“Twenty-six cents! I can give more. Do You really want me to give only 26 cents?”

This is what I thought as I asked God what I should put in a special offering to bless an unnamed family in our church who needed help.

I don’t know about you, but I talk to God like He is my best friend, because He is. He already knows what I’m thinking, so why not be honest? Twenty-six cents seemed so small and insignificant to me. However, the more I prayed, the more clearly I could hear in my spirit “26 cents.”

Moses and Aaron were given equally simple instructions in Numbers 20:

“You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” v. 8 (NLT)

“Speak to the rock.” However, they did not obey. Instead, Moses struck the rock.

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. Numbers 20:11

So, what did I do? I put 26 cents in the offering. The next day, a good friend showed up at my door. She was so excited. “The offering they took in church yesterday was for me—and it was the exact amount as my power bill,” she told me excitedly! “It was to the penny and I never told anyone how much my bill was!”

This blew my mind. “Twenty-six cents,” I thought. Wow! If I had given more, the check would have gone over the amount of the bill and she would not have been quite as excited. God knew what everyone would give and that 26 cents was exactly what was needed. What a blessing!

Now back to Moses and Aaron. They lost a blessing. They were forbidden to enter the Promised Land.

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” Numbers 20:12

The Israelites also lost a blessing. They lost having Moses and Aaron with them and they lost out on seeing the miracle as God wanted to show it.

That rock represented Jesus who would come and give us living water. He was already struck, beaten and crucified. So, now all we must do is speak and He will give us “living water.”

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would askme, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10

This is so amazing! When God gives us instruction, it is always to bless us! We have a good God!

Let’s pray!

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to hear Your voice. You said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Lord, help me to not only hear, but also obey. I want to follow You. Please forgive me for when I have fallen short of Your instruction. Help me to grow closer to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen!