O God, our Rock in the wilderness,
once again Your people thirst.
No streams, no wells, no rain
only cracked earth beneath our feet
and a sun that will not relent.
We cry not just against Moses,
but against You:
“Is the LORD among us or not?”
How quickly doubt rises
when our lips are dry.
Yet You command the impossible
take the staff that struck in judgment,
and strike again in mercy.
From the blow against the rock
pours water abundant, rushing,
more than enough for every man, woman, and child.
From stone, a river;
from judgment, salvation.
We name the place for our testing,
but You mark it as the place You met us.
Lord, how like Israel is Your Church today.
We grumble when provision delays.
We question Your presence when trials burn.
We strike leaders with our words,
forgetting that it is You who sends them.
We would rather accuse You of absence
than trust You for water from the rock.
And when enemies rise,
we falter in the fight.
Amalek still charges the valley,
and too many of us fight with weary arms,
or worse lay down the sword entirely.
But You have shown us
the battle is won not only with steel,
but with lifted hands.
When Moses weakens, Aaron and Hur hold him steady.
Victory comes not from one man’s strength,
but from the people’s intercession.
O Lord, break our pride.
Teach us to cry out with David:
“My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?
Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of Your unfailing love.” (Ps. 6:3-4).
Do not let us boast in our own might.
Do not let us perish in our grumbling.
Strike the Rock once more
not with wrath but with mercy
and let living water flow through Your Church again.
Raise up intercessors,
those who will not tire of prayer,
those who will lift the arms of their brothers and sisters,
those who will cry out until victory is sure.
Make us a people who know
that the Lord is our banner,
our covering,
our hope,
our salvation.
And when we forget, remind us
the Rock once struck for our sin
still pours forth life.
The Intercessor who prays for us
has never lowered His hands.
In the name of Jesus,
the Fountain in the desert,
the Banner over His people,
the Intercessor on the hill,
Amen.