God Proves His Love
Scripture Reading — Exodus 17:1-7
I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.
Sometimes life feels like a wilderness. Life can feel barren, empty, and dry. In those times God may seem far away.
Israel went through that experience. They literally were in a wilderness, and there was no water to drink. It seemed as if God had abandoned them. They grumbled against Moses and blamed God for their desperate situation. They wanted God to prove that he still loved them.
Have you ever found yourself feeling the same thing?
God proved his love to Israel in an amazing, gracious way. God told Moses to strike a rock with his staff. This was the same staff that Moses had used to deliver God’s judgment of plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7-10). God put himself at the rock as well, and the result was water for the people to drink.
At the cross of Jesus, something similar happened. Jesus put himself willingly on the cross for our sake so that we could receive the water of life (see John 4:14; 7:37-39). Paul put it this way: “[Israel] drank from the spiritual rock . . . and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4).
When life feels like a wilderness, how can you know God loves you? Look to the cross and see the life-giving love of our Savior, Jesus.
Father, when we question your love, may the cross convince us that your love for us is real. No one could love us more than you do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Tom Groelsema
Tom Groelsema and his wife, Sheri, have served churches in Minnesota, Michigan, and North Carolina. They have four children and three granddaughters.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!