Numbers 20 records a willful mistake that Moses made, as he reacted in anger toward the ungrateful congregation. The Israelites were at Kadesh, lingering there following the death and burial of Miriam. There was no water for the people, and they begin to grumble, just as they had countless times before.
On a previous occasion when water was needed, God had instructed Moses to strike the rock at Rephidim. The occasion was almost exactly like this one (Exodus 17:1-7). The people contended with Moses. He stated himself that they asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (7).
This time, God’s instructions were different. Moses came to Him with the Israelites complaints, and God told him, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes , and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals” (Numbers 20:8).
The instructions of God in both cases were almost identical. God directed Moses to get water out of a rock; in front of the people; with a rod in his hand. But, in the first instance He told Moses to strike the rock, and in this instance He told Moses to speak to the rock.
Moses didn’t follow God’s instruction. We read, “Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank” (20:11). God said, “Speak to the rock… thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock.” Instead, he struck the rock. Now, water did come out, but God was not pleased. He said to Moses, “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” (20:12).
Was Moses confused? Doubtful, as the instructions were very clear. Was he neglectful? Maybe. Angry? Certainly! And anger can cause men to act foolishly. In fact, Moses previously had destroyed the initial copy of the 10 commandments, because of his temper, “So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 32:19).
Regardless, Moses had disobeyed God. In so doing, he had shown disrespect for God, and did so in the presence of the people. Men may consider it a small thing. God said it was a lack of faith. It was a lack of respect. It was worthy of a devastating punishment.
So, Moses led the people out of Egypt. He protected and led them in the wilderness. He delivered the law to them. He led them to the border of Canaan. He was granted a view of the land from Mount Nebo. But God told him as he neared death, “you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel” (Deuteronomy 32:52).
This is how important it is to God that we obey His word. When He says, “thus you shall,” He means it! Jesus tells us, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Is God holy in your eyes? “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified” (Leviticus 10:3). If so, you will not strike the rock when God says speak to it. You will not offer profane fire that God has not commanded. Instead you will do “all things according to the pattern shown you…” (cf. Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:39). Do you really, really respect God?
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