Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”Numbers 20:12
Numbers 20 marked the end of 38 years of wandering since Kadesh Barnea. For the second time, there was no water for the children of Israel. This time, not only did they blame Moses, they started blaming God, “If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!” (20:3). What a perverse lot! Actually, they should have already been in the Promised Land a long time ago, if only they themselves had not chosen to stay in the wilderness.
God then instructed Moses to “speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water” (20:8). The rock represented Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). The first time, God told Moses to “strike” the rock (Ex. 17:6). In striking the rock, it signified that Jesus had to be crucified. Christ was stricken, smitten and afflicted so that the waters of life could flow out to a thirsty and dying humanity. But the second time when the Israelites needed water, Moses was to speak to the rock. Now for us, living after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, all that is necessary is for us to speak and life flows. But Moses lost his temper and shouted at the people, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Num. 20:10). Likewise, we have no right to taunt, mock or rail at other people because the only thing that makes us different is the grace of God.
However, it can be challenging to control our temper when we are leading such perverse groups. So, we still need to monitor our emotions during times of stress and beware of the dangers of making decisions when we have low emotional reserves. Moses destroyed the prophetic type. By striking the rock twice, it would mean, in effect, that Christ would have to be crucified twice. Yet, notice the greatness of God in the next verse, “Water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank” (20:11). Even though God’s type had been destroyed and God’s servant had failed, God still caused the water to flow out. That was the grace of God despite human failure!
For Moses’ indiscretion and emotional outburst, he was disqualifi ed from entering the Promised Land. Can you see the tremendous tests and standards God has for a leader? With privilege comes great responsibility. Just think of how Moses had served so tirelessly for 40 years. And then he was denied what was most precious to him—entrance into the Promised Land. In the Lord’s eyes, the measure of success is not the outcome of the effort, but the obedience of His servant.
Numbers 20 marked the end of 38 years of wandering since Kadesh Barnea. For the second time, there was no water for the children of Israel. This time, not only did they blame Moses, they started blaming God, “If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!” (20:3). What a perverse lot! Actually, they should have already been in the Promised Land a long time ago, if only they themselves had not chosen to stay in the wilderness.
God then instructed Moses to “speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water” (20:8). The rock represented Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). The first time, God told Moses to “strike” the rock (Ex. 17:6). In striking the rock, it signified that Jesus had to be crucified. Christ was stricken, smitten and afflicted so that the waters of life could flow out to a thirsty and dying humanity. But the second time when the Israelites needed water, Moses was to speak to the rock. Now for us, living after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, all that is necessary is for us to speak and life flows. But Moses lost his temper and shouted at the people, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Num. 20:10). Likewise, we have no right to taunt, mock or rail at other people because the only thing that makes us different is the grace of God.
However, it can be challenging to control our temper when we are leading such perverse groups. So, we still need to monitor our emotions during times of stress and beware of the dangers of making decisions when we have low emotional reserves. Moses destroyed the prophetic type. By striking the rock twice, it would mean, in effect, that Christ would have to be crucified twice. Yet, notice the greatness of God in the next verse, “Water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank” (20:11). Even though God’s type had been destroyed and God’s servant had failed, God still caused the water to flow out. That was the grace of God despite human failure!
For Moses’ indiscretion and emotional outburst, he was disqualifi ed from entering the Promised Land. Can you see the tremendous tests and standards God has for a leader? With privilege comes great responsibility. Just think of how Moses had served so tirelessly for 40 years. And then he was denied what was most precious to him—entrance into the Promised Land. In the Lord’s eyes, the measure of success is not the outcome of the effort, but the obedience of His servant.
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