The Eleven O’clock news used to be known for its news. You could turn on the television for thirty minutes and get caught up on the world’s headlines. Now, however, national news has become nothing more than argument and opinion. A quick synonym search for the word argumentative will give you opinionated. Everything we see and hear, from commercials to cartoons, is now bloated with opinions being shoved down our throats. And if we aren’t careful, we will become, in retaliation, precisely the same way. Why?
Exodus 17 tells the plight of Israel right after coming through the Red Sea and escaping Egypt and its slavery. The people are moving camp but have not found water. V.2- 6 says,
“2 So once more, the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” 3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses…
Thirst torments
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” 5 The Lord said to Moses, “walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. 6 I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.”
The reason everyone so badly argues is thirst. The world desperately needs living water from The Rock, Christ Jesus. Instead of expecting mere men to satisfy our thirst, we should be asking the Lord for the water only He can provide. Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:10-15, 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
Until we drink from Him, we will continually be thirsty, argumentative, and opinionated. Like the woman at the well, we will continue having even our most intimate relationships destroyed for thirst. Our angry spirits need a drink of living water. People will never satisfy. Only Jesus satisfies.
If you are angry today or feeling so unsatisfied that you’re irritated by everyone and everything, I have the answer. It’s Jesus. He wants to give you living water that will bubble up from your inner-most being and water the dry hard ground of your heart. People will never be able to satisfy you. Five husbands couldn’t do it for the woman at the well, and different people or a new city, won’t do it for you either. Turn to Jesus and take a long deep drink. In fact, go to Him every day and take as long of a drink as you need. His well never runs dry.
There is a famous beer commercial that says, “Stay thirsty, my friends.” I find it ironic that the world wants us to remain thirsty. But Jesus wants us satisfied. The choice is yours today. Choose refreshing. Take a drink and choose life.
Jaime Luce
