METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA
DIOCESE OF OSOGBO
TWENTY-SIXTH (26TH) SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME/SIXTEENTH (16TH) SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY, 27TH
SEPTEMBER, 2020.
GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S
PEOPLE.
THEME: Water from the rock
Omi lati
inu apata
TEXT: Exodus 17:6
“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in
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.”
“Kiyesii, emi o duro niwaju re nibe lori okuta ni Horebu;
iwo o si lu okuta naa, omi yoo si jade ninu re, ki awon eniyan ki o le mu. Mose
si se bee ni oju awon agbaagba Israeli.”
Food and water are so important to body, and as such the
two are necessary for human existence. Having fed the children of Israel with
quails and manna which came down miraculously from the throne of God in heaven
(Ex. 16), the next thing I suppose should be water. Hence, the reason for
another time of great complaints and murmuring against Moses, Aaron, and God
who promised to save his people from their enemies. The Israelites forgot that
the presence of God was sufficient for them and could satisfy all their needs
as long as they remained steadfast in him. Moses and Aaron themselves knew that
the strength and confidence they needed to lead Israel through the wilderness
to the promised land could only be derived from the presence of the living God
who never fails. He is the Rock of our Salvation (Ps. 89:26) who is ever ready
to produce anything needed for our comfort and satisfaction. As the Rock, our
God has authority to produce, protect, provide and to solve all our problems in
life. Don’t you see how he is solving the global problem of COVID-19? Our
message today is therefore to assure us that if we trust God and put our
confidence in him, he will direct our steps in the wilderness of life by making
ways for us where there is no way and bringing water from the rock for us to
drink and be satisfied. He will quench our thirst and give us the Living water
to drink if we ask him (Matt. 7:17)
According to the writer of Exodus, as the Israelites moved
toward Mount Sinai, they were still being led by the pillar of cloud by day and
pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21), and the Lord was still directing them as
they passed through difficulties and trying situations. God manifested his
power before the children of Israel and built their faith and character through
different tough experiences. It must however be noted that life’s journey is
more than what we think, and much more than reaching a destination. Our
experiences in life must help us to grow in faith, in the knowledge of God and
in godly character. To God, Israel had not known him despite all he did for
them before arriving Rephidim in the wilderness of Sanai, where she again found
herself without water. If the children of Israel had known the One who was
leading them, they wouldn’t have complained when they were in need of water. They
wouldn’t have quarreled with Moses their leader. They wouldn’t have been guilty
of the sin of ingratitude doubt and unbelief, and wanting to return into their
old life (Ex. 17:1-3). In short they failed the test of God once again. As
Christians, if we blame God in the face of life challenges and compromise our
faith, then we have only allowed temptation to trap us and rob us of an
opportunity to grow spiritually. But if we allow God to have his way by
trusting him for breakthrough, then all trials and temptations of life will
work for us and not against us. (Rom. 8:28; James 1:12-15) For us to remain
overcomers for life, we need to remain connected to Jesus Christ, the only Son
of God and keep trusting him as the source of all good things. (John 15:5)
Anything short of this will lead to anger, bitterness, and unchecked action
which could make our situation worse (Ex. 17:5)
Moses,
a good leader, who knew that God was the unfailing source of all good things,
was not provoked by the murmuring of the Israelites, but called on the Lord for
help as he had always done (Ex. 15:25; Num. 11:1&2) He knew like the
Psalmist that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
(Ps. 46:1). The Lord answered him and commanded him to take some elders with
him, not to forget his rod which signified the power of God (Ex. 7:20) and
smite the rock upon which God promised to stand. Moses obeyed God and did
according to his command, then water gushed out from the rock and the immediate
need of the people and their flock were met. (Ex. 7:4-7; Ps. 78:15 & 16;
Isa. 48:21) What a great wonder! A great and gracious God met the needs of a
complaining nation. He can meet your own needs too if you can trust him to the
end.
Water
came forth from the rock for the children of Israel to drink. What does this
mean to us today? The Holy Spirit has given us answer through Apostle Paul who
wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 10 verse 4, that “…all
(our fathers) drank of that same spiritual drink. For they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” Christ is the true
Rock which was smitten once for our sin. Through the blood and water which
gushed out of his body at his crucifixion, we are made whole, satisfied and
settled (Isa. 53:5). He is the Living Spring given by God to all human beings
to quench their thirst and give them eternal satisfaction. The significant
aspect of this water is that anyone who drinks out of it shall thirst no more
and him/herself shall become a fountain of water springing up into everlasting
life. (John 4:10-12). Water from the Rock is a flowing one which is pure and
fresh for the fullness of life and wholeness for whosoever will come to Jesus
Christ and humbly accept him as Lord and Saviour. The water from the Rock is
the Holy Spirit known as water of life (John 7:38-39). Are you thirsty? Come to
Jesus Christ today and drink freely (Rev. 21:6; 22:17). Let us remember that
ordinary water sustains life, but for a while. The living water of God (Holy
Spirit) provides or gives eternal life. This water from the Rock as well washes
believers and makes them fit for eternal life (Rev. 22:14). I therefore wish to
urge all Christians to run from sin of any kind, let us wash ourselves in the
Living water, and receive Jesus Christ, the water of life in order to become
channel of blessing to other people, especially unbelievers around us and as
well become candidates of eternal life. Note that when we commit sin, we are smiting
Jesus Christ the second time which will eventually result to second death
eternal death in hell fire. To smite Jesus Christ the second time is a sin and
the wages of sin is death (Num. 20:11&12, Rom. 6:23)
Rt.
Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.
Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.
OS-CAN Chairman.
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