Water from the Rock

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst again. John four fourteen. Dear Lord, you are our source of living water, the one who refreshes and sustains us each day. The world offers many wells that run dry, but in you our souls are satisfied forever. We confess that we often seek fulfillment in temporary things. We chase after success, comfort and approval. Forgetting that, only you can quench the thirst within us. Forgive us, Lord, for turning away from the true source of life. Teach us to draw near to you daily, drinking deeply of your presence and grace. When our hearts grow weary and our faith feels faint, remind us that your living water flows without end. Fill us, Lord until there is no emptiness left. You are our societ, stainer, our strength, and our peace. May our lives overflow with your love, drawing others to the well that never runs dry. Amen, Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to The Chosen People. Remain here for a dramatic story inspired by the Bible. Be sure to follow this podcast, or you can stay encouraged each week. 00:01:29 Speaker 2: Previously on The Chosen People. 00:01:32 Speaker 3: 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. 00:01:41 Speaker 2: The crowd was beginning to stir. 00:01:43 Speaker 4: Hunger grip them. 00:01:45 Speaker 2: 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. 00:01:56 Speaker 3: Lord has gotten us this far. He will provide for us us. God just ordered an entire saving people as one's meat. 00:02:06 Speaker 4: A cloud of smoke is the forest. 00:02:08 Speaker 3: Of kind is to paradise me. And here you are whining like children. 00:02:15 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. 00:02:28 Speaker 2: Suddenly, and violently, a swarm of quiet blue through the canyons, rising with the jew can a flake like substance. It lays the ground like frost. Everyone emerged from their tent and looked around curiously. Nobody knew what to make of it. 00:02:47 Speaker 4: What is this? 00:02:51 Speaker 3: This is the daily bread the Lord's giving you. He is commanded that you take an omer and measure enough for each person in your tent, no more a less. 00:03:02 Speaker 2: Each day God provided food, but each day, the people grew anxious and tried to say he 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 wild flowers and provided seed for the birds of the air to eat, he would take care of his chosen people. 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, perhaps there at Tudes 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 4: The people were reluctant to leave the shaded camp. They are slow to accept change when they grow comfortable with one thing, they refuse to let it go without a fight. 00:04:34 Speaker 3: I think if we could reassure them water and shade are waiting for them, they would be less likely to complain. 00:04:41 Speaker 2: 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. They shouldn't be complaining at all. 00:04:57 Speaker 3: What has provided everything we need. We won't just stop. 00:05:01 Speaker 4: You know that for certain, Moses. But the people aren't like you. They don't have God whispering in their ear. 00:05:09 Speaker 3: No, no, they don't. 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 for them. The More doesn't whisper to them, he shouts. 00:05:24 Speaker 2: 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. 00:06:21 Speaker 3: We're nearly water, Moses, what are you gonna do about it? 00:06:25 Speaker 2: Give us your water to drink? 00:06:27 Speaker 3: And what have you been keeping from? 00:06:29 Speaker 2: 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. 00:06:42 Speaker 3: Why do you quarrel with me as if I'm the one withholding from you? Because this is your fault. We're gonna die out here because of you. You're not in your right minds. Why test the Lord even further? Has he got provided everything you've needed? 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 lives. 00:07:10 Speaker 2: Then 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 1: Get back your fools who don't know what you're talking about. 00:07:28 Speaker 4: Admit it, erin. 00:07:30 Speaker 3: You don't trust him either, mind your tom jayho. 00:07:34 Speaker 4: We are kinsmen and in this together. Oh yeah, then is Moses leaving again? 00:07:42 Speaker 2: Aaron turned. Moses had again retreated into the canyons. 00:07:47 Speaker 4: It had always been. 00:07:48 Speaker 2: His habit to retreat, breathe, and gather his thoughts. However, it always left Aaron in the precarious position of peacekeeper. He turned back, wide eyed and uncertain. 00:08:01 Speaker 4: Trust in Moses, Trust the Lord? 00:08:05 Speaker 3: 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 4: Is that Lord a nomad? 00:08:19 Speaker 3: Does he come and go like Moses? 00:08:22 Speaker 2: 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. 00:09:02 Speaker 4: What shall I do with these people? 00:09:05 Speaker 3: They're ready to stoll me? 00:09:07 Speaker 2: 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. 00:09:19 Speaker 4: Take your stirf Moses, enlarge past the people, take some of the elders of Israel, and leave him to the great rock at Horeb. Behold, I will stand there beside you. When you strike the rock with your stuff, water shall burst forth from it. The people will drink and be refreshed. 00:09:46 Speaker 2: The sides of Moses cracked, lips creased into a smile. He chuckled slightly, then shook his head. 00:09:55 Speaker 4: You're full of surprises, aren't you, always keeping us on our toes. My ways are not your ways, My thoughts are not your thoughts, that's for certain. 00:10:11 Speaker 2: 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 hoarding 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. 00:10:46 Speaker 3: Crowd, everybody stop, Moses is back. 00:10:50 Speaker 2: Everyone ceased clamoring and waited to see if Moses would speak. Has the Lord spoken yes? 00:10:58 Speaker 4: And what has he said? 00:11:00 Speaker 3: Gather the elders and follow me. 00:11:03 Speaker 2: 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. 00:11:19 Speaker 4: Them only the elders. 00:11:21 Speaker 2: 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. 00:11:47 Speaker 3: They don't deserve your grace, yet here you are about the provide again. 00:11:54 Speaker 2: Moses turned to the elders and stretched out his arms. His staff was in his right hand, His knuckles were white around its shaft, steady and ready to strike. 00:12:06 Speaker 3: Is the Lord among us or not? 00:12:08 Speaker 2: No answer from the men, just a confused silence. 00:12:13 Speaker 3: Is the Lord among us or not? 00:12:16 Speaker 4: Again? 00:12:16 Speaker 2: The elders shrugged, unsure of how to answer. 00:12:20 Speaker 3: I ask you again, Is the Lord among us or not? 00:12:25 Speaker 2: Moses gripped his staff with both hands, widened his stance, shifted his hips, and swung it at the stone. He struck it with rutful force, causing the outer layer of shale to crack. Immediately, her 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 Ea. The refreshing Spring of God brought life. They were His children, his chosen people. He would not let them fall. This Prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the app or App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review,