Thought

There had been trouble between Sarah and her servant Hagar before. Now with a child of her very own, Sarah drew a line in the sand: Hagar and her son must go. God told Abraham not to be distressed about the issue, and Abraham must have trusted that the God who could give a baby to two elderly people could also work this problem out. For her part, Hagar had declared that God was the One who saw her. But there in the middle of the desert, with the sun beating down and the water gone, Hagar probably wondered if God was watching her now. And if He was, did He love her and her son? God answered, not just by supplying water, but also by giving a promise for a great future.

Word

Genesis 21:18 NIV

[The angel of God told Hagar,] “Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Question

How long can humans go without water?

Wilderness guides will tell us to remember the “rule of three.” That rule refers to the concept that the average person can live just three minutes without oxygen, three days without drinking liquids, and three weeks without eating. But that is just a general guideline, and each person is different. It’s important for most of us to drink water throughout the day in order to feel healthy.

Challenge

If you have a refillable water bottle and masking tape, you can tape lines on your bottle to remind yourself to drink. Take four pieces of tape about an inch or two long and stick them on the bottle at equal intervals. Write these Bible references on the pieces of tape: Isaiah 12:3; 43:2; 49:10; 58:11. As you drink enough to get to each piece of tape, stop and read that Bible verse. Take time to thank God for providing water to refresh us.

Prayer

God, in Your love for us You provide for us in so many ways. Thank You for refreshing us with water. Amen.