Thirst

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Water is basic to human life. In Scripture the physical need to drink is often used as a picture of human spiritual need that only God can satisfy.

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Physical thirst quenched

Exodus 17:1–6 NLT

At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

The satisfaction of spiritual thirst

It is to be found in God

Isaiah 41:17–18 NLT

17 “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. 18 I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.

It is experienced through Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 10:3–4 NLT

All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

It is known by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

John 7:38–39 NLT

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

The blessing is mediated through believers to others

There is no satisfaction of spiritual thirst apart from God

Jeremiah 2:13 NLT

“For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

See also ; ; False teachers promise blessing and refreshment to others, but prove to be empty and worthless.

Invitations to seek satisfaction for spiritual thirst in God

Isaiah 55:1 NLT

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!

Those seeking satisfaction for spiritual thirst in God

Examples of seekers

Psalm 42:1–2 NLT

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

They will be rewarded

Matthew 5:6 NLT

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

Heaven is their final reward

Revelation 7:16–17 NLT

They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”