Tuesday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Numbers 20:1-13

Verse 1. In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. Verse 2. Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. Verse 3. The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! Verse 4. Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Verse 5. Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates — and there is no water to drink!” Verse 6. Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. Verse 7. And the LORD said to Moses, Verse 8. “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.” Verse 9. So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. Verse 10. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Verse 11. Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. Verse 12. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Verse 13. These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

PSALM

Psalm 107:1-16

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy

and gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell.

They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.

He led them on a straight path to reach a city where they could live.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains,

because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.

He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Verse 6. These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. Verse 7. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” Verse 8. We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. Verse 9. We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. Verse 10. And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. Verse 11. Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. Verse 12. So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. Verse 13. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.