Sunday: The Sin of Moses: Part 1
Time and again, even amid their apostasy and wilderness wanderings, God miraculously provided for the children of Israel. That is, however undeserving they were (and often remained that way) God’s grace flowed out to them. We, too, today, are recipients of His grace, however much we are undeserving of it, as well. After all, it wouldn’t be grace if we deserved it, would it?
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And, besides the abundance of food that the Lord had miraculously provided for them in the wilderness, another manifestation of His grace was the water, without which they would quickly perish, especially in a dry, hot, and desolate desert. Talking about that experience, Paul wrote: “And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4, NKJV). Ellen G. White also added that “Wherever in their journeyings they wanted water, there from the clefts of the rock it gushed out beside their encampment.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 411.
Read Numbers 20:1-13. What happened here, and how do we understand the Lord’s punishment for Moses because of what he had done?
On one level, it’s not hard to see and understand Moses’ frustration. After all that the Lord had done for them, the signs and wonders and miraculous deliverance, here they were, finally, on the borders of the Promised Land. And then — what? Suddenly, they are short on water, and so they begin to conspire against Moses and Aaron. Was it that the Lord could not provide water for them now, as He had done for them so often before? Of course not; He could have, and was going to do so again.
However, look at Moses’ words as he struck the rock, even twice. “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10, NKJV). One can all but hear the anger in his voice, for he begins by calling them “rebels.”
The problem wasn’t so much his anger itself, which was bad enough but understandable — but when He said “Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” as if he or any human being could bring water out of a rock. In his anger, he seemed to forget at the moment that it was only the power of God, working among them, that could do such a miracle. He, of all people, should have known that.
| How often do we say or even do things in a fit of anger, even if we believe the anger is justified? How can we learn to stop, pray, and seek the power of God to say and do right before we say and do wrong instead? |
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There is a maxim that says something like this: "Never perform an action when you are angry!" There are probably more eloquent statements of this principle, but I think you get my drift. And how often to we fall short of that ideal; especially as parents. My kids would do something really terrible and the first thought that would come in to mind is how to punish them. How I wish I had learned the principle of, "Lets talk about this tomorrow!" much earlier in parenthood.
It is always with a sense of relief when I read the story of Moses and his interaction with the Israelites after they had been griping about the lack of water. If Moses, one of God's chosen leaders can do a "dummy spit" in the heat of the moment and strike the rock twice, and be forgiven, then there is hope for me. True, he had to bear the consequences of his actions, and they were not insignificant. But, ultimately, he was forgiven.
Yes, he was forgiven, but there were some painful consequences.
Lord, help all of us be totally surrendered to You, because you know how often we fail.
Blessings
No doubt Moses' endurance when dealing with the children of Israel was good, but he was challenged to be consistent with his leadership. The grumbling & complaints were overbearing, and by calling them rebel was the first sign of his frustration.
The lesson for us is that when we are in situations similar to Moses, name calling or addressing people negatively should warn us to stop, pray & ask the Lord for patience.
Commenting on Moses' dilemma, one commentator stated that "fatigue and frustration can cause any leader to become tired and weak".
As Christians, we have to purpose in our hearts to constantly rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts & actions so that we can mitigate the Moses experience.
What 'picture of God' do you get from today's lesson?
What is it that gives you this picture?
If I look at things on the surface, I get one picture of God. But if I dig, consider and reflect more deeply, I get a very different one.
I am curious to know the Phil what is your picture of God at the surface and in deep.
Thank you
Hi Newbegin
Don't 'see' you around as much these days. Hope things are ok with you.
The surface picture is Moses did a bad thing and God punished him. The deeper picture I will begin to unpack in tomorrow's lesson.
Phil yesterday you wrote Ty Gibson addressed some issues I would like to know about in relation to individuals you were ministering to. How could I specifically find this information?
