Water from the Rock

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: The Egyptians were the lucky ones. They got to die a swift death under the sea. We're going to wither away under the sun. 00:00:12 Speaker 1: The crowd was beginning to stir. Hunger griped them. Hunger causes anger, and anger causes all sorts of issues. Moses clenched his jaw tightly. Hunger ordered him as well, but he couldn't show it. 00:00:27 Speaker 2: The Lord has gotten us this far. He will provide for us. God just ordered an entire saving people as one's sneak. A cloud of smoke is the forest. 00:00:39 Speaker 3: Of kindness to paradise. 00:00:41 Speaker 2: And here you are whining like children. 00:00:45 Speaker 4: At twilight, you will eat meat. In the morning you will be filled with bread. They will know that I am the Lord. 00:00:59 Speaker 1: Suddenly, and violently, a swarm of quayu blue through the canyons. Rising with the dew, came a flake like substance. It laced the ground like frost. Everyone emerged from their tent and looked around curiously. Nobody knew what to. 00:01:17 Speaker 2: Make of it. What is this? This is the daily bread, the Lord's guinea. 00:01:25 Speaker 5: He has commanded that you take an omer and measure enough for each person in your tent no more the less. 00:01:32 Speaker 1: Each day God provided food, But each day the people grew anxious and tried to save more. Yet day after day God provided for their needs. Slowly they began to trust that the Lord would protect and provide for them. He was their God, and just as He clothed the mountain range with wildflowers and provided seed for the birds of the air to eat, he would take care of his chosen. 00:02:08 Speaker 6: As the Chosen People stood at the rock of horrib desperation turned to awe, for from solid stone flowed living water. Shalloh, my friends, from here in the Holy Land, I'm ya l Exstein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Welcome to the Chosen People. Each week we'll hear dramatic stories inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through Israel's story, we'll find this truth that we are all chosen for something great. Now, let's begin the desert wind whispers of trials and triumphs of a people guided by divine presence, yet stumbling in their faith. The children of Israel, having crossed the vast sea, now wandered through the barren will they are free, yet their hearts wrestle with doubt. They have seen miracles, but now faced with thirst and the wilderness of refidim, their spirits falter. What does it mean to trust in God when the well runs dry? How do we find faith when our mouths are parched and hope seems as elusive as a drop of water in the desert well. Let's turn to the Torah, to a story that is a journey into the heart of faith itself. 00:03:38 Speaker 1: The children of Israel departed from the palms of sin Sinai was their destination. The Lord beckoned them there. Moses was determined to bring the people to the foot of that mountain so they could hear from him as he did. Moses knew that if they could encounter the Lord in the same way, their attitudes would shift. The chosen people left in stages as God had commanded. Each tribe took turns departing through the narrow canyons. Moses often ascended jagged rocks and ridges to scan the crowd. Miriam, Aaron, and Hoo were beside him, bringing the people's concerns and reports from the tribal elders. 00:04:24 Speaker 2: The people were reluctant to leave the shaded camp. 00:04:28 Speaker 4: They are slow to accept change. 00:04:30 Speaker 2: When they grow comfortable with one thing, they refused to let it go without a fight. 00:04:35 Speaker 3: I think if we could reassure them water and shade are waiting for them, they would be less likely to complain. 00:04:42 Speaker 1: Moses kept his eyes fixed on the moving caravan. His gaze shifted from one clan to the next. He sighed, then spoke, without turning to his companions. 00:04:54 Speaker 3: We shouldn't be complaining at all. The Lord has provided everything we need. He will just stop. You know that for certain, Moses. But the people aren't like you. Don't have God whispering in their ear. 00:05:10 Speaker 2: No, no, they don't. 00:05:12 Speaker 5: They have a burning pillar of fire falling from the sky, the bread falling from heaven, and a storm of quail basically hopping into the fire to be cut from them. 00:05:21 Speaker 2: The More doesn't whisper to them, he shouts. 00:05:25 Speaker 1: The three others fell silent. They could feel moses anger. They could only understand what he was feeling. In part, Moses desperately wanted the people to see what he saw. The Lord had been faithful time and time again. Why would he stop now? What did all the complaining gain for them. Moses, realizing he was again succumbing to his agitation, steadied himself. The sun was unmerciful that day, sapping the children of Israel of any will they had left. A familiar thirst overcame them, and with it there was an impatient and unruly countenance. As they settled camp for the day, quarrels emerged on every corner. Small disputes erupted into violent fights. An angry mob formed and marched towards moses tent. 00:06:22 Speaker 7: We're nearly out of water, Moses, what are you going to do about it? 00:06:26 Speaker 2: Give us your water to drink? And what have you been keeping from? 00:06:30 Speaker 1: Moses emerged from his tent, brow furrowed and weary. The crowd pressed in closer to him. Aaron Miriam and her rushed to his side, ready for whatever madness would come next. 00:06:43 Speaker 2: Why do you quarrel with me as if I'm the one withholding from you? Because this is your hault. 