Moses was God’s chosen prophet to lead Israel but Israel often argued with
Moses. They constantly found fault with Moses’ leadership skills. They
constantly argued with Moses and had sharp criticism for everything he did.
Moses was God’s chosen man for the hour but the Children of Israel were
constantly second guessing God and trying to figure out their own way.
To show just how little respect they had for Moses we have to remember that
Moses’ sister, Miriam had passed away only days before and I’m certain that
Moses was grieved in his spirit for his loss. Yet the people didn’t show him any
respect or real love. Instead they argued with Moses and only made maters worse.
How many times have I seen Christian at one another’s throat or after the
minister because of something that displeased them?
It doesn’t matter that the preacher has their best interest at heart and has forsaken his own family many times so that other families’ needs could be met.
They quickly forget the price that he has paid in service to them and all they can think about is right here, right now and my need.
One minute they are saying, “Hosanna!” and the next “Crucify him!”
“Go ahead and write the nasty note on the back of the bulletin, it’s good for you to get out of your system, but I’m not going to read it!”
Numbers 20:5, "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."
When we give up on God, who can we turn to then? Who else but Jesus has the
answer we need? Who else but Jesus has the words of eternal life? Who else but
Jesus has the power to forgive?
Lord help us for I know of too many people who will blame God for every bad
thing that happens to them.
They destroy their own marriage and then blame God when the spouse walks out the door.
They don’t teach their children the ways of the Lord and then when that child grows up and gets rebellious they want to blame God.
They spend way beyond their means to pay the bill and then when they are pushed to the brink of bankruptcy and beyond they want to get mad at God because He didn’t meet their needs.
Verse 6-Find that Secret Place, that Hiding Place from the wrath of people.
Don’t hang around to retaliate or answer back. Just Leave! For staying in their presence will only escalate into something sinful and hurtful.
Boy, I wished I would have said this!
That ability not to think fast on you feet is a blessing from God, because you can never take back those words.
I would suggest that WE REFUSE THE TEMPTATION TO ROB GOD OF HIS
GLORY.
Now if you would notice in Verse 10 that, as a response to the People’s Chiding,
Moses reacted in Anger, and Spoke Rashly with His Mouth.
In verse 8 the Lord had told Moses what to do.
But when he spoke in verse 10, it was not the Lord speaking, but the Anger of Moses.
For he said: “Hear now, ye rebels; must we (that is, Me and Aaron and not the Lord Alone) fetch you water out of this rock?”
Oh what a grave mistake! To put Ourselves in The Place Of God!!! To Attribute the Work of God To Ourselves! To ascribe To Ourselves the Glory and Honor and Praise that is due to God Alone! And yet, we do this Often and Carelessly!
Out of Anger, a parent tells his/her child I feed you. I put clothes on your
back. I put a roof over your head."
Out of Anger, a husband tells his wife “I provide for you. I protect you. I have
kept you safe and sound.”
Out of Anger, an employer tells his employee “I pay your salary. I’m the one
keeping you off the welfare roll. If it wasn’t for me, you would be outdoors.”
But in all of those instances, they are all wrong! It is the Lord thru the
parent who provides food, clothing and shelter for the child. It is the Lord
thru that husband who provides, protects and nurtures that wife. It is the Lord
thru that employer who pays the wages of that employee. Don’t Rob God Of His
Glory by Speaking Rashly With Your Mouth!!
The preacher and his land-You should have seen it when the Lord had it by His self.
They turned their back on the people and turned their faces toward God.
They didn’t leave till God showed up, they didn’t make a move till God showed up, they didn’t look for water till God showed up!
DO EXACTLY AS THE LORD COMMANDS.
Doesn’t matter how you done it before!
Doesn’t matter what great results happen before!
DO EXACTLY AS THE LORD COMMANDS
And that is significant, because oftentimes, we, like Moses, do partial
obedience.
We’ll pray for those who persecute us but we’ll curse those who curse
us. We’ll love our friends but hate our enemies.
We’ll give our tithes but withhold our offerings.
We do Partial Obedience. But we fail to realize that partial obedience ends in Total Failure!
This passage brings to mind THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE WORDS AND ACTIONS OF MEN AND THE WORDS AND ACTIONS OF GOD - BECAUSE WATER DID POUR FORTH FROM THAT ROCK IN SPITE OF WHAT GOD’S LEADERS HAD DONE!
For Verse 11 says that “Moses lifted up his hand, and with the rod he smote the
rock twice”; but In Spite Of That, this verse also says that “the water came out
abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.”
And so, I submit to us that IN SPITE OF WHAT WE DO OR SAY, GOD WILL BE GOD!
Job 23:13-“But He is in one mind, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, even that he does. For He performs the thing that is appointed for me.”
2 Timothy 2:13-“If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself.”
Isaiah 46:10
Romans 8:28-And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
‘Cause GOD IS GOING TO BE GOD IN SPITE OF WHAT WE SAY OR DO!