Hi Sharon
Here is the Ty Gibson teaching that is most directly exploring the points I was referring to re the misrepresentation of God - or what Ty refers to as the "uglification of God": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2zwO92-qZY
Phil van der Klift to your question:"What 'picture of God' do you get from today's lesson?"
This teaches us that God's love for His people is so great, he will use very imperfect instruments, and that the fact God uses someone is no evidence - to themselves or to the people - that they themselves are really right with God or ministering according to God's heart.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV) Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
I'm so guilty.Help us O God. At certain juncture folly cannot be tolerated. The consequences would be too high.
This is something to ponder....How can we read the story without making it into an arbitrary divine punishment of Moses?
How is this story connected with a similar story in Exodus 15:22-26? What was Moses’ own understanding of what happened (Deuteronomy 1:37; 3:26; 4:21)? How does God correct Moses’ understanding Read Deuteronomy 32:48-52?
tauheed - thank you for pointing to the Scripture references that help us put God's response into perspective. Like you, I do not see God punishing Moses by keeping him from entering the Promised Land.
Deut.21:51,52KJV clearly states His disappointment: "Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh ((or, Strife at Kadesh), in the wilderness of Zin, because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet, thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel."
We sanctify our God by living our lives according to His Will.
Is there such a thing as righteous anger?
Could Moses have been angry with the Israelites because they were rebelling against the LORD, accusing Him of not looking after them like He promised?
Wasn't Jesus so upset with the people turning the temple into a market place that he made a whip and drove them out?
So was Moses' sin that he was angry or was it that he didn't obey the LORD's command/instructions?
Shirley, I believe that Moses's anger was probably justified, but how he handled his anger was the problem. He allowed his frustration to overcome his experience of God and put himself on a level with God in his response of "must we bring water out of this rock?". Instead of acting thoughtfully, he reacted based on his emotions at the time. And what a price he paid!
As a leader in my workplace, I can totally relate to Moses in that moment. Just this past week, I was getting very frustrated and I did something I would normally have known better than to do. This is why it's so important to slow down and think hard before speaking or acting in anger or frustration. It's in these circumstances that it's essential to ask the Lord for guidance.
Shirley DeBeer to your question:"Is there such a thing as righteous anger?"
See what the writer of the lesson on Sunday lesson points out: “The problem wasn’t so much his anger itself, which was bad enough but understandable—but when he said “ ‘Must we bring water for you out of this rock?’ ” as if he or any human being could bring water out of a rock. In his anger, he seemed to forget at the moment that it was only the power of God, working among them, that could do such a miracle. He, of all people, should have known that.”
Moses spoke as if he and God would do the job, as if they divided the work fifty-fifty; as if God couldn't bring water unless Moses was around to speak to the rock. His lapse into contempt for the people led him into a lapse of subtle pride (see Num.20:10).
This was exactly what I noticed as I read the verse too. Must "we" and those words did not give any glory to God.
sometimes your justified anger can cost you a blessing.
Look at Moses.. and As Christians we are not only responsible for our actions, but for our reactions to other people's actions.
It just stands to say that we are to take control of ourselves at all times because at the moment we will make rash decisions that we will long regret...and it will affect our witness at some point 👌
What does striking the rock twice means cryptically?
I wouldn't say it is cryptic, but symbolically, Jesus was struck down once for all. (Romans 6:9-10, Hebrews 9:24-26,28, Hebrews 10:10, 1 Peter 3:18).
God bless you, Tammy
"What does striking the rock twice means cryptically?"
The rock was a symbol of Jesus Christ. Jesus was going to die on the cross only once--not twice. Moses ruined that sacred symbol.
Thanks a lot,bro Nick
In Moses frustration, he denied the power of God and lost patience with God.
Before studying today's Sabbath School lesson with my family, I had read Galatians in my personal Bible study. In Galatians 2:20 I read,
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
As we studied today's lesson together I could not help but think that at the moment Moses said, "Must we" that He did not realize this vital truth. It is God working in us and not we ourselves.
