Lent 3 Year A
When a rock is exactly what you need
Sometimes the most unlikely thing turns out to be exactly what we need. Moses learned this when God told him to strike a rock to give water to thirsty people.
How many of you have ever played rock, paper, scissors?
You know the game. Everyone holds out their hand. Rock, paper, scissors, go. On the fourth word, you throw either a rock, paper, or scissors. Rock breaks scissors. Paper covers rock. Scissors cuts paper. If you both throw the same thing, it's a tie.
Let's play. Ready? One, two, three, go.
I made a rock. If you made paper, you win. If you made scissors, I win. If you made a rock, we tie.
Each thing has its use
The great thing about rock, paper, scissors is that each time you play, you have a chance to win.
Today I brought a real rock, real paper, and real scissors with me. These items are all useful in their own way.
If you want to write a letter, a rock or scissors wouldn't be much help, but a piece of paper would be.
If you want to cut a piece of paper, a rock or paper wouldn't be much help, but a pair of scissors would.
If you're really thirsty and need a drink of water, a piece of paper or a pair of scissors wouldn't be much help. But a rock might be exactly what you need.
Wait, what? Some of you are looking at me like I'm crazy. Don't you think a rock would be helpful if you need a drink of water?
When people got thirsty
In the Bible story today, that's exactly what happened. A rock helped people when they were thirsty.
Do you know what it's like to be really thirsty? It can make you have a headache and it can make you feel dizzy. All people need to drink water lots of times a day to keep feeling well.
Moses had helped the Israelites out of Egypt and was leading them to a better place. On the way they got really thirsty and started complaining to Moses.
Moses didn't know what to do, so he went and talked to God.
God listened and told Moses what to do. He was to go and hit a particular rock with his staff.
Moses did what God told him to do and water started flowing out. There was enough water for everyone to have a drink and all the animals too.
When we don't know what to do
We can learn from Moses. We can ask God for help when we don't know what to do, and God will listen and help us find an answer.