Psalm 114:8

Psalm 114:8

Springs of water

It has proved difficult for archaeologists to say for certain where the actual site of Mount Sinai is. It is most certainly in the Sinai Peninsula and traditionally shares its location with another famous mountain of the Bible – Horeb. Mountains in the area can reach above 7,000 feet and Moses first became acquainted with the geography of Sinai when he was a shepherd for his father-in-law, Jethro. It was somewhere amongst these mountains that Moses was commanded by God to strike the rock at Horeb with his staff and out of that rock water flowed and the grumbling community of Israel were able to drink. Our verse today takes this a bit further and suggest that a pool formed and thus provided a constant source of water for the people and their livestock. There is more than a suggestion elsewhere that the supply remained with the people and accompanied them on their wilderness wanderings, how else would around 2 million people not die of thirst? Thus, Horeb was a place of springs and a sacred source of fluids for a vast crowd of nomadic Israelites. 

This miraculous provision is a common theme of the Bible, a similar miracle occurred when the people were close to the Promised Land, 40 years later. We are being told here that the Lord God is the source of living water, and He is able to feed and water His people even in the most drought-inducing conditions. Jesus talked about being the source of living water and that anyone who comes to Him to drink will never thirst again. John 7:37. Just as Eden was watered by a river of life, so a similar river will flow through the new Jerusalem on a coming day, so much so that even the Dead Sea will revive! Ezekiel 47. Remember, our task is NOT to keep asking how or why but, Who? Let us keep drinking His water!