The People of Israel did not suffer a leadership vacuum, God told Moses to ”charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. So we abode in the valley over against Beth-pe’or.” – Deut.3:28,29KJV.
God never abandons His people, but He choses the right person for the tasks at hand. Moses’ work was finished, God chose Joshua, a new leader, to lead out with the establishment of the people in their new land.
I see God’s decision as a clear cut to delineate where Moses’ work stopped and Joshua’s work started.
I do not see Moses' and Aaron's denial of entering the Promised Land as a punishment. Yes, it was related to the ‘water of Meribah’ and possibly other prior incidents, though God’s decision provided a ‘teaching moment’, letting Moses, Aaron, all the congregation and us know that our heavenly Father does not tolerate or respond to our anger or impatience, but to our dedication to patiently go about His business/work according to His directives.
For those deciding to sincerely ponder Phil’s questions, I am certain that it will open the window of their hearts. Everyone will discover reflections of their own perceptions - their own heart’s motives, discovering possibly hidden obstacles that could prevent one to fully trust God’s Way's to be the Way of righteousness/rightness, untainted by one's own emotional ‘outbursts’ of anger or vengeance.
Instead of looking to judge the motivation or justifications of Moses’ anger, would it not help us greatly to understand our own shortcomings when brought up by circumstances which challenge our patience and faith in God’s Word; tarnishing His Glory when letting down our guard?
I think this is where our focus should be – to always make sure that we "believe God, and to hallow Him in the eyes of the World.” Numbers 20:12 (applied).
It's interesting, Sister Brigitte, that you turn our attention to Leadership.
The first 40 years of Moses life, he was groomed for "leadership". He was, as British royalty says, "the share", the second heir to the kingdom of Egypt, and must always be ready to be the Leader, the Pharaoh, as well. Many of us do not know what it is like, when you are groomed all your life for leadership, that's your only purpose in life; I can imagine that it is a very hard life.
Then after that 40th years, Moses was given a different kind of leadership position, of shepherding, or running the family business, and as the spiritual leader and Head of his family, which included a lot of his wife's extended family members (if only more man in our secular world could learn this one leadership lesson, how to be the spiritual leader of their family, then everything else for them and their families will fall into place). But true Leadership always come as a cost, a personal sacrifice; Moses encountered this many times in his life, where he personally had to give up something to fulfill the leadership position.
And lastly, during Moses' last 40 years of leadership, he meet up with this man, Joshua. On many occasions during their wilderness journeys, Moses would ask Joshua to wait for him at the bottom of the mountain while he goes to receive a word from The Lord. Our bible doesn't say actually what Joshua was doing at the bottom of the mountain, while he was waiting for Moses to return, but Joshua dutifully obeyed Moses words. This was part of Joshua's "leadership" training. I doubt at those times that either one of them, Moses or Joshua, knew that it would be Joshua that would "lead" God's people into the Promised Land, but The Lord knew it. God already knew what Moses action, or decision, would be that day before it would happen (God knows everything, but He is hoping that we choose, or make the decision, to do the right thing); therefore, in my opinion, The Lord was already preparing Joshua to be the next leader.
Even today, in our present age when it doesn't appear to be so, God is always preparing Leaders to take up the mantle and lead His people into the Promised Land, of eternity.
As we are soon to enter into a New Year, full of all kinds of unknowns, may we all continue to be lead by our Lord Jesus Christ and God The Holy Spirit. Also, we must pray for, and respect, the human leadership that God has blessed us with. Also, many of us may become leaders in our families, in our churches, and in our places of employment in the New Year; so, let's purpose in our hearts that we will listen and obey God's Word, and allow Him to give us our Leadership training.
May God's blessings be with each of you and your families. Happy Holidays!!
"I do not see Moses' and Aaron's denial of entering the Promised Land as a punishment."
I can see the act as punishment. Now looking from the eyes of a parent and/or teacher. I would say punishment/teaching/reward is integrated into discipline.
Hebrews 12:11.
Correction, I ment to say, I can see no entrance as punishment.