00:06:49 Speaker 7: We're gonna die out here because of you. 00:06:51 Speaker 5: You're not in your right minds. Why test the Lord even further? Has he got provided everything you've needed? 00:07:00 Speaker 7: Do you know what I think I did? You brought us out here to kill us. You're still loyal to Egypt. You brought us out here to kill us, our children and our livestyle. 00:07:11 Speaker 1: The crowd hummed with violent grunts and impatient grumblings. They stirred with an almost feral cadence. Moses began fearing for his life. Aaron stepped forward to steady the crowd. 00:07:24 Speaker 4: Get back your fools, who don't know what you're talking about. 00:07:29 Speaker 7: Admitted erin. You don't trust him either. 00:07:33 Speaker 2: Mind your tongue, Jayho. We are kinsmen and in this together. 00:07:38 Speaker 7: Yeah, then who is Moses leaving? Again? 00:07:43 Speaker 1: Aaron turned. Moses had again retreated into the canyons. It had always been his habit to retreat, breathe, and gather his thoughts. However, he had always left Aaron in the precarious position of peacekeeper. He turned back, eyed and uncertain. 00:08:01 Speaker 2: Trust in Moses, Trust the Lord? 00:08:06 Speaker 7: How can we trust what we cannot see? Where is our God? We could see the gods of Egypt? We had statues, temples and monuments. 00:08:17 Speaker 2: Is that Lord Nomad? Does he come and go like Moses? 00:08:23 Speaker 1: Aaron paused and considered it all. A small seed of doubt began to creep its way into his heart. Moses slammed his fist against the side of the canyon. The thud echoed, followed by a WinCE of anguish Moses had had enough of the people's constant grumbling. He felt so disconnected from their woes. Had they not seen God's faithfulness, had they not been shown time and time again that he would take care of them. He clenched his fists and gave the Lord a long, drawn out sigh. 00:09:03 Speaker 2: What shall I do with these people? Get ready to stell me? 00:09:08 Speaker 1: Moses heard a familiar echo through the canyons, like a refreshing river. The Lord's voice rushed into moses heart, words of provision and promise. 00:09:20 Speaker 4: Take your stirf, Moses, and marge past the people, take some of the elders of Israel and leaved him to the great rock at Horeb. Behold, I will stand there beside you. When you strike the rock with your sturf, water shall burst forth from it. The people will drink and be refreshed. 00:09:47 Speaker 1: The sides of Moses cracked, lips creased into a smile. He chuckled slightly, then shook his head. 00:09:56 Speaker 2: You're full of surprises, aren't you? Always keeping us on our toes? 00:10:00 Speaker 4: My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts. 00:10:08 Speaker 7: Ha ha ha, that's for certain. 00:10:12 Speaker 1: Moses rolled his shoulders back and gripped his staff firmly. He emerged from the canyons and scaled the path downward back to camp. The people were in a frenzy, at each other's throats and accusing one another of holding water. Aaron was among them, desperately trying to quell the chaos, but it was no use. The only one slightly able to reason with them was Miriam, but even her efforts were yielding fewer results. She turned to see her brother walking toward them and shouted to silence the. 00:10:47 Speaker 6: Crowd, everybody stop, Moses is back. 00:10:51 Speaker 1: Everyone ceased clamoring and waited to see if Moses would speak. Has the Lord spoken? 00:10:58 Speaker 2: He has, and what has he said? Gather the elders and follow me. 00:11:04 Speaker 1: Moses didn't wait for anyone. He marched through the crowd. They parted for him, confused about why he was so stoic and calm. Clearly Moses knew something they didn't. The people began to follow, but Aaron stopped. 00:11:20 Speaker 2: Them only the elders. 00:11:22 Speaker 1: The elders quickly gathered and padded behind Moses like pups. Together, they left camp to Horreb. There, jetting out of the mountain was a large stone. It was unmistakably the one the Lord had mentioned. Moses ignored the murmuring behind him and placed a hand on the stone. He released a deep, drawn out sigh. 00:11:48 Speaker 3: They don't deserve your grace yet here you are about the provide again. 00:11:55 Speaker 1: Moses turned to the elders and stretched out his arms, his staff in his right hand. His knuckles were white around its shaft, steady and ready to strike. 00:12:07 Speaker 7: Is the Lord among us or not? 00:12:09 Speaker 1: No answer from the men, just a confused silence. 00:12:14 Speaker 2: Is the Lord among us or not? 00:12:16 Speaker 4: Again? 00:12:17 Speaker 1: The elders shrugged, unsure of how to answer. 