“Sinful attitudes result in sinful actions.” That was the essence of my comment at the end of last week’s blog concerning Moses’ failure to obey God, his only deliberate act of defiance I am aware of. Review https://www.cosdavis.com/moses-at-meribah/ to set the context for how God dealt with Moses’ disobedience and a brief discussion of why the penalty was so severe.
The focus last week was on Numbers 20:1-11. Today, we will revisit that text to understand what Moses did and why God responded as He did in Numbers 20:12-13.
Do you recall what God told Moses to do when He asked God for water for the complaining, thirsty Israelites? He told Moses, “Speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water.” Numbers 20:8. Moses took the rod as God had instructed, and he and Aaron gathered the people before the rock that was to give water. Numbers 20:9-10.
Why was Moses to take the rod? We are not told; perhaps he was to point it toward the rock as he did when he parted the Red Sea. But he was specifically told to speak to the rock. The latter part of verse 10 reveals that something has gone wrong with Moses’ attitude. The shift is from God’s glory to Moses’ power and credit. “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” The rod has always been an instrument to demonstrate God’s provision, the instrument Moses had used at God’s direction to perform miracles. But now it becomes a symbol of Moses’ pride, displacing the glory due to God Himself.
What we see is a good, faithful man who has lost control of his thinking and emotions, allowing him to do the unthinkable, something he will regret for the rest of his life. “Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and the water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.” Numbers 20:11
The people and their animals didn’t care how the miracle happened, so long as they got what they wanted. When did Moses realize what he had done? We are not told, but surely this man, accustomed to a close fellowship with God, felt deep within himself that he had violated that vital relationship. The text is silent about this. However, it speaks loudly and clearly of the penalty Moses and Aaron will incur for this hasty act.
“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you have not believed me, to treat me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore, you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”‘ Numbers 20:12.
Up to this point in the narrative, it was assumed that Moses would lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. And, up until this time, Moses had been very careful to do exactly as God said and give Him the praise and glory for the miracles He had done. However, there was another time when Moses questioned God’s ability to provide for this vast multitude. https://www.cosdavis.com/is-gods-power-limited/ . The difference in this former disbelief is that it was not a public display that robbed God of His glory.
Here is my understanding of why God’s punishment was so severe :
- He publicly disobeyed a clear, direct command from God.
- He attempted to take the glory for something that God had done.
- He had a “face-to-face” relationship with God and was held to a higher standard of behavior. God could have simply killed him for what he did, but graciously chose a lesser punishment.
- Moses’ disobedience could seriously jeopardize God’s plans for the younger generation to take the Promised Land. God specifically referenced “this assembly” when He meted out Moses’ punishment. These were the people under twenty who were to inherit the land God had promised Abraham. God would keep His promise, but Moses would not lead the people into the land.
How does the failure of this great leader cause you to think about what God has told you to do in your various roles and responsibilities? Are you aware of what the Bible tells you to do, and are you depending on the Holy Spirit to guide and help you be obedient? Are you currently dealing with consequences for deliberate disobedience? Do you think that if God punished his great servant Moses for deliberate disobedience, you can somehow escape?
This story reminds me to keep a check on my pride and give God the glory for every good thing in my life. ” Every good gift comes from God.” James 1:17