Numbers 20:1-12
When God gave Moses instructions to speak to the rock to release water for his thirsty people, Moses instead struck the rock because he was angry and frustrated with the people. He had had enough of their constant complaining and pleads to go back to Egyptian captivity. In addition, he had just lost his sister Miriam and was likely still grieving (Numbers 20:1). The water gushed out for the people but not the way God had planned.
God gave Moses one way to do something, but Moses did it a different way. Even though he was successful in getting what the people needed, Moses carried out the instructions in a way that showcased his anger, frustration, and grief. He did not use the strategy God told him to use. He used His own strategy of striking the rock instead of simply speaking to it.
I used to think God was so harsh to bring Moses through such a triumphant journey from birth to manhood, just to snatch away the opportunity to lead his people to the promised land in the end. Many of us would have made the same mistakes as Moses or even worse! 😭
But then I heard the Lord say:
Leaders get more because of their sacrifice.
They get greater rewards because of their great sacrifice.
And they get greater consequences because of their great responsibility.
“To whom much is given, much is required.”
Even though Christ fulfilled the Mosaic law and we are now in the age of grace, this passage reminds us to be obedient to the Lord and steward the gift of leadership well. Never make your gift or ministry about you or what you can do. Never allow your emotions to steer you away from what God’s plan is for you (easier said than done, I know 🙁).
Always seek out God’s strategy to do things so that God can get the glory out of your life.
And just so you know... Moses's story ends on a GOOD NOTE. Moses may have missed out on experiencing the promised land in his earthly lifetime. However, the scriptures reveal that he is indeed with our Heavenly Father along with other faithful servants of God. Throughout Jesus’ lifetime, He honored the work of Moses (Matthew 5:17; Matthew 8:4). There was even the scene at the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus was found speaking to Moses and the prophet Elijah about how he would soon leave the earthly world and return to Heaven (Luke 9:30-31). So we can assume that Moses received the ULTIMATE reward, the ULTIMATE promised land—his rightful place in heaven. So there’s no reason to be sad for Moses.
Scripture Reference- Numbers 20:1-12 (NIV)-
1 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! 4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”
6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Matthew 5:17 (NIV)- “Do not think that I have come to abolish the [Mosaic] Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Matthew 8:4 (NIV)- Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Luke 9:30-31 (NIV)- Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure,[a] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
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