Moses Disobeyed.

Numbers 19:1-20:29

I tend to think of Moses as a man who did God’s will. I know that he was raised in the Pharaoh’s household. I know that he killed a man who was harming a Jew. Moses then left and went into the desert.

After 40 years God told Moses to go back and get the people and bring them out of Egypt. Moses didn’t want to do as God asked, but he did with Aaron’s help.

And so the people wandered in the wilderness, and they griped and groaned, got angry with Moses, wanted to return to Egypt, and didn’t trust God.

In fact they disobeyed God to the point that God said that not one of generation of adults who left Egypt would end up in the Promised Land. There were two exceptions that He specified; Joshua and Caleb.

They wandered for years, but not too long before they arrived in the Promised Land, they were wanting water again. Moses talked to God, and God told Moses to talk to the rock. Water would emerge. In his frustration, Moses hit the rock. The water came out. But Moses disobeyed God, and he was not allowed in the Promised Land.

I think Moses’ punishment was extreme. Just consider all the things he had done correctly in getting the people where they were. But he disobeyed…and was not allowed in the Promised Land.

You think that is just a story? I used to think so. Poor Moses. But Moses and I, and you as well, are called upon to obey God…period. And we are not to question which I find very difficult to do. I am a curious person, and I always want to know why. I find obeying very difficult when anyone says, “Because I said so,” and that applies to God as well.

And I doubt that I am alone in my disobedience. We like to think we are obeying Him, but I think we are kidding ourselves. We say, “We will try to obey God,” and that is what we end up doing…trying. What if we said, “We will obey God.” Do you think it would make a difference? I do. When we try, we give ourselves an out. When we say, “We will,” we have made a commitment.

As we come upon Easter, let us all make the commitment to obey God. It will be difficult…but I think we can all do better than we are now. At least, I know that I have lots of room for improvement.

Carol

Bible Breath: Trust the Lord / Keep Him Holy