“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. – Isaiah 41:17

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 17, 2017): Isaiah 41

The addax is an antelope-like animal that lives in the Sahara Desert. It is believed that the addax, at one point in history, lived in several diverse places on the Earth, including North America. But currently, it is considered to be critically endangered and only exists in a location, the largest desert on the planet – the Sahara. The addax is also perfectly adapted to live in the place that it calls home. The addax is one of the few animals that can go for extended periods of time, some would argue indefinitely, without water. Not a bad talent when you make your home in an arid environment. The best guess by scientists is that the Addax is able to survive without water for long periods because it gets it moisture from its food and the dew that is available in the desert, it then stores the water in special pockets attached to the stomach, and it produces an extremely concentrated form of urine. As a result, it doesn’t need to drink water.

As the exile of Judah begins to come to a close, there is a problem. The entire nation in exile had a very clear idea of where it was that they were living. They knew where Babylon was. And they knew the direction of home. The problem was that between Babylon and Judah was a large dry place – the Arabian Desert. Obviously, there were ways to get through the desert, and there were ways to move around the wilderness, but the exiles did not know the path through, moving from one source of water to another, and they were not sure that they had the strength and military knowledge to go around. The exiles did not have the characteristics of an addax; they could not go for extended periods of time without water. So the path home seemed to be an impossible dream.

So these words, spoken by God are directed straight at them. Yes, you will need water, but when the time comes for you to go home, I will answer you. I will give you what you need so that you can find your way back home. It is maybe important to note that God did not promise to provide them with the information that needed ahead of time. He would come through for them when they needed it most – when they were thirsty and in need of water, there would be water.

It is God’s promise that still holds true today. God does not promise to make the path easy. But when we are in need, he will be there. He will give us the water that we need at the moment that our “tongues are parched with thirst.” Then “the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.”   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah 42