Jeremiah 2:4-6

Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: "What injustice have your fathers found in Me,
That they have gone far from Me,
Have followed idols,
And have become idolaters?
Neither did they say, ‘Where is the LORD,
Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
Who led us through the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts and pits,
Through a land of drought and the shadow of death,
Through a land that no one crossed
And where no one dwelt?’
Jeremiah 2:4-6 NKJV

God pleads His case against Israel. What injustice did they find in Him? What had He done that caused them to reject their God and take other gods, idols, and worship them? God is faithful and always was faithful to Israel. God had been faithful when He brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them through the wilderness. He had been faithful to provide them with their needs of food, water, and protection against their enemies along the way. He gave them a light to guide them by night and a cloud to guide them by day. He protected them from serpents both reptilian and human. At some point Israel's gratitude dissipated. They no longer remembered who had blessed them as they journeyed through the harsh desert land towards the land of God's promise for them. They no longer thanked God for His protection. Instead of being grateful for everything God has done for them and praising Him, they had chosen to turn their backs on Him and run after false gods. Instead of being faithful worshippers of the true God, they became idolaters and worshipped rocks and trees. I too need to remember where I come from and be thankful that God leads me through the desert of sin and my bad choices. I need only look around me to see the results of what happens in their lives when people turn away from doing God's will. Those who choose to go their own way and ignore God are left in the desert without water. The shadow of death hangs on them and there is no hope. They are in a land that is impossible to cross and where only death awaits them. All of humanity are in that desert. God is able and willing to lead us safely through that land of desserts and pits. Without Him we wander in the desolate dessert until we die. The water we need for life is given to us by God as we follow Him. Each drop of water God provides us gives us the strength to move after Him to the next drop of water to the pools of abundant water. God is faithful to lead us, will we follow Him? He shows us the way around the pits and through the inhospitable wilderness, will we see?

Lord,
Help me today to be thankful and remember all the things you have done in my past to care for me and protect me. Help me to hold to You. I am tempted to think that I have some control in my life and that I can do good things without you. I am tempted to worship idols, gods of sports or people or things. Help me to be faithful to You and remember the desert my life is, full of pits and without the peace of knowing Your love and protection, when I choose to worship things or people other than You. Take away the drought and fill me with Your living water. Use me to show others where they can acquire the living water they need to live.