Streams in the Desert - May 26
by L. B. E. Cowman and Jim Reimann
Spring up, O well! Sing about it. (Numbers 21: 17)
This was a strange song and a strange well. The children of Israel had been traveling over the desert’s barren sands, and they were desperate for water, but there was none in sight. Then God spoke to Moses and said, “Gather the people together and I will give them water” (v. 16).
The people then gathered around with their rods. As they began to dig deeply into the burning sand, they sang, “Spring up, O well! Sing about it.” Soon a gurgling sound was heard, and suddenly a rush of water appeared, filling the well and running along the ground. As they had dug the well in the desert, they had tapped the stream that ran below and that had been unseen for a very long time.
What a beautiful picture this is! And it describes for us the river of blessings that flows through our lives. If only we will respond with faith and praise, we will find our needs supplied even in the most barren desert.
Again, how did the children of Israel reach the water of this well? It was through praise. While standing on the burning sand and digging the well with their staff of promise, they sang a praise song of faith.
Our praise will bring forth “water . . . in the wilderness and streams in the desert” (Isa. 35: 6), while complaining will only bring judgment. Even prayer by itself may fail to reach the fountain of blessings.
Nothing pleases the Lord as much as praise. There is no greater evidence of faith than the virtue of genuine thanksgiving. Are you praising God enough? Are you thanking Him for the countless blessings He has bestowed on you? Are you boldly praising Him even for the trials in your life, which are actually blessings in disguise? And have you learned to praise Him in advance for answers yet to come?
~selected
You’re waiting for deliverance!
O soul, you’re waiting long!
Believe that your deliverance
Does wait for you in song!
Complain not till deliverance
Your fettered feet does free:
Through songs of glad deliverance
God now surroundeth thee.
Reference
Cowman, L. B. E.; Reimann, Jim (2008-09-09). Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings (p. 209). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Categories: spiritual