Intentions Laid Bare [Numbers 20]

2There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. 3The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! 4"Why then have you brought the LORD'S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? 5"Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink." 6Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them; 7and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

8"Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink."

9So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, "Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" 11Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. 12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."

 

I feel like I know how Moses and Aaron felt as they "came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces." They were at their wit's end.  They were being railed on by the people who had made poor choices.  They were being falsely accused of being the reason for the people's misery.  Can you sense their frustration as they recognized that the people had learned nothing from their past grumblings and disciplines?  Even as God gave an answer, I am sure that Moses wasn't really listening.  "We've been through this drill before. And I am sick and tired of it," would have been my thoughts clouding the specific words that God spoke.  "Take the rod...and speak to the rock before their eyes."

That pent up frustration bubbled up as Moses stood before the assembly.  "And he said to them, 'Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?'"  He struck the rock twice (can you feel the anger in the motion?) and the water came out abundantly.  But the God's words to Moses were "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. " (Hebrews 4:12)  They penetrated to the core of his frustration and revealed truth.  Truth that Moses did not believe God and that he did not treat God "as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel."  Now, he too, would not be able to enter the promised land.

God thank You that You do not let us stay in our frustration and unbelief.  We praise You that You are committed to probe with Your word and reveal the thoughts and intentions that we ourselves have not even dared to confront.  We praise You that when we are "open and laid bare" before you that we can then receive the truth -


"since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

 

I am thankful.  I do desire to have someone who asks me hard questions, who isn't going to let me stay with the status quo. Thank You that You love me so much You don't let me stay in my frustration that is hurting others.

Verna McCrillis, 7/28/2010
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