammer and nails start to fall into right perspective. I think this is showing me less of my works by hand and more of allowing the mighty power of God to work.

 

P – Lord, I see so much of my own ‘Hammer and Nails’ attitude in my serving. Make me to be more aware of my limitations to fix, to build and make strong. In your Kingdom let there be more of your power and less of my ‘fix it’ or keep it ‘looking good’ mentality.