The Extent Of God's Care For His People

The story is told of an American General in "Operation Desert Shield" who instructed his soldiers to drink at least six gallons of water every day to avoid dehydration. In fact, there was talk of transporting barges filled with fresh water to seaports just so the demands could be met.

Using the above figure of six gallons of water for each soldier each day, let us consider just how much water the Israelites would have needed as they trekked across the wilderness for forty years.

The Bible records that Israel had 603,550 men of war (Numbers 1:46). This number included only those twenty years old and above who were able to go to war (Numbers 1:3). It did not include the 22,000 from the tribe of Levi (Numbers 1:49; Numbers 3:39); nor did it include the aged or infirmed men, nor any wives and children.

The total number of people has been estimated to have exceeded three million. If six gallons is a true figure, the daily requirement for the Israelites would have been over 18 million gallons of water per day for a period of forty years — truly, a phenomenal miracle of God!

Isaiah's record reveals: "And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He cause the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out" (Isaiah 48:21).

Dear reader, the miracles recorded in the Old Testament, clearly demonstrate just how extensive God's care was for His people. And just to think that He who cared for them, also cares for us! (1 Peter 5:6-7).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets