Reading passage:- Numbers 20:1-13.
1.Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2.And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3.And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
4.And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5.And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
6.And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
7.And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
8.Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
9.And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
10.And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11.And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12.And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13.This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
Deprivation, Scarcity and other problems we encounter in life, if not viewed from a positive perspective, can cause us to grumble, become bitter, and even damage our faith in God. There was no water and the people gathered in opposition against Moses and Aaron (vs2). They had forgotten the many difficult situations in the past when God provided for them and protected them. One way to help us handle life's challenges is to recall God's goodness towards us in the past and trust him to carry us through current challenge.
By their action in vs 6-8, Moses and Aaron took the right step that is worth imitating when difficulties confront us.
God instructions to Moses was clear: "Take a staff.......... Speak to the rock (vs 8), but Moses rather struck the rock twice.
The pressure from the people might have made Moses and Aaron not to give credit to God and give God the glory rather the took the credit for themselves.
Now let me stop to ask how many times have we done something that has caused out leaders their place of sonship in God's kingdom?
How many times have we murmured over the good messages out pastors preach causing those whose foothold aren't so strong on Christ to derail?
How many times have we behave or react so awkward that has caused out leaders weep or regret being a leader at all?
Sometimes when I look at the children of Israel, i give kudos to Moses for even coping that long with them, because they seem to be so ungrateful, but when I want to blame them I look back at the Church or myself today and I discover that they are things we have done that might be worst than what the children of Israel actually did.
But may God help us.
Now if Moses' punishment seemed severe(vs12), remember his responsibility as a leader and the honour of God at stake.
We should learn not to struggle with God for His glory, just stay clear from it.
My Ernest prayer this morning is that may I never give the devil a chance to use me to cause downfall for my leader, pastor etc.
May God also help me to be able to deal with pressure from people least I miss my promise land. Amen