00:12:20 Speaker 2: I ask you again, Is the Lord among us or not? 00:12:25 Speaker 1: Moses gripped his staff with both hands, widened his stance, shifted his hips, and swung it into stone. He struck it with brutal force, causing the outer layer of shale to crack. Immediately, a geezer burst out of the rock, spilling water out into the dirt below. The elders recoiled in shock and immediately rushed to the water to drink. Soon enough, the water found a crag and flowed downward towards the Israelite camp, like the rivers cutting through Eden. The refreshing spring of God brought life. They were His children, his chosen people. He would not let them fall. 00:13:23 Speaker 6: Can you feel the tension in the dry desert air? A nation stands thirsty, their cries echoing under the relentless sun. They face a barren rock, a rock that symbolizes their own desolation, and then with a single strike, water bursts forth, pure, abundant, life giving water. This isn't just a story of history. It's a vivid reminder of faith. God's provision transforms the impossible into miracles. And if he can bring water from a rock, what miracles might he be ready to end in our lives today? But before this miraculous water is brought from the rock by God, I want to look at some of the human interactions that we find. In verse three, the Bible tells us quote, but the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst? 00:14:25 Speaker 3: End quote. 00:14:26 Speaker 6: You know, I read this verse and I can really understand their panic. Can't you water and the brutally hot desert is an absolute necessity? Without it, you die. Period. After the Israelites grumble about Moses, then Moses grumbles to God. In verse four, It says, quote what am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me? End quote. Now it is verse five that I want to concentrate on. 00:14:53 Speaker 2: Here. 00:14:53 Speaker 6: God says something to Moses that puzzles me. God tells Moses go out in front of the people. And I read that verse and say, what does that mean? Well, some of our sages see this as a challenge to Moses, as if God is saying to Moses, okay, walk among the people and see if anyone will actually try to stone you. And those same sages add that God was also asking Moses, why are you slandering my people? 00:15:22 Speaker 2: Think about that. 00:15:23 Speaker 6: God is actually accusing Moses of slandering the Chosen people, of complaining about them. There are two great and important lessons to be learned here. First, how precious the Chosen people are in God's eyes. He even rebukes Moses for implying that the people would commit violence against him, even though they had just acted badly in their lack of faith that God would provide water. We see from this that God doesn't want us to look for issues in one another. He wants us to believe in one another, not to complain about each other, but to strengthen one another. And the second lesson is one that we can learn about leadership. It is never okay for a leader, even a leader as great as Moses, to lose patience and baselessly rebuke those whom here she leads. This applies to all of us, in our families, and our workplaces, and our communities, and in our places of worship. There's one more lesson from Jewish tradition that I want to share before I leave verse five. Here God tells Moses to take his staff and strike the rock, and then he adds the words, quote the staff with which you struck the Nile end quote. Why do you think that God takes this moment to refer back to the plagues in Egypt? While some commentaries suggest that this was to show that no one thing or object is good or bad. It all depends upon how we use the object. When necessary, the staff turned the waters of the Nile to blood, But here the staff brought life saving water to the Chosen People. I love visiting the Sea of Galilee here in the Holy Land. It's always a profound experience with my family's standing by this ancient body of water, the sight of miracles and teachings. For years, the water levels were dangerously low, causing deep concern in Israel, as it's our only fresh water. But now the Sea of Galilee is full again. Trees when standing on dry land, are half submerged. It's a powerful testament to the fact that God is always in control and able to transform any situation. Now, the reason that I bring up the Sea of Galilee is tied to this very Bible story that we've just studied. Jewish tradition teaches us something very interesting about the source of the story's miraculous water. The rock from which the water came from was called Miriam's Well, named for Moses's faithful and heroic sister. And when Miriam died, this miraculous well dried up as well. But the Chosen People kept the rock and they carried it with them into the land of Israel. There that rock that we've just learned about in the Bible story, according to many of our sages, was placed at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. The Israelites did this to remind them and us these thousands of years later, that all water, all life is miraculous. In the wilderness, God's miracles were very clear. Mana fell from the heavens, water sprang from the rock, clouds of glory offered protection. And here in the land of Israel, this biblical lesson remains very true. Nature itself is no less a miracle. Every drop of water and every breath is a gift from God. This message is as relevant today as it was them. Everything we have is miraculous. It's a blessing from God. We just need to open our eyes to it. 00:19:13 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by bre Rosalie and Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kaylab Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.