In my personal study, I was reading through Numbers, and came to the story where Moses and Aaron were commanded to speak to the rock and cause water to pour from it. Frustrated with the rebellion of Israel, Moses struck it twice, and thus called his and Aaron's doom upon themselves. Moses and Aaron died in the wilderness because, like Israel, they too did not take God at His word. It's sad that Moses worked so long and so hard, striving with Israel on behalf of God, and yet did not come in to the promise of Abraham. That, however, is a consequence for disobedience. With my children, I do the same. If they do not do as I or their mother say, they do not reap the benefits of a reward. Any good father does this! And God is the BEST Father! God knows what is best and we even see God using Moses at the Mount of Transfiguration. Though Moses had to deal with the consequence of sin in this life, God still brought him through to the next. God is fair, and just, so He allows the consequences of our sin to play out in our lives (though at times, He corrects them), but He is also rich in mercy, and shows mercy, as He did to Moses. What we can learn from all of this, though, is that we need to take God at His word. We need top believe God, even when we're frustrated, angry, or confused. Believe God. Do as He says, and watch how Peace beyond understanding surrounds your life!
Numbers 20:2-13 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Waters of Meribah
2 Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! 4 Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, 7 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
Moses Strikes the Rock
10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah,[a] where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.
Footnotes:
Numbers 20:13 Meribah means quarreling
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