Numbers 20 -- Moses' Personal Failure

Once again the people failed to trust God when they ran out of water at Kadesh.  The forty years of wandering were almost over but there were still a few members of that older generation who were still living.  Moses had just lost his sister, Miriam, and once again the people’s complaining led him to meet with God along with his older brother, Aaron.  My commentary said that the Hebrew word for “rock” here “means a high cliff, a place for a fortress, and not a boulder.”  Moses was told to speak to that rock so that water would flow out of it.

Moses committed an impulsive sin, not doing exactly what God had commanded.  Instead of simply speaking to this high cliff, he struck it twice, and also sinned when he said, “Do you want us to bring water out of this rock?”  It wasn’t Moses and Aaron who would be supplying the water.  Only God.

God could have simply not provided the water from the rock, making Moses look like a fool for his rash words and actions, but in His grace, He provided the needed water anyway.  Psalms 130:10 says, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.”

God let Moses know that this one slip-up would keep him from entering the Promised Land.  How painful that must have been, but “Moses revealed his meekness by submitting to  God’s discipline and continuing to lead the people,” my commentary said.  “Moses has experienced two family funerals (both Miriam and Aaron died during this time), two confrontations with critics in the camp, and a personal failure at Kadesh, yet he picks up his rod and goes right back to work.  Victorious Christian service, like the victorious Christian life, is a series of new beginnings.  No matter what mistakes we’ve made, it’s always too soon to quit.”

Father, thank You for allowing me to teach again!  I’ve missed it so!  Though I haven’t understood the why’s, You have helped me to cherish these opportunities even more.  Keep me from any personal failures and thank You for allowing me to get back to work.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford