THIRSTY CHILDREN

The history of Ishmael, when just in his teens, shows us how God's mercy met him at a time when he was likely to die from thirst in the desert. Scripture records that "God hath heard the voice of the lad there, where he is", so he must have prayed. This is an encouragement to children to pray to God, now known as Father, 'just where they are'. He will show the resources which He has to meet the need of the moment. He showed to Ishmael's mother a well of water which they had not seen and which enabled them to fill their flask and drink. Remember that "The Lord is near".

There may have been children on board a ship nearing the coast of Brazil many years ago, and which was delayed so long that the supply of fresh water was exhausted. The only hope of the crew and passengers was to signal a passing ship asking for help. Imagine their surprise when, on doing so, they were told just to let down their buckets. This they did - and found fresh water! The great river Amazon sends its waters hundreds of miles out into the salt ocean so that the answer to the needs of the voyagers was around them all the time. This reminds us of the words of Scripture, "Before they call, I will answer" . Sad it is that God also had to say, "I called and there was none to answer".

The water to quench the thirst of the Hebrew children in the desert came from a rock which was always ready for them to turn to. This rock was a sign, or type, of the Lord Jesus who satisfies the needs and the longings of our souls. Scripture says simply, "now the rock was the Christ". Wonderful it is that in the depths of His sufferings at Calvary He should cry "I thirst". In grace He identified Himself with the very soldiers who crucified Him, by drinking of their own "vinegar". Earlier He would not take the medicated drink offered to Him as a relief. Wondrous Saviour!

The last exhortation of the Bible is, "and let him that is athirst come, he that will, let him take the water of life freely". Do you do so?

J.C.Evershed