Some of the most tragic stories are those of people who get inches away from their dreams...and just barely miss. Why does that happen? Sometimes, there's no way to explain it. And other times--perhaps the most tragic--it's because of one bad choice.
In today's passage, we read such a tragic story: why Moses and Aaron missed out on the Promised Land. Here's what it said:
God spoke to Moses: "Take the staff.
Assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron.
Speak to that rock that's right in front of them and it will give water.
You will bring water out of the rock for them;
congregation and cattle will both drink."
Moses took the staff away from God's presence, as commanded.
Moses took the staff away from God's presence, as commanded.
He and Aaron rounded up the whole congregation in front of the rock.
Moses spoke: "Listen, rebels! Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?"
With that Moses raised his arm and slammed his staff against the rock—once, twice. Water poured out. Congregation and cattle drank.
God said to Moses and Aaron,
With that Moses raised his arm and slammed his staff against the rock—once, twice. Water poured out. Congregation and cattle drank.
God said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you didn't trust me,
didn't treat me with holy reverence in front of the People of Israel,
you two aren't going to lead this company into the land that I am giving them."
This story is fairly short. We don't get to read much about what happened. But I think there may have been a few reasons why God's punishment for Moses and Aaron was so severe. Here are my guesses:
1. At a very basic level, they disobeyed. They didn't speak to the rock--Moses slammed his staff into the rock to get the water.
2. Moses acted out of anger toward the people, allowing his emotions to overtake God's graciousness toward them.
3. Moses took credit. He said, "...Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?" That's A LOT different than, "God has shown mercy and will provide water for you, just as He continually provides for all your needs." By taking the credit and acting out of anger, Moses showed a lack of trust in God's provision, God's wisdom and God's sovereignty to govern His people.
Those are my guesses...but my thinking isn't God's thinking, either. I imagine that perhaps God was disappointed in His two strongest leaders who, after knowing Him and serving Him many years still didn't "quite get it." At the time, Moses and Aaron were acting as God's voice to His people...but in this situation, they chose to use their own voices. They missed the Promised Land because they missed the point--listening to God and leading His way--by giving undeserved and unmerited favor (grace) to others.
Tomorrow: Numbers 21-22
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