When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water. – Psalm 114:1

I have been “off the water” for a few days now. I have been careening through a series of rapids and whitewater. In the last week we have 1) moved 15 students 5 leaders and 38 pieces of luggage; 2) settled into new accommodations in Winneba, Ghana; 3) toured a remote village and school; 4) participated in a traditional ceremony with the chief of a village; 5) learned about human trafficking in the Lake Volta region; 6) toured seven hospitals, and 7) made arrangements for students to engage in service learning at five of the hospitals. It has been quite a week….God has faithfully carried me like a son or daughter many times this week. I am spiritually thirsty. So today I am back on the water to see where God leads.

This short passage is both a circling back to remember and a standing stone to commemorate God’s love and care for Israel. It a reminder that God has dominion over seas, rivers, Israel, and all things of this earth…including all of us strong-willed rebellious sheep.

It is a recounting of the parting of the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan, and God providing water from rock.  The last reference where God provides pools of water from rock is an interesting metaphor to understand God’s role here on earth.  In a way God is providing “water from rock” when he intervenes on our behalf (the living water) here on earth (rock).

Prayer: God thank You for being the living water that quenches our thirst and for carry me the last week.