Numbers 19:1 - 21:35

Water -

- mixed with a ceremonially burned heifer's ashes to be used in cleansing ceremonies.
- the people grumbled again. this time about not having water.  God told Moses and Aaron to SPEAK to the rock to get water.  However, Moses struck the rock with his staff and water gushed out.  This ticked off God and he punished them by telling them they won't lead the Israelites into the  promised land.  Moses and Aaron did not trust God enough to honor him as holy in front of the Israelites.

How often do we not trust God enough - either with or without an audience?  We need to show that we honor his power. We trust him. We have faith in him.  Our lives should show this without a doubt, but being hardheaded humans, they often don't.

Tough times.  Miriam died. Edom marched against them to make certain they didn't cut through their territory. Aaron died an they mourned for 30 days. (just like our 'official' state mourning.)  They were attacked by another ruler, asked for them to be delivered into their hands and defeated them.  ...and complained again because of the route around Edom... so God sent poisonous snakes among them.  Of course there was quick repentance.  Moses put up a bronze snake that the people only had to have enough faith to look at to be healed.  More battles.  More journeying.  At one point, the people sang to the Lord to get water.

23:17-18 "Spring up, O well! Sing about it, about the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people sank-- the nobles with scepters and staffs."

I've got a river of life flowing out of me.

It makes the lame to walk 

and the blind to see

I've got a river of life flowing out of me.

I've got a river of life flowing out of me.

Spring up oh well (splish splash) and fill my soul

spring up oh well (splish splash) and make me whole

Spring up oh well (splish splash) and bring to me

That life abundantly.

(unknown)