Going around the Inhospitable

 14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:

“This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us. 15Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors, 16but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. 17Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”18But Edom answered:“You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”19The Israelites replied:“We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”20Again they answered:“You may not pass through.”Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. 21Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

Thoughts: Moses could have fought his way through Edom.  Probably they had a more powerful army.  But perhaps he knew they were weary from being in the desert, and were not prepared.  He asked permission, was not given it- in fact was threatened.  But he did not respond back with anger, he just went around though it meant losing costly time.  
    We should sometimes ask for people to treat us with hospitality, and then expect that we will not receive it.  We should put our time and lives in God's hands and let Him lead us.  

Prayer: Give me grace, O Lord, when people are not hospitable toward me.  Let me have more patience than I have in and of myself.   

Water in the Desert = Hospitality

 But I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the deserts into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.  (Isaiah 41;18; 35:6-8)

He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.  (Ps. 107:35)

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron...and they said, "Why did you bring us to this terrible place... there is no water to drink!" The Lord said to Moses...speak to the rock and it will pour out its water...Moses said to them, "Listen you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?  Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.  Water gushed out and the community and the livestock drank.  (Numbers 20:3-11)

Thoughts:  There are 2 billion in the world without access to safe drinking water.  Yet many of us take it for granted.  When it is taken away, we are reminded how good we have it.  I remember once in an ice storm, when we were living in the country, the power went out for a week and the well had no water.  It was difficult and a mess.  Every day women and girls spend 200 million hours walking to collect water for their families.  The average developing world woman walks 3.7 miles a day to get cleaner water.  
     Part of our concern for others is that they receive water for life.  
     God still provided for His people in the desert even in the midst of their many complaints.  We are hospitable to others even if they are not truly appreciative.  Water is a symbol of life and hospitality.  

Prayer: Lord, help me be grateful for the gift of water.  Thank you that you provide a way when it seems there is no way.