Desert Cornerstone

Since moving to the farm in May we have been visiting a few local churches.  The people have been friendly but I had forgotten how difficult it can be to find a new place of fellowship.  A dear friend recommended a place she and her husband had been visiting since moving to the area in April.  So at the first of July we begin visiting.

The first Sunday as the worship began the first line included words about a desert and continues about all our fountains being in Christ.  God had been speaking to me about Christ – the living water.  Several songs later the words “consume me from the inside out” were sung and my ears were definitely listening.  We have quietly been attending and it has not always been easy.  There are differences from our last place of fellowship and it can be difficult.  One week it is fine, the next a child is in tears because it is hard to be the outsider. 

I keep journeying through Exodus, walking in the desert with God’s children.  The Father feeds me with daily manna as I seek Him.  I drink deeply from His springs of life.  I am learning about camping – staying still and then moving when the Father gives instruction.   Here the Father continues the process of revealing Himself and opening my eyes to deal with my sin-sick heart.  He leads me through a process of confession which leads to a period of consecration. 

The Spirit expounds on His teaching about drinking from the Rock.  Thoughts from these verses flow through my mind…

“They all (the Israelites) ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink;  for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”  1 Corinthians 10:3-4

I look up other verses on a Tuesday morning about cornerstones…

“So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: See, I lay in Zion,  a tested stone,  a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.”  Isaiah 28:16; Romans 9:33

The Wednesday night classes begin and we attend.  From the groups available I choose the women’s Bible study.  I am late and rather embarrassed but take a seat anyway.  The discussion continues and they are discussing Exodus where God hears the cries of His people.  One of the women comments how in the desert God wanted the Israelites to learn total dependence on Him – He provided for their every need.  Their daily food and water, their clothes and shoes did not wear out, He sheltered them from the heat with a cloud by day and from the cool by a pillar of fire at night, He was their front and rear guard. 

I sit on a Thursday afternoon to begin a blog post on Christ being our cornerstone – the Rock of Salvation – in the desert.  As the thoughts roll around in my mind I pick up the hand out from the Wednesday night class.   One of the suggested readings is from Isaiah 44 and I begin to read when verse 8 stops me…

“Do not tremble, do not be afraid.  Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?  You are my witnesses, Is there any God besides me?   No, there is no other Rock, I know not one.”  Isaiah 44:8

He lays the stepping stones before me that lead straight to His sure foundation.  Only a God who hears my cries would so lovingly fill this thirsty child’s cup and entreat me to drink deeply from the spiritual rock who is Jesus.