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Pastor Alex brought us to the edge of the Promised Land this past Sunday. We see Moses viewing the land and asking God for a leader to replace him. In the past I have been sad and upset with God for denying Moses entrance into the land he had longed to enter. It makes sense, if you remember why the other were not allowed to enter. They had disbelieving hearts and did not trust God to help them conquer the ‘giants’ living there. Only Caleb and Joshua were wanting them to move forward with God and trust Him for victory. Because of their disbelief and distrust, they were condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that generation had passed away.
Aaron, Miriam and Moses were all of that generation but Aaron and Moses showed their disbelief and distrust in God at Meribah. Numbers 20:7-13 “and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “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.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
10 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?” 11 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. 12 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.”
13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.”
Why would Moses strike the rock when God told him to speak to the rock?
It seems to me that Moses was angry and fed up with the rebellious people and their complaining. He let it get the better of him and he sinned against God by not doing exactly as God had commanded. Leaders are held to a higher standard as he had direct communication with God and knew what God wanted. It makes me sad to see this happen when he has been such a defender of theses stiff-necked people all along. It shows Moses’ and Aaron’ humanity and that they were sinners right along with the people they served.
That having been said, I marvel at the mercy of God in this story. God knew Moses’ heart and his desire above all others to see this land and God granted this desire to him. God knows the desires of our hearts and seeks to show His great love and compassion towards us by granting those that are within His plan. God had a vision for the people and it was not Moses’ place to continue.
However, Moses loved the people and did not want to see them abandoned without a leader and presented this request to God. Moses’ desires aligned with God’s and Joshua was chosen to lead the people.
As we meet Joshua in the pages of Joshua we see that he was admonished to be strong and courageous by God.
How are you doing with your steps of faith?
Linda
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