““For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
Jeremiah 2:13 NKJV
I’ve valued my independence for an exceptionally long time. Asking for help isn’t something I like to do or do often. It’s one thing I like – and hate – about CrossFit. I hate that it shows me how weak I am. I hate that it is hard. I hate feeling lesser than. And I despise feeling weak. When I decided to join CrossFit a few months ago, I told the owner that I believed G-d was going to use CrossFit in this season to to train me physically and spiritually. The more I go, the more I confront my physics weakness, the more I see that He is training me to surrender.
My problem with independent and self sufficiency is one that is common to mankind. We want our way – when we want it – and we don’t want to be told what to do. We praise the independence of toddlers and reward high performers with scholarships, promotions, and raises. Grit, self sufficiency, and independence are badges of honor and to many, marks of success – but they are also weights of sin that bind and tether us.
Jeremiah, another major project, is written as a collection of poems and sermons and is filled with both warnings of destruction and the hope of redemption. Throughout Israel’s history, they fell into the sin I’ve found such pride in: independence. They went their own way, worshipped gods of their choosing, and disregarded the warnings they were given.
Through Jeremiah, the Lord warned that they had committed two evils – they forsook His ways (ʻâzab – to loosen or relinquish) and they “hewn” other cisterns. The word for “hewn” is ḥāṣaḇ and means just what you think – to split, quarry, engrave, cut, dig, divide, grave, made, mason, or cleave.
I hear that digging a well is hard work. In fact, it’s recommended that wells be dug to at least 100 feet. That’s the image – digging, digging, digging … drinking muddy water instead of taking the water that was offered to them. They gave up abundant, flowing, living water to make their own source in their own strength – to dig out rocks and split the ground to create their own life source. They didn’t value the gift – the source of abundant life – they held it in disdain.
How often do I do that? How often do I do it my own way instead of just taking what He is offering to me? He has all that I need – the wisdom, the strength, the provision, the solution – I just have to receive.
In truth, I am a broken cistern. On my own, I don’t accomplish very much. THE Fountain of Living Water is there to nourish, strengthen, and refresh me. The question is, will I empty my hands to receive or will I cling to the broken pieces, holding tighter and tighter until it further scars my flesh?
Father – thank You for Your Word. Forgive me for my selfish, self sufficient ways. Give me grace to yield and to receive. Fill me up and pour me out. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 1-3
August 7, 2022