The SIN of the Meekest Man and a Warning to All - Moses strikes the rock. #Devotional #DailyBibleReading #Numbers20

Even the meekest man gets pushed to his limit. Moses was the meekest man on earth. But when asked to speak to the rock to provide a drink for a complaining people, he struck it . . . out of anger. And that was a major sin. Why? Because it was rebellion against what God asked, fueled by his own anger. And in so doing, he negated what would have been a beautiful type of Christ.

1. What did striking rather than speaking imply?

There are many conjectures as to why God wanted Moses to speak to the rock and not hit the rock. I think the best choice is that the rock was a picture of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). The Rock was struck and it provided water. Once the rock is struck though, it must be called upon to provide water. Yes, Jesus was pierced with the rod on the cross so that we might come to Him and call upon Him for water unto eternal life. That is the beautiful picture God intended.

2. What was wrong with Moses' striking?

So we know that Moses struck the rock in anger. But that was not so bad a thing. In fact, it was the right thing to do earlier in the wilderness when he provided water (Rock at Horeb in Exodus 17:4). And I believe that as he cast down the tablets written with God's fingers he was acting out of proper anger at sin and sin's effects. 

But here it was an out-of-control lashing out at the people. "Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water for you from this rock!" So the action may have been the same, but the anger is not channeled correctly. He lashes out and even claims some sort of power to provide with his own effort. We must learn to channel our anger to attack the problem and not the people or other things surrounding the problem.

3. How does God respond?

God is gracious here too. Gracious to Moses. Yes, Moses does not enter the land. But it is allowing Moses to retire and enter the true Promised Land. And that was in sense a true gift. Also, it was time for Moses to give the reigns to Joshua. He had trained for decades and was ready. 

God is also gracious to the people. He does not allow the sin of the leader to stop the blessing to the people. God gives water to a grumbling people. 

Lord, help us today to let off our grumbling, love to do your will and follow your Spirit when and how He desires us to manifest anger to attack a problem.

Numbers 20:1–13 (NLT)

Moses Strikes the Rock

In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried. 

² There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. ³ The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! ⁴ Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? ⁵ 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!” 

⁶ Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, ⁷ and the Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “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. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” 

⁹ So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. ¹⁰ Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” ¹¹ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. 

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “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!” ¹³ This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them.

Daily Bible Reading Schedule

• Monday, March 11th - Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 11:5-6
• Tuesday, March 12th - Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7
• Wednesday, March 13th - Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8
• Thursday, March 14th - Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11
• Friday, March 15th - Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13