Moses had to learn through spending time with the Lord, through making mistakes and bearing the consequences. He also had his carnal nature to deal with as he got frustrated and angry.
Most of us are aware of what Moses did that caused him to lose the privilege to enter the Promised Land. In Numbers 20:8-12 we read: “’Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.’ And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.’”
Why didn’t Moses speak to the rock? Why was his disobedience such a great issue to the Lord when it seemed so insignificant? When Moses struck the rock, instead of speaking to it, the Lord did the miracle in any case. Why did the Lord make the miracle happen in spite of Moses’ disobedience?
Since Moses got water from a rock previously by striking it as God had told him, it’s possible that he could have disobeyed the Lord due to a misunderstanding, but his words to Israel preceding the action indicated that it was more likely done in anger. He was fed-up with the Israelites and acted in the flesh. The Lord maintained the miracle because He is faithful. He will keep His word in spite of our weaknesses, but if we misbehave He’ll discipline us, as He did with Moses. So why was the Lord so relentless?
Doing things in the Spirit exactly the way the Lord wants it done glorifies His name. Acting carnally dishonours Him. If we don’t enter our ‘Promised Land’, i.e. if we don’t seem to get where we hope to be, we need to find out what it is in our life that displeases the Lord that prompts Him to discipline us or to delay His plans with us. I’m reminded of Nathan’s words to King David after David had sinned with Bathsheba and repented: “And Nathan said to David, Jehovah also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Only, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, this child born to you shall surely die (2 Samuel 12:13, 14).” David was forgiven, but he had to bear the consequences of His deed.
We need to be aware that our deliberate disobedience gives God’s enemies reason to ridicule Him, in which case He has to discipline us.
How would you like to enter your ‘Promised Land’, i.e. reach your destiny through being obedient?
Lord, please make me aware of how my disobedience affects you.
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