Discover His heart: He provides direction through our challenges.
Many great men in history whose exploits affected the destiny of millions found themselves at one time or another in dismal circumstances – George Washington experienced his Valley Forge, Napoleon met his Waterloo and Custer faced his last stand. Without a doubt, the decisions we make when faced with a challenging situation will affect our future. Just assuredly, discouragement, pride or anger will alter our desired response to our challenges. In today’s reading, we find Moses at his Meribah.
@Numbers 20
Moses had led the Israelites for almost 38 years after the scouts returned with their faithless report from their venture into Canaan. God had promised that those faithless Israelites would not enter the Canaan because of their doubt and only a few remained. Unfortunately, their offspring had inherited and mastered the art of grumbling and complaining. Poised once again outside of Canaan in Kadesh at a place called Meribah, they complained to Moses, “Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!” (5) Moses met his Meribah.
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water.’” So Moses responded, “‘Listen, you rebels!’ he shouted, ‘Must we bring you water from this rock?’ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out.” (7-11) Moses spoke to the people instead of to the rock and struck the rock instead of speaking to it! Oh, Moses.
After 40 years, I’m fairly certain that an angry, disgusted Moses wanted to strike the grumbling people, but instead, he took it out on the rock. God’s response was, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” (12) So sad.
Why do we sometimes feel the need to help the Lord out or assist the Holy Spirit with our own input, going beyond what He has directed us to do? As with Moses, it always ends badly for me too. When a situation angers us, it’s easy to go running at the mouth about it, shouting at others, “Listen, you rebels!” but God wants us to speak His Word in faith to the problem.
Sometimes we are tempted to draw attention to the small part we play in a solution that really only God can solve, “Must we bring you water?” Moses and Aaron were tools in the hand of God to bring about the miracle of water coming from a cold, hard rock. They, of course, didn’t bring water out of anything. May we never be so bold to take credit for what God has done.
God’s punishment to such a faithful and humble servant as Moses seems harsh, but this simple act of disobedience was far-reaching, even to us today. We read in I Corinthians 10:4 that Paul considered that rock to be a representation of Christ. Moses had already struck the rock to bring forth water at Rephidim, so to strike the rock again would imply that Christ’s death at Calvary, once crucified, was not enough. Not good. Our responses to the challenges we face may influence others in ways we can’t imagine.
Paul challenges us in verses 12-13 in that same chapter with these words of caution, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” We would think Moses, of all people, would have been one with sure footing, standing strong. If someone like Moses can fail, it’s possible for us to fail as well.
God has offered us a way out of our challenging situations if we turn to Him for guidance and follow both His example in the Word and His leading in our hearts. And of course, He really doesn’t need our two cents worth.
Moving Forward: Lord, may I follow your dictates today through any challenges I face, always certain that You receive all the glory for the victory.
Tomorrow @ I Chronicles 25-29
Phyllis Benigas 