Speak, Moses!

In Numbers 20, we find a startling story about a rare moment in Moses' life when he was at odds with the Lord. Yes, this incredible meek and faithful leader of Israel stumbled, and not only was God displeased with Moses' disobedience, He forbade Moses from entering the Promised Land. So what was it that warranted such a harsh response from the Lord?

Moses was in the unenviable position of leading the nation of Israel from Egypt to Canaan. These people complained constantly, and while there were times when Moses interceded for them and begged God for mercy on their behalf, there can be no question that these grumbling, moaning, shallow Hebrews occasionablly ruffled his feathers, too.

In Numbers 20:2-5, the Israelites complained yet again...and this was just following the death of his own sister. Of course, their ultimate complaint was against God, but they aimed their frustrations at the man, Moses. There was no water, and they said, "If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here?"

No doubt, Moses was a little unnerved. But he and Aaron went to the Lord and received the following instructions: "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, '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..." (vs. 7-8).

Simple enough, right?

Well, Moses took the rod and gathered the people together at the rock. "Hear now, you rebels!" he announced, his patience wearing thin. "Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" What happened next? What did God tell him to do? Speak to the rock! "Then Moses struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank" (vs. 11).

Did Moses obey God?

There are many religious people who will respond by saying, "Yes! After all, God didn't tell him NOT to strike the rock." Yes, but God told him to speak to the rock. Did God really have to give Moses a list of everything he couldn't do to the rock? Or was it sufficient to tell Moses what to do? I think you get the point. Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock when God told him to speak to it. As a result, he was rebuked by God and forbidden from entering Canaan (vs. 12).

What is the application today? When God commands us to do something, we need to follow His instructions exactly.

Take instrumental music in worship as an example. God commands us to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12). Therefore we must sing! To play instruments is unauthorized in the New Testament. Can we say, "Well, God didn't say NOT to play intruments in worship!"? No more than Moses could have said to God, "You didn't say NOT to strike the rock!" Instead, let's just do what God has said.

Someone might argue that this story is from the Old Testament and that God was harsh and judgmental back then...but now He's a God of grace. Listen, God's character is unchanging (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8), and while we're no longer bound to the Old Testament law, it is there for our learning (Rom. 15:4). We STILL have the obligation to seek authority for what we do (Col. 3:17). So yes, it's valid to consider Moses' example in Numbers 20.

What do you think? Are you sure that you're doing exactly what God has instructed you to do? If you're unsure and have any questions, please let me know.